I'm reading through applications, and besides grades and scores, there's not much room for the school to see anything beyond your intellect. I'm not a perfect 4.0 student with great SAT scores, but I'm a good learner and I'm pretty smart. has anyone done something really good with their essay that got them noticed?
2006-07-05 08:56:38 · 13 answers · asked by tres_passe 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
The essay helps so much! You've got to pick something that other people wouldn't really think of. Don't go for the common run of the mill answers. I wrote about this crazy inside joke I had with one of my really good friends. I got a call from the admissions office at one of the schools I applied to. She told me she loved the essay and it made her laugh so much! I ended up getting into the school, as well as the honors program!
My advice? Try to be yourself in the essay. Write the way you talk, only with better grammar. Make it seem like you're having a conversation, that the reader is involved with what you're telling them. Be original! Be honest! Be heartfelt! But most of all, be yourself!
A lot of people will place tons of pressure on the essay. Yes, it's a part of the application, but it's nothing that you need to have anxiety over. It's only PART of the application. You'll find a school that fits you; have no fear. It may not be your first choice, but sometimes, you need that rejection to find a better place for you. Good luck and don't stress out too much!
2006-07-05 09:25:28 · answer #1 · answered by poetlover22 2 · 13⤊ 7⤋
Schedule an interview with admissions. Also, attend EVERY open house and Visit day they offer. The more they see your name, the more they realize that you want them. Also, don't let the school know which other schools you are applying to. If they see ones that you'll definitely get accepted to, your top choice school may not accept you out of fear you won't attend.
Most applications that I filled out had places to put extracurricular activities and community service. Even if you held a job while in school. Colleges want well-rounded students not a super-smart student who doesn't know how to interact with people.
2006-07-05 09:03:37 · answer #2 · answered by ronnieneilan1983 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
* Community Service - this is key! If you know what you want to go to college for, try to volunteer in a somewhat relateable field.
* Extracurriculars - join things like Key Club, sports teams, DARE, SADD, Earth Club, The Chess Team, Math Leagues, etc.
* Letters of Recommendation - ask close teachers to write you letters highlighting your class participation and potential to do well in college. Get at least 2 or more.
* Work Experience - it looks good if you had a summer job.
* Schedule an interview with the admissions officer. This can really help in the selection process.
Good luck!
2006-07-05 09:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by smm_8514 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Letters of recommendation are also an important place to let them see your strong qualities as a student. Pick teachers who know you well and whose classes (and/or sports, activities, etc.) you excelled in, participated a lot in, where you proved your leadership skills, hard work, creativity, etc.--in short, a class you loved and in which you stood out as one of the best and most memorable students. If your recommenders only know you in a limited aspect (such as a coach who doesn't know how you are academically or a teacher who doesn't know about all your extracurricular activities), have a meeting with them or provide them with a copy of your application or a sort of "resume" that lists your grades, activities, awards, why you want to go to x or y college, what you think you'll major in, whatever you think they should know.
2006-07-05 10:44:59 · answer #4 · answered by ooooo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leadership ability is extremely important.
Participating in extra curricular is okay but not out of the ordinary. Think of the thousands of other applications with the same thing...key club, band club, debate club, FFA, track, football. Yawn.
You need to do something amazing...but not simply because you want to get into college.
You have to show incredible initiative to really stand apart from other applicants. For instance...doing walk a thons for charity is okay but very ordinary. On the other hand...
one student decided ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles over 7 days to raise $4000 for AIDS research.---That's amazing.
Another student decided to get a pilot's license for both helicopter and aircraft at the age of 14...setting a new record.
Another decided to start their own company at the age of 16 and had a payroll of 5 people on staff....a company that developed websites and blogs for companies.
Another help construct homes for his church during Easter break in Mexico.
One guy decided to form a cross country bike ride to raise money for Humanitarian Aid causes. http://yesride.org
Little acts of leadership that shows a sense of wonder, initiative, or adventure beyond the high school ordinary. If you do something worth telling others about, you'll go really far.
Here some ideas:
Take hang gliding lessons.
Earn a black belt and teach self defense to young teens.
Start a literacy program at a preschool
Travel to Tibet and write a freelance article for a travel magazine.
Raise money for suicide prevention and set up support groups.
Participate in Outward Bound.
Start a school paper.
Do something frickin amazing. Something out of your safety zone. Something with passion.
The more interesting life you lead...the more people want you on board.
It's true about standing out for college. and you know what...It's true in life too.
2006-07-05 18:46:13 · answer #5 · answered by Iomegan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The essay helps, but as soon as someone tells you what to write about (Either with a free topic or the target when there's a specific topic) it's a bad choice. Electives (Extracurriculars) Sports, Leadership in said electives and sports as well as in your community, jobs, and voluteer work all are great ways of standing out.
2006-07-05 09:31:36 · answer #6 · answered by lolasan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your essay should focus on why that particular school can help you achieve your educational/life goal. What is it about that school that makes it a good match for you? Tailor each essay to the school. Too many people just write one plain vanilla essay and send it to every college. That's no good. Give the admissions committee a reason to admit you. A lot of people also write lame-*** essays about all their trauma/abuse/learning disability, and you know what? It all sounds like a cheap ploy to get a mercy admit. Don't try and play on cheap emotion.
good luck
2006-07-05 09:02:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to say what gets someone into college, but in my case I had good grades, community service, clubs, and other honors. If you're involved with anything, that's outside school life it looks great. It shows that you have a social life and if it's community service, that you give back to the community.
2006-07-05 09:00:43 · answer #8 · answered by penpallermel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-02 01:53:17 · answer #9 · answered by Fenster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may want to read this article on applying to college: http://www.college-profiles.com/applying_to_college.php. The article explains how to stand out in the eyes of the admissions committee. It also gives guidance to what universities you should apply and how to apply for financial aid.
2006-07-05 12:48:14 · answer #10 · answered by Darren S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Extra-Curricular Activities! This is very important. You ability to maintain good grades and participate in other groups is very important. It shows leadership and time management skills.
2006-07-05 09:00:48 · answer #11 · answered by keltx03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋