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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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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 • Also known as a personal statement • Helps selection committee learn more about you & what’s unique about you
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”
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
The Admissions Essay: Getting Started • Use what you know about the WRITING PROCESS! • Prewriting – brainstorming & outlining • Drafting • Getting Feedback • Revising • Getting Feedback • Editing
The Admissions Essay: Getting Started Essay Writing – Language One error is too many!!
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…
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.
The Admissions Essay: Language - Learn from Mistakes 3. Use of wrong words: e.g. I want to learn different skills to control the company..
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..
The Admissions Essay: Essay Writing – Content • Brainstorm all your strengths & outstandingcharacteristics • In your essay, FOCUS on developing one or two qualities about yourself
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 ?
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.
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?
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 ?
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
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
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!
The Admissions Essay: Getting Feedback • Get friends, others to read your essay • They can give feedback about whether you’ve communicated your ideas clearly
The Admissions Essay: Editing • Make a great impression! • Accuracy reflects your: • English ability • Attention to detail • Proofread many, many times!
The Admissions Essay: • Proofread! • Proofread! • Proofread!
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