The College Admissions Essay

College Essays
1

<p>Hey CC!
I wanted to help out my fellow friends in search of college education by writing a short piece on the college admissions essay! Having recently gone through the process, I want to help other students avoid mistakes in the essay that I made and give some perspective to students. I have included four key parts that I think are important, I would love to hear what you have to say about them.</p>

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<p>The college admissions essay is different than most academic papers. Instead of focusing on analysis or argumentation, the admissions essay focuses on personal experiences and is a conversation between the applicant and admissions officers. It is about the writer. Therefore, the key to the college admissions essay is personal writing, which is accomplished through an essay with four critical components: specificity, honesty, passion, and linkage.</p>

<p>Being specific allows readers to grasp what the writer is saying, which is critical in an essay prompt that may ask “Tell us about an experience which changed you”. An “experience” is something that readers cannot imagine; a “50 foot rollercoaster ride” is something that most readers can. Specificity also gives legitimacy to what the writer is talking about. By mentioning something with detail, the reader is more likely to imagine the event or scenario and believe the writer. To build specificity and gain specific events, successful applicants keep a resume-builder and participate in many activities, eventually finding something that they enjoy.</p>

<p>The second aspect of the successful college admissions essay is honesty. In fact, being honest is the most important aspect of the admissions essay. Honesty in writing and in ideas shows that the writer is a person rather than the stack of papers and boxes that is the Common Application. Honesty is shown through a conglomeration of the other three aspects and through personal writing: using I-statements, being simple, and being truthful about who you are and what you think.</p>

<p>Passion is the third key component. Passion for something, whether it is family, a car, or mathematics, shows that the writer has developed himself/herself beyond what is required and has an identity that the reader can grasp. Passion also shows commitment and the ability to stick to a task. In the admissions essay, passion can be shown through imagery, which is closely linked to specificity. By painting a picture with literary techniques, the reader can imagine the writer’s emotions. In the best essays, readers literally take on the persona of the writer and feel that passion.</p>

<p>Finally, linkage is critical. It is the second most important aspect of the college admissions essay. In the whole admissions process, we try to show who we are through our activities. The goal, however, is to show who we are as people. Linkage requires directness, telling through our essays who we are by stating certain characteristics about ourselves. With the theme approach, the applicant should have a passion and deep development in a specific area with an interest in other areas. None of us are one-sided, and it is critical that that is portrayed in essays.</p>

<p>The admissions essay is both simple and complicated. The successful essay conveys who the writer is to the reader and even places the reader in the writer’s shoes. The four aspects outlined above are there to give writers perspective on the process, to let writers know how to approach the process. They are part of the Perspective Approach. In the end, successful essays in this process are personal essays, and the final check and revisions of essays should be a “Yes” in response to “Does this essay show who I am?” Believe in yourself and write.</p>

2

<p>I love it–I don’t think there’s a single statement I disagree with. I can tell you’re still fired up from regular application season :)</p>

<p>Your approach is methodological – which I think is fantastic, as the application process is really a maze and everyone needs some fundamental orientation to the paths one can take during this process. If I could, I would certainly add this to a list of must-reads for any CC’er ready to begin the app process.</p>

<p>–Dany.</p>

3

<p>Well said, I hope I conveyed all of this through my essay. Would you mind reading it? It is a transfer essay. Thank you for your consideration.</p>

4

<p>I’d like to read it too! PM it to me :)</p>

5

<p>I think analysis can be an important part of the essay, the ‘why’ or key. Showing some understanding is a lot better than just listing off stuff.
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