Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions This can be a scene at the beginning of your story or you can jump right to a crucial point in the middle. Once you lay out the challenge you faced and built suspense, you can flashback to provide the necessary background and context. After you have narrowed down your topics, decide which is best for you. Think of things that other people often say about you. Write about whether or not you agree with their assessments and how they make you feel. Include school activities; awards, honors, and offices held; community services; jobs; and travel. One student I know loved maps and also had somehow memorized the flag of every country in the world. It didn’t occur to him that this was particularly unique until he talked with a teacher who pointed it out to him. It turned into a great essay topic for a student interested in studying diplomacy. Stephen is always looking out for the best interests of his students and colleagues. Interested in additional insight into college admission? If you are the parent of a senior, you may have experienced some of this same joint angst in recent weeks or months. The likelihood is that with more deadlines coming up for colleges, it’s not quite over either. Sorry to broach this if you were having an otherwise carefree and blissful day (please go immediately back to sipping your chamomile and mindfulness practices after you’ve read this). Article by Kerryn MacMichael, who was a member of the SEU chapter of Enactus during her time as a student at SEU. Submit your essay via our application portal (after you've applied). If you choose to apply via Common App, we will accept the Common App essay for all programs listed above -- with the exception of Physician Assistant Studies. Be persuasive in showing the reader you are deserving of admission. Think of one or two sayings that you've heard again and again around your house since childhood. The goal is for your essay to illustrate the development of them by showing you both in action and in reflection. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. If you are funny, write a funny essay; if you are serious, write a serious essay. The best essays are often built on seemingly ordinary experiences like shopping at Costco or baking a cheesecake. Don’t let the prompts constrict your thinking on what is appropriate for a college essay, however. One brainstorming technique is to identify several tangible objects that have special significance for you. If you dig deep enough there is almost always a great and revealing story in one of them. Considering which prompt aligns best with your overall story, brainstorm by asking yourself what are the strengths, personal qualities or values you want to highlight in the essay. What personality traits do you value most in yourself? Choose a few and jot down examples of how each has helped you. Consider this your hook to grab the admission officer's attention. Starting with an anecdote that puts the reader in to the action right away often works best. Now, I’ve seen him spar against black belts and get knocked down pretty hard numerous times. I’ve seen him get verbally lambasted by the master in front of the entire class and on-looking parents. He’s twisted ankles and bruised ribs along the way. But nothing has made me question whether or not he can actually achieve this more than the 3-5-page essay assignment. This just means the one you are going to explore first. Remember, while you want your essay to make an impact, your topic does not need to be earth shattering or include the biggest hardship.