College admissions essays are an important part of your admissions packet. As such, they should be written with care and tailored to the questions posed by the institution to which you are applying. Basic stylistic and grammatical errors reflect poorly on you and should be avoided. A listing of common errors on the college admissions essay follow:

1.Poor Proofreading. Proper proof-reading takes time. Do not rely on on-screen reading. Read your writing aloud to catch errors.

2.Unnecessary Words and Phrases. These are things that sound good but are meaningless like “in my opinion.” When you make a statement in your essay, do so without these qualifiers.

3.Poor Vocabulary. Do not rely on the thesaurus feature of your computer. It may suggest words that are not correct in the context of your writing. Work on improving your vocabulary and making sure you understand the full meaning of words you use.

4. Lack of Thoughtfulness. Gaps in reasoning waste a reader’s time. Vague generalities are sometimes used to mask a lack of thought and research.

5.Repetitiveness. When a writer says the same thing over and over, it appears that she or he doesn’t have much to say.

6. Colloquialisms and Slang. Learn that the kind of writing that’s appropriate when texting friends isn’t appropriate for other contexts.

7.Little Sentence Variety. Check the beginnings of sentences and be sure that there are not too many that begin the same way. Watch overuse of pet phrases or words.

8.Long Paragraphs. Question your writing if it is one long paragraph.

9.Absence of Clear Introductions, Transitions, and Conclusions. These things are necessary.

College admissions offices pay attention to your ability to express yourself in a clear and fluid fashion. A consciousness of good writing style and proper grammar is a must for your admissions essays.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers test prep tutors and tutoring programs and can help you gain admission to your top boarding schools, colleges and grad schools. Call 800-501-Prep to learn more about the admissions program.

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The Basics of Electronic College Applications

What should you know about college applications in the high tech era? A brief explanation follows.

I. How to submit your college applications (options):

The Common Application: With 456 participating schools, it allows you to fill out one application. State schools participating include the University of Michigan and UNC Chapel Hill.
The Universal College Application: The name is deceiving since it includes only 59 schools to whom you can submit a single application.
State and School Specific Electronic Applications: Many large state schools and selective private institutions such as Georgetown and MIT have their own applications that can be found on their web-site.

How to submit your high school transcripts:
An increasing number of high schools are using eDocs through Naviance to send the transcripts electronically to your schools. Paper forms for sending transcripts through the mail, however, can still be picked up at many high school guidance offices.

How to send test scores:
Students must request that test scores be sent to all of their colleges by the deadlines. You can request your scores through Request SAT scores, and Request ACT scores. When you sign up for the ACT’s or SAT’s, use the same legal name and e-mail for all subsequent application materials to avoid confusion.

Follow-Up is the Key
Assume it will take two to four weeks or your application to be processed. If its arrival has not been confirmed in four weeks, call to clarify its status and whether there are any missing pieces.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who will help you gain admission to your top schools. For information on SAT Prep Tutoring, and ACT Prep Tutoring, or general college admissions, call (800) 501-Prep.

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Here’s a better way to write your college admissions essays, so that you avoid the most common mistakes in applying.

Ten Mistakes to Avoid in Your College Essays

It is college essay time and you want this part of your college application package to complement your academic and non-academic achievements, and not distract from them. Ten common mistakes to avoid in writing your college admission essay follow.

1. Writing It At The Last Minute
You have plenty of time to write a carefully considered essay. Deferring your work to the last minute will compound many of the errors which accompany poorly executed essays.

2. Not Addressing the Essay Prompt
Admissions committees formulate questions to elicit information that is important to their decision. A failure to clearly answer a question will be regarded negatively by them.

3. Failure to Have a Central Idea
An essay which does not have a clear thesis will appear to be incoherent to admissions members.

4. Ignoring the Word Limits
If you violate essay word limits, your ability to follow basic instructions may be questioned.

5. Use words wisely
A self-conscious use of flowery vocabulary words when more straightforward language would be fine will undermine the clarity of your essay and the prospect that it will be received favorably. Yes, we encourage the use of SAT words even, but you have to use them wisely and appropriately in order to make your essay flow for the admissions officers.

6. Dredging Up an Overused Topic
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel in your essay, but try to write a distinctive essay which reflects your distinctiveness as a person.

7. Incorporating Embarrassing or Politically Offensive Material into Your Essay
Certain topics including locker room humor or politically divisive subjects may turn off your readers.

8. Including Unnecessary Material
Get to the point in your essay and don’t include extraneous material which isn’t pertinent to the topic.

9. Not Writing in Paragraphs
Essays presented as undifferentiated blobs or curt single sentences in paragraphs will not help your cause.

10. Grammatical and Structural Errors
Have an experienced editor or reader proofread your essay to ensure that it isn’t error-prone. You can even contact us at Top Test Prep get college application help.

Conclusion

College application essays are vehicles for explaining your academic and non-academic strengths in a personalized fashion, which explains why you would be a good fit for a specific college. Avoiding common mistakes in formulating them could play a significant role in a favorable admissions outcome.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep. Get in touch with Top Test Prep today, by visiting TopTestPrep.com or calling (800) 501-Prep.

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(Ten Recommendations for Writing a Strong College Admissions Essay)

The prospect of writing multiple college admissions essays may appear to be overwhelming. It can be managed effectively, however, with organization and deliberation. Recommendations which will assist you in writing strong admissions essays follow.

1. At the Start of the Process, Make a Chart of Required Essays
Being organized is crucial in the admissions process. Early in the process identify essay questions which are similar.

2. Read the Previous Examples/Essays of Successful Applicants to Individual Schools
If the schools you are applying to provide access to applicant essays, take advantage of it to extract lessons for your essays.

3. Create a Resume Focused on Your Academic and Non-Academic Accomplishments
Think about why your accomplishments are important and how they would assist you in contributing to individual institutions. Integrate these accomplishments selectively into your essays which should be tailored to those schools.

4. Formulate a List of Personal Attributes that You Want to Highlight in Your Essays
You no doubt have many great attributes – so explore which are the best, and let the admissions office know more through specific examples in your life.

5. Search for Inspiration in Your Daily Activities
Find things which are meaningful to you that are pertinent to your essays.

6. Be Authentic in Your Admissions Essays Speaking in Your Own Voice
It is usually self-evident if you are trying to be someone other than yourself as a student and person.

7. Start Off with the Smaller Essays Before You Proceed to the Longer Ones
Doing so will provide you with ideas for the comprehensive essays.

8. Recycling Parts of Essays is Legitimate but Make Sure You Address the Essay Questions Directly
Your college admission essay may have commonalities with other ones, but should be adjusted to the distinctions of the institution to which you are applying.

9. Keep Your Admissions Essays Brief and Close to the Minimum Word Count Delineated
A superior essay is shorter and to the point. Your admissions readers only have a short period of time before they move on to the next application so make the most of what you write. State in five words what you could have stated in ten words.

10. Find an Outside Editor to Offer Advice on Your Essays
Even the most experienced writers need good editors to provide feedback and perspective. Top Test Prep has some awesome college admissions counselors who can help you – give the team a call at (800) 501-Prep or contact us online.

Conclusion
Admissions Essay writing can even be enjoyable if you approach it methodically and with a basic understanding of the ingredients of essay preparation.
David Dickson is a counselor at Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and expert test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

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So, what are the standards for choosing students to gain admission? And how do the best colleges select applicants – what criteria is applied in the admissions process?

There are different college application admissions systems, but elite national institutions generally use the following criteria:

1. Grades and Rigor of Course Work (Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate)
This criterion is based on the courses students take over time and the grade trend. Good grades and challenging course work are looked upon favorably.

2. Standardized Test Scores (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject, and AP exam)
Some colleges use an average of the highest SAT scores, while others use the highest in a single setting, and still others use the best scores achieved by a student. Keep in mind that schools may note the number of times you took an exam, despite their denials.

3. Extra-Curricular Record (Brag Sheet)
The duration and level of involvement in activities inside and outside of school are significant. Highlight activities such as community service, employment, summer experiences, hobbies, and honors.

4. Teacher and Counselor Letters of Recommendation
Colleges assess the quality of these reports.

5. The Admissions Essays
This includes essays and short responses that students are responsible for. The essay which asks why a student has chosen to apply to a college is of particular importance.

6. Extra-Credit Points
Additional factors in admission, though controversial, include legacy status, ability to pay, minority or first generation college status, and special gifts in athletics, music or another pursuit.

Conclusion
For the most selective elite schools nationally, strong grades and test scores may count for 70 percent of the admission decision. The other indicators may be used to distinguish between those who meet grade and test score standards. Top Test Prep offers tutoring and test preparations with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an expert admissions counselor with Top Test Prep; call Top Test Prep today (800) 501-Prep or visit us online at Private Tutoring and Test Prep Homepage.

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The summer is a good time to acquire work experience, take a course or two, and chill out. You can do this, however, and still get a head start on your college applications. What steps can you take to be ready for fall and the college application season?

(1) Narrow Your Colleges of Interest List

You shouldn’t spread yourself too thin as you explore colleges. Limit yourself to around ten to twelve schools for additional research. Consider size, region, academic strengths, attrition and graduation rates, and extra-curricular opportunities as you winnow down the list. Moreover, examine admissions standards including GPA and median test scores to determine your prospects for being accepted. This information can be found in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue.

(2) Contact Departments in Possible Majors

The savvy applicant will move beyond conventional criteria for evaluating schools and contact departments in possible majors. Prioritize teaching by asking about class size and the percentage of classes using full-time tenured and tenure-track professors. Pose questions on placement rates in jobs and graduate schools.

(3) Visit College Campuses and Arrange Interviews

Once your school year starts there will be limitations on how many colleges you can visit. Use the summer to jump-start this process and try to arrange an interview. This is crucial at small schools which are often more inclined to accept students who display an interest beyond an application. Find out if there are professors with whom you can meet. Talk to students while clarifying whether they attend school during the regular academic year. Ask about student support services such as writing and tutoring services and the career services office.

(4) Identify Application Requirements for Colleges of Interest

Look into essay topics, test requirements, recommendations, and submission deadlines of your priority schools and record them on a spread sheet.

(5) Outline a Personal Statement That You Can Incorporate into Applications and Create a Resume

Your personal statement will be tailored to individual schools, but as a preliminary step deliberate on your academic and non-academic strengths and what makes you distinctive. Think about how these traits have been exhibited in your academic work and non-academic activities. In addition, formulate a one page resume highlighting your accomplishments inside and outside of class.

(6) Examine Financial Aid Options

With your parents, investigate federal, state and local, and college based sources of financial aid. The more selective colleges are often costlier than others, but usually provide more financial assistance.

(7) Arrange For Letters of Recommendation

Contact teachers concerning recommendations. Provide them with your resume and indicate that submission details will follow.

Conclusion
Preparing for your college applications is an investment into your future. The payoff is no less than more opportunities and a better life.
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David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call Top Test Prep at (800) 501-Prep to learn more about how you can improve your college applications.

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The summer is an ideal time to get a head start on college application personal statements. Tips for writing a strong essay follow.

(1) Be Personal and Display Growth

Essay writers want to know about an interesting experience in your life, but they need to know what you did with that experience to change your life for the better. You must demonstrate how this experience affected you, what you gained, and how it helped you to mature. Show passion in your writing.

(2) Good Writing is Clear and Succinct

Don’t use difficult or unusual words and don’t be wordy or flowery. Moreover, longer is not better. Readers have many essays to read so don’t burden them with a lengthy essay when a five paragraph essay will work better.

(3) Watch Your Grammar (The Colleges Will)

Write in an active strong voice, not the passive voice. “I found the wet, dripping dog” vs “The dog was found.” Avoid unnecessary adverbs and adjectives and focus on clarity.

(4) Avoid Generalities and Be Specific

For example, if you are writing about a trip, do not give your itinerary. Focus on an interesting detail instead. The more specific you are, the more likely it is to be interesting and meaningful to the reader.

(5) Be Careful of Humor

Most attempts at humor fail because people think they are funny and rarely are.

(6) Topics to Avoid Writing About

Your religious beliefs unless applying to a religious college and your political beliefs. This doesn’t include working for a candidate. Also avoid writing about how great you are or anything that would make a reader embarrassed. In addition, don’t write about anything which reveals you to be a poor student or assert that the only reason you want to go to college is to make a lot of money.

(7) Have a Strong Writer Proof Read Your Essay

Don’t write your admissions essay in isolation. Have a strong writer such as a private counselor read it over for content, style, and grammar.

Conclusion
Remember that your essay must demonstrate that you can write and that you are a mature and interesting person that they would enjoy having at their school. It’s time to start brainstorming on that essay!

David Dickson is a college admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more about college counseling programs for students.

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So, maybe you’re struggling to create a college admissions essay that will knock the socks off the admissions offices. Doubts grow as you ponder how you can come up with an original insight or an idea separating you from the pack. It’s now time to formulate a game plan for a college essay that will set off bulbs in the heads of staff members and place you on the path to acceptance. In pursuit of this goal, advice will be offered on how to start your college essay, and ways to structure your personal statement in a way that offers the admissions offices insight into your life. This will be followed by examples of essay prompts and closing remarks.

How to Start Your Admissions Essay

1. Go to the admissions website – or Common App – and find materials of the school to which you are applying. This is the absolute first step. Write down your favorite topics and begin to brainstorm.

2. Look inward and identify your strengths and best qualities. You may be determined or creative or empathetic. Identify the strengths that you want to convey to the admissions committee. Ask what differentiates you from most applicants, and how you can make this clear in a personal statement.

3. Incorporate your strengths into the essay. For instance, convey a story about a time or experience when you displayed these strengths. Produce alternative beginnings and conclusions as you work on the essay. Remember: the clearer your examples are, the better your essay will be viewed.

How to Structure Your Essay

The essay is designed to demonstrate that you can convey your thoughts in an organized and persuasive fashion. To facilitate this, the essay should have the following components.

1. An introduction with a central idea expressing the intention of the essay and supporting ideas that will be used to refine the main point.

2. A body with a few paragraphs, each of which would have a supporting idea. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence articulating its principal point. Stay within the stated page limits. Admissions essays are generally brief. Brevity beats verbosity!

3. A conclusion summarizing the essay, and reiterating the central idea and supporting ideas. A strong writer should look over the essay to check for coherence and to check whether you made a compelling case for gaining admission.

4. Consider having a peer review the admissions essay to get their feedback. You can also get admissions essay help from Top Test Prep’s programs.

Five essay prompts to get you thinking…

College admissions essay topics should be personal since you are selling yourself and why you are a good fit for that institution. Illustrations of possible topics include the following:

-Describe a significant interest or experience that has special meaning for you.
-Does any specific attribute, quality, or skill distinguish you from everyone else? How did you develop this attribute?
- What is your approach to life? Reveal your life philosophy.
-What is a major achievement in your life? Who and what assisted you in reaching your aim?
- Explain which of the negative features you possess you’d like to get rid of and which of the positive features you’d like to promote and enhance.

It’s time to find a quiet place and start deliberating on your admissions essays.
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David Dickson is on the college admissions counseling team for Top Test Prep. Top Test Prep offers private tutor programs and admissions counseling to help students gain admission to prep schools, colleges and graduate schools. Call to learn more: (800) 501-Prep.

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Internships, jobs, camp, test prep courses, a few trips to the beach or mountains… and essay writing! Yes, summer vacation is on its way. Juniors, this is the perfect time to begin drafting college admission essays. Preparing your essays now will help you substantially in the fall when admissions crunch time comes. How can you best utilize time in the summer to write college essays? Here are a few tips:

1. Give yourself a short break

Seems like a simple idea – to rest during vacation. But sometimes it’s hard to sit back and take a break when you know there is a surfeit of work to complete. Give your brain and energy time to rejuvenate after an arduous year. Allot a certain amount of time to rest after spring semester. When the rest period is up, you can begin work – and you’ll have more energy to put into it.

2. Use the entire writing process

Putting a pencil to paper, or fingers to a keyboard, is part of the end of the writing process. Even for simple writing assignments, you can begin clicking out phrases only after considering different ideas, ruminating, and planning. For your college essay, spend time in the foundation part of the writing process. Brainstorm, question yourself, jot down quick phrases and ideas. Spend time thinking and putting ideas together before you sit down to write. Don’t worry about paragraph order or specific sentences in the beginning. Let ideas emerge naturally.

3. Cultivate ideas – read good books

It’s true: we are what we eat. Set your standards high and feed your brain with good books, articles, and literature. Almost any genre will do, if well written. If you read only models of essays, you risk mimicking them instead of creating your own. There are general structures to follow, but you want your ideas to stand out. Reading well written material with intricate descriptions, a clear voice, and interesting storylines will help you with your own writing.

4. Keep it to yourself

Use the summer as your own writing time. Remember – this is your essay. The essay is a unique part of your college application where you can come through with a voice and personality. Wait until the fall to have a friend or teacher look it over. There will be plenty of time to edit, especially if you start the writing process now.

Best of luck. Happy writing!

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This post is titled, “Summertime = Essaytime.” It was written by Marta Casey, a writer on Top Test Prep’s admissions counseling team.

To learn more about Top Test Prep’s programs, call (800) 501 – Prep.

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Top 10 Things to Check Before Submitting Your College Applications

Written by Admissions Expert, Ross Blankenship
Founder of Top Test Prep

When applying to college, your admissions application is the gateway to your acceptance. Your grades and academic history obviously factor into the equation, but since the application itself is what the admissions officers see first, caution must be taken to ensure you get everything right the first time. Remember perception is reality and admissions officers want to see a flawless college application. Before you submit your college application – whether using the common application or a University’s specific application, the same rules apply.
To help you get started, I have put together this guide to 10 things to check before you submit any college application or common application.

Before your submit your college applications…

1. Follow Directions Carefully: One of the most common errors applicants make is to simply not follow the directions on the application. As you begin filling out your app, be sure that you follow the directions thoroughly. If you’ve been asked to submit an essay that is no more than 500 words, do so. If you’re asked to fill in all of your personal information, complete everything you can. There’s a reason college applications have a word limit. Admissions offices receive thousands of applications, so it’s important to be clear and concise in the spaces allotted.

2. Write legibly (and don’t handwrite): Yes, students still do fill out applications by hand. I would strongly advise you not to be one of these students. If you’re one of the few people in America without a computer, then of course you can handwrite. But your handwriting should be perfect if you do.

3. Re-read everything: Be sure to re-read every section of the application. Doing so will ensure that you say what you mean, and don’t send the wrong message because of an error or oversight. I would even encourage you to read the entire college application out loud. You’ll be pleasantly surprised if you catch a mistake before, rather than after, your application is submitted.

4. Check Spelling and Grammar: Spelling and grammar are important on your college application. If you’re pasting your essays and application information from Microsoft Word, this is so easy to do. It also helps to have someone else read your application entirely before submitting.

5. Make sure everything is filled out :  Be sure that everything is filled out. You likely won’t have to fill out every section of the application, but you do want to ensure that you complete the portions that are pertinent to your acceptance.

6. Fill it out yourself: You can get your parents or friends to help you if needed, but fill it out yourself. If you allow someone else to write any portion of the document it will be apparent to the admissions officers with handwriting or general writing style. Some college admissions experts can also help you with your application, and make sure the application itself is perfected.

7. List Extracurricular Activities: Be sure that you list extracurricular activities that you actually were involved in throughout your academic career. Don’t overload the admissions offices with activities in which you spent very little time during the year.

8. Check the Date and Signature: Don’t forget to sign the application and date it correctly. On some documents the place for the signature will be on the back  - don’t forget to check it!

9. Attach all relevant Information: Ensure that you attach every document needed with the application: ID, your admissions essay, and any other documentation the application asks for should be attached as per the directions.

10. Ensure your Online Application Gets Submitted: If you are applying online be sure that you are taken to the confirmation page, and that you save the confirmation email.

Your college admissions application is your one chance to show the admissions offices exactly what kind of student you are, and plan on being at their school. Thus, taking extra time and double-checking your application is crucial. These steps above are just a few of the many admissions counseling tips we use at Top Test Prep. Give us a call to learn more, at (800) 501-Prep.

Ross Blankenship is an education expert and Founder of TopTestPrep.com.

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Top Test Prep provides admissions counseling and private tutoring for students applying to prep schools, colleges and graduate schools. For more information on test prep, admissions counseling and private tutoring, go to http://TopTestPrep.com or call (800) 501-Prep.

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Here’s some good advice on how to write the best scholarship essay…

We’ve told you to take your scholarship essays seriously. So where and how do you begin? Here are some helpful questions to get you started:

What attributes do you wish to convey?

- In order to answer this question, you should at the very least read a description of the award. Is the award intended to honor a certain person, and how is he or she described? This will give you an idea of the criteria on which your character will be judged.

- What are the main interests or goals of the organization offering the scholarship? How might you be expected to help achieve these goals? Present yourself as someone compatible with the organization’s mission.

- Create a list of attributes you wish to emphasize in your scholarship essay. Remember: in addition to self-confidence, humility is a very attractive trait!

- If you have questions regarding the scholarship, you can always call the organization. Committees want to help students create strong applications.

Do you need to do some research, or is the question more personal?

- Outside research can enrich your writing and strengthen its impact. You may be required to do research in order to answer the question – if, for example, you need to evaluate a policy and take a stance for or against it. If the question is personal, outside research may still be helpful for placing your circumstances in context. Maybe you want to explain just how crucial the lab research you’re conducting is to our understanding of the habits of howler monkeys.

Do you come across as human?

- If so, good! It’s alright – even beneficial – to reveal shortcomings, as long as you have some insight into them and can demonstrate that you’ll give a challenge everything you’ve got. Have a friend read your essay, and see what kind of picture of you it paints.

- Use specific details and examples to convey desired attributes. Don’t just say you work hard. Describe the steps you take to succeed, and how you manage to balance work with other demands.

• Examine your examples. How can you make them even more specific, and therefore more compelling? Remember that your readers have never met you or anyone in your life (probably). In order for your character to stand out, people need specifics, just as they do when reading a novel or a biography.

Lastly, get feedback.

Top Test Prep offers admissions counseling that can help you hone your scholarship essays and grab an organization’s attention.

This article is on how to write scholarship essays. For more information on scholarship essays for applications, go to TopTestPrep.com.

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There are two ways to approach writing a college admissions essay: finding a unique subject, or finding a unique angle on a familiar subject. In addition to displaying your writing abilities, a college admissions essay helps round out your character to an admissions committee. It reveals – or is intended to reveal – who you are. Try not to be intimidated when a college gives you the freedom to choose any topic. Once you have a list of possible topics, trust that a unique angle – in other words, your honest perspective – can make almost any subject interesting, even if it’s something the college has heard about many times before.

First, ask yourself if you’ve had any outstanding experiences – a moment in time, a vacation spent volunteering, sports camp, or a semester abroad. “Outstanding” doesn’t have to mean exotic. It can be an experience that meant something to you – whether it made you sad, made you grateful, or challenged you in a particular area. Maybe it was the three months you spent on crutches sporting a giant plastic boot. Or maybe it was the week you helped your parents make all the traditional Thanksgiving foods from scratch.

If your outstanding experience took place over a significant span of time, consider narrowing in on a particular moment that is especially representative. A single moment or anecdote can jump-start your essay, leading into a broader admissions essay theme.

Stories are fascinating. I will always recommend working a narrative element into your college admissions essay, whether it’s starting out with a story, working some background and some analysis into the middle, and finishing the essay with how the story ended.

Ensure that your admissions essay appears polished by 1) giving it a title and 2) making absolutely sure that there are no grammatical errors or misspellings. Enlist an editor you trust to read it over before you submit it.

Top Test Prep offers college admissions counseling, including help with your college admissions essays.

Contact Top Test Prep to get help with your college admissions essays and college admissions counseling by calling (800) 501-7737 or fill out our contact form.

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Choosing a topic for college admissions essays…

The Problem with Being Un-Special

When I was faced with describing my greatest accomplishment in a college admissions essay, I was at a total loss. In inviting such a description, the committee had managed to pinpoint my greatest shortcoming. I was exposed as the bland, provincial, un-special person that any college would thumb its nose at: I hadn’t accomplished anything. I lived in the suburbs, in Connecticut. I hadn’t overcome discrimination based on my gender, sexual orientation, or race. The most exotic locale I’d traveled to had been Nova Scotia, a cold, mosquito-ridden province on the coast of Canada.

The problem was that when I pictured a great accomplishment, I literally pictured a mountain – the mountain from the logo for Paramount Pictures, snow-capped and triangular – and imagined that a person with real accomplishments would have already climbed it. This accomplished individual would see the mountain as something conquered, a standing tribute to his or her talent and determination, not to mention the unique and fascinating circumstances into which he or she had been born. I couldn’t come up with a single thing I’d done that could possibly compare to that. We didn’t have snow-capped peaks in Connecticut. And if we did, I certainly hadn’t gotten around to scaling any. I did well enough in school – was that an accomplishment anyone wanted to hear about? Sometimes, when a friend came to me with a problem, I was able to offer comfort and advice. Over time, those moments had grown in number – but could I count them together as one big triumph? Whatever they had accomplished, it wasn’t something you could measure.

After reading the question, I immediately felt jealous of people who’d suffered terrible hardships. What had I done to deserve so much happiness, so much stability right up through age 17? Troubled by this response, I reverted to feeling annoyed with the admissions committee. What did they expect from me, really? I was 17 years old. Of course I hadn’t accomplished anything! And they wanted to hear about my greatest accomplishment, as if I had more than one!

The funny thing is, I can’t even remember what I wrote. Maybe that means my answer was as bland as I’d feared. Or maybe it goes to show that no one’s mind is swimming with remembered accomplishments. Most of us don’t have the image of a looming mountain to refer to when pressed, to pull out and present as evidence of our worth, our unique status. The admissions committee wasn’t expecting a story about a mountain. I needed to dig. Accomplishments are subjective: what they really wanted to know was what I valued, and how I applied my time and energy to it. Whether I’d achieved my goal wasn’t as important as how I’d gone about it. A good essay wouldn’t depend on the accomplishment I chose to write about; it would depend on how well I communicated what it meant to me. My task was to make a genuine mountain out of a molehill, and to help the committee see it that way.

Top Test Prep offers college admissions counseling andprivate tutoring to help students get into top private schools, colleges and graduate schools.

This article is an example of ways to choose a college admissions essay.

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In a recent article on the way standardized tests are graded, NY Times writer Todd Farley reveals that the people grading students’ essays don’t boast the credentials we might expect. The scores they assign are often influenced by emotions and circumstances.

No matter who ends up grading your admissions essay, there are certain qualities of good writing that every reader can appreciate, and it never hurts to include these in every essay you write. The reality is that all people, including editors who evaluate writing for a living, will find boring writing to be just that – boring. Writing that engages the reader, either because it’s humorous, insightful, dramatic, or lyrical, is far more likely to produce a favorable response, which may lead to a higher score.

Here are some guidelines for writing admissions essays that even people off the street will appreciate:

1) Give your admissions essay a title. A good one.

Imagine, as Mr. Farley points out, that your reader has a whole stack of essays to pore over, and it’s getting to be that time of day when his or her energy plummets. Choose a title that will rescue your reader from his or her afternoon slump. Don’t choose a title until you’ve finished writing the essay – how else will you know what it’s really about? Here’s a hint for coming up with your title: pick a word or phrase in the essay that expresses something essential about your topic. Or just pick a good word or phrase. Make that the title. Fiction writers do this all the time, and it can end up sounding mysterious and professional. It’s pleasurable for the reader to come across that phrase in the text. Suddenly, your title makes sense!

2) Grab the reader with an interesting first line.

This is your hook: your chance to capture the reader’s interest and compel him or her to continue. If your essay begins with an anecdote, deliver us right into the action: …. was poised at the starting line, waiting for the gun to go off…or Andy handed me the news article that would change my eating habits forever. Aside from starting a story with a bang, a good first line can include a confident statement. Consider using strong language, and avoid watering it down with a phrase such as “I believe.”

3) Section your admissions essay into multiple paragraphs, and begin each paragraph with a strong transitional sentence.

This sentence marks a slight change of focus – hence the new paragraph – while linking what is about to be said to what has been said already. Transitions give your essay a sense of continuity and wholeness.

4) Know your strengths, and play to them.

If you’re funny, be funny. Obviously, the topic itself is something you should take seriously, but the occasional humorous line can lighten your tone and greatly improve the experience for your reader. If you aren’t funny, then be insightful or observant. Bring out the drama in a situation that is inherently dramatic. Most importantly, be you – at your best – so that your writing shines through any reader’s fatigue. Maybe you’ll get lucky and land someone alert. In that case, he or she will appreciate what you’ve done even more.

5) Practice, practice, practice. The best way to improve as a writer is to write, and other people’s input can take your admissions essay to the next level. Top Test Prep offers admissions essay critiques and editing.

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• Develop a theme: instead of listing every extracurricular activity you’ve done or all the things you have done throughout high school, write one consistent theme that embodies who you are as a student. Example: if you are an athlete but also enjoy biology, write an admissions essay or personal statement about what it is like being a student scholar on your team, and how people perceive you as a student and teammate.
• Proofread, proofread, and proofread: Nothing looks worse on an admissions essay than grammar or spelling errors. Proofread your admissions essay, correct the errors and then do it again. Read it out loud, read it backwards, and ensure that all mistakes are removed.
• Think Critically: As you proofread your essay think about every sentence and every paragraph critically. Could you write something differently to make a bigger impact? Is your word usage correct? How could you improve upon what you have written to make it even better?
• Admissions Essay Help: Along with taking steps one and two yourself, have someone you know do the same. Your friends, your teachers, or even your college counselor may have ideas that can help your admissions essay become that one element that pushes you over the top and gets you into the college of your choice. We also offer admissions counseling which is excellent for students applying to all programs, whether private schools, colleges or graduate schools.  Our Ivy League editors and private admissions counselors are here to help you get into the best schools.
• Revise Accordingly: As you work through the first three ideas, revise your admissions essay accordingly. Each time you do go right back to step number one and edit your essay again. If you work through these steps a few times you will get to the point where you feel it can’t be improved anymore.

“Writing the Best Admissions Essays” was written by education expert and college consultant, Ross Blankenship.  Ross is the President of TopTestPrep.com, which provides private tutoring and college admissions consulting to students and parents. If you’re applying to top schools, call (800) 501-PREP today.

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DO’S AND DON’TS ON WRITING ADMISSIONS ESSAYS

The admission essay is an important part of any college application. Some schools do give more weight to the essay than others, but all admissions officers do base their decision off of the essay to some degree. Even if you have a high GPA, the essay provides an easy way for you to distinguish yourself from the other thousands of applicants who have similar grades and activities listed on their application. Ensuring you write an admissions essay that works will help to increase your chances of being accepted.

To help you out, we have put together this easy list of do’s and don’ts for writing your admission essay. Following this simple list will help to ensure that you to get it right the first time.

THINGS TO DO WHEN WRITING YOUR ADMISSIONS ESSAY

There are a few simple ideas you can use to help you get the essay right on your first attempt. Here are four things you should do:
Brainstorm for ideas before you write. Choose the idea that best fits you, and on a topic that you feel will be unique to the other thousands of essays that the admissions officers will read.
Choose a topic that is specific. Doing so will allow you to go in-depth into one idea rather than trying to cover a broader topic with a short essay. The more in-depth you go, the more unique your essay will be to you.
Write multiple drafts of your essay and get feedback on each one from a parent or friend. Working this way will help to ensure that you cover the topic well, and give you the chance to choose the best of your work.
Write as well as you can and edit the document (get help if needed). Use a mixture of sharp adjectives and smart wit, without sounding too terse, verbose or (SAT word)‚ ostentatious.

THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN WRITING YOUR ADMISSIONS ESSAY

Along with the things you should do there are also a few things that you shouldn’t do. Here are four things to avoid:

Don’t choose offensive topics. Topics that may be offensive are those that surround religion, racism, and even personal opinions on world issues can be offensive to others. You won’t be doing yourself any favors if your essay leaves the admissions officer feeling offended or angry.
Don’t let anyone else dictate the topic of your essay. You can get help brainstorming if you want, but don’t write about someone else’s chosen topic.
Don’t write a negative essay. The more positive you are with the topic, the more enjoyable the essay will be to read. Avoid negative topics, and negative ideas within the body of the essay.
Don’t be arrogant or pedantic with your writing. The admissions officers will see it, and arrogance will work against you in the admissions process.
Following these simple guidelines when you write your admissions essay will help you to get the right start for an acceptance into a top school.

Ross Blankenship is an admissions consultant and admissions expert. He is also the Founder of Top Test Prep which provides SAT, ACT Prep and college admissions counseling. Call (800) 501-Prep for more information on these programs.

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