Good resources for starting college essays?

College Essays
1

<p>I want to write my essays this summer, and I’d like to have some examples and guides to help me get started. I’m going to buy [Amazon.com:</a> 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays, Third Edition: What Worked for Them Can Help You Get into the College of Your Choice (Harvard Crimson) (9780312624385): Staff of the Harvard Crimson: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Harvard-Application-Essays-Third/dp/0312624387/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302135563&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Harvard-Application-Essays-Third/dp/0312624387/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302135563&sr=1-1) and [Amazon.com:</a> On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice (9780064637220): Harry Bauld: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Writing-College-Application-Essay-Acceptance/dp/0064637220/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Writing-College-Application-Essay-Acceptance/dp/0064637220/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1). Are there other books or resources like websites I should look at?</p>

2

<p>Check out [Concise</a> Advice: Jump-Starting Your College Admissions Essays (Second Edition)](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/dp/0974386723]Concise”>http://www.amazon.com/dp/0974386723) The website for the book (with a sample essay and a tip on how to start) is at [Jump</a> Start Your College Essays](<a href=“http://www.jumpstartessays.com%5DJump”>http://www.jumpstartessays.com)</p>

<p>Also check out the reviews on amazon.com for the book, and check out collegeconfidential’s review of it on CC: [Book</a> Review College Application Essays - Concise Advice: Jump-Starting Your College Admissions Essays](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_books/college-application-essays.htm]Book”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_books/college-application-essays.htm) Note that the link in the review is out-of-date and is to the first edition.</p>

<p>CC’s “Ask The Dean” had a column on essays recently: [College</a> Essay Tips for “Ordinary Teenager” - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/college-essay-tips-for-ordinary-teenager.htm]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/college-essay-tips-for-ordinary-teenager.htm)</p>

3

<p>Thank you very much! I’ll get Concise Advice too.</p>

4

<p>Let us know what you think. Also, if you look at any others, give us some recommendations on those as well. It’s hard getting books blind. Some are very useful and some are almost useless. I even read one that gave this advice: Step 1: Think of a topic. Step 2: Create an outline. Step 3… Big help, that one.</p>

<p>I also came across a college consultant who had this great advice: “Remember, the topic is always YOU! The prompt just provides the backdrop for your topic.”</p>

5

<p>There is good advice here:</p>

<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>

6

<p>^— EXCELLENT advice, ADad!!</p>

7

<p>Oh rats! Amazon is sold out of Concise Advice :eek: … but I happen to know <wink> that a new shipment of books is on its way to the Amazon warehouse even as we speak…</wink></p>

8

<p>Are these books available at barnesandnobles?</p>

9

<p>thanks so much guys!!</p>