There is "unlimited" advice available on how to write "the" college admissions essay in the blogosphere, on websites, in books, from guidance counselors (private expensive, and very expensive and at your high school), English and history teachers, friends and parents.
One of the student's toughest jobs may be to decide which advice to follow. This task may test your critical thinking and analytical skills more than the SAT Reasoning Test.
The essay is the best opportunity for students to differentiate themselves from all the other wonderfully capable, accomplished applicants with comparable grades and test scores. Writing the college essay is an incredible opportunity to let the admissions staff get to know you. I visited with the Stanford University Dean of Admissions at revisit day for the class of 2012 and asked him how they made admissions decisions when they had more than enough highly qualified candidates to fill the freshman class many times over. He said that student's essays and teacher recommendations were the differentiators.
The N.Y. Times started a blog about the college admissions journey named, The Choice. Note I said journey, if you are the parent your job is to make the journey fun by staying out of the way and by understanding first and foremost that you aren't the one going to college. Read the N.Y. Times article on the college essay and the advice contributed by the Dean of Admissions at Connecticut College
The best tips from The Choice. Write about yourself. Use your own Voice, that means use your own vocabulary and sentence construction. Don't allow anyone to take away your voice. It must be yours, any college admissions staff can easily pick out essays influenced by adults.
College.http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/tip-sheet-essay/
The University of Virginia posted an article titled, Writing the Essay: Sound Advice from an Expert. This is the best advice that I am aware of on writing a college admissions essay.
The author advises not to write the McEssay because he knows what is coming next. McEssays are like the Big Mac they all look, smell, and taste the same regardless of where in the world you buy them.
Show, don't tell. Showing appeals to all of the senses. Pick a topic with a sharp focus that provides the room for a lot of descriptive detail. The detail in your essay will differentiate you as an individual.
http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html
15 tips from the Carleton College admissions staff.
Most important tips: Be yourself! I'd go beyond that and say reveal yourself. What makes you tick? What makes you stand out? Be yourself, don't try to impress.
Tell the reader something new about you that they won't find somewhere else in your application.
http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/essay_tips/
Three Steps to a Great College Essay
The writing process is laid out in steps for you by the College Board and they must know since the colleges trust their Writing test as a credible measure of student's writing skills.
http:
//www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9405.html
The 2010/2011 Common Application will be available at www.commonapp.org, August 1, 2010. The Common Application is accepted by over 400 schools. Go to the website and register, it's easy and it's free. After registering click on "My Colleges" link and add all the colleges that you are interested in applying to. This gives you access to any supplements that your specific schools of interest require.
Tips for the personal essay option on the Common Application
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/EssayPrompts.htm
The advice the stands out above all else is to write about yourself. In your own voice show the reader what you want them to know about you. Your personal experiences are what differentiates you from the crowd. You are unique, show them who you are, let them experience you.
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