1. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.
Barbara Kingsolver

2. Undergraduate Admission
Seventeen years words. One opportunity to impress and inspire the admission committee.
Survey who is in the room: high school counselors, independent counselors, who has been on the other side of the desk
Todd Hicks
Assistant Director of Admission, Santa Clara University
Catherine Waite
Undergraduate Admission

3. Applications within the Context of SCU
10 admission counselors
You do the math

4. How Do We Decide? Admissible to Admitted GPA, rigor, rank:
Transcript, test scores, writing, school profile, dual enrollment
Don’t bury important information
Provide context to GPA and academic rigor.
If a learning disability has impacted test scores, ideally the reader learns that before reading a teacher evaluation. Give confidence that a student can advocate and overcome challenges.
Essay
Activities
Transcript
Academic Evaluation
Writing supplements
Additional information
Required explanations
Secondary School Report
Demographic information
Letters of Recommendation
Writing samples and arts supplements
Demonstrated Interest: visits, interviews, camps
INTL: Financial resources, English proficiency, transcript evaluation
Take us into - and beyond - the numbers
Who is best able to speak to the applicant’s strengths and provide confidence ( student, employer, counselor, teacher, alumni, pastor, advisor)
Essay or Additional information?
Major
First Gen
Legacy
Geographic
Need Aware
Multi-ethnic
Under-represented (non-specified)
Be thorough and accurate:
Community service
Family responsibilities
Clubs and organizations
Cultural and faith based activities
Leadership positions
Give us a sense of how you invest your time
What matters to you, where do your passions lie?
Will we see a connection to the university mission/community?
Provide additional insights in writing supplements or additional information.
Complete the activities section, even if uploading a resume!
Giving context to time listed for activities: YouTube videos, online portfolios
Auditions
Demonstrated Interest
Scholarship opportunities
(different timelines)

5. Create a Mosaic
There should be nothing “common” about a submitted Common App

6. Bringing the Prompts to Life
Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Follow Directions!

7. Develop an Image for the Reader
Service, international, athletic, arts

8. Goalie Essay

9. Brainstorming
Write down the 1-2 most memorable, notable moments each day, every day
Journal
Seek sources of inspiration
How many teachers do essays in their classroom as part of the curriculum
Perks of Being a Wall Flower
Piece of art
Song
Quotes

10. Writing Process Mimic great college essays or authors
Write to two or more prompts using your own style
Content first
Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good. - William Faulkner

11. Hook the Reader
The morgue may scare most, but I can honestly say that I love it to death. (Excuse the pun; I’m fluent in sarcasm).
When I was five years old, I discovered exactly how many bottles of food coloring it takes to dye a small person green.
Some of my best days have been spent with devils.
“Can’t you speak English?!”
Draw us in
Risk of opening with a quote

12. Hook the Reader
This essay is expected to be 650 words, which is approximately how many people attended my little brother’s funeral.
I can’t shake your hand. My religion prevents me from shaking the hand of someone from the opposite sex.
Some rules of the road while driving in India:
It doesn’t matter if it’s your lane, my lane, one way or two ways
Holy cow(s)! Don’t hit ‘em!
Honking is the only language

13. Conclusion Hardest part of the essay Easy to fall into cliché
If you can’t come up with a good conclusion, conclude with your last paragraph
Could someone pick this paper off the floor and know if was yours?

14. Editing Content first, then mechanics Feedback from 1-3 people
Make sure the essay uses your voice
Reflect on what the reader will take away from this essay: 1-2 adjectives
Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short. - Henry David Thoreau

15. Morgue Essay

16. Essay Pitfalls Common topic choices
Essay should be about you, not someone else
Adapting a class paper for a college essay
Diction: choose words you know
Community service, sports, role models
Boyfriends/girlfriends, horses

17. Japanese School Essay

18. The Challenge Engage in the writing process alongside your students
Make use of local college representatives to assist your students
Start early
Open it up to everyone…what are the other takeaways, advice?