College Admissions Essays Tips & Suggestions

Do Now Open up a doc on a google drive and title it “personal statement notes.” Take 2 minutes and list as many characteristics/traits that describe who you are. When I call time, stop typing.

What is a personal statement? Personal Statements: “ are a short piece of writing that tells a story about the student. The personal statement should provide readers a look into the student’s mind, heart, dreams, history, and/or community while also demonstrating writing skills and thinking style. Just like any story, a student will want their story to be powerful, memorable and meaningful. The personal statement is the element of the college application that reveals the most about your personality and character. It can help you stand out among hundreds - or thousands - of applicants, especially those with similar grades, GPA’s, test scores and recommendations. Each student has a unique story!” Source: College Summit 2012 Educator Workbook

Common App Personal Statement Prompts 2018-2019 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?

Common App Personal Statement Prompts 2018-2019 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.

What are supplimental essays? The Common Application requires a personal statement for all colleges. However, many colleges require school-specific essays, known as supplemental essays. Supplemental essays give admissions officers the chance to get to know students, and they’re also barometers of a student’s demonstrated interest. These questions can range in length from short answer to brief essay formats

Examples of Supplemental Essay Prompts Traditional Questions: Why Harvard? Quirky Questions: You have a popular podcast. What’s the title? What’s the topic? (Wake Forest University) “It’s not easy being green” was a frequent lament of Kermit the Frog. Discuss. (Dartmouth College)

Personal Statement Writing Do’s & Don’ts Write about something you know and something that is meaningful to you Reveal who you are in your writing Show rather than tell Use all 5 senses Be concise Write in your own voice Answer the questions/prompts Edit and revise, edit and revise Read it aloud to someone PROOFREAD Don’t write what you think others want to hear Don’t “thesaurize” your essay Don’t plagiarize Don’t include a college name in yrou essay Don’t use cliches - the winning goal, the day you did community service and it changed your life Write about yourself - not your grandmother who taught you about the meaning of life

Let’s go back to your google drive... Pick one characteristic/trait from your list Take 3 minutes and write a few sentences on how you exhibit that that trait without using the adjective itself. Example: Impatient It is an effort for me to sit in one spot, to focus on one thing, to wait for anything too long. I lose interest and move onto something else. I get frustrated. I fight the stillness. My skins crawls and my mouth dries as I wait endlessly for what feels like nothing.

Was that easy or difficult? Share your sentences Was that easy or difficult?

By Justin, Johns Hopkins University, Essays That Worked Read and take notes on what works and what doesn’t. Discuss with your neighbor https://apply.jhu.edu/essays-that-worked-2021/