How to Write Your College Application Essay guides prospective college students through the entire process of creating a thoughtful, organized essay--from selecting a topic to proofreading a final draft. It also gives the reader an insider's perspective on what the committee looks for in an essay. Includes sample essays and tips on style.
Introduction
This book provides assistance to men and women who are about to
apply to colleges that require an essay as part of the application
process. The author assumes that readers are, at most, intimidated, or,
at least, uncomfortable with such a task and attempts to overcome
individual fears by restoring confidence and causing natural abilities
to surface.
Colleges require the essay because it is the easiest way to find out
what makes you "tick." They like the way in which it offers applicants
the opportunity to reveal their persona, to exercise their imagination,
to draw upon their experience, to parade their grammatical skills, to
use an appropriate vocabulary, and to make whatever point they wish.
As you read through How to Write Your College Application Essay,
you will begin to understand the essay requirement and feel better about
it. The chapters on the essay as a component of an application and how
much it counts are fairly subjective. We could probably argue about
them. By now, you should know what an essay is, but some time is spent
in exploration. Choosing a topic requires some time and thought. It may
prove to be the most difficult part of the whole exercise. Once you
decide on a topic, things become much easier for you. There is a full
chapter devoted to getting you in the right frame of mind to do your
writing. If you can get yourself properly psyched, the words will flow.
The chapter on the "Ultimate Crutch" is good discipline and goes beyond
essay writing to the roots of how you think and express yourself; give
it some respect. When it comes time to proofread your essay, it should
be done with great care because proofreading represents an attitudinal
approach that, when extrapolated upon, reveals many things about you as
a person. The several examples of student essays will give you many
ideas for topics and approaches. The professional observations are
intended to share with you the experience and knowledge of some people
who have been reading college application essays for many years. The
pros do have some very good advice for you, and you would be
well-advised to pay attention. The advisories are self-explanatory and
are meant to be carried through life.
In summary, the author is suggesting that you have more ability than you
think, and writing the essay is the time for you to prove yourself
through written expression. You will have a great deal of support all
around you. Even the admissions officers are rooting for you to do a
bang-up job. All you have to do is pick a topic, think it through, make
your outline, and write the essay. If the finished product sounds like
you, and you like the way it reads, it will probably be an impressive
essay.
Copyright © 2001 by Kenneth A. Nourse
