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The College Essay

Get 10 quick tips for writing a successful college essay, including using the Common App, following directions, being genuine, and proofreading. Also, discover the best topics to choose and what to avoid.

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The College Essay

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  1. The College Essay Tips for Beating the Stress By Dr. Auerbach

  2. 10 Quick Tips 1. Start with the Common App and then cut, paste, and modify for individual colleges 2. Follow directions, stick to the word limits (Turn on word & character counts in Word), stick to topic given 3. Be concise, get to the point—this is brief, not a 5 paragraph essay! 4. Be yourself! Be genuine while also sounding curious and open to new experiences-don’t try too hard to impress because you will come across as fake! 5. Tell a college why it is your first choice—tailor to what it has to offer you—why you are a good fit for that institution

  3. Tips continued 6. Use a variety of vocabulary, but ditch the SAT words! Don’t sound pretentious, vary your words, and don’t repeat yourself 7. Paint a picture of yourself—often starting with an anecdote or a “mini story “ works 8. PROOF and EDIT at least 8-10 times!!! 9. Get an editor or two—someone who can be objective and someone who knows grammar 10. Give yourself some time between revisions. Don’t write your essay and send it the same day or even the same week!

  4. Start with the Common App https://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/2018-2019-common-application-essay-prompts

  5. Pick the topic that best suits you • Before starting, brainstorm several topics and see which topic you have the most material for • Pick the one you can be most creative with • Passion shows: write about what you care most about

  6. 2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  (3rd most popular choice—21.4% chose this one)2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 

  7. Common App topics continued 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (This was the most popular choice—23.6% chose this one) 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (2nd most popular choice--22.5% chose this one)

  8. For smaller sub-essays for colleges that have shorter essays unique to that school • Tell the school why you are a great fit for it (Do your research about that school before you begin) • If writing about an extracurricular activity,** write about one that you spent the most time on—show your passion **(On resumes, do not list too many extracurricular activities— it sounds like resume filler!)

  9. Experts suggest: • 5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic • Focus on a moment. One of the easiest ways to think of a college essay topic is to focus on a specific instance that changed you or that represents something about your character. ...  • Stand out. It's true: the college admission process is tougher than ever. ...  • When disaster strikes . . . ...  • Be genuine. ...  • Write about your childhood. • 5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic | CollegeXpress • https://www.collegexpress.com/.../college.../5-tricks-choosing-your-college-essay-topic/

  10. What many experts say NOT to write about: • All that said, many articles circulate about what you want to steer clear of on college essays: • The main things to avoid are using topics that have become cliched or trite. You also do not want to just repeat your resume. And, most importantly, you don’t want to come off as overly sentimental or “sappy.” You don’t want to sound naïve, like “I just want to go to college to save the world!” For example, see: • https://www.noodle.com/articles/the-best-and-worst-topics-for-a-college-application-essay • Spend some time looking at sites like ”the college essay guy” that are from actual college admissions officers. Remember they are the ones who have to READ these essays, and they hate to be bored reading the same types of cliched topics year after year. • https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/college-essay-tips YOU CAN REQUEST A FREE GUIDE FORM THIS WEBSITE.

  11. Do some research… Research some helpful sites: • Collegevine.com and Learnleaps.com • Read other successful essays—google the New York Times: “college essays” • Look at released SAT essays—these often give good ideas • Use what you know—your unique background is the best place to start! • Challenges, failures, commitment, passion, or even making a story starting with a meal • Or, just google until you find something helpful to you • Just don’t pick an overused topic or theme—avoid clichés!

  12. Finally… • Give yourself time! Let your ideas season! • Be yourself, but if you have a strange or unique story, don’t be afraid to use it! • Again, a mentor or relative who is a good writer and grammar expert is your best friend! • Many students pay for these services, but this is not necessary if you plan ahead. • Avoid gimmicks, clichés, and sucking up!! Admissions staff can tell if you are not being genuine. • Don’t sweat! You are the perfect match for some college somewhere!

  13. One last thought about new Bright Futures requirements for test scores… • If you are applying to Florida colleges and are looking to use Bright Futures, don’t forget to look up the new requirements for ACT or SAT scores. • This spring the FL Legislature raised the test score requirements. • For students who would receive the “Academic” scholarship, which covers full tuition and fees at state universities and colleges, the required SAT score will rise from 1290 to around 1330. For the second-tier “Medallion” award which covers 75 percent of tuition and fees, the benchmark would climb from 1170 to about 1200. • ACT requirements are unchanged at 29 and 26. • Read more here: Don’t worry, there are alternative ways to qualify. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article230029319.html https://blog.prepscholar.com/florida-bright-futures-requirements-sat-act-and-more

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