Cracking the Cracking the College EssayCollege Essay

Christopher PianeChristopher PianeTerritory Manager – South JerseyTerritory Manager – South Jersey

The Princeton ReviewThe Princeton ReviewChrisP@review.comChrisP@review.com

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Why do colleges Why do colleges ask you to write ask you to write

essays?essays?

Why an essay?Why an essay?

To find out who you are (and what To find out who you are (and what they can’t see from your grades and they can’t see from your grades and test scores)test scores)

To find unique people who are going To find unique people who are going to make the campus a better placeto make the campus a better place

To test your ability to organize your To test your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself thoughts and express yourself through words (what you do most in through words (what you do most in college)college)

Most ImportantlyMost Importantly

Be yourselfBe yourself

Separate yourself from the Separate yourself from the crowdcrowd

Start earlyStart early

What have you What have you been told about been told about writing a good writing a good college essay?college essay?

The DosThe Dos

Be creative and/or funnyBe creative and/or funny Reflect and opine (easy on the ‘what’, heavy Reflect and opine (easy on the ‘what’, heavy

on the ‘why’)on the ‘why’) Write in the first person if you wantWrite in the first person if you want Omit anything that doesn’t advance the storyOmit anything that doesn’t advance the story Give to someone you trust to edit (not Give to someone you trust to edit (not

necessarily your mom or your English necessarily your mom or your English teacher)teacher)

Follow the word count (not less than the Follow the word count (not less than the minimum or more than the maximum)minimum or more than the maximum)

The Don’tsThe Don’ts

Be funny if you’re not funnyBe funny if you’re not funny Be shy or modest (or too much of a Be shy or modest (or too much of a

braggart)braggart) Use a template or example essayUse a template or example essay Make stuff upMake stuff up Worry if you haven’t done anything amazingWorry if you haven’t done anything amazing Reuse another essay you already wroteReuse another essay you already wrote Repeat things from other parts of your Repeat things from other parts of your

application (like grades and activities)application (like grades and activities)

Topics That Work, Topics That Work, Topics That Don’tTopics That Don’t

What do they like? Curiosity, passion, What do they like? Curiosity, passion, persistence. Attributes that successful college persistence. Attributes that successful college students have. Great students become great students have. Great students become great alumni.alumni.

What universally makes them cringe? Sex What universally makes them cringe? Sex (especially YOUR sex life), drugs (especially (especially YOUR sex life), drugs (especially YOUR drug use), violent events in which you YOUR drug use), violent events in which you participated.participated.

They also tire of reading travelogues and stories They also tire of reading travelogues and stories of how you recovered from a sports injury. of how you recovered from a sports injury.

Want to make them groan? Rehash the Want to make them groan? Rehash the extracurricular activities that you already listed extracurricular activities that you already listed on your application or editorialize on the top on your application or editorialize on the top news item of the day. news item of the day.

Your grammer Your grammer will be judged by will be judged by the admissions the admissions

officers.officers.(What’s wrong with this (What’s wrong with this sentence?)sentence?)

Composition 101Composition 101

Spelling, grammar, and usage do Spelling, grammar, and usage do mattermatter

Spelling is easy, grammar is hardSpelling is easy, grammar is hard Follow the SAT/ACT rulesFollow the SAT/ACT rules Put ‘Strunk and White’ into google – it Put ‘Strunk and White’ into google – it

will change your lifewill change your life Be brief, focused. GET TO THE POINT Be brief, focused. GET TO THE POINT

IN 3 PAGES!IN 3 PAGES! Proof, proof, and proof some moreProof, proof, and proof some more

When should you When should you start writing your start writing your

essays?essays?

Plan of AttackPlan of AttackFor regular admissions deadlines, earlier for For regular admissions deadlines, earlier for

Early Decision.Early Decision. Research your topics (Early Summer)Research your topics (Early Summer) Brainstorm and sleep on it (Mid Brainstorm and sleep on it (Mid

Summer)Summer) Write your first drafts (Late Summer)Write your first drafts (Late Summer) Put them in a drawer (at least a week)Put them in a drawer (at least a week) Edit and revise (September)Edit and revise (September) Solicit feedback (October)Solicit feedback (October) Finalize and perfect (November)Finalize and perfect (November)

What topics can What topics can you expect?you expect?

Example TopicsExample TopicsWhat would you write?What would you write?

From the Common Application:From the Common Application:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

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

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. describe that influence.

Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. you, and explain that influence.

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. you.

Topic of your choice.Topic of your choice.

More Example TopicsMore Example TopicsWhat would you write?What would you write?

Rutgers University is a vibrant community of Rutgers University is a vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. How would you benefit from and experiences. How would you benefit from and contribute to such an environment? Consider contribute to such an environment? Consider variables such as your talents, travels, leadership variables such as your talents, travels, leadership activities, volunteer services, and cultural activities, volunteer services, and cultural experiences. (Rutgers)experiences. (Rutgers)

Tell us about a person who has influenced you in Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way. (Princeton)a significant way. (Princeton)

Why is UVM a good college choice for you? Why is UVM a good college choice for you? (University of Vermont)(University of Vermont)

Describe your reasons for selecting Loyola Describe your reasons for selecting Loyola College and your personal and professional goals College and your personal and professional goals and plans for after college. (Loyola College, MD)and plans for after college. (Loyola College, MD)

Even More Example Even More Example TopicsTopics

What would you write?What would you write? How would you describe yourself as a human being? How would you describe yourself as a human being?

What quality do you like best in yourself and what do What quality do you like best in yourself and what do you like least? What quality would you most like to you like least? What quality would you most like to see flourish and which would you like to see wither? see flourish and which would you like to see wither? (Bates College)(Bates College)

To learn to think is to learn to question. Discuss a To learn to think is to learn to question. Discuss a matter you once thought you knew 'for sure' that you matter you once thought you knew 'for sure' that you have since learned to question. (Bryn Mawr College)have since learned to question. (Bryn Mawr College)

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge that In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge that your generation will face? What ideas do you have your generation will face? What ideas do you have for dealing with this issue? (College of the Holy for dealing with this issue? (College of the Holy Cross)Cross)

You have just completed your 300-page You have just completed your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217. (University autobiography. Please submit page 217. (University of Pennsylvania)of Pennsylvania)

What if?What if?

What if the “personal statement” is What if the “personal statement” is optional? optional?

What if I’m asked to write short What if I’m asked to write short essays? essays?

What if I have a choice of essays? What if I have a choice of essays? What if one of the choices is “topic of What if one of the choices is “topic of

my choice?”my choice?” What if I’m asked for my “favorite What if I’m asked for my “favorite

things?”things?”

What if? What if? AnsweredAnswered What if the “personal statement” is What if the “personal statement” is

optional? optional? Do it!Do it! What if I’m asked to write short essays? What if I’m asked to write short essays?

All the same rules apply.All the same rules apply. What if I have a choice of essays? What if I have a choice of essays? Play to Play to

your strengths. your strengths. What if one of the choices is “topic of my What if one of the choices is “topic of my

choice?” choice?” Don’t get tempted by this easy Don’t get tempted by this easy way out. They will know you are way out. They will know you are recycling.recycling.

What if I’m asked for my “favorite What if I’m asked for my “favorite things?” things?” Tell the truth! Don’t tell them Tell the truth! Don’t tell them what you think they want to hear.what you think they want to hear.

There’s a storm There’s a storm in your brain and in your brain and it’s time to let it it’s time to let it

loose.loose.

Brainstorming SessionBrainstorming Session

Begin to brainstorm a personal essay on one of Begin to brainstorm a personal essay on one of the following topics from the Common the following topics from the Common Application:Application:

Evaluate a significant experience, Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to or international concern and its importance to you.you.Indicate a person who has had a significant Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. influence on you, and describe that influence.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Be yourselfBe yourself

Stand out from the crowdStand out from the crowd

Start earlyStart early

Cracking the Cracking the College EssayCollege Essay

Christopher PianeChristopher PianeTerritory Manager – South JerseyTerritory Manager – South Jersey

The Princeton ReviewThe Princeton ReviewChrisP@review.comChrisP@review.com

800.2REVIEW800.2REVIEW