College Advising: Welcome to the New Common Application!

     Today, August 1st is the opening day for the Common Application. Many readers might be aware that the essay questions have changed this year. In addition to new questions (questions that we really like, by the way), you can use the link on the Common Application to start looking at each of your college’s supplemental essay questions.

     With just a few weeks of summer remaining, here are some tips for how to approach the many essays that are required for college admission:

·      Choose the right topic. Your best essays come from your experience and what you have learned from it. It’s not about the words as much as it is about the reflection.  What do you believe in?  What makes you boiling mad?  What creates happiness in your otherwise routine life?  Teach us something.  Take us somewhere we haven’t seen.  Wake us up to something that we should care about.

·      Where to start writing: We at Perfect Fit encourage our students to talk about their service projects as a starter to several of the essay choices. Reflecting on what you want from your education is nicely grounded in what you have already done for others.  No service project yet?  There is still time. Contact us for ideas.

·      Know your passions: Sometimes just reading the newspaper is enough to get you started on a great project or essay topic.  For others, a family trip to might offer up your deepest passions. You never know where your interests are going to come from. If you have done a significant project, chances are you know about working hard, sweating hard, and being a part of the lives of others.  From there, your essay will have fuel because you have worked and learned.

·      Solve a problem: So many students think that this essay is like other essays they’ve written for school.  Not so. A college application essay should be a personal story that signals the beginning of a journey.  This is not a calmly delivered message, so much as it is a statement about your quest for more learning, experience, and opportunity to help others.

·      Where to start: Start with a sentence that surprises or shocks us.  The topic and direction of the essay might come from just that initial message.  Even though this year’s topics have changed, get the feel for tone and energy by reading successful application essays from the past. There are books of them at Vromans or your local library. Look for your style among the selections and find essays that develop fully and end beautifully. 

   While there is still some summer left, check out the new topics and consider your angle.  Then go out and do a little something extra this summer to “up” your life experience and care for others.  With that done, you’ll be in great shape to write it all down!

--All the best from www.PerfectFitCollege.Net