Telling Something Different In Your Admissions Paper
When the time comes to write you admissions paper for you post-secondary institute of choice you are probably going to feel a bit stumped about how to approach such a personal essay project. After all, throughout high school you are taught to write from facts, use examples, and format things properly, however many high school English classes don't teach you how to write about yourself, or if they do they don't teach you how to write about yourself properly.
You see, the thing about an admissions essay is it is actually a "sales pitch" for your personality. Colleges and Universities wish to fill there campus's with diverse individuals who will someday contribute to their faculty. The most prestigious the institution, the more competition their is to get in. Hence, it is the students responsibility to set themselves apart with one tool; an admissions paper.
For your freshman admissions paper you will likely be given a personal essay question that will help you direct your writing to answer one clear question. Although it is still a personal narrative, you will need to format your essay with a beginning middle and end. A strong thesis, defensive evidence, and strong example, it doesn't necessarily have to be research based but if you do use sources you better cite them correctly and CHECK YOUR FACTS. Nothing says sloppy admissions paper then a collection of poorly listed references.
The best piece advice given to students who are writing their first admissions paper, is to put themselves in the shoes of the admissions officer. Imagine it is the middle of the night; you've read hundreds of similar papers. Then, you come across one that is different, unique in some way or another AND a student who comes across with an authentic personality! This is the holy grail of admissions essays; it isn't painful to read in anyway. It is not pretentious, and it does come across contrived or made up. Instead of being a high school stereotype, or writing a dramatic composition as if they were a cast member in Glee, the student put some real heart into the essay and showed off who they where through writing.
If you get just one admission's authority on your side, chances are you will get selected and not wait-listed so work hard on that admissions paper, even if you don't work hard on anything else. If you have clear career goals and are determined to go to a particular University or College then this is the way to do it. With a truthful, heartfelt admissions composition.