<p>Editrix–Nicely put. Just wanted to point out that “plethora” can also mean “an excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area.” My father-in-law (a retired educator) pointed that out in the rec my S’s GC wrote for him. ;-)</p>
<p>Here’s a good article on writing college essays with many quotes from college adcoms describing what they are looking for:
<a href=“http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20050109-114057-1151r.htm[/url]”>http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20050109-114057-1151r.htm</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the link, Carolyn. When you think about it, an applicant’s stats take only a moment or two to scan. But an essay takes time to read - and if the adcom is wincing throughout the process, that does not bode well for the applicant. Even if you are not a brilliant writer, you can still produce a respectable essay if you give it enough time, thought, and revision.</p>
<p>just noticed this. thanks, all who put their time into coming up with these excellent tips.</p>
<p>For the record, I even though I don’t think I got the recognition I should have, I’m still very proud of the work I did on that paper, and the things I was able change while in there. So it was in no way a loss for me.</p>
<p>May I add just one thing:</p>
<p>Do not try to edit your essay on the college app. itself, on the internet. You may wish to copy a paper to the site and edit it later…we found that the editorial changes my son made did not stick, and we thought they had. The one app. we submitted before we realized the problem had a garbled essay. Bad feeling? You betcha. </p>
<p>Finish all work off the app., then simply cut and paste. Do NOT edit on the app.</p>
<p>Good point! Thanks, firsttimemom.</p>
<p>Your editing post of early January is a classic. Thanks so much for the effort. I will say that tossing out sentences is not always easy. But good editing leaves no time for sentiment. If a sentence doesn’t work, toss it. Toss even paragraphs and even the entire essay if you see repair time being about the same as redo time. </p>
<p>On mechanics of word processing, save versions as your editing progresses. You might conclude that the discarded text worked better than you’d thought. It’s be nice to have it back again. Reconstructed text is often not as good as what’s gone down the memory hole. </p>
<p>Best of luck everyone.</p>
<p>For a college essay, is it a good idea to write about a learning experience when you were 8? or is it way too long ago in the past that the readers do not know if that experience reflect your personality anymore?</p>
<p>If you organize your essay correctly, it shouldn’t be problem. Describe your experience at eight. Then, discuss its impact on your life today. You may be able to talk about the experience as a catalyst for learning today, and about how your intellectual outlook is broader and deeper today because of it. Obviously, give examples that will interest your readers and let them see you as a person - not just an application!</p>
<p>Just another voice on proofreading. Have the essay proofread for typos (including words that the spell-checker won’t pick up) by someone else, preferably an adult. No need to make the adcom reading your essay even a tiny bit annoyed, and diverted from the point of your essay, by his/her spotting a typo. </p>
<p>I write this from the point of view of one who has read many briefs submitted by law students in national competitions - and many not thoroughly proofed. I have had to make conscious efforts to temporarily ignore those typos in order to focus on the general writing skills (or lack of them). Don’t make the adcom reviewing your essay have to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you for the contributions.</p>
<p>darn!! why did i doscover this site juz last week?? 
great advice on essays!! cud have certainly used it…
valuable for our juniors…</p>
<p>i would go 2x spaced easier to read.</p>
<p>I know this not the real college admission essay.</p>
<p>Question: what type of tone or mood should I use in my essay? (topic is about describing your leadership, interest in politics, or community sevice experience)
???</p>
<p>By the way, I am from Vancouver, BC.
My question is writing an admissions essay for a summer program at Princeton.</p>
<p>It’s all about the subjunctive mood. :-P</p>
<p>can you explain it with more detail?</p>
<p>I was kidding about the subjunctive mood. It was a grammar joke, don’t worry if you didn’t get it.</p>
<p>Anyway, my best advice is to be you. If you’re a serious kind of person, be serious. If you’re funny, throw in some jokes. Let your personality come through as you address the prompt.</p>
<p>If possible, you might want to address why you/your interests would benefit from attending that particular program and perhaps how you could contribute to it.</p>