College Essay and Teacher Recommendations
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Transcript of College Essay and Teacher Recommendations
College Essay and Teacher
RecommendationsMrs. Allie McDonaldSchool Counselor
College NightMarch 2012
Overview of Presentation College Essay
Overview Sample Prompts Tips
Teacher Recommendations What schools are looking for Who to ask How to ask
Question presented to Columbia, Cornell, Rice, Brown, and U of Chicago
Q: We all know that you want rigorous courses, high GPA and SAT
scores… so what is it that truly separates the students that will get into your highly selective schools?
A: THE ESSAY!
The College Essay The College Essay should be thought of as
an interview
This is a school’s chance to get to know THE STUDENT
Be yourself. This is not the opportunity to impress by using big words and complicated literary devices.
Choosing a Topic Choose a topic about which you are an
expert! Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to
be. Admissions officers will read plenty of essays about Egypt, the war in Iraq and global warming. Tell them about YOU.
Tell the reader why an issue is important to you, why you have made choices in life, why you care
Common Application Essay Questions Evaluate a significant experience, achievement,
risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
Common Application Essay Questions A range of academic interests, personal
perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Topic of your choice
College Essay Tips Give yourself time to do a good job
Invest in the drafting process (even if it means starting over and trying again)
Focus on one specific event
Be careful about pet stories, accounts of a dear, departed relative, or your efforts in delivering the big play in the big game
College Essay Tips Don’t be redundant. Don’t repeat information
about yourself that can be found elsewhere on your application.
Eliminate distractions such as spelling and punctuation errors
When you think you are finished with your essay, read it again
Be careful using the same essay to answer different questions
College Essay Tips Be careful about becoming involved with essay
editing services Be original Do NOT let your parent write your college essay Think of your audience. Admission committees
will not read your entire essay unless it catches their attention from the beginning.
Stick to the word count limit!
Resources College Essay Free Writing
“Dos and don’ts on writing the college application essay”
“Nine Horrible College Essay Topics”
“10 Great Opening Lines from Stanford Admissions Essays”
Books in Student Services
Teacher Recommendations
“Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics, as demonstrated in your classroom. We welcome information that will help us to differentiate this student from others."
-- 2009-2010 Common Application Teacher Evaluation
Questions to Consider about Teacher Recommendations
Which of your teachers will answer this question for your college applications?
What insights will they share about you with college admissions officers?
How convincing will their words be?
Teacher Recommendation Tips In choosing who to ask to write your
recommendations, it pays to choose wisely.
One common misconception students have about teacher recommendations is that they should focus on the student's extracurricular accomplishments.
Teacher Recommendations What they're really hoping to uncover in teacher
recommendations is who you are inside the classroom.
How strong are your writing and analytical skills? Do you make valuable contributions to classroom discussions?
Are you a creative thinker or someone who just dutifully parrots back information?
Teacher Recommendations How do you react when a subject is particularly
challenging to you?
Do you work just for the grade, or out of the sheer joy of learning for learning's sake? What is your intellectual potential?
Will you be able to handle college level work?
Choosing a Teacher to Write a Recommendation
Don't automatically assume that your recommendations must come from the teacher who gave you the best grades
Choose a teacher who knows your academic performance and has taken time to get to know you as a student
Ask early!
Asking a Teacher to Write a Recommendation
Ask teacher (in person) if they will consider writing a recommendation for you. Request your recommendation early. Some teachers allot a certain amount of letters per year
Politely arrange a time (at least 10 minutes) that you can meet with the teacher to discuss the recommendation. DON’T SEND AN EMAIL!
Asking a Teacher to Write a Recommendation
Provide the teacher with the following: List of selected colleges/universities and the
application deadlines. Include stamped envelopes (including the university’s address) for each recommendation requested.
Updated resume including all of your activities
Recommendation forms provided with the college application; your portion MUST be completed
Asking a Teacher for a Recommendation
MOST IMPORTANTLY
Typed answers to the following questions
Why do you feel like this teacher can write you a meaningful recommendation?
What was your most meaningful experience in this teacher’s class?
Teacher Recommendation Follow-Up Allow a minimum of 20 school days for the
teacher to complete the letter.
Check back with the teacher before due date to make sure they have everything.
Write a thank you note to each teacher that takes time to recommend you!
Teacher Recommendation Resources “How to Request a Teacher
Recommendation Letter”
Counselor Recommendation By the end of the junior year, students will
submit Autobiographical Sketch Packet Parent Brag Sheet
Get to know your counselor NOW
Say hi in the hallways!
Questions?
Counselor Breakdown by Last Name
A-De: Allison McDonaldDh-I: Mindy HirschJ-Mc: Rodney WilliamsMe-R: Kareef OvertonS-Z: Moira Baylog