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The Importance of the College
Essay
According to most colleges, the essay
is an important part of the application process.
Colleges are not only looking for students with good
grades and a variety of activities but also for a
student who can clearly express his thoughts.
Therefore, an essay is an excellent way of selecting
students for admission. These essays may also attempt
to have the student communicate why he or she would
'fit in' at the college to which they are applying.
The following information has been collected from a
publication produced by the college admission board
of Loyola University of Chicago.
Keep this thought in mind while
writing your essay: "Don't write an essay that any one of a
thousand other seniors could write, because they
probably will." - William Poirot
What an Admission Committee Looks
For
| 1. |
A well written essay. Be
sure to use proper grammar, punctuation, and
syntax. Don't try to impress the committee by
using words you're unsure of - it makes your
essay sound stilted and self
conscious. |
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| 2. |
Content. Your essay should
answer the question truthfully and insightfully -
the question is designed to allow you to show
your ability to think about yourself and to
convey your feelings clearly. |
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| 3. |
Creativity. Admission
committees, remeber, are reading literally
hundreds - maybe thousands - of essays responding
to the same question. Make yours one that stands
out. |
Topics
| 1. |
Find a topic which excites
you. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you
use a new angle, it gives the admission committee
a better idea of who you are and how you
think. |
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| 2. |
Bring your topic to
life. Use vivid examples and sensory
details whenever you can. It will help you come
across as self-assured and
accomplished. |
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| 3. |
Explore different
options. If your topic lends itself to
another approach than striaght prose, don't be
afriad to try it. |
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| 4. |
Don't use the same
essay for all your applications. Each
university is different; your essays should
reflect those differences. |
Steps to Follow
| 1. |
Read the college application essay question
and set aside firty-five minutes or so to answer
it. (Hours of agonizing are not apt to get across
the real you.) |
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| 2. |
Write quickly and freely,
including unique details of your experiences,
emotions, and thoughts. Describe actual scenes
and tell a personal story if you can. |
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| 3. |
Reread your essay and ask
yourself - and perhaps a trusted friend - if the
real you comes through. Let your essay sit for a
day or so and then go back to finish proofing
it. |
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| 4. |
Now, with a critical eye,
look at the order of your ideas. Since the
college will expect you to write in a logical
way, reorder your essay, if necessary, to reflect
your ability to do this. |
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| 5. |
Make sure you used clear
paragraph transitions, active verbs, an
attractive introduction, and a confident
conclusion. Avoid overusing the pronoun
"I." |
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| 6. |
Eliminate anything that
doesn't carry weight. Aim for a single page of
clear, light, and readable prose. |
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| 7. |
Check mechanics. Check to
see that your writing has rhythm and balance. Be
satisfied that your essay reveals your special
way of looking at the world. |
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| 8. |
Write a final draft and type
it neatly. |
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