<p>I need to start thinking about my admissions essay to NYU considering i am hoping on getting some financial aid, even though i know they are known for giving little.</p>
<p>Really, they gave me a #*$&LOAD then. The essays are major decision factors for the adcoms, so don’t bs those over. Actually do some research and dig into the school website for unique opportunities, then use that critical reasoning to plan how to take advantage of those for your own goals.</p>
<p>My aid:
$8k-9k scholarship
$15k subsidized loan (2.5% interest)
$30k unsubsidized loan (7% interest)
work/study (i have no freaking clue how this works)
$5k federal grant (no idea how this works either)</p>
<p>p.s. don’t screw up fafsa…take 2 hours and sit down with your parents on it</p>
<p>I’m not sure about NYU specifically (I’m also applying this fall and it seems they want what any college wants: originality and how believable it is), but I found this website about college admission essays. It’s incredibly helpful if you read all of it, including the example essays. Some things to highlight: write artfully, but naturally. You want to show that your writing is college-ready and that you really know how to use the words in your essay. As it says in the online article, you don’t want it to look like you abused a thesaurus. Pick a unique approach to any of their topics. If there was a bad time in your life that you want to talk about as your topic, rather than writing in a way that sounds like you want sympathy admission, write about what you learned from it and how it makes you a better person. Again, nothing that is standard slacker material. Put a lot of thought into it, relate it to your possible major and/or career, and make sure it sounds sincere. Have someone else read it over to make sure they see what you want the admissions officer to see, and not what the admissions officer would reject you for.</p>
<p>You can read all of it (with much more in-depth analysis) here: [Application</a> Essays: Tips for Writing Winning College Application Essays](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/essay_tips.htm]Application”>Tips for Writing a Winning College Application Essay)</p>
<p>Hope this helps, good luck! :)</p>
<p>honestly the only thing i think they want is something authentic…the way i wrote my essay was more of a “show don’t tell” technique…rather than raving on like “its obvious i love community service because i got x amount of awards blahh blahh blahh” try to convey your love of community service with your own experience !!
i hope this helps and keep it real !</p>
<p>I literally procrastinated until the final 3 hours before the application was due, and I somehow was accepted. What you need to do is write sincerely and just set yourself apart from the rest of the applicant pool. What makes you special and more appealing over Applicants B, C, D etc.? In the supplement essays, I discussed my volunteering at a local music festival and how that opened my ears to many new genres I now love, and I also discussed how NYU would specifically help me with my career aspirations since it’s a global university and I want to go into an international field. </p>
<p>Just make the essay specific to YOU, and don’t be magniloquent. Write naturally. When I visited Harvard, I received excellent advice on college essays. If you were to type one up, not put your name on it, and drop it on your high school floor, somebody should be able to pick it up and read it and instantly know it was your essay. THAT’S how personal it should be…</p>
<p>One last thing. Financial aid does pull through if you truly need it. I received $48K in scholarships/grants.</p>
<p>Be very personal with it and make sure you show whatever message you’re trying to convey rather than just tell. If you want I could email you my essay from when I applied</p>
<p>Don’t gush about how lovely the city is and don’t end your essay with “It’s up to you, New York, New York!” </p>
<p>da da dadada</p>
<p>My AP English teacher also told our class to carry a little notebook with you around (or use your phone lol) to jot down any random thoughts that might come to your mind that you can potentially use for your essays. I think that might be helpful because who knows when you might get that flash of inspiration! :)</p>
<p>ALSO, a big tip she told us… do not let anyone you know personally review/peer-edit your essay. They might end up changing the original message you are trying to convey and also, that person already knows you anyway so what is the point of asking them to read about you? Instead, ask a stranger or someone you don’t know very well to read over your essays, because when NYU reads them, they don’t know who you are as well and are trying to figure out your character through your words. </p>
<p>:) I hope that helped! I really liked @WednesdayTomato’s advice on making it very personal. Good-luck on your essays, I need to start working on mine soon! :)</p>