Freshman Admissions

Freshman Admissions Mrs. Watkins was the coordinator of the foreign exchange student program I was enrolled in. I would babysit Cody every day after school for at least two to three hours. Some schools also ask for supplementary essays along these lines. The majority of college applicants are high school seniors, and most of the college application advice out there is aimed at them. But what do you do if you don't fall into this narrow category? One of the most important parts of the essay writing process is editing, and editing takes a lot of time. You want to be able to put your draft in a drawer for a week and come back to it with fresh eyes. You don't want to be stuck with an essay you don't really like because you have to submit your application tomorrow. Now that you have a sense of what colleges are looking for, let's talk about how you can put this new knowledge into practice as you approach your own essay. Below, I've collected my five best tips from years as a college essay counselor. As I mentioned above, colleges want to know that you are a strong enough writer to survive in college classes. Can you express your ideas clearly and concisely? Can you employ specific details appropriately and avoid cliches and generalizations? I found outlining complex ideas like these sometimes provide insights into something I’m researching or could one day materialize into future projects. I’m starting with whats impacted me most of my life, what’s still in front of me, being Transgender in the school system. These kinds of skills will serve you well in college (and in life!). Since the main point of the essay is to give schools a sense of who you are, you have to open up enough to let them see your personality. Writing a good college essay means being honest about your feelings and experiences even when they aren't entirely positive. You'll mostly see these prompts if you're applying for a specialized program (like pre-med or engineering) or applying as a transfer student. It is imperative, then, that the introduction to the college essay capture the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read more. While building a community at school rebuilt my confidence, I still found I enjoyed being alone at times. While driving in my car, I’d let my mind wander to movies like Big Hero Six and contemplate if a zero-friction bike really was possible. I’d create ideas like an AI highway system that tells drivers exactly when to switch lanes based on timing and calculus to prevent braking from nearby cars. Or I’d blueprint a new classroom with interactive desks, allowing students to dive deep into historical events like a VR game. Or, maybe they end with a simple, clean truth written from the heart. Do not be just another of thousands of applicants that do not make an impression. If you are reading a newspaper article, the writer fades behind the facts and you know nothing about the writer except that s/he can collect, organize, and present the facts that you need to now. You want the admissions reader to say, “Ah, this is a real person writing to me. The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission’s reader. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Want to write the perfect college application essay? The most important role of the essay is to give admissions committees a sense of your personality and what kind of addition you'd be to their school's community. These kinds of qualities will have a profound impact on your college experience, but they're hard to determine based on a high school transcript. In the same way, you should end your college essay with something that not only summarizes the most important aspects of you but that is also memorable. Memorable endings are poignant, making the reader feel an emotion. Or, they capture a several-line conclusion in one pithy, well-worded phrase or sentence. For my senior project, I am using my story and experience as a young Transgender man to inform local schools, specifically the staff, about the do’s and dont’s of dealing with a Transgender student. I am determined to make sure no one feels as alone as I did. I want to be able to reach people, and use motivational speaking as the platform. When I was 16, I lived with the Watkins family in Wichita, Kansas.