| The old show business expression goes, "Always | | | | through the events you've been describing in the |
| leave them wanting more." In writing your college | | | | essay. If you helped serve Thanksgiving dinners at a |
| application essay, the rule should be, "Always leave | | | | local homeless shelter, this is where you would state |
| them wanting you." | | | | what you learned through the experience. To keep |
| One way you can accomplish this is by ending your | | | | this approach from being too simplistic, try to offer |
| essay strongly and memorably. Here are six methods | | | | examples - showing, not telling - of how these |
| that can help you do that. | | | | lessons have played out in your life. |
| "The Buzz Lightyear" | | | | "The What If" |
| Remember Buzz' trademark line, "To infinity and | | | | It can be interesting to close your essay by |
| beyond?" That's where you will take the reader with | | | | wondering what would have happened to you - what |
| this technique. Whatever subjects or themes you've | | | | kind of person you would have been, what values |
| been exploring in the essay, expand them into the | | | | you might have had - had the events of the essay |
| future. If you've described your involvement in | | | | never occurred. This can illustrate your capacity for |
| community service, use the final paragraph to discuss | | | | "big picture" thinking - seeing things from more than |
| how you've been inspired to continue volunteering in | | | | one perspective - as well as an appreciation for the |
| college and beyond. If your essay was about your | | | | benefits you've enjoyed from the way things actually |
| love of classical music, state your intentions to learn | | | | occurred. |
| even more about it as you get older. In this way, | | | | "The Ribbon and Bows" |
| you help establish yourself as a person who intends | | | | Ending your essay by neatly tying up all the different |
| to be constantly learning and growing, which can only | | | | themes, story lines and characters that you've |
| have a positive impact on your acceptance to the | | | | introduced will give the reader a satisfying sense of |
| school. | | | | completion, as well as a strong feeling of confidence |
| "The Echo" | | | | in your writing skills. Leave no questions unanswered, |
| This technique takes a phrase, a theme, an object, a | | | | complete all anecdotes, and most importantly, keep |
| person from the beginning of your essay and brings | | | | the tone upbeat. |
| it back at the end. Using it will give your essay a | | | | "The Reveal" |
| feeling of unity and completion, leaving the | | | | With this technique, you disclose a significant piece of |
| Admissions Officer both satisfied and impressed. As | | | | information, or a part of yourself, that you haven't |
| an example, say you've started your essay with a bit | | | | revealed in the body of the essay. In an essay about |
| of dialogue between you and your dad. Employing | | | | your inspiring first coach, it might go something like, |
| "The Echo," you would then close the essay with | | | | "Coach Jane passed away last year and now, every |
| another snippet of dialogue, ideally reflecting the | | | | time I get a new pair of tennis shoes, I write her |
| major theme of the essay. If you began with the | | | | initials on the inside. Maybe it's my imagination, but I |
| image of yourself boarding a camp bus for your first | | | | think it helps me play better." This approach can help |
| summer away from your parents, you might end it | | | | tie together earlier parts of the essay and also be |
| with the image of you boarding another bus, the one | | | | very dramatic, which is always a positive. |
| taking you off to college. However you use it, this | | | | In writing the college application essay, the concluding |
| technique is great way to show that you know how | | | | paragraph could be your last chance to make an |
| to bring a concept full circle. | | | | impression on the reader, and positively influence |
| "The Head of the Class" | | | | your acceptance to the school. So use these |
| Simple, direct, but always effective, this closing | | | | techniques to assure that your final words are also |
| technique summarizes what you have learned | | | | your most memorable. |