My College Options

My College Options So I went to see for myself, visiting on September 9th, 2017. The info session was intimate â€" more so than any other I have attended â€" with a relatively select group of students offered full campus access. Bob Davis ’12, my tour leader, was extraordinarily patient, walking me through U.Chicago’s outstanding array of clubs and societies, including the MSAC Committee. U.Chicago is one of the only schools I am considering that even offers a student-led Diversity Committee, much less one that advises faculty and university management on key outreach issues.Outstanding. As a high school and MEK English teacher, Ashley brings ready classroom management skills and a strong rapport with students to MEK. Some encourage you to stick to the traditionalopening-body-conclusionformula, while others insist you should take a risk to spice up the admission officer’s reading experience. None of them are wrong, but it doesn’t mean they’re right for you. As the name implies, writing apersonal statementis apersonalexperience, making it just a little bit different for everyone. Not just the process, but the actual statement itself, too. But here, wouldn’t colleges wonder whether she could handle “traditional” college? There are any number of formulas out there for writing personal statements for college applications. However, she is also well-versed in MEK strategy for teaching College Test Prep, H.S. Test Prep, and College Application Essays. Tragedies, ultimately, can be very positive, transformative topics to write about as they often show us who we are under intense pressure. Do not shy away from writing about the bad in life as it is a relatable experience that all people will go through at one point or another. In order to write a great essay however, you need to realize that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this topic type. The three supplemental essays that you submit for your application may be short, but they are in no way less important as a result of their brevity. We learn a great deal about you from each essay you write, and we hope that you enjoy this unique opportunity to reflect and introduce yourself in your application. Your essays must be well-written, and it is always good to have someone that you trust proofread them (carelessness is easily preventable!). If you procrastinate on writing your essays and wait until the last minute, you may miss out on a valuable opportunity to have them read by a fresh pair of eyes. Furthermore, this type of essay invites comparison. The #1 mistake students make when writing about tragedy is effectively writing a “sob story.” This is an essay which only tries to make someone feel sympathy for you. On the other hand, if you have experienced difficulty or tragedy that affected you deeply, you may choose to write about this experience in your college application. Other colleges may simply offer you free writing space to provide a personal statement. However, the Common Application is perhaps the best starting point for anticipating likely college essay prompts. Cited a few real-world examples of college essays that actually worked. When my best friend John Smith ‘20 told me about U.Chicago’s diverse campus environment , I was excited, but skeptical â€" diversity can mean different things to different people. You might want to use an outline, laying out your main points, developing supporting ideas, and sequencing your thoughts logically. This should help you to organize a clear rough draft. So what’s the takeaway from this array of unexpected, possibly even bizarre essay questions? Well, first of all, you can presume that some admissions officers are just bored of essays about challenges you’ve overcome or experiences that have changed you. It is also abundantly clear when you have rushed through your essays just to check a box. This does not mean that you can only write an interesting essay if you have had an experience that no one else has ever had. Still another essay I had a student complaining about how she didn’t like traditional school so switched to homeschooling. They want to see how you function when removed from the safe confines of formula and expectation. On the subject of essay prompts, Meredith points out that the 7 variations offered by the Common App are designed to give all applicants the opportunty to share something meaningful about themselves. Many selective colleges and universities have their own essay prompts. Don’t procrastinate on this part of your application. Once you zero in on your topic, it’s time to organize your ideas.