2. YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS … and how your college essay advisors can help

3. YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY ADVISORS: WHO ARE WE?  Ms. Susan Elliott Blashka  Mrs. Hollace Schmidt  Solon High School graduates (that’s us at right during our senior year!)  Each earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University  Each established a career as a writer and editor

4. WE CAN HELP YOU WITH …  Brainstorming topics  Creating a lead that hooks your reader  Organizing your essay  Making sure your writing sounds like you  Conveying your thoughts concisely and clearly  Finding and correcting errors in your writing  Polishing your essay before you submit it

5. TO GET STARTED…  Brainstorm topic ideas—by yourself, with us, or with someone else you trust.  Within the guidelines of the essay prompt, choose a topic that is unique (or at least special) to you and that you can write about in a personal way.  Ask yourself how many other applicants could write the same essay in the same way. If it’s a lot, consider choosing another topic. You want your essay to stand out from the rest and be memorable for the reader.  Share something that will make the reader say, “We need this student on our campus.”

6. AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR TOPIC…  Create an introduction that grabs the reader.  Do this by using descriptive words, dialogue, a question, or anything else that brings your reader into the story or piques his or her interest.  If you’ve drawn your reader in at the beginning, you’re well on your way to creating an excellent essay.  We’ll use our organization, grammar, punctuation, and general writing and editing skills to help you finish strong as well.

7. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU!  We start meeting with students in the Media Center on Monday, August 24.  Sign up for a spot at www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4 4afa929a13-shscollege. www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4 4afa929a13-shscollege  This link is on the Guidance website as well.  Come even if you have nothing written yet—brainstorming together is time well spent.  If you have begun work on your essay, bring two copies of it and a pen or pencil so we can get to work.  Our last day is Friday, October 30, so sign up before then.