| Everyone loves the excitement of senior year in high | | | | made schoolwork difficult." This makes your problem |
| school-graduation, prom, getting ready for college. | | | | a bit more clear and less vague. |
| Everyone's favorite part is the paperwork, right? | | | | On the other end of the scale, it is important to not |
| While the paperwork may not be fun, it is essential | | | | give too much information. It can be very |
| for your future success in college. | | | | uncomfortable to have an intimate, private view into |
| An important part of almost any college application is | | | | the life of a stranger. Using the example above, it |
| your essay or personal statement. While they vary | | | | would be too much information to say "My father |
| from college to college, a great deal of them deal | | | | lost his job my junior year, and my mother had to |
| with your personal beliefs, goals, or accomplishments. | | | | work full-time as a waitress to keep our house. I had |
| It is important to be specific enough in your writing | | | | to take care of the house and the cooking in addition |
| that it makes you memorable, but it is equally | | | | to school and working full-time." Admissions essays |
| important to not give too much personal information | | | | have strict word requirements-rather than using |
| that is inappropriate for an entrance essay. | | | | those words to detail your troubles, use them to |
| Many people choose to write about struggles they've | | | | expound on how they have made you stronger. Too |
| overcome that either have led them to attend a | | | | much negativity in an essay leaves admissions |
| particular college, or illustrate their determination in | | | | counselors with an unsure feeling about an applicant. |
| wanting to attend college. Write with enough voice | | | | Above all, make sure to use your voice in your |
| and description to make your predicament clear and | | | | writing. Don't let your writing get too clinical or dry; |
| not vague: for instance, rather than saying "I had | | | | the admissions counselors want to find out who you |
| many troubles my junior year that led to the poor | | | | are! Express yourself in a positive, creative, and |
| grades on my transcript," say "My family and I went | | | | intelligent way, and you will be on your road to |
| through a trying financial time in my junior year that | | | | success. |