How to conquer the admissions essay
August 7th, 2017We’ve shared several articles in the past weeks relating to essay questions, and many of our rising seniors have made good progress. With the first day of school right around the corner, now’s the time to get serious about this part of your application if you haven’t yet done so. In the article shared below, creative writer Rachel Toor gives great insight into what really goes on behind closed doors during admissions reviews.
Toor gives specific examples of topics that work and some that don’t, with a great list of of things students should avoid. The most significant piece of advice throughout this article is to make your essay personal and help the readers understand who you are through your writing.
Many students have heard me reminisce about my years on admission committees at Tufts, Brandeis and Washington universities. The best essays that I read during that time made me feel the student was right across the desk from me, ready to talk and answer questions. Let your personality and voice shine through!
Article published below by New York Times
Picture this before you plop yourself down in front of your computer to compose your college application essay: A winter-lit room is crammed with admissions professionals and harried faculty members who sit around a big table covered with files. The admissions people, often young and underpaid, buzz with enthusiasm; the professors frequently pause to take off their glasses and rub their eyes.
These exhausted folks, hopped up from eating too many cookies and brownies, have been sitting in committee meetings for days after spending a couple of months reading applications, most of which look pretty similar: baseball = life, or debate = life, or “I went to a developing country and discovered poor people can be happy.”
Read more at New York Times >>Tagged: Applications, College, Essays
