Crafting a Winning College Entrance Essay: Stand Out From the Competition
Learn how to write a compelling college entrance essay that captures your unique story and showcases your true self. Avoid common mistakes, focus on authenticity, and follow tips to grab the attention of admissions officers. Personalize your essay to make a lasting impression and increase your chances of success.
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Presentation Transcript
Writing Your College Entrance Essay Staci Knighton NC State College Advisor Corps aknighton@ncmcs.org Clint Mack North Moore High School Scholarship Coordinator cmack@ncmcs.org http://bit.ly/MustangCollegeMoney
Admission Essays Most colleges or scholarships require them Always write an optional essay Only chance to shine out of a stack of other applicants Who are you? What makes you tick? Tell me your story why do you want to go here? Grab My Attention
Admissions Most applicants today have high test scores and AP courses Essays focusing on these facts (which are on your resume & transcript) are a waste of words Admissions officers take in account the amount of resources at high schools Even with limited funding, what did the applicant achieve? Overcoming barriers shows persistence Quality > Quantity
Its called the personal essay for a reason. No one knows you better than YOU! You re the hook!
Paint Me a Picture Use strong verbs Weak: I was the supervisor of the organization. Strong: I oversaw the organization. Replace any sentences that start There is or There are Cut out filler language Very, many, etc. Adverbs are not your friends Clear and simple language
Top 10 Essay Mistakes 1. Not Authentic 2. Re-Submitting Facts from Resume / Application 3. Submitting Generic Essay 4. Showcasing you have a Thesaurus 5. Not Following Directions 6. Not Answering (All) the Questions Asked 7. Checking for Spelling & Grammar 8. Sucking Up 9. Being Trite / Shallow 10. Not Devoting Time to the Writing Process
2020-2021 Common Apps 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (Second most popular) 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (Most popular)
The Writing Process Understand the question, reread and ask someone read it out loud to you Brainstorm and reflect to make neuro- connections Build a outline of main ideas and consider a thesis
The Personal Essay Introduction Paragraph Hook the reader into your story State the point of your story or something about you worth reading Content paragraph The meat of your story; tells the how and why. End paragraph by connecting this part of your story to your introduction paragraph Conclusion Paragraph Summarize your experience and reiterate the what and why
The Standard Essay Introduction Paragraph Clearly state your thesis, idea, or argument. Make sure the reader know where you stand. Supporting Paragraph 1 Use one clear idea, fact, or point to support your thesis End with a correlation sentence. Supporting Paragraph 2 State another, fact, or point supporting your thesis End with a correlation sentence. Counterpoint Paragraph Add validity to your thesis by addressing any counterpoints, misconceptions, opposing ideas, or arguments against your stance. Give a valid point that further supports your previous paragraphs. Conclusion Paragraph Summarize all your ideas into a statement that connects your views and reiterate your thesis. Make sure you clearly restate your stance and definitely close the essay. (no cliffhangers)
Writing Resources https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html Purdue Owl Writing Assistant https://www.youtube.com/user/OWLPurdue/videos?view=50&shelf_id=7&so rt=dd&_ga=2.84197020.465736234.1597942092-333449100.1597942092 Purdue Owl YouTube Channel Grammarly Writing Assistant https://www.grammarly.com/
Q & A Feel free to log off and have a good night or stay for specific questions or concerns. Thank You
