Your students’ college essay is their opportunity to reveal their best qualities and to show an admission committee what makes them stand out from other applicants. Work with your students to help them with this important piece of their application.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling’s 2011 State of College Admission report found that while grades, strength of curriculum and admission test scores are the top factors in the college admission decision, a majority of colleges and universities believe the essay to be of considerable or moderate importance in determining which academically qualified students they would choose.
In other words, when all else is equal between competing applicants, a compelling essay can make the difference. A powerful, well-written essay can also tip the balance for a marginal applicant.
College admission officers look to the essay for evidence that a student can write well and support ideas with logical arguments. They also want to know something about the personality of the student.
Sarah Myers McGinty, author of The College Application Essay, shares the following tip for both counselors and students: “If you get a chance, ask college representatives about the role of the essay at their colleges. At some colleges the essay is used to determine fit, and at others it may be used to assure the college that the student can do the work. At any rate, find out from the rep how essays are weighted and used in the admissions process.”
There are typically three types of essay questions: the “you” question, the “why us” question and the “creative” question. The following descriptions and tips are based on information found in McGinty’s book.
This question boils down to “Tell us about yourself.” The college wants to know students better and see how students introduce themselves.
Example: “The University of Vermont values a diverse student body. What contributions might you make to our campus community outside of academic achievement?”
Plus: This type of direct question offers students a chance to reveal something about themselves other than grades and test scores.
Danger: The open-ended nature of these questions can lead to an essay that’s all over the place.
Counselor tips
Some institutions ask for an essay about a student’s choice of a college or career. They’re looking for information about the applicant’s goals, and about how serious the student’s commitment is to this particular college.
Example: “How did you become interested in American University?”
Plus: This type of question provides a focus for the essay; that is, why the student chose this particular college or path — and the answer to that will (hopefully) be clear.
Danger: Any factual errors in the essay will reveal that the student really hasn’t thought deeply about the choice. For example, writing about attending Carleton College to major in agriculture would be a blunder, because Carleton doesn’t have an agriculture major.
An upside to this type of question is that while working on the essay, the student might realize that the college is not a good match — and it’s better to know that sooner than later.
Counselor tips
The goals of the “creative” question are to evaluate a candidate’s ability tothink and write creatively and to assess the breadth of the student’s knowledge and education.
Example: “Sharing intellectual interests is an important aspect of university life. Describe an experience or idea that you find intellectually exciting, and explain why.”
Plus: This kind of question gives students an opportunity to convey their personalities and views.
Danger: Some students may take the “creative” aspect of the question as license to be obscure, pretentious or undisciplined in their writing.
Counselor tips
According to the College Board report Admissions Decision-Making Models, admission officers have expressed concern about how much assistance students receive in preparing an essay. Many institutions now ask applicants to sign a statement avowing that the essay submitted is their own work.
What can you do to help your students within the guidelines of your job?
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