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Writing University Application Essays

Writing University Application Essays. Today’s objectives. This session is intended: To familiarize you with the admissions essay part of your university application To suggest some strategies for writing this very important part of the application. The Admissions Essay: What is it? -1.

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Writing University Application Essays

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  1. Writing University Application Essays

  2. Today’s objectives • This session is intended: • To familiarize you with the admissions essay part of your university application • To suggest some strategies for writing this very important part of the application

  3. The Admissions Essay: What is it? -1 • Also known as a personal statement • Helps selection committee learn more about you & what’s unique about you

  4. The Admissions Essay: What is it? -2 • Gives you a chance to sell yourself more fully than other sections of the application • Allows you to demonstrate your writing skills and “critical thinking”

  5. The Admissions Essay: What is it? -3 The essay is one of the only parts of your university application over which you have complete control, so take the time to do a greatjob on it.

  6. The Admissions Essay: Typical Questions -1 • Tell us about yourself. • This direct question offers a chance to reveal your personality, insight, and commitment. Be careful to limit your focus.

  7. The Admissions Essay: Typical Questions -2 • Why do you want to study in our program/school? • When schools ask this question, they're looking for information about your goals, and about how serious your commitment is to this particular program/school.

  8. The Admissions Essay: Typical Questions - CityU • A statement explaining why you want to study in this programme, additional supporting info: -interests -extracurricular activities -nonacademic achievements -relevant work or life experiences

  9. The Admissions Essay: Typical Questions - UST • Please provide information which you feel will be of interest to the selection panels of the departments, such as -your expectation of tertiary education -your career aspirations -your areas of strengths and weaknesses -your hobbies, interest and voluntary services

  10. The Admissions Essay: Typical Questions -HKU • Please provide information which you feel will be of interest to the admissions tutors and will help them know you better e.g. -your reasons for applying to HKU -the chosen curricula -extra-curricular activities -participation in voluntary work -past working experience -career aspirations and other achievements.

  11. The Admissions Essay: • Don’t simply list a timeline of your life • Don’t simply repeat stuff on other parts of your application • Don’t lie

  12. The Admissions Essay: Getting Started • Use what you know about the WRITING PROCESS! • Prewriting – brainstorming & outlining • Drafting • Getting Feedback • Revising • Getting Feedback • Editing

  13. The Admissions Essay: Getting Started Essay Writing – Language One error is too many!!

  14. The Admissions Essay: Language - Learn from Mistakes 1. Typo: Careless mistakes: e.g. …graduated from the Hong Kong Commnity College.. e.g. … my enthusiasm in learning managment-related subjects…

  15. The Admissions Essay: Language - Learn from Mistakes 2. Use of incorrect tense: e.g. In the past two years, I work as a part-time salesman.

  16. The Admissions Essay: Language - Learn from Mistakes 3. Use of wrong words: e.g. I want to learn different skills to control the company..

  17. The Admissions Essay: Language - Learn from Mistakes 4. Grammatical mistakes: e.g. Regarding to my language ability… e.g. …to become a success manager in the future..

  18. The Admissions Essay: Essay Writing – Content • Brainstorm all your strengths & outstandingcharacteristics • In your essay, FOCUS on developing one or two qualities about yourself

  19. The Admissions Essay: • General statements tell readers nothing unique about you e.g. I regard myself as an energetic and outgoing student. I joined the mentorship programme offered by the College, and I learnt a lot. Specific or General ?

  20. The Admissions Essay: • Be specific: Elaborate your points: • Tell readers what you have done, and what you have learnt (any activities, projects, or others) • Emphasize the significance of an experience, e.g. provide more than a narration when recounting an experience.

  21. The Admissions Essay: • What qualities match you to the school/program? • Tie yourself to the university: Why are you interested in attending, and what can the institution do for you?

  22. The Admissions Essay: (if you apply for BA in Language Studies for the Professions - PolyU) • I am very interested in language subjects. • This programme will best allow me to realize my academic potential. Specific or General ?

  23. The Admissions Essay: • Be specific: Consider the unique features of the degree program e.g. …a language program will be impressed with the variety of language enhancement activities you’ve undertaken

  24. The Admissions Essay: • Be specific: Consider the unique features of the degree program, e.g. …name one or two subjects in the programme that you are particularly interested in, and state the reasons

  25. The Admissions Essay: Revising • Remember what you know about effective essay writing: • Use transitional devices to build coherence into your writing • Capture attention with an interest-sparking introduction and a thought-provoking conclusion • Vary sentence structure to show (off) your writing skill!

  26. The Admissions Essay: Getting Feedback • Get friends, others to read your essay • They can give feedback about whether you’ve communicated your ideas clearly

  27. The Admissions Essay: Editing • Make a great impression! • Accuracy reflects your: • English ability • Attention to detail • Proofread many, many times!

  28. The Admissions Essay: • Proofread! • Proofread! • Proofread!

  29. Any questions...?

  30. Acknowledgement(Adapted from Sunnia Ko’s presentation: a study talk - AD in EBC) References • Abraham, L. (2005). MBA admissions: Application essay do's & don’ts. Retrieved November 25, 2005, from http://businessmajors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=businessmajors&zu= • CollegeBoard.com. (2005a). College essay writing tips – college application essay, admission. Retrieved November 25, 2005, from http://www.collegeboard.com/article/0,3868,5-26-0-9406,00.html • CollegeBoard.com. (2005b). Sample college essays – free college application essays, entrance topics. Retrieved November 25, 2005, from http://www.collegeboard.com/article/0,3868,5-26-0-108,00.html • Essay Info – Essay Writing Center. (n.d.). Essay info: Admission essay writing. Retrieved November 25, 2005, from http://essayinfo.com/essays/admission_essay.php

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