View the videos below...
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2014/09/30/video-learn-how-to-write-a-great-college-application-essay
This
year the Common App changed its essay prompts for students. Here they are (the
italics come from the Common App). Choose one topic and work on the first draft of your college essay for 30 minutes. E-mail your first draft to Mrs. Taylor by Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
1.
Some students have a background, identity, interest,
or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be
incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then
please share your story.
2.
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to
later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How
did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3.
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What
prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4.
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d
like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an
ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale.
Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to
identify a solution.
5.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that
marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture,
community or family.
Reflection Blog
Write a paragraph describing your feelings about completing your college essay.
Due by midnight on 8/4/15
Reflection Blog
Write a paragraph describing your feelings about completing your college essay.
Due by midnight on 8/4/15
I have been working on my college essay for a while now. I have a lot to talk about concerning my life. However, I am trying to find the best way to present the information in a intelligent essay format. I feel mixed emotions because the time is finally here for me to graduate. I am still in the process of drafting my essay but I believe that I will put something together that that will truly and honestly represent myself.
ReplyDeleteEven though I haven't started on my college essay, I feel as though that I have a lot to say, but don't know how to convey it into a interesting format. As a way of showing my own profile in a unique way, I feel that I might come off with too much pride, but I want to make sure that people know who I am while also learning something that sets me apart from the rest around me. Though this is my final year here, I still kinda feel as though I don't have much to talk about, but I kind of feel that some of my experiences of these past 5 years are what have shaped me up for this moment.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings towards writing my college essay well first off I haven't started writing my essay that makes me feel kind of stressed. I'm stressed because I wouldn't know what to write about myself since there is so many things going on in my life. Even though I been through so many experience that I've been through during my 5 year here, I still couldn't choose an experience. In the end I feel like I could come up with something that describes my goals and strengths.
ReplyDeleteKirby Hill
ReplyDeleteI have done a little research about college essays in previous avid classes. I have little understanding about what the essay needs to be composed of, but I'm still not sure about what it needs to composed. Another problem for me is going to make it the right length because I don't want to write them book, but I don't want to make it too short.
I have to admit, at first I was rather nervous about the essay portion of the college applications. I was worried about choosing the wrong topic, or not following the correct template and being rejected. Now that I've watched the videos and seen the advice you supplied I am much more confident and even excited about getting the chance to stand out from my peers. I have excellent writing skills, especially when it comes to telling stories, so being able to write my own story will be an interesting experience, and hopefully those who end up reading it will find it entertaining as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do have excellent writing skills! I can't wait to read your essay!
DeleteMy feelings over completing my college essay border on stressful. I've thought a lot over not only the given prompts for Common App, but also the specific ones for other colleges such as UNCW. I'm not sure how to convey something about myself in an interesting fashion. I've grown a lot, but I wouldn't say anything spectacular/individual happened to make me who I am. I just decided to do different things.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been working on my college essay for very long. I have alot of things i could say about my emotions and my story. I have been here for the last 5 years and feel that these last 5 years have shaped me to be prepared for graduation. After watching videos i am confident in putting my story in words. I am ready for graduation so i can move on to bigger and better things.
ReplyDeleteThis essay is really making me think of my academic past and my personal experience hand in hand which i generally tend not to do. It is also very difficult to write about myself - I do not feel as if anything I write will be considered because there are so many essays so I feel like this is pointless. I “know” that it can help with getting in it's just that it is kind of intimidating. I also feel kind of bad for the people at admissions because there are so many applications and then they have to read these essays about every individual student - I mean there is probably a team of adequate number going through them, but to truly have something different than that many people is narcissistic. But this is my academic future so a little “selfishness” is needed. My feelings towards this will probably change because my feelings are extremely fluid - this is just how I feel at the moment
ReplyDeleteI have been looking at the essay choices for the Common Application since August. I have a hard time chosen one essays to write about and sticking to it. This is one of the most important essays that I will write in my entire life and I want to make sure that it is great. I would be devastated if I didn't get accepted into a college all because of an essay. I am not going to stress over it too much,but also on the same time I am going to give it plenty of attention.
ReplyDeleteI dread writing my college essay.It just seems impossible to find words in which I can describe myself. I hate writing so much I did not even feel like completing this paragraph. I really don't like writing and I only get frustrated when I am expected to come up with an example to fit a topic but given that I have no choice but to complete the essays I'll just have to get over it. My biggest fear about the essay part is that I won't put enough effort into it because I am forced to do it and I won't get into any colleges.
ReplyDeleteWhile writing my college essay, I am finding it extremely hard to sum up all the things I want to say and get across. How I am supposed to sum up who I am, what I believe, what I want my life to be about and who/what made me this way in one short essay? I get even more butterflies when the brunt truth that this essay very well make or break me when it comes to getting accepted into the colleges that I plan on applying to. I hope by the final draft I will be completely satisfied with the entirety of my essay and what the universities will be reading about me.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I am stressed due to the fact that I have never written an essay for college.I also feel that we do not have much time to do this along with all the other college work that I have. My essay will be fine just have to know how to make it different and make it stand out so i am not just another essay.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of writing a college essay makes me nervous because I'm not good under pressure. This is basically your one shot to get into your dream college and you could either make it or break it. I feel that we were prepared for this by writing a lot of essays in our past classes so it shouldn't be as hard as I'm making it out to be. The only problem I would have completing the essay would be actually constructing it and choosing which topic I want to elaborate on.
ReplyDeleteJessenia Mills: I feel a lot of memories rushing forth. I have had a lot of experiences in my life so far, but I don't know what to choose. I feel like this one paper isn't going to even cover half of who I am. I am not one thing or even two things, I am a goody-basket with tons of stuff to choose from. I feel like I need to write a book. I wish I could just have a Q & A session where they ask what ever they want to know and I answer it.
ReplyDeleteI was apprehensive when first approaching the whole personal essay deal, and I guess I still am. Quite frankly, my life isn't interesting enough for a college to find an essay that I write on it outstanding. I can imagine that this is a common case. Not everyone had a life-changing experience worthy of any real merit. People grow by the day. I didn't wake up one morning and go to bed that night a different person. Change is slow. We're high school students. Most of us haven't decided who we are or who we want to be. I haven't even decided what I want for dinner tonight. That being said, writing this essay will be quite the adventure, I suppose.
ReplyDeletei had writer's block. im not the kind of person that can write right after given a topic. i need to take some time to think before write.
ReplyDeleteI do think that I have a lot to talk about but I don't really know what to talk about till I remember something else. After I started to type it just kept coming and coming and before I know it I had a page of just stuff.
ReplyDeleteHeather -
DeleteI am very nervous about doing my college essay. I've found that I am blanking on coming up with creative ways to answer the prompts. I also have no idea how to start them. I can't just jump into the topic, I've got to introduce it somehow and I have no idea how to do that.
ReplyDeleteI honestly have no idea what I'm doing and it scares me.
Don't be nervous about applying to college. Follow the steps that we are doing in AVID IV and you will be fine. You are only submitting your first draft. All you have to do is pick a topic and start writing.
DeleteMy feelings towards this essay are BLANK. i don't know what to say about myself. i don't like writing because i feel like i am not good at it ... i don't know where to start with this essay i totally am not prepared for this staring a blank screen is not my cup of tea...but i am going to attempt to do good on this
ReplyDelete- Camri Taylor
It was hard for me to talk about myself. It's hard to think about and get in touch with my own feelings. I try working on it but it's really hard. So writing about my feelings in this essay will be a challenge for me. It's even harder to explain my feelings face to face to someone so it maybe it'll be a little easier.
ReplyDeleteI feel a little stressed about writing the essay for college. I know it is really important. There is a lot that I could talk about, I'm just not sure how to put it out there. I started my essay however I do not have an introduction. I feel as though I will not be able to write that until I have completed the rest of my essay.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling pretty nervous about completing my essay for college. Writing is not my strong suit. When it comes to writing anything for me, I always know the points I want to make in my papers, but I never know how to start my writing. Once I finally start, I am pretty good at getting my point across. I have not decided which essay prompt to write about, but I am going to look over the 5 different prompts, and figure out which one I can write the most about, to produce a great essay. This is a very important essay, and it would be devastating to me if I did not get into the college of my choice because of this.
ReplyDeleteKatie Pham
ReplyDeleteUp until recently, I dreaded writing the college essays. I have never been a better-than-average writer and the sense of doubt always followed me when it came down to it. I felt better actually writing them when it came down to me applying to Auburn, though. I had to write seven essays, each having to be in the 2000 characters limit (including spaces).The essay topics I have encountered thus far were not so terrible. I actually enjoyed writing them, and I'm actually excited to write more. I have yet came across a topic that would require extra strain on my brain, and when (or if) I do, I know I will be able to do it, because whether of not I want to do them, I have to.
I feel as though my college essay that I will be writing about will be not only helpful to me but, it will inspirational to other s and encourage the heart of many. I Want to be able to explain my life experience and want it to be a life changing moment for them as well as it was for me. I feel like this will open the lives of many people that feel like that can't make it and tell them with the help of God all things are possible.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem will be honing in on one example for what I'm writing about. I honestly don't know what is special about me or sets me apart from the other hoards of kids applying to college and I don't know what to write about. Starting on the essay is easy because I just write everything that I think but its going to be hard to edit because I'm probably going to want to just rewrite the whole thing because that's what I normally do. Also, I don't want to share my essays with everybody, just people that know me well. I dread writing this essay but I have to... and at least four more.
ReplyDeleteBefore class today, when I checked this blogger and saw that today we was going to begin working on our college essays, my mind went blank. I did not know what in the world I was supposed to write about and I was instantly stressed out about it. Even after looking at the topics we could write about, I had no idea about what to write about. However, after looking at the videos and tips today in class, I got a better understanding of the task and I felt a little better about the essay. In class I finished my introduction and so far I am feeling pretty confident about my essay. I just hope that it isn't too much or too less of the desirable college essay.
ReplyDeleteI have been able to start my college essay with ease but I know that the hard part will come when I have to organize the material. I'm not sure how I will be able to organize what I have written down into a college level essay. I'm also not entirely sure that my topic is very fitting. Another problem that I am facing is that I'm not comfortable writing about myself because I don't want to put myself down but I don't want to put myself on a pedestal. Hopefully after I finish my first draft and get some feed back then I will feel more comfortable with completing this essay.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings toward my essay is all jumble up. I have so much to say but I dont know where t to start or how to get it out. I started writing and Its just so much that I dont know what to do. I want to write something good and impressive but I just dont know how to explain myself properly to. I just need to just sit down and plan out what to say and how to say it.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, essays aren't easy for me anymore. Not since highschool threw everything it possibly could into the art of essay writing and said "there, if you don't do that you're not professional and you'll never get anywhere." Which is ridiculous. But this college essay was kind of easy, a first in years. I chose the skill prompt and used the essay to talk about my love of history and how ambitious I am in regards to learning more about history. Of course there's probably a bunch of stuff I'll have to change because it might seem a little bit too personal but this is, after all, just the first draft.
ReplyDelete(Justen Williams)
ReplyDeleteWriting in general has never been one of my stronger skills. I get writers block often, second guess myself and spend more time rewriting then actually writing. This isn't really that bad of a habit, but it makes the whole rough draft part of writing an essay the hardest part for me. As for this essay specifically, I am not good at writing about myself, and I am really bad at trying to sell myself to other people. It's just something I need to spend more time working on.
To be honest I really hate writing, I people tell me I am really good at it but I always have a hard time because I am a procrastinator when it comes time to write, I am indecisive, and I can never pick a topic. I am a math person and writing has just never been my thing. People can read my essays and review it and tell me that they can barely find any flaws, but most of the time I never proof read, and it was a last minute thing. I think that I will enjoy typing this college essay though, because I know it is the gateway to a getting where I want to go in life.
ReplyDeleteI feel like once i complete writing my essay i will feel at ease. I really do not hate or like writing. I am not the best at it but it is also not a difficult task for me. Most of all i will feel accomplished and relived to have one more thing down.
ReplyDeleteThe essay is a difficult task when considering college applications. The most stressful part for me is choosing a topic. I believe that once I pick and develop a topic that I am satisfied with some of the stress will be lifted from my shoulders, but figuring out the topic will be a challenge because I want to chose something that will cause me to stand out. However, when reflecting on my life, I feel like my life was fairly good and ordinary and doesn't stand out. With some more thought hopefully, I will be able find something that causes me to stand out. I also worry that the essay and other portions of the college application will be difficult to balance with my busy schedule, but hopefully, everything will work out for the best.
ReplyDeleteI don't see my comment up here even though I posted it yesterday. So, in short, I wrote about how I need to work on adding in my own personality while writing. I seem to write in a listing, impersonal way. I also talked about how I may just choose a different topic to write on and start over.
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