Don’t leave your college choice up to chance! The college essay is a crucial part of your admissions package… and the one piece that busy students most often overlook, or rush to complete.
Although stellar grades and exceptional SAT or ACT test scores are the top two criteria for acceptance to highly selective colleges and universities, the college application essay provides yet another way for students to shine. Plus, the college essay helps a student stand out as unique in a veritable sea of competitive applicants, all of whom have a high GPA, Honors and AP classes, were captain of their school team, and completed community service! The Huffington Post describes the importance of the college essay this way, “While a good essay may not be able to salvage a mediocre application, a bad essay can hurt an otherwise terrific application.”
What to write about in your college application essay?
First, think about the purpose of the essay itself. According to a recent Time.com article, “The admissions essay’s true purpose is to tell admissions officers something they don’t know about you and that isn’t represented anywhere else on the application. The essay should aim to reveal something about your true passions, interests, and goals while giving a taste of your personality. Reading your essay should give admissions officers insight into what it would be like to have a conversation with you. What makes you tick. What makes you, you.”
Next, examine the prompts. The Common Application has announced that the 2018-2019 personal essay writing prompts will be the same as the seven 2017-2018 essay prompts. (Please see below for a complete list.)
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.
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.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
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.
Finally, craft an essay that showcases the most interesting aspects of you and your experiences. What would you tell someone who wants to know you better? And, what do you have to offer the college or university that no one else can?
College Application Essay Writing Workshop in Nationwide
Need help with the college application essay? The Back to Basics Learning Dynamics College Application Essay Workshop will help move your application package to the top of the stack with a well written, thoughtfully edited, interesting, and memorable essay.
$99 for workshop
- June 25 -28, 2018 Mon/Wed/Thurs 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 pm
- July 30 –Aug 2, 2018 Mon/Wed/Thurs 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 pm
- Aug 6 – Aug 9, 2018 Mon/Wed/Thurs 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 pm
Space is limited. Call Back to Basics at 302-594-0754 to reserve your space TODAY!
About Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. in Nationwide
Back to Basics offers 1-on-1 tutoring in 60+ subjects, professional development, translating and interpreting in 21 languages, speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavior specialists, reading specialists, paras, ELL services, homebound services, RTI support, psycho-educational testing and test prep. Plus, Back to Basics Private School is Nationwide’s only Department of Education approved 1-on-1 Private School for K-12. We also offer summer school and educational summer camps, original credit and credit recovery, along with unique enrichment options such as music, art and photography. And, Summer Planning starts NOW! Click Here to learn about summer camps, summer school, original credit and enrichment options!
