Working on college applications...

"Argent" (argent) 01/11/2014 at 22:04 • Filed to: College

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...And it's soul-sucking. Everyone I know says that much kiss-assery is required for the essays, but I absolutely hate the thought of it. I want to stick out to the application committee, but don't want them to dismiss me for not being "PC" enough. Do you guys have any tips? Is it needed/not needed?

PRBot II > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:08

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Pro tip: If you need letters of recommendation, write them yourself and send them to teachers and employers for them to read and sign off on. You can write it the way you want, and save them the trouble of having to write it themselves. Worked like a charm for me.

Tom McParland > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:10

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High school teacher here and former admissions worker. Don't push it too far but tell a story that is meaningful and unique to you. Forget all the college essay "formulas," write about what you know, make the reader connect with you, and have someone else check your grammar and spelling.

Argent > PRBot II 01/11/2014 at 22:10

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Can't believe I haven't thought of that. Thanks!

dogisbadob > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:12

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I don't really have any tips, but good luck!

stuttgartobsessed > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:12

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Writing aobut a unique but not totally insane/crazy/kinky hobby. Admission peoples like to see an interesting person and what you can add to the campus community, not solely someone who described by numbers and rankings.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:17

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Expound upon your life events and show people that you are actually a person with a pulse. Bring out passion and show how you never let things get you down. If they did, you could spin that around and show how you picked yourself back up. Even if it's something as minute as tutoring another student, setting an academic goal, or joining a club and climbing the ranks, it's what they want to hear about. Also, my other tip would be to really look at your options and apply to many school. I am currently a sophomore at a pretty astute college, but I wish I tried harder and really saw what was out there.

Best of luck to you. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Argent > Tom McParland 01/11/2014 at 22:17

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Yeah, I was kinda thinking of going with a story, thanks for the tips!

Tom McParland > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:19

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Work your story to fit the prompt not the other way around.

Argent > dogisbadob 01/11/2014 at 22:28

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Thanks!

Argent > stuttgartobsessed 01/11/2014 at 22:29

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Thanks! I'll make sure to not mention my sex dungeon then. haha

promoted by the color red > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:45

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Oh God. I spent most of Thanksgiving and Christmas break walking my sister through her college apps.

I used all of my technical writing professor's techniques. Minimize adverbs and add detail: names, dates, etc. You're all going to be writing more-or-less the same kind of statements anyway, so detail use is how you separate yourself without breaking the word count.

Also - as Automach noted - don't stick with convention if convention doesn't work for you. If you don't have a good ending don't pussyfoot with some regurgitated bullshit - just end it.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Argent 01/11/2014 at 22:54

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I always feel like writing "Just take my money, you can't lose if I pass or fail."

StoneCold > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/11/2014 at 23:52

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With how the collegiate system is now, I cannot agree with this more.

Squid > Argent 01/12/2014 at 00:40

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Tell a story, proofread your essay at least twice and have another 2 people proofread it as well. Apply to as many schools as you can to leave options open to you. Once you finish them you can relax and not worry about them until you start getting the letters. Good luck in getting to the school you want to go to.

Torgen > Argent 01/12/2014 at 02:05

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You're making me remember OUAC fondly. No essay writing, no SATs. Just chose the schools I wanted to apply to, paid the extra fee to apply to a 4th school (the base fee pays for 3), and they got my OAC marks automatically. Got offers from all 4.

livedeliberatelychic1 > Argent 01/12/2014 at 11:04

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I didn't have any kiss-assery in mine. My college counselor said that's the worst thing you can possibly do. You need to play up why you would be an asset to their community—get right to the point! Don't waste time on trying to worship them, and above all, don't devalue yourself. If you give off the air that you're not worthy enough to be part of their institution, they'll probably think the same. Be confident in your writing and how you portray yourself. Also, I'm not sure if you have a prompt for yours, but if not, just be sure to write about something you are passionate about. That's a sure-fire way to produce meaningful and personal writing. (I'm happy to edit for you, if need be! Just finished my MA :) )

Argent > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 12:06

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If only it was that simple!

Robert > Argent 01/12/2014 at 22:36

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Genuinely write about why you want to be there. Don't do anything else. It got me into an undergraduate program, and it got me into a graduate program.