The Five Parts Of The College Paragraph

The Five Parts Of The College Paragraph The college essay may be your only opportunity to show your personality to the admission office. If you are witty, show the reader your sense of humor (But be cautious. What you think is funny, someone else may not.). If you are more thoughtful, take on a slightly more serious tone. You may have a beautifully crafted essay or a wonderful story to tell, but if you don’t take the time to proofread, your essay may be overlooked and end up in the rejection pile. Careful proofreading shows the reader you care and you aren’t sloppy. Before you send your essay to colleges, have someone you trust read it and provide feedback. Usually, your English teacher will be happy to take a look. Similar to the questions above, the emphasis should not be on who you choose. If you choose a person in the hopes of merely impressing the admissions committee, it will likely make your essay appear disingenuous. Instead, write about a person who truly has impacted your life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a third cousin, your boss at the local pizzeria or your French teacher. Just be sure that the essay isn’t merely a biographical sketch. Instead, give the reader the piece of the puzzle that conveys your message. Here are some college application essay dos and don’ts for students to keep in mind as they complete their applications this fall. If you’re reading this in your junior year, it’s a little early to start writing, but not early enough to start thinking about your college essay. Think about a memorable story a friend or family member told you, or a great book you read or movie you watched. It probably didn't start out with a thesis statement, did it? Rather than starting your essay by telling us what it's going to be about, think about how you're going to catch our attention, and pull us into your story. The earlier you get started, the more time you'll have not only to craft a great essay, but also to think about what you really want to write about, and what will best help colleges get to know the real you. Writing the College Essay can be one of the most intimidating aspects of the college application process. Though you can certainly demonstrate passion and fervor for your argument, it’s vital you don’t come across as dogmatic. You want to reveal that you can think logically and objectively; the reader shouldn’t come away thinking you’re myopic. Additionally, you must remember that, ultimately, admissions officers are using these essays to gain insight into you. You should relate your opinions and arguments to your own life and experiences. When it comes to writing a successful college essay, you must realize that honesty trumps everything (except possibly good grammar/a typo-free piece). Schools aren’t interested in fantasy versions of their applicants. You are a unique individual; be truthful with your answers and the admissions committee will appreciate your point-of-view. Now, though, you venture off on that adventure of writing, hoping that this process might be over and the stresses of the college application process will end. When developing a topic that reveals something new, find a way to frame the story or idea that shows a slice of your life or the event. Be descriptive and give details that appeal to the senses â€" taste, touch, smell, etc. When writing about a meaningful experience or event, you don’t have to give a long timeline of events. When we begin evaluating your application, everything can seem pretty standard - grades, test scores, activities, lists of AP classes. Yes, your letters of recommendation tell us about you, but they’re written from someone else’s perspective. You must write about what they taught you and how it relates to your own outlook on life. As with many of these questions, the issue/cause you select is not nearly as important as your explanation. Thus, the college essay is an invaluable component of your application because you're able to speak to us directly. You have the space tell us what you’re thinking about and how you’re thinking about it. Rachel chooses her favorite book, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. If she writes 500 wordsâ€"well under the limit for GMU, but fine for a tightly written essayâ€"it will be easier to shorten the same essay for UVA. She digs out a paper she wrote on this book, but she’s aware that most colleges do not welcome academic writing, so the paper will mostly serve as inspiration.