1. College Essay Assembly Monday, February 29, 2016 Ms. Frank, Director, Schawbel College Resource Center Ms. Moran, Program Director, English Dr. Schnur, College Essay Consultant

2. Our Agenda: Today’s Assembly New College Essay Plan for Class of 2017 Role of the College Essay in Admissions Common Application Topics Tips for Topics and Getting Started College Essay Dos and Donts Essay Tips and Examples

3. Why and Why Now? The College Essay is an important factor to Admissions Directors: From the 2014 NACAC Survey of College Admissions Considerable Importance: 22% Moderate Importance: 37.8% Because the essay is one of the most stressful parts of the process, starting early will give you increased success

4. NEW College Essay Plan for Class of 2017 Draft of the College essay will be a pass/fail grade for senior year English, due on the first day of Class I BLS is offering different supports for the college essay this year, related to different needs: Spring 2016: Sign up for help with Dr. Schnur – details forthcoming Fall 2016: Referral by guidance as needed Why Are We Doing This? Reduce your senior year stress This will allow us to distribute essay assistance equitably based on needs Start the year off with an easy pass grade

5. Common Application Topics 2016-17 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 failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

6. Common Application Topics 2016-17 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 or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

7. Tips for Getting Started Draft first, edit later Ignore your internal critic Almost anything can fit the prompts – write first, then reframe Get a second opinion but…don’t overconsult

8. Tips for Choosing a Topic Consider small moments and the mundane Tell a personal story, not what you think they want to hear Be sure to explain why this matters to you Be mindful of cliches – especially the group service trip Apply these strategies to supplements too

9. Another Resource 500 Prompts for Personal Essay writing: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/500-prompts- for-narrative-and-personal-writing/?_r=0 http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/500-prompts- for-narrative-and-personal-writing/?_r=0 Sample Questions: Do you have a hidden talent, your peers don’t know about? Do people make assumptions about you? If so, what are they and are they wrong? Do you have a favorite place?

10. College Essay Tips Ms. Moran Program Director, English

11. DO use your authentic voice and avoid trying to impress the reader with dazzling SAT vocabulary.

12. DON’T include a title. This is not an academic essay, and the title cuts down on your available word count.

13. DO tell a story. Include details and sensory images that help the reader appreciate what you are describing.

14. DON’T write a satirical essay. Such humor nearly always backfires.

15. DO include a compelling lead sentence/paragraph. Draw your reader in with a snippet of dialogue, a vivid word picture, a thought-provoking statement, a question.

16. DON’T feel that you must adhere to five-paragraph structure. Think of this as creative non-fiction, using the elements of creative writing you enjoy as a reader.

17. DO write the essay only you can write. This is your opportunity to show aspects of yourself the admissions office cannot see in any other part of your portfolio.

18. DON’T assume there is a list of topics to avoid. Excellent essays can emerge from nearly any topic.

19. DO avoid using tired phrases and clichés. Banish the following: ‘lifestyle,’ ‘out of my comfort zone,’ ‘he/she was always there for me’ and the like. If you’ve heard an expression a thousand times, it doesn’t belong in your essay.

20. DO trust your judgment. You’ll probably get conflicting advice when you show your essay to several people. Take the best advice, and feel comfortable dismissing the rest.

21. DON’T wait until the last minute to write your essay. This process takes time, and you should plan to write several drafts. Carry a little notepad with you so you can jot down good ideas when they come to you.

22. DO proofread carefully. Be sure to apply the acid test of reading your essay aloud. Your ear will catch things your eye may miss.

23. DON’T make the fatal error on a supplement of including the name of the wrong college. If you are submitting an essay to BU, you don’t want to conclude with ‘and that’s why I have always wanted to attend Northeastern.’

24. DO some homework before writing your supplements. If the college asks why you are interested in attending, you want to offer specific details. NYU does not want to hear that you’re eager to attend because you love New York City.

25. DO take advantage of the help available to you here at BLS.

26. Advice from Dr. Schnur

27. WHO AM I?

28. WHO AM I REALLY?

29. WHO AM I REALLY REALLY?

30. YOUR ESSAY IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU: TRUST THIS.

31. TAKE A 3-HOUR WALK.

32. WRITE DOWN SCENES FROM YOUR LIFE; DON'T CONNECT THEM.

33. WHO AM I? WHO AM I REALLY? WHO AM I REALLY REALLY? YOUR ESSAY IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU: TRUST THIS. TAKE A 3-HOUR WALK. WRITE DOWN SCENES FROM YOUR LIFE; DON'T CONNECT THEM.