1. The College Application Essay Are you one of the crowd or one who stands out?

2. Purpose of the Essay Get an idea of YOUR writing skills Learn something more about YOU, what makes YOU unique, and a sense of YOUR personality Show something about YOU that is not revealed by your SAT, transcript or activities resumé What theme do you see here? YOU!!

3. Getting Started Think about... – One accomplishment – One goal – One passion – One thing you want the admissions committee to know about you that’s not on your activities resumé, transcript, or SAT What theme do you see here? ONE thing!!

4. Do... Carefully read the question and answer it. Focus on ONE moment that reveals your strength or character trait. Tell a story of the ONE moment. Grab the reader’s attention with your opening statement. Evaluate your experience, not simply tell the experience (Ex. How did you change as a result of your experience?) Be positive. Proofread carefully!

5. Don’t... Tell the college how great it is. Repeat the prompt. Repeat what is on your activities resumé. Use clichés. Use a gimmick (such as writing in a circle, or using rhyming couplets) Write a generic essay for all colleges.

6. Be careful with these topics... Person you admire: Remember to focus on YOU; write about how this person influenced you. The Sports Essay: Focus on one moment that reveals something about YOU. Do more than write about how winning was a team effort or how losing built character. The Travel Essay: Focus on one moment that you learned something that had a lasting impact on YOU.

7. Final Thought You ARE unique. Write the essay only YOU can write.

8. References "Application Essay." Essay Info. Essayinfo.com. 13 Jul 2009. "Essay Skills." Apply to College. College Board. 13 Jul 2009. "Writing the Personal Statement." The OWL at Purdue. Purdue University. 13 Jul 2009. "Writing the Successful College Application Essay: Tips for Success." Quintessential Careers. 13 Jul 2009.