| I actually worked with a dartmouth admissions officer on my essay and what schools are looking for, this is it in a nutshell: First you need to show deep thought, the essay needs to reflect analysis. Secondly you need to make yourself unique "oh I lost my grandmother and it was the hardest thing in my life" won't fly, what makes you different from every other applicant? My essay was about how I interpretted American Sign Language for the police in an investigation of a Deaf family, most people aren't fluent in ASL and never get an experience like that. Finally you need to show how you can contribute to the school, not just that you have great school spirit and am really smart, but that you are going to make the school a better place by being there... I strongly believe that the essay is most important aspect of an application...
The admissions officer had me do this: Once you've finished the filling in the blank section of your application (everything but the essay) get a piece of paper and write down everything you're application says about you. Most people are suprised to find out that they don't fill up half a page. The essay is there to give the admissions officer more insight into the person you really are, not just your accomplishments and the activities your in, but who you are! |