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Education encompasses the process of teaching, learning, and acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. Essays could explore various educational philosophies, discuss the challenges and opportunities in modern education systems, or analyze the impact of education on societal advancement and individual growth. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Education you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.
The term curriculum has often been used to describe the sequence and scope of subject or unit that is being taught in a school or college. Therefore, curriculum development entails organization and selection of specific skills and knowledge with the aim to fulfill developmental requirements for the student and the overall operation structure of the school. Curriculum development does not address the social context altogether of which the learning takes place at, nor does it focus on the content derived […]
Introduction In today's society, children with disability attend the same schools together with the children without disability. However, this was not the case some years back. Initially, a parent would stay with his or her child with disability at home, or the parent would pay for expensive private education for the children. This was about to change when parents formed advocacy groups to advocate for change. The group aimed at promoting educational needs for children that are handicapped in the […]
I am applying for the post of teacher at the Catholic University on the request of Mater on his position. I am graduated in Bachelor of Arts with English Literature and Language from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. I have chosen this degree to fulfil my dream of becoming an English teacher. I found that, I love teaching in my first year of college. At that time, I was a Sunday school teacher, who teaches and serves the girls […]
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The health and well-being of children are considered crucial in the development of a child both in the early years setting. Within the early years setting, some social, economic, cultural and environmental factors affect the health and well-being of children as discussed below. Nutrition and Feeding Habits Nutrition plays a major role in the health of children. It is an important factor in the development of a fetus. If a pregnant woman takes inadequate good nutrition, then this will affect […]
The adoption of a constructivist approach to the education system helps ensure the integration of content knowledge from a range of disciplines. This enables mastery of the factual basis within each of these areas, encouraging students to apply these skills in several ways to meet the shared objective of the lesson. This is achieved through involvement in collaborative activities, building meaning into the experience, resulting in in-depth processing of information. Further, the method allows learners to discover and inquire about […]
Education is of vital essence in our world today, with most focus directed to making sure all individuals get access to education. Many parents are putting a lot of effort in getting the best education for their kids, as long as they can afford so that they can be successful. One of the most controversial topics in education today is whether traditional schooling or homeschooling is better and if both are equals. Many people have argued against homeschooling because of […]
Different colleges have shown leniency in ranking student s due to the stiff competition posed by the private institution and increased demand for students with higher grades. The tolerance in grading has let the college standards down, thus reflecting negativity in the education process. According to Brent (1998 pp 22-19), the grading system, especially in US colleges, should be in the public domain giving the reasons and the effects of students grades. Despite the fact, he focuses on the management […]
Introduction Educational disparities based on race have been evident in the United States for a long time. They exist in many forms example Hispanics and Blacks commonly score low grades and perform poorly on the standardized exams, their number of enrollment in public colleges is smaller than the whites, their drop out level is also high. Study has shown that they get low grades compared to other races Asians included. In the last 45 years in the United States, there […]
Students should wear school uniforms. The argument against school uniforms is that they restrict the freedom of expression and only minimally improve a school. But an argument can be made that uniforms make getting dressed in the morning easier for all parties involved. Schools no longer have to worry over what students are wearing, parents needn't shell out large amounts of cash, and the students just have to get up and put no effort into what they will wear saving […]
“This is the real world, and in the real world, you need protection,” – Cherie Richards. Students, specifically teenagers, need correct information and the right resources to learn, help and protect themselves. When students have no knowledge whatsoever, they turn to media or even pornography to get information because their parents aren’t open enough about sex or the topic. Sex education is a type of teaching where students are taught about sexuality, contraceptive methods, how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, […]
We grow up in the shadow of our parents, only if we could decide our social classes. Growing up under your parents you fall into their category which labels you either high, middle, or low social class. Upper class students have plenty of opportunities to get a better and broader education. Plenty of people today believe someone in a higher class will most likely have a better education than a lower or middle class person because high class people have […]
Pros of uniforms. There are many students that see uniforms as their least favorite thing to wear,but uniforms do more than you think. Uniform keep students focused on their work so they may succeed in life. Uniform bring your school pride and could give the school more students and give you more friends.uniform may improve attendance and discipline. Uniforms decrease bullying and teasing .Uniforms can make get ready in the morning easier and improve punctuality in which could really improve […]
Most teenagers that are having sex have this belief that nothing bad could ever happen to them. There are many sexually active teenagers that have never been educated on the risks of unprotected sex because schools do not teach them. A very popular controversial topic in the education system is if sex education should be allowed in public schools. “Sex education is the teaching of sexuality, prevent sexually transmitted diseases, protection, and the principles about sex” (EduZaurus.com). Students lack knowledge […]
Sooner or later a moment comes when a person is faced with a very important question - the question of choosing a profession, and the whole future life depends on this choice. Oddly enough for me, it was easy and simple because from my very childhood I dreamed of being a teacher. After finishing school, I learned that a teacher can be special. This is a special teacher, a special person who helps special children. It was then that I […]
Gerald Graff’s article titled “ Hidden Intellectualism” investigates the theory that the educational systems are neglecting to notice the possibilities in student’s so-called “ street smarts.” Graff brings up an idea to open up to students with non-academic interests in the attempts of “growing” a greater logical thinker. Graff’s use of logic, emotion, and credibility within the work takes into consideration thought of the possibility that intellectualism can be characterized as a more extensive sense than once comprehended. A crucial […]
Poor education is feasibly at the top of many great American social issues. Because I believe it is the main root that leads the American citizens astray from the path of achieving the American Dream I am addressing it in this paper. James Adams said “the American Dream is the social order in which both, man and woman, are able to attain the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, […]
No, people should not wear school uniforms because if people wear school uniforms you can never express yourself and how you live. But if someone wears something inappropriate then the principle will take care of it. Wearing a uniform would also cause massive student obedience and take away valuable instruction time. Public schools already have dress codes which ban provocative, revealing, gang-affiliated, and hateful clothing. According to the Researchers at the University of Houston school uniforms seem to be decently […]
Webster's Dictionary defines sex education as the ""instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence"" (Merriam Webster). In 1964, Dr. Mary Calderone, medical director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, founded the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) found that young teens through adults lacked accurate information about sex, sexuality, and […]
"Looking into his eyes, I could tell his answer would to my question would be painful to tell. It was a Saturday afternoon in April and I decided to ask my roommate Cam about his experiences with sexual education in Utah. “I heard so many of my peers throw around the word fag while also hearing about how many girls I knew got pregnant and even got STI’s”. Cam did not come out until college but, I could not imagine […]
No one doubts that in order to sustain 21st century lifestyles, technology, and science play a major role. STEM education is a new trend that emphasizes teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a unified manner. Many professors and politicians have noted that the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have remained mostly male with short partaking among women. Across regions, women accounted for less than a third of those employed in scientific research and development around the […]
Elon Musk once said “Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough” (“Hondas in Space.”). Sex education is a term that goes over a general collection of topics such as maturity, personal relationships, people skills, sexual manners, sexual health, and society and cultures. The public schools that are required to teach sex education only teach comprehensive sex education. This method correctly delivers information on sexual education. Although some say sex education does not […]
School uniforms have been a controversial issue in the United States. Students, teachers, and parents have varied feelings about the need for students to wear uniforms. While some point to the need for all learners to look alike and for discipline purposed, others contend that the requirement for all learners to wear uniforms takes away students' freedom of self-expression. Despite the reasons identified by opponents, school uniforms are necessary for schools and all stakeholders need to embrace it. Most students […]
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today” Malcolm X. It can be said that education helps us increase knowledge to actively achieve and meet challenges that can produce changes in which are productive for attaining business innovations, political and economic objectives. In sociological terms education is usually seen as the process of acquiring certain skills or knowledge within an institution designed for that purpose. According (Haralambos & Holborn, 2004), it […]
Introduction Nelson Mandela states, ""Education is the most powerful tool which can use to change the world"". In the past, there has been a significant transformation in society that has been primarily attributed to education. For instance, the continued support and investments in education across the world have contributed to various technological advancements. These developments have improved life efficiency while addressing some of the global challenges. Most scholars argue that the social, economic, and cultural problems that countries face originate […]
Ralph Waldo Emerson was very well known as one of the many famous American Transcendentalists, philosopher, poets and an essayist during the nineteenth century. Emerson was looked up to by many people during his time, especially those who wanted to write. He had affected much of society in a great way. He was teaching everyone that they should have their own beliefs and have their own god. He wanted everyone to have control of their own choices and not let […]
Should the education system in India be improved? How would one feel if he or she walked miles and miles to school knowing there are obstacles in almost every corner to discover there is no teacher present? About 57 percent of students walk to school (Tetali, et al 11). 10-year-old Sarvan is one of these many children who walk every day to school. The time spent traveling is about one and half hours. The time taken is one of many […]
Homeschooling has become a more common practice in recent years. There are more and more parents turning to teach their kids at home. The main reason I decided to dig deeper into this trend is that it hits close to home for me. I have homeschooled my whole life, so naturally, I have some strong opinions concerning this subject. First of all, homeschooling is NOT for everyone. One of the big reasons my parents homeschooled myself and my siblings is […]
Sex education is a subject that has been taught in and out of schools all throughout history. It is a sensitive subject that continues to change over the years. Sex education has always been a very controversial topic in society and this will, sadly always be the case. The very important subject of sexual education is associated with countless opinions and demands for change in both schools and the public in general. Sex education has molded the minds of youth […]
In The "Banking" Concept of Education Paulo Fire, investigates the instructor–understudy relationship and how they interface within the study hall. In his exposition, Fire acquaints two distinct methodologies with instructing, the "banking" idea and the "issue presenting" idea. All through the paper, In various models that Fire gives to show that he is a firm adherent that the banking idea of training exists. As an understudy and going through an instructive framework, we have all en presented to each kind […]
Though its invention was well into the 1820s, physical education is a powerful pedagogy that still is in effect for schools all around the world. In fact, it is mandated by the state of New Jersey, and similarly for others, that a student should take part in a physical education course for at least two hours each week as a part of the students graduation requirement (New Jersey Department of Education, 2018). Across the world, as well, similar standards can […]
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500+ words essay on education.
Education is an important tool which is very useful in everybody’s life. Education is what differentiates us from other living beings on earth. It makes man the smartest creature on earth. It empowers humans and gets them ready to face challenges of life efficiently. With that being said, education still remains a luxury and not a necessity in our country. Educational awareness needs to be spread through the country to make education accessible. But, this remains incomplete without first analyzing the importance of education. Only when the people realize what significance it holds, can they consider it a necessity for a good life. In this essay on Education, we will see the importance of education and how it is a doorway to success.
Education is the most significant tool in eliminating poverty and unemployment . Moreover, it enhances the commercial scenario and benefits the country overall. So, the higher the level of education in a country, the better the chances of development are.
In addition, this education also benefits an individual in various ways. It helps a person take a better and informed decision with the use of their knowledge. This increases the success rate of a person in life.
Subsequently, education is also responsible for providing with an enhanced lifestyle. It gives you career opportunities that can increase your quality of life.
Similarly, education also helps in making a person independent. When one is educated enough, they won’t have to depend on anyone else for their livelihood. They will be self-sufficient to earn for themselves and lead a good life.
Above all, education also enhances the self-confidence of a person and makes them certain of things in life. When we talk from the countries viewpoint, even then education plays a significant role. Educated people vote for the better candidate of the country. This ensures the development and growth of a nation.
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To say that education is your doorway to success would be an understatement. It serves as the key which will unlock numerous doors that will lead to success. This will, in turn, help you build a better life for yourself.
An educated person has a lot of job opportunities waiting for them on the other side of the door. They can choose from a variety of options and not be obligated to do something they dislike. Most importantly, education impacts our perception positively. It helps us choose the right path and look at things from various viewpoints rather than just one.
With education, you can enhance your productivity and complete a task better in comparison to an uneducated person. However, one must always ensure that education solely does not ensure success.
It is a doorway to success which requires hard work, dedication and more after which can you open it successfully. All of these things together will make you successful in life.
In conclusion, education makes you a better person and teaches you various skills. It enhances your intellect and the ability to make rational decisions. It enhances the individual growth of a person.
Education also improves the economic growth of a country . Above all, it aids in building a better society for the citizens of a country. It helps to destroy the darkness of ignorance and bring light to the world.
Q.1 Why is Education Important?
A.1 Education is important because it is responsible for the overall development of a person. It helps you acquire skills which are necessary for becoming successful in life.
Q.2 How does Education serve as a Doorway to Success?
A.2 Education is a doorway to success because it offers you job opportunities. Furthermore, it changes our perception of life and makes it better.
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Raising a child is a big responsibility, and it requires multiple skills and proper knowledge that most people, especially first-time parents, simply do not have. The readiness of pregnant couples to become parents and make educated decisions while raising a child affects the mental and physical health of their future kids. There are specially designed programs that are aimed to provide education and support for parents. Classes can be taken during pregnancy and early childhood. There are different ways to provide training for parents, including courses that people need to attend personally, online resources, and home visiting programs. To ensure that new pregnant couples are prepared to handle the responsibilities associated with raising kids and with helping alleviate stress and support families, it is essential that parents take parenting education programs.
Parenting education programs provide new parents with proper guidance that is based on the latest research; they help develop the necessary skills and acquire knowledge about raising kids. Expecting parents are given an opportunity to get professional advice regarding the health of their child and a variety of other topics, like proper nutrition and hygiene (Ponzetti 54-65). Such classes teach basic techniques to raise newborns, avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls.
Educational programs also teach parents to understand child development. The curriculum is specially designed to cover all significant aspects of parenting and ensure that couples are given the best professional advice that is based on the latest studies in the field. Variety of relevant to parents topics that are discussed in classes and the opportunity to learn from medical personnel make attending parenting classes recommended for all expecting parents.
Classes for pregnant couples help parents to gain confidence and reduce the level of stress. It is widespread for future parents to be anxious about having a child. Stress during pregnancy affects the development of the child and interferes with the woman’s ability to make decisions. Specially designed programs help mothers to handle this problem. Taking such classes benefits the psychological state of women and is associated with lower levels of depression and stress (Lindsay and Totsika 35). In addition to that, parenting classes support and encourage parents and provide them with an opportunity to socialize and meet with other people who have similar problems and experiences. Thus, parenting courses have an essential function to support and encourage people who are about to have a child.
Parenting programs provide social service to the disadvantaged and thus play a significant social role in promoting equality. Parenting education plays an important role in developing a proper attitude towards children among people from vulnerable families. Such people often just do not know how to approach their kids because they have not had the experience of healthy relationships with their parents during childhood. Taking parenting classes helps such individuals better realize their role and learn to engage with their kids. People who have taken courses are less prone to negligence and violence against children.
Government finances some classes for caretakers, which makes them inexpensive and sometimes even free of charge. It makes such courses equally available for all people regardless of their socio-economic status (“Free Parenting Education Classes” 00:00:30 – 00:02:00). It is important because children from low-income families are especially vulnerable, and their parents might need extra support and guidance to overcome the disadvantages of their position in society.
Parenting educational programs can be ineffective and might overwhelm parents. The critics of parenting education point out that many of the existing programs are not very effective despite the cost and involvement of highly professional medical personnel and instructors. It often happens because the course is too ambitious and does not take into account the fact that parents are already busy with many responsibilities. Difficulties associated with taking excessively detailed programs are likely to discourage people from participating. It has a negative impact on the stress level of mothers and affects motivation.
As a result, parents drop out of such problems and become disappointed in the social support system in general (Salvy et al. 160). The problem is serious, but it does not outweigh multiple benefits of parenting education, and it can be fixed by optimization of curricula and proper implementation of education programs. It is justified to focus only on the most important aspects of parenting and to keep courses reasonably simple to apprehend. It is also essential to consider the emotional state of parents and provide them with appropriate psychological support.
Parenting programs are aimed to help future parents to improve their ability to raise healthy children. Such programs have an important implication in fighting child abuse and educating pregnant couples about the health of their children. These programs have been shown to have a positive effect, and the flaws that have been found in their implementation can be fixed by further improving methods and techniques they employ to provide parents with the best advice and guidance.
All pregnant couples, especially first-time parents, are recommended to enroll in a parenting class to receive evidence-based support and education during pregnancy and while raising a child. Further research on parenting education programs is needed to develop more effective approaches to the subject and to use such classes to their full potential.
“Free Parenting Education Classes,” YouTube, uploaded by Fairfax County Government. 2018. Web.
Lindsay, Geoff, and Vasiliki Totsika. “The Effectiveness of Universal Parenting Programmes: The CANparent Trial.” BMC Psychology, vol. 5, no. 1, 2017, p. 35.
Ponzetti Jr, James J., editor. Evidence-Based Parenting Education: A Global Perspective. Routledge, 2015.
Salvy, Sarah J., et al. “Home Visitation Programs: An Untapped Opportunity for the Delivery of Early Childhood Obesity Prevention.” Obesity Reviews, vol. 18, no. 2, 2016, pp. 149-163.
IvyPanda. (2021, May 30). Parenting Education Programs: Pros and Cons. https://ivypanda.com/essays/parenting-education-programs-pros-and-cons/
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June 24, 2024
If you’ve ever wondered what other people write about in their college application essays, you’re not alone. Just as reading a range of novels can expose you to unique takes on similar themes, seeing others’ college essay topic ideas can open you up to new possibilities, spark creativity, and enhance your brainstorming process. Since we read hundreds of essays per year, we wanted to round up a collection of past topics from actual students to inspire your essay-writing endeavors. Moreover, we’ve paired those topics with targeted brainstorming questions that will set you off on your own path to success. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Like a well-hidden geocache , the right college essay topic ideas can only be uncovered with some effort. In general, the right college essay topic:
While deciding, focus on asking yourself the right types of questions. For example, let’s say you’re down to two topics: a moral/ethical dilemma you recently faced, or the nonprofit you started last year. In this scenario, most students may assume they *should* write about the nonprofit–after all, it’s the more “impressive” of the two, right?
However, let’s divorce ourselves from “should.” Instead, ask yourself: if I write this essay, what will admissions officers learn about me that they can’t learn about elsewhere? Through starting this nonprofit, what have I learned about myself? Can I show my reader what I value, or how I handle problems? Or will I basically be re-hashing what is already in my activities list or honors section ?
Alternatively, the ethical/moral dilemma you recently faced completely threw you for a loop. It made you rethink a closely held belief and forced you to confront how you handle challenging situations.
Ask yourself: what will admissions officers learn about me that they can’t learn about elsewhere? What have I learned about myself? Can I handle this subject tactfully—without complaining, blaming others, or coming to a conclusion that feels forced/too neat? Can I be vulnerable?
Be honest with yourself, and a clear winner will emerge.
Every year, our students wonder how to ensure that their essay stands out, often asking us questions along these lines:
How do I make sure that my essay topic is different from everyone else’s?
If I write about my sports injury, will it sound like every other sports essay?
If I write about my parent’s illness, will that be just another sob story?
We get it—it’s natural and normal to be curious about what admissions officers want to hear, or wonder whether particular college essay topic ideas will strengthen your application more than others. While there is some strategy involved with topic selection, the way you write about and reflect on any given topic is usually much more important than the topic itself.
To that end, college essay topics/themes we see on a regular basis include:
We see these topics frequently because they are universal to the teenage experience. This does not make them bad or mean you should avoid them. On the contrary, it makes them classic, timeless, and relatable (remember, you’re trying to create a personal connection with your reader!).
Accordingly, use the above college essay topics/themes as a way to start collecting ideas for your own personal statement, and know you are in very good company if you write an essay on one of them.
Bottom line: you make a college essay topic “unique” by writing about yourself, in your own style and voice, with plenty of detail and specifics. You share what you learned and how you grew. That’s it!
Sometimes, you just need a list of examples. Let’s go back to our geocaching reference above. What the heck is a geocache, anyway? What will you find inside one? Do people use certain types of containers? Perusing a few examples will help you build an idea of what to expect when you go exploring. Okay, I could be looking for anything from Tupperware containers to film canisters…or fake rocks…what?!
Accordingly, in providing you with this list of college essay topic ideas, we want to validate and inspire you. These are real college essay topics developed by real college applicants, so it’s very likely you can connect or identify with at least a few of them. If a topic resonates with or sounds interesting to you, try writing down some thoughts on the associated brainstorming question and see where it takes you.
After identifying an interesting and personally significant essay topic, you’ll want to focus on further brainstorming as well as execution. Not sure what to do next? College Transitions’ highly skilled essay coaches can help— click here to see available packages or schedule a free consultation.
Additional resources you may find useful:
Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua .
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The Fraser Institute hosts an annual Student Essay Contest to promote student participation in economic discourse on current events and public policy. This contest affords students the opportunity to have their work peer-reviewed and published early on in their academic career. In addition, we offer exciting cash prizes for the top five winning submissions!
The Fraser Institute’s 2024 Student Essay Contest is now closed. Thank you to all the students who submitted their work. We look forward to reading your essay and your contributions to economic and public policy discourse. Due to the volume of submissions, we will announce winning essays in early fall 2024. All participants will receive an email in regards to the status of their submission.
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High School Category | St. George's Senior School |
Undergraduate | HEC Montreal |
Graduate | Carleton University |
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High School Category | Cresecent Heights High School |
Undergraduate | McGill University |
Graduate | University of Ottawa |
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Undergraduate | University of British Columbia |
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High School Category | St. Augustine Catholic High School |
Undergraduate | University of British Columbia |
Graduate | University of Saskatchewan |
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How not to write your college essay.
If you are looking for the “secret formula” for writing a “winning” college essay, you have come to the wrong place. The reality is there is no silver bullet or strategy to write your way to an acceptance. There is not one topic or approach that will guarantee a favorable outcome.
At the end of the day, every admission office just wants to know more about you, what you value, and what excites you. They want to hear about your experiences through your own words and in your own voice. As you set out to write your essay, you will no doubt get input (both sought-after and unsolicited) on what to write. But how about what NOT Notcoin to write? There are avoidable blunders that applicants frequently make in drafting their essays. I asked college admission leaders, who have read thousands of submissions, to share their thoughts.
Don’t Go In There
There is wide consensus on this first one, so before you call on your Jedi mind tricks or predictive analytics, listen to the voices of a diverse range of admission deans. Peter Hagan, executive director of admissions at Syracuse University, sums it up best, saying, “I would recommend that students try not to get inside of our heads. He adds, “Too often the focus is on what they think we want.”
Andy Strickler, dean of admission and financial aid at Connecticut College agrees, warning, “Do NOT get caught in the trap of trying to figure out what is going to impress the admission committee. You have NO idea who is going to read your essay and what is going to connect with them. So, don't try to guess that.” Victoria Romero, vice president for enrollment, at Scripps College adds, “Do not write about something you don’t care about.” She says, “I think students try to figure out what an admission officer wants to read, and the reality is the reader begins every next essay with no expectations about the content THEY want to read.” Chrystal Russell, dean of admission at Hampden-Sydney College, agrees, saying, “If you're not interested in writing it, we will not be interested when reading it.” Jay Jacobs, vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Vermont elaborates, advising. “Don’t try to make yourself sound any different than you are.” He says, “The number one goal for admission officers is to better understand the applicant, what they like to do, what they want to do, where they spend the majority of their time, and what makes them tick. If a student stays genuine to that, it will shine through and make an engaging and successful essay.”
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Don’t Be Artificial
The headlines about college admission are dominated by stories about artificial intelligence and the college essay. Let’s set some ground rules–to allow ChatGPT or some other tool to do your work is not only unethical, it is also unintelligent. The only worse mistake you could make is to let another human write your essay for you. Instead of preoccupying yourself with whether or not colleges are using AI detection software (most are not), spend your time focused on how best to express yourself authentically. Rick Clark is the executive director of strategic student success at Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the first institutions to clearly outline their AI policy for applicants. He says, “Much of a college application is devoted to lines, boxes, and numbers. Essays and supplements are the one place to establish connection, personality, and distinction. AI, in its current state, is terrible at all three.” He adds, “My hope is that students will use ChatGPT or other tools for brainstorming and to get started, but then move quickly into crafting an essay that will provide insight and value.”
Don’t Overdo It
Michael Stefanowicz, vice president for enrollment management at Landmark College says, “You can only cover so much detail about yourself in an admission essay, and a lot of students feel pressure to tell their life story or choose their most defining experience to date as an essay topic. Admission professionals know that you’re sharing just one part of your lived experience in the essay.” He adds, “Some of the favorite essays I’ve read have been episodic, reflecting on the way you’ve found meaning in a seemingly ordinary experience, advice you’ve lived out, a mistake you’ve learned from, or a special tradition in your life.” Gary Ross, vice president for admission and financial aid at Colgate University adds, “More than a few applicants each year craft essays that talk about the frustration and struggles they have experienced in identifying a topic for their college application essay. Presenting your college application essay as a smorgasbord of topics that ultimately landed on the cutting room floor does not give us much insight into an applicant.”
Don’t Believe In Magic
Jason Nevinger, senior director of admission at the University of Rochester warns, “Be skeptical of anyone or any company telling you, ‘This is the essay that got me into _____.’ There is no magic topic, approach, sentence structure, or prose that got any student into any institution ever.” Social media is littered with advertisements promising strategic essay help. Don’t waste your time, energy, or money trying to emulate a certain style, topic, or tone. Liz Cheron is chief executive officer for the Coalition for College and former assistant vice president of enrollment & dean of admissions at Northeastern University. She agrees with Nevinger, saying “Don't put pressure on yourself to find the perfect, slam dunk topic. The vast majority of college essays do exactly what they're supposed to do–they are well-written and tell the admission officer more about the student in that student's voice–and that can take many different forms.”
Don’t Over Recycle
Beatrice Atkinson-Myers, associate director of global recruitment at the University of California at Santa Cruz tells students, “Do not use the same response for each university; research and craft your essay to match the program at the university you are interested in studying. Don't waste time telling me things I can read elsewhere in your application. Use your essay to give the admissions officer insights into your motivations, interests, and thinking. Don't make your essay the kitchen sink, focus on one or two examples which demonstrate your depth and creativity.” Her UC colleague, Jim Rawlins, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management at the University of California at San Diego agrees, saying “Answer the question. Not doing so is the surest way we can tell you are simply giving us a snippet of something you actually wrote for a different purpose.”
Don’t Overedit
Emily Roper-Doten, vice president for undergraduate admissions and financial assistance at Clark University warns against “Too many editors!” She says, “Pick a couple of trusted folks to be your sounding board when considering topics and as readers once you have drafts. You don’t want too many voices in your essay to drown you out!” Scripps’ Romero agrees, suggesting, “Ask a good friend, someone you trust and knows you well, to read your essays.” She adds, “The goal is for the admission committee to get to know a little about you and who better to help you create that framework, than a good friend. This may not work for all students because of content but helps them understand it’s important to be themselves.” Whitney Soule, vice provost and dean of admissions at The University of Pennsylvania adds, “Avoid well-meaning editorial interference that might seem to polish your writing but actually takes your own personal ‘shine’ right out of the message.” She says, “As readers, we connect to applicants through their genuine tone and style. Considering editorial advice for flow and message is OK but hold on to the 'you' for what you want to say and how you want to say it.”
Don’t Get Showy
Palmer Muntz, senior regional admissions counselor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks cautions applicants, “Don’t be fancier than you are. You don’t need to put on airs.” He adds, “Yes, proofread your work for grammar and spelling, but be natural. Craft something you’d want to read yourself, which probably means keeping your paragraphs short, using familiar words, and writing in an active voice.” Connecticut College’s Strickler agrees, warning, “Don't try to be someone you are not. If you are not funny, don't try to write a funny essay. If you are not an intellectual, trying to write an intellectual essay is a bad idea.”
Anthony Jones, the vice president of enrollment management at Loyola University New Orleans offers a unique metaphor for thinking about the essay. He says, “In the new world of the hyper-fast college admission process, it's become easy to overlook the essential meaning of the college application. It's meant to reveal Y...O...U, the real you, not some phony digital avatar. Think of the essay as the essence of that voice but in analog. Like the completeness and authenticity captured in a vinyl record, the few lines you're given to explain your view should be a slow walk through unrestrained expression chock full of unapologetic nuances, crevices of emotion, and exactness about how you feel in the moment. Then, and only then, can you give the admissions officer an experience that makes them want to tune in and listen for more.”
Don’t Be A Downer
James Nondorf, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at The University of Chicago says, “Don’t be negative about other people, be appreciative of those who have supported you, and be excited about who you are and what you will bring to our campus!” He adds, “While admissions offices want smart students for our classrooms, we also want kind-hearted, caring, and joyous students who will add to our campus communities too.”
Don’t Pattern Match
Alan Ramirez is the dean of admission and financial aid at Sewanee, The University of the South. He explains, “A big concern I have is when students find themselves comparing their writing to other students or past applicants and transform their writing to be more like those individuals as a way to better their chances of offering a more-compelling essay.” He emphasizes that the result is that the “essay is no longer authentic nor the best representation of themselves and the whole point of the essay is lost. Their distinctive voice and viewpoint contribute to the range of voices in the incoming class, enhancing the diversity of perspectives we aim to achieve.” Ramirez simple tells students, “Be yourself, that’s what we want to see, plus there's no one else who can do it better than you!”
Don’t Feel Tied To A Topic
Jessica Ricker is the vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid at Skidmore College. She says, “Sometimes students feel they must tell a story of grief or hardship, and then end up reliving that during the essay-writing process in ways that are emotionally detrimental. I encourage students to choose a topic they can reflect upon positively but recommend that if they choose a more challenging experience to write about, they avoid belaboring the details and instead focus on the outcome of that journey.” She adds, "They simply need to name it, frame its impact, and then help us as the reader understand how it has shaped their lens on life and their approach moving forward.”
Landmark College’s Stefanowicz adds, “A lot of students worry about how personal to get in sharing a part of their identity like your race or heritage (recalling last year’s Supreme Court case about race-conscious admissions), a learning difference or other disability, your religious values, LGBTQ identity…the list goes on.” He emphasizes, “This is always your choice, and your essay doesn’t have to be about a defining identity. But I encourage you to be fully yourself as you present yourself to colleges—because the college admission process is about finding a school where your whole self is welcome and you find a setting to flourish!”
Don’t Be Redundant
Hillen Grason Jr., dean of admission at Franklin & Marshall College, advises, “Don't repeat academic or co-curricular information that is easily identifiable within other parts of your application unless the topic is a core tenant of you as an individual.” He adds, “Use your essay, and other parts of your application, wisely. Your essay is the best way to convey who your authentic self is to the schools you apply. If you navigated a situation that led to a dip in your grades or co-curricular involvement, leverage the ‘additional information’ section of the application.
Thomas Marr is a regional manager of admissions for the Americas at The University of St Andrews in Scotland and points out that “Not all international schools use the main college essay as part of their assessment when reviewing student applications.” He says, “At the University of St Andrews, we focus on the supplemental essay and students should avoid the mistake of making the supplemental a repeat of their other essay. The supplemental (called the Personal Statement if using the UCAS application process) is to show the extent of their passion and enthusiasm for the subject/s to which they are applying and we expect about 75% of the content to cover this. They can use the remaining space to mention their interests outside of the classroom. Some students confuse passion for the school with passion for their subject; do not fall into that trap.”
A Few Final Don’ts
Don’t delay. Every college applicant I have ever worked with has wished they had started earlier. You can best avoid the pitfalls above if you give yourself the time and space to write a thoughtful essay and welcome feedback openly but cautiously. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect . Do your best, share your voice, and stay true to who you are.
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Essay writing step-by-step : a Newsweek Education Program guide for teens Bookreader Item Preview ... For more than 30 years the Newsweek Education Program has been providing teachers and students with the finest integrated news education program in the United States. This is an invaluable educational resource from a trusted program dedicated ...
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