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5 Tips for Awesome College Application Essays

If you follow my blog (and if you do, thank you! I appreciate it!), you know that I’m a big believer in making informed decisions about how you approach each aspect of the college application process. This week, I would like to introduce you to award-winning script writer, Sharon Epstein. Sharon, a Writer’s Guild award winner and alumni interviewer for Cornell, founded Applying To College, specializing in college essay writing and interview skills.Today, she has some tips to share with you on writing awesome college essays.

Why is the essay so important? With so many academically talented students applying to colleges with strong grades and SAT scores, the essay is one piece of the puzzle that helps a student stand out from the crowd. Recommendations and extracurricular activities also help, but that’s a conversation for another day.Read on…

Stressed? You may be wondering how you’re going to write a great college application essay. Don’t worry, itcan be done. Here are five ways to help your essay stand out and get noticed:

1. Make Yourself Shine

Your college essay should represent you in a positive light. So think about your best qualities: Are you compassionate? Do you have a business mind? Are you an awesome big brother? Write down your ideas andthen think of an example that illustrates each one. You’ll probably find that one or two of your ideas stand out from the rest.

Two reasons to toss an idea: 1. You don’t have a specific example to write about. 2. Fifty other students can write the same essay, which means it’s not unique enough to you.

2. Show How You’ve Grown

Whatever essay topic you choose, you need to show what you learned from that experience. Let’s say, for instance, that you’ve got an Uncle Joe and you want to write about how important he was in your life. Don’t spend the entire essay on Uncle Joe’s biography, make sure the reader knows how he influenced you and how you use those lessons in your life today. Similarly, if you’re writing about your family’s traditions, don’t just explain your traditions, spend time on how those traditions have shaped you.

3. Don’t Choose a Topic that’s Too Big

The Common Application limits you to 500 words; that’s five or six paragraphs for your entire essay. So focus on one aspect of yourself, or on an event that took place in a short period of time. Instead of writing about your entire summer vacation, for example, choose one thing that happened during your vacation and write about what you learned from it.

4. Use Detail

Detail sets the scene for your reader. You probably know that every story needs the “who, what, when, where and why,” but also ask yourself “how did it look, feel, smell, sound or taste?” Then choose (but don’t overuse) a few good adjectives and adverbs. Give characters names and write a bit of dialogue if it fits. Well-placed details will help your essay come to lifeand make it more memorable to read.

5. Edit

Okay, here’s the nagging part – leave enough time to edit. Well-edited essays make a good impression; essays with mistakes don’t. So make sure commas and periods are in the right place and that everything is spelled correctly. Don’t just rely on spell check, because spell check can miss mistakes (“their” vs. “there” for example). And if the name of the college is in your essay, make sure it’s the correct school. (Don’t laugh, people do it a lot.) This is a great time to ask a teacher or other adult who’s good with grammar to help you proofread. Be careful: Too many mistakes will leave your college reader with a poor impression of both you and your writing skills. For some college admissions officers, that’s a deal-breaker.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share on writing an awesome college essay, please use the comment box below – I would love to hear from you! You can also email me at eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com or Sharon at sharon@firstimpressionscollegeconsulting.com.

Eric Dobler is the president and founder of Dobler College Consulting. Follow him on Twitter.

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Eric Jun 10, 2012 , , 1 Comment
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A Conversation About College Part V

This is the fifth and final installment of a running series called, “A Conversation About College” which covered some of the more pressing questions about college admissions that were asked at a workshop I ran at the end of March at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, Connecticut:Q: What college should we select?

As far as figuring out what type of colleges to select, that’s something that comes with time, conversation and research. There are many factors that go into defining at which type of school your son or daughter will do well. For example, he or she should be thinking about attributes such as location, size of the student body, cost, private or public and reputation.

Once these bigger ticket items have been identified, then you can start doing some visits and online research to see what appeals to your child and what doesn’t. When I work with clients individually, I walk them through developing a college list and this exploration I just mentioned is the first step.Q: How do we know which colleges are best?

The honest answer here is that your son or daughter has to first understand what is most important to them. Once they have a good grasp on their values, interests, personality style and skills (what I refer to as their VIPS), then you have a starting point for identifying which schools are going to be the best matches for him or her. One of the services included in my Early Exploration Package is a profile review where I help a student identify these VIPS and then use them to begin their college search.

Q: What are the best things to look at in a college?

The best things to look at are the things that are most important to your student which takes me back to the previous two questions. Your first step is to help him or her identify their VIPS, get a good handle on what is most important to them in their search and then start visiting schools, attending college fairs, and doing online research. Of all these things, going on some college visits will end up being one of the more important things you can do. A few months ago I wrote a blog about tips for high school juniors. One of those tips was about campus visits – even if your son or daughter isn’t sure which schools they might be interested in yet, just visiting a school because it’s local can be so valuable in helping them identify what is and isn’t important.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share on “A Conversation About College,” please use the comment box below – I would love to hear from you! You can also email me directly at eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com.

Eric Dobler is the president and founder of Dobler College Consulting. Follow him on Twitter.

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Eric Jun 03, 2012 , , , No Comments
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A Conversation About College Part IV

This is Part IV of a running series called, “A Conversation About College” which covered some of the more pressing questions about college admissions that were asked at a workshop I conducted a few weeks ago at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, Connecticut:

Q: To get academic scholarship money from colleges someone told me you have to be in the top 10%. Is this true?

Academic scholarships, which are also known as merit scholarships, typically are awarded to students who have excelled academically while in high school. However, not all schools will restrict their merit money to students who finish in the top 10%. Some schools will offer money in tiers where a student in the top 10% may get more money than a student in the top 20%. Your best bet is to use a website like MeritAid.com where you can research individual schools to see what they offer and who qualifies. The information may not always give you all the details, but then that is a great question to ask on a college visit or when your son or daughter meets an admissions counselor at a school visit or college fair.

Q: Where do you find scholarship money?

Private scholarships are tricky. They are typically rather small and the search can really chew up a lot of your son or daughter’s time which should be otherwise spent on priorities like school work, athletics or whichever activities they truly enjoy. In fact, the average private scholarship is just $2500 and less than 7% of graduating senior receive one. Having said that, FastWeb.com is a website where your son or daughter can create a profile and then be notified when scholarships which meet his or her criteria become available. I would also have them check with their school counseling office and the town library. Both should have resources for local scholarships as well as application information.

 

Q: Financial aid forms – how to best complete them?

There are two financial aid forms, the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the federal form required to be considered for aid at any institution. The CSS Profile is only required if your child chooses to apply to one or more of some 250+ private schools that require it. Check with each school he or she is considering so that you know if you need to complete both. Once you know which forms you need to fill out, you need to know that you cannot fill out the FAFSA until January 1st of the student’s senior year while the Profile can be filled out as soon as your child has identified schools where he or she will be applying.

Another great resource dedicated to everything in the financial realm of the college admissions world is a blog by Lynn O’Shaughnessy called, The College Solution. I tell all my students and their parents that it is a must-read.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share on “A Conversation About College,” please use the comment box below – I would love to hear from you! You can also email me directly at eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com.

Eric Dobler is the president and founder of Dobler College Consulting. Follow him on Twitter.

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Eric May 28, 2012 , , , No Comments
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A Conversation About College Part III

This is Part III of a running series called, “A Conversation About College” which covered some of the more pressing questions that were asked at a workshop I conducted a few weeks ago at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, Connecticut:Q: Where (or how) do we start the college application process?

This is absolutely the question that is on the minds of every parent of a sophomore or junior right now. The problem is that there really is no easy answer. A lot depends on who your college-bound is and what is important to him or her.

When I work with students who have yet to begin their college search, the first thing I do is spend some time getting to know them and their VIPS. VIPS are values, interests, personality-style and skills. By talking to them about their goals, fears, dreams and everything else in between, we can identify a direction to start with. From there, we talk about the types colleges that are out there and what attributes he or she should be looking at such as location, in-state or out-of-state, size, programs, student body type, cost, etc in order to develop a successful college list.Ultimately, getting started takes time and a lot of conversation.

Q: What would you suggest if your child does not want help with the college application process?

This is a tough position to be in as a parent because, of course, you want the best for your child and you want to support and help guide them through the process. Unfortunately, this is also a time where your child is trying very hard to figure out where he or she fits in the world. From a developmental standpoint, their resistance to your interest in helping is very appropriate. They are trying, more and more, to do things on their own and to identify themselves as their own, authentic authority on things.

My best advice to you is to be willing to take a step back and to try, as hard as it might be, to watch from a distance right now. I would let him or her know that you are there, ready and willing to help and to be a part of the journey whenever he or she is ready to let you in. I would also stress that you are interested in supporting them through this time, as opposed to trying to make decisions for them. I often find that students want to know that they are going to have some control over the decisions being made and put up this initial resistance as a preemptive strike against any involvement you might have. Once they realize that you are there and just waiting for them to ask, I think you will find that they will be more interested in your help and your opinion. Then, once they invite you into the process, ask them what they would like help with. The more you let them dictate things, the happier your household will be!

While you wait for your child to come to his or her senses, I would spend some time reading a few blogs and keeping your finger on the pulse of the admissions world. You can also sign up for my newsletter and will begin receiving that on a monthly basis starting on the first of the ensuing month. There will be advice, things to stay on top of and a planning calendar that hopefully you will find useful. In the meantime, check out a blog I wrote about the role parents should play in the college process a few months ago. It’s more written for parents who are over-involved, but the perspective on what parents can and should do might be helpful.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share on “A Conversation About College,” please use the comment box below – I would love to hear from you! You can also email me directly at eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com.

Eric Dobler is the president and founder of Dobler College Consulting. Follow him on Twitter.

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Eric May 21, 2012 , No Comments
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A Conversation About College Part II

Last week, I wrote Part I of a series called, “A Conversation About College” which covered some of the more pressing questions that were asked at a workshop I recently conducted at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, Connecticut. Today, I am sharing Part II with you:Q: We’re not sure what the best type of school is for our son. He might want to be a history teacher, but he’s not sure.As far as figuring out what type of school is the best one, that’s something that comes with time, conversation and research. There are many factors that go into defining what type of school your son will do well at. For example, he should be thinking about attributes such as location, size of the student body, cost, private or public and reputation. Once these bigger ticket items have been identified, he can start doing some visits and online research to see what appeals to him and what doesn’t.  When I work with clients individually, I walk them through developing a college list and this exploration I just mentioned is the first step.

Q: What type of extra-curricular activities are admissions counselors looking for?We talked about this at length the other night, so this may sound repetitive, but the best activities for your son to be involved in are activities that mean something to him and which help complement his brand – here’s a blog I wrote about branding back in the fall that may help shed some light on the concept. Ultimately, you want to encourage him to think about quality over quantity.Q: How important is the essay and the essay topic?

This is a great question because while the essay can be very important, the topic isn’t necessarily what makes it important. What matters in an essay is how you tell your story. An essay really can be about any topic, big or small, but it’s how the student connects to the essay and what they are able to reveal about themselves that matters. A student who can show some depth, who can demonstrate a level of reflection and who can get me to see that what he is writing about truly matters to him is a student who has done a great job with their essay. The best way for a student to accomplish this is to really invest some time in their essay and make peace with the fact that they will write and rewrite several times before their essay is done. In fact, what their final essay looks like may not look anything like the original concept when they started.

Q: We are just starting the college search and our son is a sophomore – where do we start?

For freshmen and sophomores, the focus should be on helping them figure out what is important to them, what their strengths, skills and abilities are and introducing the idea of what college is about. If you go to my website, you will see that I offer a package called the “Early Exploration Package for Freshmen and Sophomores.” Basically, I help students at this stage work through a self-assessment while exploring some long range goals that tie into the college process.

Q: How do we go about figuring out our financial aid & scholarship options?

Again, this is time sensitive for the most part since you cannot apply for financial aid using the FAFSA until January 1st of the student’s senior year in high school. If he or she decides they are applying to any private schools, they may be required to also fill out the CSS Profile. The Profile, however, can be filed prior to January 1st.  While you can’t do anything about filing just yet, what you can do is spend some time figuring out how much all of this is going to cost. There is some detail to this, but essentially you want to know what you will be expected to pay for school so that you have some time to plan. If you go on the College Board website, you can use their EFC Calculator to do just this. EFC stands for “Expected Family Contribution” and is a term you will get to know quite well as senior year approaches. Your EFC is what a college will expect you to pay and it is how they calculate what they will offer you in the form of aid, grants and loans. The higher your EFC, the more you will be expected to contribute and the less aid you will expect to receive. As of this past October, each college and university has been mandated to publish a net price calculator on their website. So, as your student identifies schools where he or she would like to apply, you can use their net price calculator to get a feel for how things might look financially. Here is a blog that I wrote about the EFC calculators.

Q: How to choose a career/major?

This is a great question and one that troubles many students as they work through this process. To be honest, I do some assessments with students to help flesh out their values, interests, personality style and skills – or what I like to call their VIPS. Once you have a good idea of what is important to a student, what they are interested in and what they are likely to do well at, it is a lot easier to present options for majors and to point them in the direction of some useful career exploration. If it turns out that their interests are all over the place, then you want to be looking at schools that offer a wide variety of majors and where a student can start off as an undeclared major and then take some time in first semester to continue their career exploration.

I wouldn’t worry about this issue too much as of right now, especially if your son or daughter is only a sophomore or junior. Over 50% of students end up changing their majors during their freshman year anyway.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the awesome moms out there! I hope you’re having a great day!

If you have any thoughts you would like to share on “A Conversation About College,” please use the comment box below – I would love to hear from you! You can also email me directly at eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com.

Eric Dobler is the president and founder of Dobler College Consulting. Follow him on Twitter.

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Eric May 13, 2012 , , , , , , , , , No Comments