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HECA ANNUAL CONFERENCEPhiladelphia • June 20-24, 2016http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays
Getting to Know You: The Purpose of Each College Application Essay
Chuck BachmanJessica DeSantisRebecca JosephCyndy McDonald
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Your PresentersJessica DeSantisSenior Associate Director of Admissions, Lehigh University
Rebecca Joseph, PhDIEC and College Professor
Cyndy McDonaldIEC
Chuck BachmanSenior Associate Director of Admissions,Lafayette College
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The Role of Essays
Getting to know you,Getting to know all about you.
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Essays Are One Piece of The Applicant’s Quilt
Test Scores
Grades
Rigor of Coursework
ActivitiesRec Letters
Unique passions and potential
Demonstrated Interest
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We Are Not Looking For…
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The Common Application
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Current CA 2015-2017 Prompts250-650 Words (2015-2016 percentages)
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (49%)
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (17%)
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again. (4%)
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (10%)
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. (22%)
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Each College’s Additional Essays Differ
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Lafayette College
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Lafayette=Common App + 2 Additional Short Essays
2016-2017 Lafayette Member Questions: Additional Information• 1. Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless
reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why Lafayette? (Required, Paste in or type in, 20-200 word range)
• 2. There’s a difference between being busy and being engaged. Lafayette comes alive each day with the energy of students who are deeply engaged in their academic, co-curricular and extracurricular explorations. In response to the prompt below, keep it simple – choose one activity and add depth to our understanding of your involvement. What do you do? Why do you do it? (Optional, Paste in or type in, 20-200 word range)
• 3. If you wish to include a copy of your resume as part of your application, please upload it here. (Optional, Upload)
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Lehigh University
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Lehigh University: Common App + 2 Writing Supplemental Essays
2015-2016 Lehigh Writing Supplement (NO Member Questions with Essays)1. What do you and Lehigh have in common? Please reply with 250-350 words. (Required, 250-350 word range, Paste in)
2. Answer one of the following prompts. (Required, 150-250 word range, Paste in)• Imagine that you just completed your visit to Lehigh University. What would
you Tweet about us and why?• Describe your favorite ''Bazinga'' moment.• If your name were an acronym, what would it stand for and how would it
reflect your strengths and personality?• In your opinion, what are the five characteristics of a successful person?• You've just reached your one millionth hit on your YouTube video. What is
the video about?
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College Perspectives• How we see the role of the
essay in holistic review
• The process must start with personal reflection
• Authenticity is crucial…in the essay as well as the application
• Our specific questions and what we hope to see
• Important points to always keep in mind
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Essays=Opportunity
• Share•Reflect• Stand Out
http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays
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Before All Essays: Strategic Planning
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Before Common App Long Essay: Brainstorming Strategies
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Before School Specific Essays
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Through: Guided Questions
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Through: Revising and Revising
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Beyond: Completing The Puzzle
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Contact UsJessica [email protected]
Rebecca Joseph, PhDIEC and College Professor
Cyndy [email protected]
Chuck [email protected]
http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays