1. Writing College Application Essays Revised 8/2013

2. Agenda Role of the EssayWhat Admissions Officers Look ForDOs & DON’TsThe Writing ProcessGet Started

3. Role of the Essay Essay Letter of Rec Extra Curricular Diversity Leadership GPA Class Choice Entrance/Placement Exams

4. Role of the Essay BE creativepersonalunique SHARE your story (past) your passions & beliefs (present) your goals (future) DEMONSTRATE your writing ability your ability to reflect and learn from life SHOW your best work you belong at the school what you can bring to the school

5. Role of the Essay Interview with Gonzaga Law Admissions June 21, 2010 U.S. News & Work Report What can applicants do to set themselves apart from their peers? Successful applicants distinguish themselves via the personal statement. They use it as a means of expressing their values and to connect those values with their desire to attend law school.

6. Role of the Essay $ Approach scholarship essays as college application essays Participate in NELA’s Scholarship Strategies workshop

7. Agenda Role of the EssayWhat Admissions Officers Look ForDOs & DON’TsThe Writing ProcessGet Started

8. What Admissions Officers Look For FIT diversity interest community involvement evidence of past performance evidence of future performance REFLECTION ability to grow and learn from challenges evidence of critical thinking WRITING tone appropriate examples organization focus grammar conventions ability to follow directions

9. What Admissions Officers Look For What do you look for in application essays? What do the essays tell you about a candidate? We look for well-written essays that reflect the applicant's capacity for critical thought and self reflection. The essays reveal an applicant's ability to construct a cohesive statement and a coherent argument. Disjointed statements and those that leave the reader feeling a disconnect between values and actions reflect poorly on the candidate. We'd rather read about an event that triggered the candidate's desire to attend law school, or to learn about her or his passion for justice, than to read they want to be a lawyer because their father is a lawyer. Interview with Gonzaga Law Admissions June 21, 2010 U.S. News & Work Report

10. Agenda Role of the EssayWhat Admissions Officers Look ForDOs & DON’TsThe Writing ProcessGet Started

11. DOs & DON’Ts DODON’T Use “I” Statements “I believe” or “I think” Use active voice: “I did this” Use passive voice: “It happened to me” Recycle your work Cut and paste without modification Use specific and real examples (show) Use vague or hypothetical examples (tell) Use authentic language Abuse the thesaurus Write about yourself Brag about yourself Write about someone else Feel pressured to compare your experiences to others Express your wisdom Write about cliché takeaways Explain lessons from challenges Complain about challenges Focus on the change/lesson learned Focus on the story Answer all essay prompts Miss an opportunity to show who you are

12. DOs & DON’Ts: Topics CAUTION relationships sports injuries mission trip

13. DOs & DON’Ts: Topics DIVERSITY race & ethnicity income learning style abilitysexualitygender religion/ values/ beliefs age position/ rank “the other” life experience race & ethnicity DIVERSITY

14. DOs & DON’Ts DODON’T Use “I” Statements “I believe” or “I think” Use active voice: “I did this” Use passive voice: “It happened to me” Recycle your work Cut and paste without modification Use specific and real examples (show) Use vague or hypothetical examples (tell) Use authentic language Abuse the thesaurus Write about yourself Brag about yourself Write about someone else Feel pressured to compare your experiences to others Express your wisdom Write about cliché takeaways Explain lessons from challenges Complain about challenges Focus on the change/lesson learned Focus on the story Answer all essay prompts Miss an opportunity to show who you are

15. DOs & DON’Ts: The Right Ratio STORY EXAMPLE NARRATIVE REFLECTION

16. DOs & DON’Ts DODON’T Use “I” Statements “I believe” or “I think” Use active voice: “I did this” Use passive voice: “It happened to me” Recycle your work Cut and paste without modification Use specific and real examples (show) Use vague or hypothetical examples (tell) Use authentic language Abuse the thesaurus Write about yourself Brag about yourself Write about someone else Feel pressured to compare your experiences to others Express your wisdom Write about cliché takeaways Explain lessons from challenges Complain about challenges Focus on the change/lesson learned Focus on the story Answer all essay prompts Miss an opportunity to show who you are

17. Agenda Role of the EssayWhat Admissions Officers Look ForDOs & DON’TsThe Writing ProcessGet Started

18. The Writing Process adapted from: Carson Dellosa Prewriting: think What do I want to say? How do I want to say it? What examples will I use? Who will read my writing? What do I need to know to begin? Who can I talk to about my ideas? Drafting: write Are my thoughts organized? Which ideas do I want do develop? In what order do I want do say them? Who can read this and offer suggestions? Revising: improve Have I read what I have written? Should I add or take out parts? Have I used the best ideas and words? Does my writing make sense? Does it say what I want it to say? What suggestions have others made? Which of those suggestions am I going to apply? Editing: correct Have I used complete sentences? Are my spelling, capitalization and punctuation correct? Has someone checked my work? Publishing: share

19. Agenda Role of the EssayWhat Admissions Officers Look ForDOs & DON’TsThe Writing ProcessGet Started

20. The Common Application-Freshman Please write an essay of 250 – 500 words on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.  Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.  Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.  Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.  Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.  A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.  Topic of your choice.

21. Get Started The Common Application-Transfer Student Please provide a statement of 250 – 500 words that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. Personal Essay This personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.

22. University of Washington  Personal Statement Format  Content as well as form, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, will be considered. Suggested length is 750-1000 words.  Academic Elements (required)  Academic History  Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path and choices.  Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress and/or curricular choices. If you transferred multiple times, had a significant break in your education, or changed career paths, explain.  What are the specific reasons you wish to leave your most recent college/university and/or program of study?

23. University of Washington  Your Major and/or Career Goals  Tell us about your intended major and career aspirations.  Are you prepared to enter your intended major at this time? If not, describe your plans for preparing for the major. What led you to choose this major? If you are still undecided, why? What type of career are you most likely to pursue after finishing your education?  How will the UW help you attain your academic, career, and/or personal goals?

24. University of Washington  Personal Elements (required)  Cultural Understanding  Thoughtfully describe the ways in which culture had an impact on your life and what you have learned about yourself and society as a result. How has your own cultural history enriched and/or challenged you?  NOTE: Culture may be defined broadly. Cultural understanding is often drawn from the ethnic background, customs, values, and ideas of a person’s immediate family, community, and/or social environment in which they live.

25. University of Washington  Educational Challenges / Personal Hardships (if applicable)  Describe any personal or imposed challenges or hardships you have overcome in pursuing your education.  Examples: a serious illness, a disability, first generation in your family to attend college, significant financial hardship or responsibilities associated with balancing work, family and school.  Community, Military, or Volunteer Service (if applicable)  Describe your community, Military, or volunteer service, including leadership, awards, or increased levels of responsibility.

26. University of Washington  Experiential Learning (if applicable)  Describe your involvement in research, artistic endeavors, and work (paid or volunteer), as they have contributed to your academic, career or personal goals.  Additional Comments (optional)  Do you have a compelling academic or personal need to attend the University of Washington-Seattle at this time? Is there anything else you would like us to know?

27. Get Started challengestriumphs influential people significant events dreams/goals

28. Resources  Public Library/College Writing Center  scholarshipjunkies.com  THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU! –counselor –friends –peers –teachers –family –professionals

29. A nonprofit corporation, USA Funds ® works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.