Comments on: Dos and Don’ts for your admission essay

By: Custom Essays

Custom Essays — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:29:17 +0000

I have really found your post to be informative and this has compelled me to visit your blog over and over again. I’d like to thank you for your efforts in spreading academic information. Regards.

By: deanflagel

deanflagel — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:21:15 +0000

Maizy,
Much as I’d like to, I think that may open a Pandora’s box of essays, and I’m not sure my advice on one essay would be all that helpful if I’m not the one who will be reading your application.

that beind said, this seems to be a fascinating idea – would anyone be interested in posting their essays online and having others critique them? This raises, of of course, fears of plagarism, etc but I think the risk is fairly small and the group benefit might be quite useful. I’ll also raise the idea with my friends at Monster .com/admissions.com to see what they think

By: Maizy

Maizy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:59:19 +0000

If you are up for reading another essay, I would love an admissions perspective on my (in-progress) essay. I homeschool, and don’t know anyone knowledgeable about college admissions who could look it over. I totally understand if you can’t or don’t want to, but if you would, I would appreciate it immensely.

By: deanflagel

deanflagel — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:56:30 +0000

I would enjoy it IMMENSELY. Here’s the facts – there is a vast mix of admissions officers and many of the old conservative codgers probably haven’t seen the movie and won’t understand the reference. You might as well cite Harold and Kumar. On the other hand, a good essay is a good essay, and do you really want to go to a college where the admissions office doesn’t appreciate the importance of the Dude?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:47:36 +0000

I wrote an essay for the common app about how the Dude from the Big Lebowski has influenced me. I think it is very well written, but I am a little concerned as to what admission officers might think about it. If you could get back to me so that I could share the essay with you, then I would greatly appreciate it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:58:47 +0000

Hot damn. A voluntary trip as part of a Red Cross disaster relief team would not work for you. I spent lots of my own money on therapy to deal with an abusive past, so I’m okay there. So I know what you want…..I sc***ed the hottest kid in my high school before I was even a Jr. I so bet that would be distinctive and unique and memorable.

And I am sensing you would respect me and not be bored.

By: Elizabeth Kudner

Elizabeth Kudner — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:03:55 +0000

To add to your tip of “don’t add isms”, also avoid writing like you are texting a friend or using slang terms that you’re reader might be too old to understand. When I read through our scholarship applications over at myUsearch, one student used “lol” in their essay and another one said “I was totally going Defcon 4″. Maybe I’m old, but I don’t even know what Defcon 4 means. Using these terms makes you look immature and will just annoy your reader.

By: Michael Stanley

Michael Stanley — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:29:47 +0000

OK, I’m dying to know. Tell you are kidding.

No one has really written their essay in haiku, have they?

By: ZIyaad

ZIyaad — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:49 +0000

How much does the essay count in terms of getting accepted into gmu

By: Mark Truman

Mark Truman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:36:13 +0000

Agreed!

I think it’s amusing when students tell us how their friend did “x” to get into college. One piece of evidence doesn’t tell us much about their overall application.

By: deanflagel

deanflagel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:16:47 +0000

It’s absolutely true that its one of the few things applicants can control – unfortunately that doesn’t make it more important, just more controllable. I tell applicants it CAN make a difference, MIGHT make a difference, and they should certainly treat the essay like it will make a difference – but don’t fall for the belief that the essay is what’s driving the decision. That kind of thinking leads students to replicate (to one degree or another) “winning” essays – despite the lack of evidence that those essays had anything to do with an admission decision.

By: Mark Truman

Mark Truman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:07:24 +0000

We often talk with students about the importance of the essay because it’s one of the few things they can control at the end of the process. Do you find this to be true? Are there other places you would prefer to see students work when it comes to polishing their applications?