The competition to get into your college of choice has never been
fiercer. Unfortunately, much of the application process is out of
your hands. But one major aspect of the admission process is under
your control–your personal statement. Your application essay
provides you with the opportunity to let your true, unique and
totally irresistible self shine through.
College Admission Essays For Dummies is your total guide
to crafting application essays that will make people sit up and
take notice. It demystifies the authority figures who’ll
judge your work, helps you decide what to write, and then arms you
with the knowledge and skills you need to write your essay on time
and on target. Step by step, it walks you through the entire
essay-writing process, offering priceless tips on how to:
* Choose the best topic, tone, and structure for your essay
* Capture the crucial stories that reveal who you are
* Avoid common pitfalls that can sabotage your application
* Overcome writer’s block
* Know how to respond to unusual and off-the-wall essay
questions
* Write successful short answers to specific application
questions
College admission guru Geraldine Woods punctures common myths
about application essays and tells you what you absolutely must do
to write a good one. With the help of many inspiring and
instructive killer essays, she shows you how to:
* Put yourself in the right mental state for writing well
* Gather ideas, focus on a topic and choose the best structure
for your essay
* Use topic sentences, detail, and strong introductions and
conclusions
* Write a rough draft
* Show rather than tell your story
* Make sure your spelling and grammar are pitch perfect
* Create smooth transitions and avoid repetitions
Your college application essay is your chance to show the
committee that you’re more than just a statistic. Let
College Admission Essays For Dummies show you how to write
‘admit-clinching’ college essays.
Table of Content
Introduction.
Part I: Putting Yourself on Paper.
Chapter 1: Becoming More Than a Statistic: What the Essay Does
for You.
Chapter 2: Exploring the Subject of the Essay —
Yourself.
Chapter 3: Writing for the Tired, the Poor (The Admissions
Office).
Chapter 4: Keeping It Legal.
Part II: Getting Your Head Ready for Writing.
Chapter 5: Writing as Process, Not Product.
Chapter 6: Storming Your Brain: Idea Gathering Techniques.
Chapter 7: Building a Structure to Support Your Ideas.
Chapter 8: Putting It All In Order: Creating an Outline.
Part III: Writing the Rough Draft.
Chapter 9: Showing, Not Telling Your Story.
Chapter 10: Constructing Good Paragraphs.
Chapter 11: Leading with Your Best Shot.
Chapter 12: Going Out with a Bang: The Conclusion.
Chapter 13: Overcoming Writer’s Block.
Part IV: I’d Like to Finish before Retirement Age: The
Final Draft.
Chapter 14: Making a List and Checking It Twice: Grammar and
Spelling.
Chapter 15: Smoothing the Rough Edges: Polishing the Essay.
Chapter 16: Leaving a Good Impression.
Chapter 17: Final Answers: The Last Word on Format.
Part V: Analyzing Questions from Real Applications.
Chapter 18: Composing Essays Starring You.
Chapter 19: Describing Significant Strangers and Friends: Essays
About Other People.
Chapter 20: Responding to Essay Questions in the Subject
Areas.
Chapter 21: Getting the Most Out of Short Answers.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 22: Ten Myths About the College Essay.
Chapter 23: Ten Great Essays to Inspire You.
Chapter 24: Ten Absolute Musts for College Essays.
Appendix: Personal Inventory.
Index.
About the author
Geraldine Woods has taught high school English for more than 25 years and advises seniors every year on college admission essays. She is also the author of Research Papers For Dummies.
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