To College and Beyond...

Why should I go to college?

• More skills– Jobs of the FUTURE

• More jobs– “by the year 2028 there will be 19

million more jobs for educated workers than there are qualified people to fill them” (actstudent.org).

Why should I go to college?

• More money– “According to the U.S. Census Bureau,

on average, someone with a bachelor's degree earns $50,900—that's 62 percent more than the $31,500 earned annually by someone with only a high school diploma” (collegeboard.com).

– More statistics according to studentaid.gov• High school dropout—$22,100 a year• High school graduate—$30,056 a year• College graduate (BA)—$54,704 a year

Why should I go to college?

• More AND better...– “According to experts, college

graduates are self confident, have greater knowledge of governance, are less likely to become criminals, are emotionally and financially secure, make better partners and parents, and have a deeper understanding of human nature” (Paul Wilson).

What is the college process like?

(see Fockler for final recs)• Now...RESEARCH AND

APPLICATIONS– Research 7-10– Pick 3-5 colleges you are interested in

and plan to apply for– Check your credentials...are they

ready?– Check applications...what are you going

to need?– Check deadlines

• Typical due dates: Oct 1-Nov 1– APPLY BY NOVEMBER

What colleges often want...

• GPA• Scores• Class requirements• Involvement, service, and/or

leadership• Application• Entrance essay• Letters of recommendation• Fee

Preparing for the entrance essay...

Source: collegeboard.com • 3 types of questions colleges ask

– Who are you?– Why us?– How well can you think (and write)

outside the box?

Who are you?

• Purpose:– To know you– To evaluate how you introduce yourself

• Blessing and curse: Freedom– You choose– Not too broad; pick 1-2 things to really

zero in on

Why us?

• Purpose:– To hear your selection of school and/or

career– To evaluate your commitment to them

• How:– Know your subject well!

In or out of the box?

• Purpose:– To evaluate your breadth of knowledge

and ‘withitness’– To witness your creativity

• How:– Be informed

Examples…

• What type of question is each of the following?

o If you could strengthen one aspect of yourself, what would it be? Why?

o If you could invent anything, what would you create? Discuss.

oWhat are your career objectives, and how will college help you achieve them?

oHow might a freshman roommate describe you?

o If you could spend an evening with any prominent person -- living, deceased, or fictional -- whom would you choose, and why?

Writing the entrance essay:Blending the best of

narrative and expository

Writing the entrance essay:Blending the best of

narrative and expositoryThe keys to write your way in... (to college, to money, to hearts)

What is it?• How we produce writing is determined

by:– Focus

• 3 types of questions– Purpose

• Make a sale!• Through an essay, a college looks for:

– Your Preferences: – Your Values: – Your Thought Process

– Audience• Informal vs. formal• Gatekeepers

What is it?• Narrative

– Shares a memorable experience– Uses sensory language to describe– Typically follows chronogolical order,

though sometimes w/ flashbacks• Expository

– Writing with the purpose of informing

How do I write a winner?

• Pre-writing– Brainstorm; journal to a variety of “practice”

prompts– Think in terms of past, present, future– Talk to others– Select a topic that:

• Interests you, and that you can build interest for the reader

• You can write with much information on• You can tell a vivid story/memory/anecdote about• Will not be overdone/generic/oppressive• You will be memorable writing about• Encourages honesty, but not overt self-debasing

How do I write a winner?

• Writing– ANSWER the QUESTION– Be original; be yourself– Use imagery and precise words, but not the

thesaurus (too much)– The INTRO matters!!!

• Admissions officers decide a lot w/in the intro• A.O. spend 1-2 minutes reading each essay; make it

captivating!– Less is MORE; depth not breadth – Be specific and persuasive

How do I do it?• Post-writing

– Revise– Collaborate

Sources• http://www.quintcareers.com/college_ap

plication_essay.html• http://www.collegeboard.com/student/a

pply/essay-skills/109.html• http://www.scholarscript.com/personal_

statements_essays.php?view=intro• The College Application Essay, by Sarah

Myers McGinty.