The College
Entrance Essay
SHS
Advice from a
Director of Admissions
“Take a deep breath, relax, and
believe in yourself” (Elizabeth
DeLaHunt, Sarah Lawrence
College Admissions Director).
 “Be true to the person you’ve
already become” (DeLaHunt).
 Write about those things that are
most important to you
(DeLaHunt).
Goals and Objectives
 To write an interesting and effective
essay about yourself
 To flesh out the person behind the
grades, the scores, the accomplishments
 To demonstrate your abilities for
insight, awareness, honesty, and selfevaluation
 To distinguish yourself from 1000’s of
other seniors
 Begin thinking of topics early
 Send for actual applications early
 Write a time line of your life (note
special
dates and events)
BEFORE
YOU
 Make a list of possible essay topics
START
TO
WRITE
and discuss them
 Pre-write the essay in your head
 Give yourself plenty of time
 Be sincere, honest, straightforward,
clear and SPECIFIC
 Discuss something of personal
importance
 Demonstrate your own style and voice
 Address a talent, interest, passion,
observation, personal accomplishment,
extraordinary feeling
 Read directions
DO’s
 Show why the
carefully
college should want
 Answer the
you
question clearly
 Show you know
 Take it seriously that school & its
 Put in feeling, if programs
real
 Proofread carefully
 Be honest and  Be yourself, but not
sensitive
too informal
 Show organization
 Show talents
 Exhibit honesty
 Use specifics
 Apply an informal, but a
 Include good examples
“polished” vocabulary
 Reveal personality
 Answer the question
 Show direction early
 Include a strong thesis
 Employ transitions
 Take risks
 Demonstrate sincerity
 Use correct grammar &
 Extend
spelling examples to say how
STRONG
ESSAYS . . .
they affected you
 Include lessons learned
The ESSAY SHOULD
NOT
 Describe anything phony, off-beat, in bad
taste, or potentially insulting
 Use rude language, words not in your
vocabulary
 Be pretentious or outrageous
 Deal with a questionable or controversial
topic
 State anything already described in other
parts of the application
DONT’s
 Don’t Put It Off
 Don’t list/repeat academic
 Do
NOT be disrespectful
achievements

too casual
in tone
 Don’t
Don’t be
repeat
anything
 Don’t
be too
general, in
toothe
mentioned
elsewhere
basic
application
 Don’t use
same
essay
talkthe
down
to your
for
all your applications
reader
WEAK ESSAYS . . .
 Lack specifics
 Lack insights
 Does not reveal the author’s
personality
 Lack focus and direction
 Are too short or too long
 Do not answer the question
 Grammar, spelling, and punctuation
mistakes (Use the WP Grammar
Check)
 Wordiness—Be concise
 Neatness
 The YOU in the paper (Does it reflect
your personality and are you
satisfied?)
 Required signatures and correct
postage
 A second copy of the complete
application for your file
Before You Finalize
and Mail It,
Double-Check for . . .
Okay, then . . .
Let’s look at some
sample essays
Possible Topics
 “How would you describe yourself as a
human being? What quality do you like best
in yourself and what do you like least?
What quality would you most like to see
flourish and which would you like to see
wither?” (Bates College)
 “Why is UVM college a good college
choice for you?” (Univ of Vermont)
More Topics
 “Do you believe there’s a generation gap?
Describe the differences between your
generation and others.” (Denison
University)
 “Indicate a person who has had a significant
influence on you, and describe that
influence.” (Common App)
Recipe for an Essay Rough Draft
 Step One: Think about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your best qualities? Are you an
intellect? A creative type? Curious?
Adventurous? Passionate? Determined?
See the “Questions for Brainstorming “ sheet
Step Two:
 Choose a positive quality you’d like to
convey to the admission committee.
Do not pick an event or something you have
done. President of the Environmental Club
is not a personal quality. Focus on a quality
of your mind or of your character.
Complete this sentence: “I am a very______
person.”
Step Three:
 TELL A STORY!!!!
Set a timer for 20 minutes. Pretend you’re taking an
exam and the question is, “Tell a story about an
experience or time when you demonstrated that
you were a very________ person.” Use the
characteristic you identified in Step Two. Write or
type non-stop for 20 minutes; force yourself to
keep telling the story and what it reveals until the
timer goes DING. (The College Application Essay
by Sarah Meyers McGinty)
Begin Writing NOW!
Reveal yourself
Be genuine
Be thoughtful
Relax