College Admission Essay

College Admission Essay Here is an example of a prompt from the University of California. Their goal is to pull together a certain mix of people. They don’t want a collection of copycats all doing the same thing in their respective high schools. Your essay should show something that is unique; a demonstration of a distinctive quality that no other student may choose to offer. These three facts give us the first clues as to what should be included in your essay. Show how you fit into the campus culture and how you will impact the community through specific examples. This final step will likely take much longer than writing the entire essay. At this point you already have all the information you need to create a powerful essay but now you need to start building it. Remember, that every story has a main plot, a few characters that the reader can connect with, and a slow build up to the climax. This is the same approach you need to use in your essay. Line up your scenes in chronological order so that the story is easy to follow. Each university has its own set of prompts you should write about. I brought this desire home to a volunteer position at a local program for immigrant children. I helped the kids make presentations about their places of origin, including Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It became clear that the English language, one I took for granted, is the central feature that brings groups together. I’m starting with whats impacted me most of my life, what’s still in front of me, being Transgender in the school system. For my senior project, I am using my story and experience as a young Transgender man to inform local schools, specifically the staff, about the do’s and dont’s of dealing with a Transgender student. I am determined to make sure no one feels as alone as I did. I want to be able to reach people, and use motivational speaking as the platform. Similarly, as president of the International Students Club, I invited my teammates to have meetings with me at the cafe. The purpose is to flesh out all of your possible ideas so when you begin writing, you know and understand where you're going with the topic. Now forget all that, because a successful college application essay is totally different. Two summers ago, I travelled to Ecuador to live with a friend’s family and teach Spanish theater to third graders. The experience implanted a “cookie” in me, filling me with a desire to learn about different cultures. Universities are not just looking for students that hope to acquire good skills; they are looking for those who have a promising future. Your future success makes them look good and encourages more students to want to study with them. Your essay should reflect a powerful sense of commitment to your goals and your future success. Have these people review your application essay to make sure your message is on target and clear to any audience. Believe it or not, the brainstorming stage may be more tedious than writing the actual application essay. Have another person (or several!) read your essay, whether it’s a teacher, guidance counselor, parent, or trusted friend. You know what you meant to say, but is it clear to someone else reading your work? You may have to revise several times before your essay delivers your message perfectly. As you go through your revision keep these basic guidelines in mind. It’s time for you to narrow down your options for an essay topic and begin to build your story.