What Do Colleges Look For in the Application Essay?

College admissions officers are real people with a tough job to do. Every year they choose a new freshman class, based on certain key characteristics and qualities that are revealed on the students' applications.

The college application essay has become an essential tool by which admissions officers make their decisions. These essays are meant to give the college a true sense of the student as a person. They highlight a unique or special side of the student, by creating a personal and positive image.

Writing a successful application essay requires a good amount of self-reflection. The student needs to get in touch with feelings, motivating factors, and strengths that express the core of his or her personality.

While there are no right or wrong answers to the writing prompts, admissions officers use these criteria for evaluating the essay.
Does the student come across as a real person?Is the writing straight from the heart?Is the essay distinctive?Does the student give a sense of who they are?

In the entire application process, the student has the most control in the essay portion. Through these words, the student can create a snapshot of their lives, personality, and even philosophy. Yet, it needs to be accomplished with a genuine tone.

Specifically, the admissions officers are looking for the student's 'voice'. They need to hear that the student is more than the sum total of their GPA and SAT scores. Officers listen for the intangible and immeasurable moments that make up a person's life, and the student's evaluation and interpretation of those moments.

A trick to capturing a sincere writing style is to first verbally answer the writing prompt. Look into a mirror and pretend that you are speaking directly to the admissions officer. Jot down your key points as well as some the expressions you use to make those points. The terminology you normally use will convey a sense of realism to your reader.

Speak from your heart. If you are passionate about a subject or event, say so. Has a challenge impacted your life in a positive way? Share that moment with a vivid description of your feelings.

The essay should distinguish you in some way from all the other students who are also applying to that college. No, that is not a dauntless task, but one in which you are already thoroughly equipped.

Every person is unique. Your life has been made up of individual moments that have shaped your character, goals, and dreams. Writing about these distinctive moments sets you apart from the crowd.

Always keep in mind that the sole purpose of this essay is to communicate who you are as a person. Write as if the admissions officers are truly interested to read about you, because they really are.

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Single-Gender Colleges Benefit Some Students

During your search for the perfect college at which to earn your Bachelor's degree, you might come across some schools that are the perfect fit for you except for one thing; they are single-gender. Single-gender colleges are not as common now as they used to be, but there are still some out there. For some students, they are an excellent choice, while other students feel that a single-gender school is definitely not for them. If a single-gender college is among the schools you are considering for your college degree, maybe it is time to give that institution a closer look.

While some people may consider same-sex colleges to be outdated, it remains that some excellent colleges in the United States admit only members of one sex. Single gender colleges today are facing criticism, however. These schools have to defend their relevance in today's world, where men and women must be able to work together effectively. Critics also question what a single-gender college means for an LGBT student. If you are thinking about attending a school like this, you may be worried that you will lack the kind of interaction with the opposite sex that will foster better understanding in the working world.

For most people, college is a time to grow socially as well as academically. Many students fear that at a same-sex college, they will not meet friends of the opposite sex and that they will lose out on the chance to date. For students who feel shy and awkward around those of the opposite sex, attending a single-gender college can exacerbate this problem.

Some students, however, claim that they enjoy the more relaxed environment of a single-gender college. After all, living in coed dorms may not be for everyone. Some students find that they have more freedom to be themselves without having to worry about impressing the opposite sex. They may also feel free to pursue more nontraditional roles, which is healthy for developing men and women who are searching for a sense of self.

There is also the chance to develop more close friendships and camaraderie with those of your own gender. Without dating to get in the way, students find that they form closer relationships with same-sex friends they meet in college.

For students who are serious about their education and want to make their Bachelor's program count, a same-sex college may be a good move. In fact, most students who attend a single-gender college say they are doing to because they have serious educational goals and want to remain focused. In a single-gender college, students tend to have better grades because they are not distracted by dating.

So what should you do if you are not sure that a same-sex college is right for you? When you make your campus visit, ask lots of questions about whatever concerns you may be having. For example, you may want to know about social opportunities that will allow you to meet those of the opposite sex, such as coed dances or events.

In the end, the decision to attend a same-sex college is up to you. This option is not for everyone, but some students do find that a same-sex college is the right choice for them when earning their Bachelor degrees. Don't forget that online college is a great option for everyone!

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