Jeanne Russell

Oct. 25, 2008

Personal PhilosophyPersonal Philosophy• Students have powerful stories to tell, and

these stories are an often unexplored asset in the college admissions process.

• Taking control of your life story is an empowering experience.

Personal Philosophy, con'tPersonal Philosophy, con't

• It is critical for students to write a story that is meaningful and true rather than a story that they believe will please an imaginary college admissions officer. For example, it is much more powerful to tell a story about struggling with a family member’s fight against cancer than to describe your election as class president.

Personal Philosophy, con'tPersonal Philosophy, con't

• Writing a successful college essay requires revision and editing, with ample time for reflection and feedback.

Who I amWho I am

• Professional writer and editor for 13 years

• Former teacher

• Wife and Mother of two

• Resident of SAISD

First StepsFirst Steps

Most college applications, including the essay portion, can now be completed online. The essay is a key component to a successful college application. Students who can write and hone and polish at least two pieces can likely adapt those pieces for other usage, such as scholarships.

Students ready to apply for college should:Students ready to apply for college should:

• Sign up to complete an online application at the college of choice;

• Determine what is required to complete that application, including what essays are required;

• Check to see if the same essays, or similar ones, can be submitted to other colleges of choice.

• www.applytexas.org• Online application form accepted by every

Texas public (four-year) university, plus some private and two-year schools.

• Information can be saved and copied to fill out multiple applications.

• Website includes scholarship information and applications as well.

• Website lists all schools that accept the Texas Common Application, their requirements and deadlines.

The Texas Common Application

Sample Essay Topics

Topic A• Write an essay in which you tell us about someone

who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

Topic B• Choose an issue of importance to you – the issue

could be personal, school-related, local, political or international in scope – and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

 

The Common Application

• www.commonapp.org

• Accepted by 346 private universities.

• Information can be saved and copied to fill out multiple applications. It can be used by teachers and school personnel as well.

• Website includes scholarship information and complete application form as well.

The Common Application

• The Common Application requires students write two essays from six possible topics. Of those six, two include:

• Indicate a person who has had significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

• Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.

Tips for writing college essays

• When writing, follow a two-part process. Spend time figuring out what you want to say. Once you have brainstormed and written down all your ideas, then begin to hone, polish and improve your story. Remember that shorter is usually better. Reduce your story to its essence, like a polished stone.

• Be yourself. Do not write for an imaginary college admissions officer. Do not necessarily focus on your accomplishments, but instead tell something meaningful about yourself that only you know. Tell your secrets.

Tips for Writing College Essays

• Tell a story. Write as you see and hear, as if you are writing scenes in a movie. Follow a simple structure, such as beginning with a scene, explaining your scene, offering some kind of revelation or a climax, and ending with some sort of summary scene.

• Don’t be afraid to be different, both in terms of content and form. It is OK to write a poem, a letter, or write in story mode as long as your piece addresses the question.

Tips for Writing College Essays

• Be specific and short. Try to keep your pieces to fewer than 500 words.

• Find a good listener and a good editor. They can be the same person, but it is not the same job. Read your story aloud and ask your listener to tell you what she likes, what she wants more of, what she would get rid of. When your piece is finished, find someone who can read your written work and help you with a strong opening and ending, word choice, organization and proofreading.

Tips for Writing College Essays

• Write two pieces, then adapt them for additional submissions and scholarships. The two topics for the Texas Common Application (www.applytexas.org), accepted by most Texas four-year schools, can be easily adapted to the Common Application (accepted by many private schools), as well as scholarships.

Tips for Revision

• Print out what you have written. Making the type larger and double spacing often forces you to read more slowly. Read out loud or have a partner read your piece to you. Find a place that is special to you, and read it there. Or, if you are writing about another person or a place, surround yourself with objects or music that remind you of this person/place.

• Do not necessarily read the piece from top to bottom. Sometimes it helps to separate your piece into chunks and read each of them independently. If they don’t stand alone, get rid of them. Or, start in the middle.

Tips for Revision

• Study your piece for your best moments, and consider whether you can do more to put the reader in those moments. Conversely, look for everything that does not move your piece along and omit it.

• Does your piece impart a sense of who you are and what you believe? (Truth matters more than whether others will like you, agree with you, or be impressed by you.)

Tips for Revision

• Look at your lead. Does your lead grab, and does it relate to the larger arc of your story? Is there a stronger point in your piece that really should be your beginning?

• Look at your conclusion, also called a kicker. Does it tie back to the remainder of your piece, or advance the story in some significant way?

Tips for Revision

• Does your story flow?

• Study your details and description. Detail makes writing stand out, and the best details are the ones that are true and specific. Write to tell others what only you know.

• Show, don’t tell.

Tips for Revision

• Consider your choice of words. Have you chosen the most apt adjectives? Look for a single precise word rather than a lengthy description. If you are describing a character, consider whether you can say more about that person by showing something they did, or sharing a bit of dialogue. Avoid physical description unless it says something about the person’s character.

• Identify your adverbs (usually ending in –ly). Consider whether you can replace them with a stronger verb.

Recap

Create an account at www.applytexas.org. Investigate

whether other colleges have similar requirements, due

dates and essay topics. Also look for scholarships, and

consider whether you can adapt some of your essays to

use for both purposes. (You may also want to look at the

Common Application, www.commonapp.org.)

Begin thinking about and drafting two essays for multiple

uses.

Recap

Find a family member, friend or teacher who can

help you by listening to your essay drafts and

helping you edit and polish them.

Make a list of everything else that is required

and the due dates.

Have fun with your writing. Be yourself.