MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
The Truth About College Essays
Recommendations and Suggestions
for Writing a Strong College Essay
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATION ADMISSIONS
Myth vs. Fact
MYTH: Admission Counselors will not read your college
application essay.
FACT: Not only will an Admission Counselors read your essay,
he/she will use it to help evaluate your readiness for college.
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
So what is a college essay?
A college essay is a statement that is used by colleges and
universities to evaluate your readiness for college and
learn more about you as an individual.
In general, there are 3 types of essays
1. The “Why Us” question
2. The “You” question (otherwise knows as a personal statement)
3. The Creative question
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
The “Why Us” Question
The “Why Us” question asks for an essay about your goals and
how serious your commitment is to this particular school.
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The focus for this this essay is given to you: Why did you choose
this school or path?
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Make sure you’ve done your research. For example, if you say you
want to attend Marquette University to major in architecture, the
school will be able to tell how carefully you've chosen (Marquette
does not offer architecture as a major).
Example Questions:
What do you want to attend Marquette?
How will your presence enrich our Community?
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
The “You” Question (also known as a personal statement)
Many colleges will ask you to “Tell us about yourself.” The school
just wants to know you better and see how you'll introduce
yourself.
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This question offers a chance to reveal your personality, insight, and
individuality.
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The danger is that it's open-ended, so you need to focus on one or
two things that will reveal your best qualities.
Example Questions:
Complete a one-page personal statement to tell us about yourself.
What contributions would you add to our university?
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
The Creative Question
The creative question allows you to “show yourself” through your
choice of some tangential item: a historical event, a famous person, a
photograph, etc.
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Make sure you write an informed essay. For example, don't write about
anything or anyone you’ve never heard of or researched.
•
Use common sense. Being creative to the point of wacky is a risk you
may not want to take.
Example Questions:
Indicate a person who has had significant influence on you. Why?
If you had to choose 5 items to put in a time capsule, what would they be?
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
Things to consider before you begin…
What do you want a college admission counselor to know about you?
• Your special talents and interests
• Any unique challenges you may have
• Extra responsibilities at home or work
• You’re the first in your family to attend college
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
Do’s and Don’ts of College Essay Writing
Do
Don’t
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Stay within the word limit
•
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Be honest and be yourself
Write what you think the admissions
counselor wants to read about
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Use formal English
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Write using text language or slang
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Check punctuation and grammar
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Overuse the thesaurus or use words if
you’re unsure of their meaning
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Cut out unnecessary words and
phrases
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Use clichés
•
Type your essay on a computer
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Turn in anything that is handwritten or
smeared
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
Essay Timeline
• Determine the essays deadline
• Read the instructions carefully
• Brainstorm examples for each topic
• Write the first draft of your essay
• Let it sit for a few days, go back and revise
• Share your draft with a teacher/counselor
• Proofread, and proofread again
• Submit your essay along with your application before the deadline
Questions?