Admissions Essay Topic Prompts

Hi everyone! I cannot believe it is already June and 2016 is almost half-way over! How are you coming on those New Years Resolutions? Personally, I have not been keeping them all going strong, but summer is here and I am ready to get back on the band-wagon to a "better me!" What better way to work on those resolutions than by preparing for your future? Today I have compiled some sample topics/prompts that you can use as inspiration for writing your college admissions essay, sample scholarship essay, personal statement for graduate school, or just to refine your definition of yourself!

First, I wanted to share with all of you Juniors or anyone looking to return to college the prompts that the Common Application has provided for this coming year's college admissions application! You can find them here, but if you don't find any of these as inspiring and the university allows you to write about a topic of your choice, read on to get inspired by my suggestions.

Why are your choosing a specific major or career?

What travel experience has impacted you the most?

What will your future look like and how will you get there?

 

Who is your hero and how have they impacted you?

Why is a college education important to you?

How will your talents add to the university's academic programs or campus culture?

What inspires you most in this world?

 Talk about a transformative experience you had in high school/college.

 When you're at the age of 80, what will you have hoped to accomplish in your lifetime? 

What makes you excited to pursue a college education?

Describe how a teacher or coach helped you better yourself.

How have the arts (music, dance, theater, art) impacted your education?

How do/will you give back to your community, currently/in the future?

What is your biggest passion? 

 I hope this list inspires you all to get started on your admissions essay and you work on perfecting them over the summer! In my undergraduate admissions essay, I talked about my passion for community service and how that impacted my relationships with people, and for my graduate admissions essay, I discussed the events that led to choosing the career/program I did!

Your essay gives the admissions committee a better glimpse at what you bring to the table. This is your chance to eloquently brag about yourself and talk about those amazing experiences you've had that fit no where else on the application. 

Do you already have a topic in mind that you plan to write about? Share below so that you can hopefully inspire a peer's essay too! Have a great rest of the week everyone!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

 

 

Should I do an Instant Decision Session?

Hi everyone and Happy Sunday! The university where I work and study had our final Fall Open House yesterday, so I apologize for the delay in posting this! Some universities will still have opportunities for you to visit this fall, so be sure to check out those universities if you want to visit before the Holidays start! Today I want to talk to you about the choice of whether or not to take part in an instant decision session at a university that you're interested in.

Instant decision sessions vary by institutions and not all of them offer this opportunity, so it is important to check with your admissions counselor. This event is where you submit your application, test scores, letters of recommendation, and high school transcript to the college before your arrival on campus. Then, while you are out on tour or taking part in the Open House, admissions representatives review your materials and make their decision based on the materials they have on file. So, if your test scores aren't in or your transcripts aren't official, then you won't be able to receive a decision.

Here are some Pros and Cons of doing an Instant Decision Session:

Pros:

- Exactly what it says, INSTANT DECISION, if you really want to know whether you are accepted to a university, then this is the quickest way to know. You don't have to wait the three weeks (if the school has rolling admissions) or the four months (if they have a regular deadline).
- You can start planning a little earlier for your future! If you know whether you are accepted, wait-listed, or denied you can plan to apply to other schools if necessary or you can start gaining experience in the program you are interested in studying.
- If it is your top-choice university and the decision is favorable then you get to find out the fate of your future while at your dream school. That is pretty awesome!

Cons:

- There is a lot of last-minute work that goes into preparing your materials for an Instant Decision Session. You have to follow-up with your guidance department to make sure they sent everything in and that there are no delays. You also have to apply earlier than you may have planned on. It is quite a bit of stress.
- Because the admissions representatives are in a hurry to give everyone their decision, some items may be overlooked (not on purpose). Some test scores may be ignored, even though they are higher than the others, or your History teacher wrote a stronger letter of recommendation than your counselor, but they only had time to look at the one from your counselor.
- You may not get the decision you want during this visit. You could be wait-listed because your test scores aren't high enough, or you could be denied. Personally, if I am going to be denied by an institution, I'd rather it be in the comfort of my home, rather than in a public spot with others around.

There are definitely positives and negatives of choosing to take part in an Instant Decision Day, but it is important to weigh them based on your own needs and your own expectations. Personally, I never took part in an Instant Decision Session and I don't necessarily recommend doing so, just because I am a private person when it comes to school work and achievements like a college acceptance. However, if you and your family believe that an Instant Decision Session would be a positive experience for you, then why not try it out!

I hope today's post helps you consider this one aspect of college admissions and helps you weigh your options in terms of waiting for a decision or receiving it right away! If you've had a positive experience with Instant Decision, I'd love to hear, so feel free to leave it in the comments or contact me through my Contact Page! Have a great week everyone!!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Exploring the Common Application

Happy Monday everyone!!

In hopes of helping the younger readers or those who have never gone through the college application process, I am discussing some concepts about applying to multiple universities through the Common Application. Here is a step-by-step approach to creating and submitting your college admissions application!

1. Create an account on http://www.commonapp.org to get started. There isn't much you need for this other than your identifying information (name, date of birth, e-mail address, and phone number). 
• It is really important that you create and use a semi-professional e-mail address when you are applying to colleges, for scholarships, and for financial aid. Something as simple as your first initial and your last name would be fine. This is how CommonApp and most universities are going to be in contact with you about various things, so be sure to check this e-mail address regularly (every few days).
  
2. Add the colleges you want to apply to into your queue. You can search for your colleges by name before adding the school to your "My Colleges" list. This is how your application and materials get sent to these institutions. If you don't have a university on the list, then they won't receive your application and thus you won't have the chance to be accepted to that school.
   
3. Because each college/university has their own requirements and expectations, it is necessary to compare all of these requirements to make sure you don't miss something. Some universities are exam optional, some require two academic letters of recommendations whereas others require one academic and one personal, and some require a different personal statement. You don't want to miss out on an opportunity simply because you misread or forgot something!
• When I was completing my graduate school applications, I created an Excel document (if you have a Gmail account, you can use the Google Docs 'Sheets' application) to keep track of when applications were due, who I had as references, the number of words my personal statement had to be, and any other requirements that were unique. This helped keep me so organized so that I didn't forget anything or misinform anyone.
  
4. You'll want to organize all of your information in one place so that when you are applying you have it ready to go. You will need the following items, no matter the university: a copy of your high school transcript, a list of extra-curricular activities (in school, volunteer, athletics, arts), test scores and dates (SAT, ACT, or Subject Tests), and parent/guardian information. All colleges require this information, so this will go in your general profile. Be sure to have accurate information because once you've submitted your application, you can't go in and change it.
   
5. Now you are ready to officially start your application. This is what you have been working so hard towards ... to go to college and get a degree! This is going to be rather daunting and applying does take some time, but just know that it is worth it. If you have to set aside some time each week to devote to applying, that is perfectly fine! Just make sure you keep your deadlines in mind so that you don't miss any! 
• During my application process, I spent all of my study halls gathering my information and spent each Saturday completing my applications and organizing everything. I was able to complete everything on time and received my first college decision in the middle of November! 

Applying to a college is a very daunting and sometimes overwhelming task, but once it is over and you feel an immense amount of pride in yourself and in what you have accomplished in your high school years, you will be thankful it is over! You have so many great things to come in the next several months and you will accomplish even more to be proud of! Enjoy this time and make every moment count!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. If you have more questions about the CommonApp, here is a link to their Frequently Asked Questions webpage! Good Luck to all you college chasers!

Writing your Admissions Essay

For those of you who have yet to write your admissions essay, you are in luck! Tonight I am sharing with you my tips for writing a great admissions essay and sharing my experience with writing my undergraduate and graduate admissions essay!

• Picking your Topic -  The Common App has published their 2015-2016 essay prompts for those students who will be applying through the Common Application. (This will most likely be the only way you apply to your colleges. Some schools still have their own applications, but this universal application makes it easier on you!) If you click on this you can find the essay prompts that you can write about! When you pick your topic, choose something that you can write about, something that makes you excited but that you can easily articulate why it excites you. **If you can't put into words why babysitting your sister while your mom was going back to school helped you transition from a child to an adult, then don't choose that as a topic. Write about something that you can easily discuss and get your point across. 

Pick a topic that you are excited about and can easily discuss!

• What to Cover - This essays tells a story about your life; about what's important to you. This gives the admissions committee a glimpse into your life that they can't see from your transcripts and resume. Because of this, it is important to portray the best, authentic version of yourself, but don't lie or over-exaggerate to prove a point. You may also want to consider explaining in terms of the writing prompt how your experience will help you in college. Most importantly, make it interesting and fun to read for the committee ... after all they have thousands of essays to read!

Don't be like Brick Tamland! 
Pick your essay topic and let the spirit move you!

• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!! - I cannot emphasize enough about how important and necessary it is to read, reread, and re-reread your essay! Check for spelling and grammar errors. Check for weird sentences that just don't sound right. A great way to check your essay is to read it out loud to a parent, sibling, or a close friend; someone who is going to be honest but supportive. You may also consider having a mentor look over it to get their advice on it. Your essay should be well-written and representative of the type of work that you will produce in college. If you want to produce A+ work in college, then take the time to look it over, proofread, and make sure your essay is as perfect as it will get!
  

For my undergraduate admissions essay, I wrote about my community service hours at a local arts festival. I knew I wouldn't be able to articulate why my dad is my hero, nor could I explain how important dance was to me; so I chose a topic I was passionate about but could still discuss. I wrote it creatively like a narrative, but also with the intention that I planned to continue my volunteerism into college. (Sidenote: in my acceptance packet, the Director of Admissions at my alma mater added a hand-written note about how my experiences at the art festival would fit well with the Community Service and Internship requirements at the college.)  

For my graduate admissions essay, I discussed how important door tags were to my experience in college and in why I chose to pursue a Master's degree in Higher Education. (Door tags are things with your name that RAs put on your college room door.) I basically just analyzed how important they are for creating a community atmosphere in a residence hall, but it was also through my experience as an RA that I chose to pursue a career in Student Affairs at the college level. I individualized the essays for each university I applied to, while discussing their Mission and Values. I worked for a month to perfect it and had it read over by Career Advisers on campus, my mentor, and my boyfriend to ensure that it was the best it could be!

These are the door tags I made for my
last Winter term as an RA!!

No matter what, make your essay something you are proud of and excited to share with others. This is the first ticket to your future in college, so make sure it is a First Class with air conditioning and free WiFi ticket!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Don't forget to follow the blog on Twitter @Chasing_College to keep up-to-date with new blog postings and relevant articles in the world of college life!

Friday Favorites

Hey everyone ... Happy Friday!! I don't know about you, but I have had a long week of work, preparing assignments, working on projects, and trying to further my career. I hope your weeks were just as productive! In the next few weeks I will examine the different types of colleges there are, ie: private, technical, research ... etc, as well as, discuss the art of crafting your admissions essay. Until then, here are some things I am currently obsessed with!

PEP TALK by Kid President - I saw this video in the fall of my senior year of college and it has changed the way I think about things. You are awesome, always remember that! You have something to give this world and don't forget, "It's everybody's duty to give this world a reason to dance." - Kid President.

THIS -

41 Scenic College Campuses That Were Made for Instagram - These pictures were part of my inspiration for this blog. College campuses have such an other-worldly feel to them and these photos really capture it. When you find the college that is right for you, you will get that 'other-worldly' feel as soon as you walk around campus!

Getting from College to Career - I mentioned this book by Lindsey Pollak on my Twitter account the other day. I just finished reading it and am so inspired about my career in higher education. Whether you are a sophomore in high school, a freshmen in college, or a first year graduate student, this book will help you so much. It talks about interview tips, suggestions about finding internships, and so many other things to help you prepare for your life in and after college!

Four Things New Applicants Should Know about the Common App - I will be discussing the Common Application more in depth later on, but I wanted to share this article, as it is important to get mentally prepared before you start applying!

BIG 10 Mascots - Last year, the mascots for some universities in the BIG 10 Conference made a parody of Taylor Swift's hit 'Shake it Off.'  It's just a really funny video that always makes me smile and laugh.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Homecoming for all those High Schools and Colleges who are celebrating this weekend!

enjoy the chase,

skylar