| As college admissions become more and
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| | question. Give your intro an element of
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| more difficult and applicants become more
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| | mystery and intrigue -- really make the
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| and more qualified, the college essay
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| | reader want to read more. This could be
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| gains clout as a vital part of the
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| | the most important paragraph in the
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| application process. An outstanding
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| | essay, so devote plenty of time to
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| personal essay, no matter how long, is
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| | crafting this well.
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| sometimes the deciding factor for a
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| | REVEAL YOUR PERSONALITY
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| prospective student. But it's not enough
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| | Sure, admissions officials aren't your
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| to show proficiency with the written word
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| | best friends and you shouldn't write as
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| -- at least not anymore. Today's personal
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| | if they are. But if you get mired in
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| essays revolve around the sense of
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| | formality, paralyzed by grammar, you
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| personality and style gleaned from each
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| | might exclude the most crucial element of
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| sentence, and it's your responsibility to
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| | your essay -- you. Colleges want to know
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| harness those elements. The following
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| | who you are and what traits make you
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| tips will get you on your way to the
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| | shine, so don't be afraid to let the real
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| acceptance pile.
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| | you shine through. But never paint
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| BRAINSTORM EARLY
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| | yourself into an image that isn't really
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| The most important part of a college
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| | you; if you have to alter your
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| essay is the actual topic, so you need
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| | personality drastically to gain
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| plenty of time to mull over the choices.
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| | acceptance to a school, chances are good
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| You'll want something interesting, but
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| | that it's not the right school for you.
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| not cliché, significant but not trite.
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| | FORGET THE BIG WORDS...SOMETIMES
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| Consider the following questions during
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| | Showing off your massive vocabulary may
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| your brainstorming process:
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| | seem like an instant ticket to
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| 1. What distinguishes you from others in
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| | acceptance. But if you're using a
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| your age group? Any special skills,
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| | thesaurus for every word or phrase,
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| talents, interests or attributes?
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| | you're probably draining the essay of
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| 2. Have you engaged yourself in a fierce
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| | both personality and readability. Use
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| struggle for something? Did you succeed
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| | only words you'd actually use in
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| or fail? What have you learned?
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| | conversation (or, at least, words of
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| 3. What are your most concrete goals for
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| | which you know the meaning) and be
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| the future? Where do want to be in 20
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| | sparing; big words are fine, of course,
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| years and how will you get there?
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| | but they need to make sense in context.
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| 4. What or who has been influential in
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| | Wordiness for the sake of wordiness
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| your life? How or why?
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| | doesn't make you seem smarter; it just
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| NARROW THE TOPIC
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| | seems moderately uncreative. To write in
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| Though it's tempting to ramble through
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| | Plain English, use a software program
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| your whole life story in a college essay,
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| | like WhiteSmoke Software ( ) or
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| be careful to keep your topic narrowed.
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| | StyleWriter ( ).
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| Write one sentence (a thesis, in a
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| | END WITH A BANG
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| sentence) that sums up the point of your
| |
| | Since the college essay is usually short
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| entire essay, and make each paragraph
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| | to begin with, concluding with a summary
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| support that one sentence. Try not to get
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| | paragraph is fairly redundant. Instead,
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| too lofty with your concept; find the
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| | use this paragraph to create a stunning
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| point and stick to it.
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| | last impression. How does your topic fit
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| FINE-TUNE THE OPENING
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| | into a larger issue? What have you
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| The opening paragraph is your first (and
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| | learned from the experience about which
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| sometimes only) chance to grab firmly the
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| | you've written? Are there any poignant
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| attention of admission officials, so
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| | quotes that illuminate your ideas? You
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| don't create a lazy intro that simply
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| | don't need to create a tidy,
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| sums up what you'll discuss. Be vivid,
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| | television-style wrap-up, but you do need
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| clear and original; try piquing their
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| | to end strongly; this is your last chance
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| interest with an anecdote or poignant
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| | to make a vivid impression.
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