1. Statement of Intent/Future Plans For those of you who plan to attend college, part of the admissions package generally includes a statement of intent. A statement of intent most commonly includes a declaration statement of your desire to attend a particular college, why you have chosen a particular college, your major of choice, and your academic goals while attending. The instructions may also ask you to reflect on an experience which you feel has prepared you to be successful at the college level. This essay allows the admissions committee deeper insight into who you are as a person, student, and learner. It is the one opportunity in the admissions process (unless the school requires an interview) for you to let your personality shine through. Just like the cover letter, your statement of intent is an important factor in setting you apart from the rest of the applicants and determining if your college application will make it to the next round of the admissions process. For those of you intending to go straight into a career or attend a trade school, a Statement of Future plans is equally important. A Statement of Future Plans will allow you to clearly define your future goals and the steps you must follow in order to obtain those goals.

2. Introduction The introduction should accomplish three things: 1.Introduce the topic with some indication of its inherent interest or importance, and a clear definition of the boundaries of the subject area. 2.Provide necessary background leading to the thesis statement. 3.State the thesis of the essay, preferably in a single sentence with a clear main clause. Your thesis should concern your post-graduation plans.

3. Body The body of your essay should be 3 – 5 paragraphs, focused around one or more of the following topics: 1.How have you taken advantage of the educational opportunities you have had to prepare for college, a career or living independently as part of the workforce? 2.Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to your chosen profession, the workplace or a college. 3.Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that may not be obvious, but would be an important component in understanding your potential?

4. Conclusion The concluding paragraph ties up loose ends and leave the reader with a sense of completion. The conclusion should: 1.Be a logical ending to what has been previously been discussed and refer the reader back to the focus you outlined in your introduction and to the thesis. 2.Never contain any new information. 3.Add to the overall quality and impact of the essay. This is your final statement about this topic; it can make a great impact on the reader.

5. MUSTS Your Statement of Future Plans must: 1.Be 1 – 4 pages in length. 2.Follow the BCMHS Academic Report Format (MLA). 3.Be checked for spelling and grammatical accuracy.