<p>Since Im in the military, and wont be applying to my schools for a while, I started (finished) writing an admissions essay, based on one of the Common App essay prompts. Im going to write a few more, and decide on my favorite.</p>
<p>But do some schools have their own essay prompts? For example, does NYU, Northeastern, Boston U, or UMich have their own?</p>
<p>I don’t know about those specific universities, however the common app is accepted to MANY and MOST colleges in the country. Some universities do provide a supplement, such as the Ivy league schools.</p>
<p>On a side-note, thanks for your service in the military. What you do is honorable, and deserves the most respect you could possibly be afforded. Thank you.</p>
<p>The answer to your question about supplemental essays depends on the university. You can find that requirement for each individual college at <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/SupplementInfo.aspx[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/SupplementInfo.aspx</a></p>
<p>That’s a great site to look into to see what schools want. At the least, if a supplement is required you might need to also write about “Why our school?” and let them know why you are choosing them vs other colleges. Sometimes, a major might have yet another essay requirement, usually “Why do you want to study _____?” but the prompts might be more esoteric than that.</p>
<p>The most important essay you will write will be the one based on the Common App choices, and while the questions (prompts) look a little different, they are all asking for the same thing: a personal statement. The best personal statements engage the reader right away and have a “story arc” like a movie, showing you overcoming something, becoming a stronger person, or changing in some way for the better. Spend time on this, but also check out a few books on the subject. </p>
<p>Good luck. I actually think that doing the military first will give you a huge advantage in admissions. And… thanks for the service!</p>
<p>So NYU has its own suppl common app. It also has “Personal Statements”, which is three different questions. Do i need to answer all three? And do I have to answer in essay form? Sorry if that sounds like a dumb questions, just need to know if I should get started on three essays for NYU…</p>
<p>Sorry, no edit button. So schools with Common App Supp, I take it I need to include my essay from the normal Common App, and a the personal statements (essays?) from the Supp App?</p>
<p>that is correct</p>
<p>For NYU, there are 3 personal statements. On average, how long should a personal statement be? Is it like a normal Common app essay prompt, and keep each around 500 words?</p>
<p>The three Personal Statements are:
[ol]
[<em>]Please tell us what led you to select both your anticipated academic area(s) of study and the NYU school/college/program or the Abu Dhabi campus.
What interests you most about your intended discipline? Mention any extracurricular or non-school-related activities or experiences that demonstrate
your interest.
[</em>]NYU is “In and of the City” and “In and of the World.” What does the concept of a global network university mean to you? How do you think
studying in New York City, Abu Dhabi, or one of NYU’s global sites would change you as a person and equip you to build cross-cultural relationships
at NYU and beyond?
[li]If you had the opportunity to bring any personpast or present, fictional or nonfictionalto a place that is special to you (your hometown or country,[/li]a favorite location, etc.), who would you bring and why? Tell us what you would share with that person.
[/ol]</p>
<p>Note that these are for 2011 and may change in the future, but the first one is another way of asking “Why NYU?” and “Why the major?”</p>
<p>There is no length specified, but on the paper application, they don’t give a lot of room. Rather than try for a length, I’d try to keep it short and concise - maybe 200 words or so, unless you need a few more.</p>
<p>Perhaps someone more familiar with NYU could pipe in here.</p>
<p>Hi to all, I am a new member. My son will be applying to US colleges later this year.</p>
<p>I went through the common application recently. There are 2 essays to write. Can he pick the same topic for the longer essay and the one on most meaningful activity? We live in Nairobi, Kenya. Our son has been teaching math to grade 10 students in an orphanage in a slum in Nairobi. He is going to write about that experience in the main essay. But to him this is also the most meaningful activity. I wonder if writing both essays on the same topic would make sense. Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions. Ananda.</p>
<p>Most would say no, but there is a way to do it. The longer essay needs to be a personal statement, so it needs to show how doing that activity changed your son (made him stronger, more aware, more self-sufficient, more confident). The best way to do that might be to start with him the first day of teaching - what were his worries? Then in a few paragraphs, illustrate some scenes that led to him being much more comfortable in the role. Then the last paragraph, show his confidence (don’t SAY it, but describe something that SHOWS it).</p>
<p>Then for the short essay, pick one particular person in the class and describe the interaction in more intimate details… how did the class change THAT person?</p>
<p>The first is a story of your son’s growth. The second is a small vignette into the difference your son can make in one life.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>–Robert Cronk, author of Concise Advice: Jump-Starting Your College Admissions Essays</p>
<p>Hi Robert, </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your advice. Our son has done karate for over 10 years. He now holds a Brown Belt. He is going to be tested for the Black Belt in July this year. He has won many medals in local tournaments. Is it OK to write his mini essay on this, instead of writing both essays on the same topic, i.e teaching math? </p>
<p>Just to let you know - our son will be following the Leadership in the Business World (LBW) summer course at Wharton Business School in July this year. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot once again. Ananda</p>
<p>You generally only need one.</p>