Writing Your Personal Essay

1. Writing Your Personal Essay "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.If you can dream it, you can become it." -William Arthur Ward

2. Why is the Essay so Important? • Your essay is your chance to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other applicants who may have similar grades, extracurricular activities, and test scores as you. • Use your unique experiences to help you stand out. For example, some of you may want to talk about the positive aspects of being bilingual at school or at a job in the United States. • Your essay topic choice is a reflection of your preferences, values, mental processes, creativity, sense of humor, and depth of knowledge. • Your writing reflects your power of persuasion, organizational abilities, style, and mastery of standard written English.

3. Brainstorming Devote at least one to two weeks to brainstorming ideas. Keep a journal- This will help you store your ideas and practice your writing. Think of the stories you like to tell your family and friends. Use a small story or anecdote that represents a prominent character trait of yours: leadership, kindness, dedication, etc.

4. Brainstorming You are looking for a topic that will allow you to write well. Choose something you are passionate about. Remember, the person who reads your application (your reviewer) is exposed only to your short essay to get an understanding of you! While your topic is important, choosing the most creative, intellectual or unusual story is not as important as writing it well.

5. When You’re Writing: First Draft Keep your focus narrow and personal. Write about yourself with specific examples that tell a story and demonstrate your point- be creative. Pick one incident, event or story to focus on. Instead of listing your good qualities, let that story show them what kind of person you really are. Give examples of leadership, commitment, drive and motivation, and ability to remain focused on goals despite obstacles and changes in life. Tell a story, paint a picture. Use imagery and colorful language to help convey your message.

6. When You’re Writing: First Draft Prove It – Let your point or idea unfold in the details; Support your argument with examples. Okay: “I like to be surrounded by people with a variety of backgrounds and interests” Better: “During that night, I whistled the theme song to Looney Tunes with a Spanish soccer player headed for championships, discussed Marxism with a little old lady, and heard more than I ever wanted to know about some woman's gall bladder operation.”

7. When You’re Writing: First Draft Be Specific – avoid clichés and generalizations by using details. Okay: “I want to help people. I have gotten so much out of life through the love and guidance of my family, I feel that many individuals have not been as fortunate; therefore, I would like to expand the lives of others.” Better: “My Mom and Dad stood on plenty of sidelines 'til their shoes filled with water or their fingers turned white or somebody's golden retriever signed his name on their coats in mud. That kind of commitment is what I'd like to bring to working with fourth graders.”

8. When You’re Writing: 2nd Draft Proofread! Your computer's spell check will not catch all typos, spelling and grammatical errors, or bad writing. Have your essay reviewed and critiqued by other people who are good writers, looking for: Good grammar Proper spelling That you have answered the essay question being asked Re-Write! - After writing one draft, let it sit for a couple of days without thinking about it. When you look at it again with fresh eyes you will be able to catch new mistakes. - Unlike an essay for school, this one will directly affect your future. If a few extra drafts could mean the difference between a good school and a great school, take the time to re-write!

9. Do not write a list of your extracurriculars, or how you aced your math class. They can already see that on your transcript, and want to know something more. Don’t tell them what you think they want to hear, be creative. Most admissions officers read plenty of essays about the charms of their university, the evils of terrorism, and the personal commitment involved in being a doctor. Choose a topic that will make you stand out. If your transcript doesn’t make you shine as brightly as you know you can, the essay is your chance to balance out their perception of you. Your essay is your opportunity to be personal, let them know something honest about you. Writing Don’ts

10. Writing Don’ts Do not be repetitive Things to avoid in your essay: Anger Entitlement Attitude Political Issues Religious beliefs Generalities Lists

11. Good luck! Have ideas or questions to share? Visit the discussion boards at www.hispanicyouth.org/institute