How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay

How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay The college application essay is an essential part of the admissions process. However, when Prompt.com reviewed thousands of application essays, the company noticed that the average essay was rated C.  A report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that grades in college prep courses were the most important factor, followed by admission test scores. However, the application essay was ranked much higher than recommendations from counselors and teachers, class rank, the interview, extracurricular activities and many other factors. Since the college application essay is so important, ThoughtCo spoke with several experts to discover the best ways to write one that will win over college admissions officers. Why the College Application Essay is So Important So many elements are included in the application process that students may wonder why they need to worry about the essay. Brad Schiller, co-founder and CEO of Prompt.com, tells ThoughtCo that many applicants to the same schools may have comparable grades and test scores. â€Å"However, the essay is the differentiator; its one of the few pieces of an application over which a student has direct control, and it provides readers with a sense of who the student is, how the student will fit in at the school, and how successful the student will be both in college  and upon graduation.† And for students with an uneven profile, the college application essay may provide a chance to shine. Christina DeCario, the associate director of Admissions at the College of Charleston, tells ThoughtCo that the essay provides clues about a student’s writing skills, personality and preparedness for college. She advises students to view the essay as an opportunity. â€Å"If your profile is a little uneven, like you’re successful outside the classroom but your grades aren’t quite there, or you’re the valedictorian but you’re not a good test taker, the essay can push you from a maybe to a yes,† DeCario explains. How to Choose a Topic According to Schiller, such topics as the student’s goals, passions, personality, or periods of personal growth are all good areas in which to start brainstorming. However, he says that students rarely select topics in these areas. Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions programs at Kaplan Test Prep agrees, and says the aim of the essay is to present the student as thoughtful and mature. â€Å"The key is to inspire using a personal story that captures this quality.† Papszycki believes that transformational experiences are great topics. â€Å"For example, did you overcome extreme shyness by shining in the school musical production? Did a family crisis change your outlook on life and make you a better child or sibling?† When students can tell a sincere and persuasive story, Papszycki says colleges believe they can bring distinct experiences to the college environment. Creativity is also a good tool to employ when writing the essay. Merrilyn Dunlap, interim director of Admissions at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, tells ThoughtCo, â€Å"I still remember reading an essay about why the orange flavored tic tac is the best tic tac to eat.† She also recalls an essay that was written when the MasterCard â€Å"priceless† ads were popular. â€Å"The student opened the essay with something like: Cost to visit five college campuses $200. Application fees for five colleges $300 Moving away from home for the first time priceless In addition, Dunlap says she likes to see essays on why a student chose a particular field of study because these types of essays tend to bring out the student’s emotions. â€Å"When they write about something that they are passionate about, it is in their favor; they become real to us.† So, what types of topics should be avoided? Schiller cautions against any subject that could portray the student negatively. â€Å"Some common poor choices of topics we see are getting poor grades due to lack of effort, depression or anxiety that you have not overcome, conflicts with other people that went unresolved, or poor personal decisions,† he warns. Do’s and Don’ts to Writing a College Application Essay After choosing a compelling topic, our panel of experts offer the following advice. Create an outline.  Schiller believes that it’s important for students to organize their thoughts, and an outline can help them structure their thoughts. â€Å"First, always start with the end in mind – what do you want your  reader  to think after reading your essay?† And, he recommends using the thesis statement to quickly get to the essay’s main point. Don’t write a narrative. While Schiller admits that the college essay should provide information about the student, he warns against a long, rambling account. â€Å"Stories and anecdotes are an integral part of showing your reader who you are, but a good rule of thumb is to make these no more than 40% of your word count and leave the rest of your words for reflection and analysis.† Have a conclusion. â€Å"So many essays start off well, the second and third paragraphs are solid, and then they just end,† laments DeCario. â€Å"You need to explain why you told me all the things you wrote about earlier in the essay; relate it to yourself and the essay question.† Revise early and often. Don’t just write one draft and think you’re done. Papszycki says the essay will need to undergo several revisions – and not just to catch grammatical errors. â€Å"Ask your parents, teachers, high school counselors or friends for their eyes and edits.† She recommends these individuals because they know the student better than anyone else, and they also want the student to succeed. â€Å"Take their constructive criticism in the spirit for which they intend - your benefit.† Proofread to the max. DeCario recommends having someone else proofread it. And then, she says the student should read it out loud. â€Å"When you proofread, you should check for grammar and sentence structure; when someone else proofreads, they will be looking for clarity in the essay; when you read it out loud, you’ll catch errors or even entire missing words like ‘a’ or ‘and’ that you didn’t catch when you read it in your head.† Don’t cram for the essay. Start early so there will be plenty of time. â€Å"The summer before senior year can be a great time to start work on your essay,† Papszycki explains. Use humor judiciously. â€Å"It’s fine to use wit and imagination, but dont try to be humorous if thats not your personality,† Papszycki advises. She also warns against forcing humor because it can have an unintended effect.  Ã‚   Additional Tips For students who want more information on ways to write a stellar college application essay, Schiller recommends a persona.prompt.com quiz that helps students identify their personas, and also an essay outlining tool.

Top 9 Tips on Using Jake Brake

Top 9 Tips on Using Jake Brake Dave, long-time professional driver, writing for Smart-Trucking.com has some advice for drivers uncertain of when and whether to use their Jake brake. The Jake brake, named for the Jacobs engine company that popularized it, is an engine mechanism that opens exhaust valves and released compressed air in the cylinders to slow vehicles without use of the service brakes. Due to its loud roar, some highways bear signs saying â€Å"No Jake!† but when used judiciously, it can be tremendously helpful (though the debate is ongoing about which conditions merit its use). 1. Do not use the Jake in icy or slippery road conditions! Avoid using it when the truck is not going at a controlled speed, also.2. If you must use it, make sure your trailer is straight and lined up behind the cab to prevent jackknifing.3. Using the Jake properly on mountainous or hilly roads can save wear and tear on the brake pads and tires. Dave recommends using a gear low enough to let the jake to do 90% of the bra king when going down a steep grade.4. Check engine temperature and oil levels before using the Jake- it should be running at operating temperature and no colder, and the oil levels should not be low. Test your brake at the beginning of your trip.5. Operate the Jake in the shifting range, about 1100-1400 rpms, to protect the motor. Don’t use it when shifting; it may stall your truck.6. â€Å"On a 3 position Jake, position 3 is strongest and used most often. Positions 1 2 are used in less than favorable road conditions.†7. You can leave the Jake on at all times or turned on when necessary; if left on, it functions in a â€Å"no fuel position†- take your foot off the fuel to use it.8. The noise of the Jake should be an incentive to only use it when safety is of utmost importance.9. Follow the guidance of your CDL training instructor at all times, and keep these recommendations in mind!Best Practices for Using the Jake Brake

Theories of Intelligence Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Theories of Intelligence - Assignment Example Accordingly, Gardner revealed seven intelligences by which individuals are capable of tapping to solve problems at hand. These intelligences were specifically noted as: linguistic (ability to read, write and communicate), logical-mathematical (ability for logical thinking and to solve mathematical and even scientific problems), spatial (exemplifying navigational or visual architectural and planning skills), bodily kinesthetic (use of physical body in solving problems), musical (innate musical talent), interpersonal (skills towards others), and intrapersonal (skills towards self). Two intelligences: naturalist and existentialist were eventually added to the list (A Brief History of Intelligence Theory, p. 2). The good news is that this theory has been proven have been successfully applied in contemporary classroom settings, for instance, in science subjects through the application of logical-mathematical skills (to solve science problems), spatial and even bodily-kinesthetic through the control of body motions, spaces, and concepts of distance, and of course, needed in all classroom settings, the linguistic intelligence. Teachers and educators should therefore harness these intelligences through closely assessing the strengths of their students and develop the skills and intelligences that are most needed to assist in their overall academic

Business Development and the Nature Globalization Essay

Business Development and the Nature Globalization - Essay Example These tasks involve sales, marketing, as well as the development of suitable and reliable strategies for the business organisation. The attention of all businesses should be directed towards the establishment of marketing teams with suitable strategies as well as focus on business expansion. Globalisation is all about expansion; hence, Avny (2006) believes that business entities are obliged to embrace the concept in order to achieve immense expansion and generate significant revenue for its self as well as national growth and development. Globalisation, as earlier noted is a product of human innovation and rapid advancement in technology. Technology presents business organisations with numerous opportunities that can be pivotal in the success or rather development of a business entity. The frequent identification of these opportunities presented by technology makes it possible for these small business entities to expand and reach international markets and as a result bring in more in come. Thus, Todaro and Smith (2009) opine that business development’s major role is to help firms identify and take advantage of the emerging market opportunities. The Nature of Globalisation Among the phenomena worth taking note of across the last period of the twentieth century is globalisation. By itself, it carries significant importance both in developing or what are referred to as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and developed nations across the globe. The process’ emergence and expansion can be credited to the advancements made in the transportation sector, communications as well as the rapid technological advancement towards the end of the twentieth century and into the twenty first century (Avny, 2007). The advancements made have helped in the reallocation of human... This essay approves that the growth and development of infrastructure like roads and communication lines have resulted in the reduced intervals between the travel times taken from the production and or manufacturing point to destination and or sale points enabling more countries to take part in the trade. The growth of these activities has seen more opportunities arise for the development of business entities which has been a credible contributor to the advancement in the economy of LDCs. It is easy to see the amount of similar products that are flooding the world markets in the contemporary world; an indicator that the world is moving in the direction of becoming a one-village market and or community. According to Birdsall, Rodrik and Subramanian, these developments result in the fast growth and development of these nations’ economies due to the increased multinational trade. The activities involving movement and or exchange of capital included indirect and direct financial i nvestments in least developed countries (LDCs) with the aim of raising the incomes and or revenue of the countries. The local businesses and or industries are required to meet international standards as a requirement of globalisation and as a result some are forced to merge with other multinationals in order to increase their operations. This report makes a conclusion that globalisation is an evoking concept that still is opposed by an ideological minority unable to deny the benefits associated with globalisation knowledge with respect to development of businesses as well as national economies. The few who view globalisation as some form of capitalism should drop the idea and embrace the concept as a major factor in business development.

Write a letter of complain to a local newspaper Essay

Write a letter of complain to a local newspaper - Essay Example It is not even clear whether he had made indecent images of children out of the material already available in the Internet, or whether he has taken indecent photos/videos of children and used it as pornography. If this was the case, it remains to be seen whether he could be charged of pedophilia as well, after analyzing the extent to which the images reflect his psychological disposition. After the first two sentences which refer vaguely to the incidents which could have led to the Fire Chief’s resignation, the article sticks to the official version of the event. It is obvious that the persons who are in charge of the investigation are trying to save the convict’s face. The stress on the phrase â€Å"personal reasons† when explaining his resignation shows the ambiguity that runs through the report. It is evident that there is a lot of pressure from high offices to suppress the matter as much as possible, though it has become inevitable to report the untimely resignation of some at a very reputable position. Quite paradoxically, the news that is supposed to deface the Fire Chief has ended up being a paean to his glorious years of service and the accolades and praise he has received. Genuine readers could wonder whether this is a newspaper report about the Fire Chief who had to quit his job after serious charges of pornography, or a transcript of s ome speech given during his retirement. It seems highly probable that the newspaper has just made use of the material that they had already prepared as a note on his retirement, or, forgive my saying this, as an obituary. Such is the carelessness with which the whole affair has been treated that there is no relation between the headline and the article, except for the first two sentences and the wild guesses that the readers are prompted to make. I am in fact disturbed by the double standards newspapers in general show towards issues

Argument Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Argument Analysis - Essay Example Lipsky-Karazs article is based on the premise that everyone wishes to know how Vera Wang went from fashion designer for Lothars on 57th street to the almost a billion dollars a year fashion power house that she has now become. She provides factual information to help her theme along by interviewing those whom she feels knows Ms. Wang best. These would be the people who saw her get her start in the business. People like fashion leader Michael Kors talk about seeing her when she was getting started in the business. Fashion editor Polly Allen Mellen also shared her insights into how Vera was shaped into the person she has become. Part of what makes this article an excellent and insightful read is that Ms. Lipsky-Karasz never tried to interpret her interviewees point of view. She simply told the story ad verbatim. No comments or suppositions. However, she did have an early â€Å"The Devil Wears Prada† moment at the the start of the article, giving the reader a sense of fear for the little woman that was never to be given reason within the article. By using Ms. Wangs personal interview tidbits whenever applicable, the writer gives credence to any assumptions that she has made about Ms. Wang. Thus making her interpretations pertaining to the actions of the fashion goddess acceptable and effective in an overall sense. The author has obviously targeted the fashion conscious women of the world who look to Vera Wang fashions as part of their lifestyles. The article tries and succeeds in pulling its target audience into the frenzied and often crazy world of fashion that Ms. Wang thrives in and excels the most. Much as the article places a highly positive spin on Vera Wang the fashion designer and personality, it became quite obvious later on that the interview was turning into a fluff piece, without a negative comment ever being said about Ms. Wang. It is hard to believe that Ms. Wang had not made any

Organ Trade Issue Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organ Trade Issue - Research Paper Example Because of the unexpected accidents and diseases or other life tragedies, many people lose some of their organs and often fell in troubles. For example, eyes are important organs in our body. Even when either one of the eyes loses its ability to see, it is difficult for us to see things properly. The case of ears is also not different. The kidney is another organ which is necessary for filtering out impurities from our body. All the humans have two kidneys, but only one is necessary to perform all the purification acts of our body. It is possible for a person with a defective kidney to transplant one from another person in order to lead a successful life. In other words, some of the defective human organs can be replaced with a new one if somebody agrees to donate one. Organ trade is a common thing in the current world nowadays. Many people argue in favor of and against organ trade citing different social, economic and ethical reasons. This paper argues in favor of organ trade after analyzing the pros and cons of the issue. In other words, buying and selling in human organs should be legalized under certain conditions.   Chris Chew (2007) has mentioned that the most controversial topics of ethical debates about organ trades are about the procurement and distribution of human organs for transplant and are centered on the questions of how do we get the organs and how do we decide who will receive organ transplants? (Chew). It is a fact that the creator has created only the necessary organs for the humans. For example, even if a human can survive with the help of one kidney alone, God has created another one as a substitute in case of a failure to either of the kidneys. Under such circumstances, if a person donates or sells one kidney for saving the life of another one, he is playing with his life.