| So you have narrowed down your college choices | | | | achievements really stand out in your mind. |
| and now it is time to fill out those admission | | | | • Thinking about the one activity or achievement |
| applications. As you are going through the | | | | that really stands out in your mind, think about why it |
| applications, you start to notice a recurring theme. | | | | is that it stands out. Think about how it made you |
| They all seem to have essay questions that you are | | | | feel to achieve what you did. Think about what you |
| responsible for answering. Don't panic. Take a deep | | | | did or achieved, when you made this achievement, |
| breath and let it out. Step by step we are going to | | | | why you did what you did and how this particular |
| get you through this. | | | | achievement or activity has affected your life (or |
| Essays are one tool that colleges and universities use | | | | shaped you into the person that you are today). |
| to learn more about you and your reasons for | | | | • Write the answer to these questions out in |
| applying to attend their university or college. It is an | | | | paragraph form and you have yourself an essay! |
| opportunity for you to fully explain your reasons on | | | | 2. Role Model - If you could meet, be, or have dinner |
| how you feel about a particular situation. Your | | | | with anyone in history, who would it be and why? |
| answers to an essay question will also reveal to the | | | | • Make a list of your favorite books, movies, TV |
| admissions officer more about who you really are. It's | | | | shows, plays, sports, and famous people. |
| just one more step to get to know you as a person | | | | • Make a list of some of your favorite people, |
| or a student that isn't revealed from the form | | | | whether they are famous or people you know |
| questions that are asked on the admissions | | | | personally. |
| applications. The essay also provides you an | | | | • Next to each item or person, list the reasons |
| opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills and | | | | why these are your favorites and what contributions |
| your ability to organize your thoughts clearly and | | | | they have made to your life. |
| effectively. | | | | • Who intrigues you the most? This is the person |
| So take out a pen and a piece of paper so you can | | | | you should base your essay on. |
| take notes. We are now about to embark on 3 | | | | • With the person (whether it be actor, sports |
| popular essay questions and how you can tackle | | | | player, author, president, grandfather, etc.) chosen, a |
| them. You know how David Letterman has a "top 10 | | | | list of all of the reasons why they are your favorite |
| List" every night on his show that answers some | | | | person, and how they have changed you or affected |
| burning question? That's what you need to do. You | | | | you as a person, you now have an essay! |
| need to make top ten lists of your own, based on | | | | 3. Why do you want to study at this university? |
| the question, and then choose a few points from | | | | • Close your eyes and literally imagine yourself on |
| your list to elaborate on those particular points. | | | | the campus of the college or university. |
| 1. What events, activities, or achievements have | | | | • Why are you interested in attending? |
| contributed to your self-development? | | | | • What does the college or university have to |
| • List all of the activities that you have | | | | offer you as a person and as a student? |
| participated in during high school or over the past 3 | | | | • What do you have to offer the university or |
| years. | | | | the college? |
| • Be sure to include school activities, jobs, | | | | • Be specific in your responses. |
| volunteer opportunities, community service, sports, or | | | | • What makes this college or university different |
| anything else you participated in. | | | | from the hundreds of other ones that you could |
| • Next to each activity, list all of the | | | | apply to? |
| achievements that you made in these activities. | | | | • Turn your list into paragraphs and you have |
| Maybe you were president of the National Honor | | | | yourself an essay. |
| Society at your school or maybe you started a | | | | No matter what the essay question is, break it down. |
| community service organization that provided meals | | | | Make your list, being sure to answer all of the parts |
| to the homeless on weekends, which won you a | | | | that the question may have. Then turn your lists into |
| volunteer of the year award. | | | | sentences and your sentences into paragraphs, and |
| • Review your list and see which activities or | | | | by George we have ourselves an essay! |