10 College Application Essay Dos And Donts

10 College Application Essay Dos And Don'ts This essay is an opportunity to tell more about yours. As you brainstorm topics for this MBA application essay, remember that admissions committees are looking to create a well-rounded class. This is your chance to think about what sets you apart from other applicants. Boston is headquarters to a growing workforce of admissions essay editors who will hone college applicants’ personal statements for a fee. He likes math, but not as much as he likes his friends. He likes history, but not as much as he likes Chipotle. That's the kid who's going to show up at college, ready to figure the rest out. Developing the idea comes latter but brainstorming is all about clearing one’s head and there is not a bad idea during brainstorming. After brainstorming, students can hone in on what is most important and then write a rough draft to see how the ideas apply. The selection process is very competitive and space is limited in each incoming class. Freshmen do not need to submit supplemental applications; applications are due in the sophomore year or when program prerequisite requirements have been completed. A limited-access program is one where both program admission and registration in program classes are restricted to a certain number of students meeting pre-determined criteria. If you recall show and tell at school, your essay should follow the same principle. Remember when the student went to the front of the class with something of interest inside the plastic sack? Michele Hernández, co-founder of Top Tier Admissions, based in Vermont and Massachusetts, said her team charges US$16,000 for a four-day boot camp to help clients develop their applications. Or a family can pay US$2,500 for five hours of one-on-one essay tutoring. She acknowledged, however, there are troubling questions about the influence of wealth in college admissions. Essays and essay excerpts from students who have won admission are shared widely on the Internet, but it’s impossible to know how much weight those words carried in the final decision. One student took a daring approach to a Stanford University essay this year. Limited-access programs have separate admissions processes and selection criteria. Not all students who meet the selection criteria are admitted into the limited-access majors. But the parents and kids lining up for their services have no idea what they’re really getting themselves into. So my kid is going to write this essay in the next few months. I've been politely asked not to help, which makes me want to strangle him and hug him at the same time. I hope he gets across some of the real things about himself. College admissions officers read through literally thousands of essays each admissions round. Remember that your essay is your opportunity to share something about yourself that is not unveiled in any other part of your application. It’s your chance to become multi-dimensional and for the admission readers to evaluate how and if you would fit into their campus community. And even Joan Didion herself wouldn’t get into college on her writing skills if she had lackluster grades or scores. This means that you are initially accepted into the university as a pre-major AND then you must submit a supplemental application for consideration for acceptance into a limited-access undergraduate major. Getting started is easy, but works best when you know the requirements and follow the steps in the application process. At Wheaton High in Maryland, it cost nothing for students to drop in on a college essay workshop offered during the lunch hour a couple of weeks before the early application deadline. Cynthia Hammond Davis, the college and career information coordinator, provided pizza, and Leslie Atkin, an English composition assistant, provided tips in a room full of college applicants. When writing a rough draft, try not to be a perfectionist and just write what comes to mind. This extra effort on the front end will pay dividends on the backend every time. These FAQs about the college application essay should help you tell your story with an end goal of making a good impression on a college admissions officer. How to Write the Best College Admissions EssayThe college admissions essay is perhaps the most dreaded part of the college application process.

My Minimalist Workspace

My Minimalist Workspace Although I dont have a daily routine, I spend most mornings in solitude, writing at my deskâ€"my minimalist workspace. The picture above is what my desk looks like every day. (No, I didnt tidy-up before taking the  photo.) Much  like other aspects of my life, minimalism has allowed me get rid of the unnecessary and keep the essential. Thus, my desk contains only what I need to work. My work is writing. To write, I need a computer, a word-processing program, a chair, a pen, a notebook, and a lamp (because I usually get started before first light). A cup of coffee or glass of water is optional. Eliminating the Unnecessary I used to lie to myself. I used to think I needed so much more to be productive.  I used to think I needed an Internet connection and a clock on the wall and a bookshelf brimming with books and a file cabinet and file folders and three-ring binders and a scanner and a stapler and a desk calendar and a white board and a cork board and an office-supplies organizer containing paperclips and thumbtacks and pens and highlighters and notecards and Post-its and many, many other things. But over time I realized I didnt need those things. So I stripped them away, one thing at a time, until I was left with what I have now. And who knows: perhaps one day Ill get rid of my notebook or my printed notes. Or perhaps Ill add an item or twoâ€"if it adds value to what Im doing. I still have some office supplies, but only what fits in my single drawer. I dont need to use them every day, so I keep them out of the way so I can focus on whats important, urgent, now. The point is not to toss everything. Rather, the point is to get rid of the superfluous in favor of the essential. Doing so eliminates unwanted stress, allows us to avoid distractions, and helps us focus on  the work at hand. So, even when  your work requires more paperwork or certain tools to accomplish your tasks, its still important to ask  whether  everything in the  workspace is necessary. An Experiment As a experiment, why not give this a shot: get rid of everything today (box it up or simply get it out of the way), then slowly reintroduce items to your workspace as needed over the next few days. Then get rid of anything you didnt reintroduceâ€"anything you dont use this week. Its like having a miniature Packing Party for your workspace. Are you willing to experiment? If you find value in The Minimalists, consider donating a dollar.