<p>Well junior year is over, and finals are done with and I have at last managed to put together what I hope is my final list of "safeties, matches and reaches" . I pretty much went to almost every one of those colleges' websites over half a dozen times and feel that there is nothing more to research. So now what?
Seriously
I feel like every one I talk to is in "frantic college mode", while im not at all; so that is making me pretty uncomfortable. Do i just get on with the summer and put college planning out of my mind? Or should I ask for applications and start choosing the essay topics, writing them etc... I mean since I have some time on my hands?
But then when I think about doing that I become very confused about choosing the golden essay topic. I have a lot of ideas on my plate and they all seem so "me" so I can't really choose.
For instance some tell me that writing about my country hopping/different cultural encounters etc.. would be good. while others think I should write something that would show my dedication to ballet and self expression through such an art form. Some even have said that I should try to portray my love of writing and poetry through my essays. Also, my dad suggested that i write about my political thoughts and ideas regarding my politically distraught motherland- to show my vast interest in politics which would be backed up by many politically related EC's (eg.MUN)- if I chose this topic I was thinking that sending my research paper about the same subject would present rather nicely, don't you agree? Anyways im pretty lost when it comes to this...so it would be really great if you could give me your input.
Thanx</p>
<p>ritz, most schools haven't even made their 2005 applications available yet (I think the common app just came out this week), so it's a bit early yet. You'll find that most schools won't give you carte blanche to choose your essay topic, so that's a moot point. They'll have a prompt or specific question they'll ask you to answer, and you'll need to stay within their parameters. (Often you can take parts of your "standard essay" and fit them into a response to the prompt somehow, but if the prompt asks about what you'd do with a 10-gallon container of mustard or how you'd spend $10 and a free afternoon, for instance, you'll likely need to start fresh.)</p>
<p>If you've got a good idea of your school list already, that's great! Watch their websites for the appearance of their apps, or perhaps write to or call their admission staff and ask roughly when you should expect its appearance. Meanwhile, you can write a few practice essays on topics of your own choosing, and read them back to yourself (out loud!) a couple days later for sanity checking and editing. Limber up the writing muscles in preparation for the actual essays to come.</p>
<p>And then enjoy your summer! The fall will be crunch-time, so no need to stress out too soon. (I'd say "no need to stress out at all", but I know that's pretty unrealistic.) Good luck, and congrats on being so focused early in the process!</p>
<p>o ok thanx...But when I saw last years common app. It said that you could choose one of the personal statements listed, or a "topic of your choice".</p>
<p>Ritz,
First, enjoy your summer! You work hard all year and need to recharge your batteries. I read on your "maybe Yale" thread that you are an IB student. Since the extended essays are usually due about the same time as college applications you are absolutely right to want to get a head start!</p>
<p>How does your current list look? The one you posted last month was way too top heavy. Your personal experience is wonderful, but your SATIs are on the low side. To be safe, you should be balancing off all those super selectives with some less selective schools. </p>
<p>Since you require need based aid, you'll need to do a lot of research as not too many schools offer aid to internationals. In addition to some ivies, Williams is needblind for internationals; however, as Zagat mentioned in your other thread, competition is fierce. There are certainly others but you have to ferret them out. You may need to drop down a tier to a school that is known for offering aid to internationals, like Macalester.</p>
<p>Since you seem to be an organized person, you may actually TAKE our advice and start your essays. :) Most colleges require more than one. One Main, Big Topic. One on "What is your favorite EC and why?" or maybe "Why this school?" What my son did was to start several over the summer and work on them little at a time. Over the next few months, the topic that seemed the most compelling gradually won out over the others and became #1. #2 morphed into the EC essay. The "Why X?" essays are the most college specific and can't be recycled. They are also VERY important.</p>
<p>Take a look at which colleges on your list use the common application. If they do, then the essays are usually quite general. Often colleges will require supplemental essays that are school specific. Chicago and Amherst are known for their quirky topics. For these you'll have to wait until the applications come out.</p>
<p>"Also, my dad suggested that i write about my political thoughts and ideas regarding my politically distraught motherland" Our host country has also been through a lot of political turmoil, and this was the topic of my son's essay, which was ended up being rivetting. I would caution you, however, if you choose this route to make sure that it is still about YOU: how you have been affected, changed, suffered. In other words, the adcoms aren't looking for a history lesson.</p>
<p>The other part of your application that you can start formulating is your resume or activities list. There are lots of opinions on what this should look like (or if it should even be done at all.) Personally, I like to see a package devoted to an individual EC. For you it could be dance, for example and could include a list of accomplishments and award, a performance tape, an instructor's recommendation, that EC essay mentioned above, newspaper clippings, a personal statement. </p>
<p>We are also an international family (we're Americans, though) and our son goes to Williams. I think it's still a reach for you but your profile and experience will be very appealing. They have just built a $50 performing arts center and they need dancers. They always like athletes as well, even if you don't intend to play varsity. And, because it's difficult for remote LACs to recruit minorities, they use internationals to increase their diversity ratios.</p>
<p>Another point that I would mention to you is that you should find a way to get across -- either in your essays or activity list -- that you have had extensive personal experience with Islam (whether you are Muslim or not). This is a hot button topic at colleges today and people who actually understand what Islam is all about (and an Arabic speaker, no less!) are in great demand. Take advantage of this hook. </p>
<p>And lastly, think about including some of your poetry and creative writing with your application. Some colleges encourage this, some don't. If you can't find instructions on the website, then ask the admissions office. One school, advised my son NOT to send poems, but to make sure that one of his academic references mentioned this talent.</p>
<p>WOW! Thank you so much momrath I really REALLY appreciate your meticulous response!!!
Well I realized that My college list was too much on the "haha who are you kidding " side so this is what I ended up formulating:</p>
<p>Definate Reaches:
Yale
Williams
Amherst or U of M - ann arbor</p>
<p>Matches that are on the reaches side:
u of chicago
grinell
Gtown</p>
<p>safeties or lower Matches:
Boston University
Pepperdine
Colgate and Vassar/George Mason (one of the 2 + Colgate)
University of Toronto </p>
<p>I didn't want to go over the top with my list so I narrowed it down to only the colleges that Im POSETIVLY sure I would be very happy at.. but as you see Im still debating about a few. do you think this is more realistic for me and do you have any further suggestions? I mean do you think Ill get into at least ONE of them?!?!?! Oh I I was also thinking about applying to either Middlebury or Macalester, but im not posetive yet </p>
<p>Now that you have mentioned it, I could probably do a really good essay about the politically related stuff mentioned but as you said from a prospective of how it affected my views , how it changed me and maybe even how it directed me to the international relations/poli sci major. Do you think that would be good? Im doing my EE about that very same topic (from a history p.o.v) so I could actually send it along and it would fit in nicely. Or would it be better to write about some experience I have had with Islam? At first I thought that it might look like im touching on a very sensitive topic specially now a days with the current global situation; i get the feeling that if I do write about it I'll come out looking like im an intolerant extremist or something. If I did this essay however I think it would be particularly heartfelt and most personal...
About my EC list...I think i'll Just do one and send it out to all the colleges. I don't think i have much of a laundry list, so it'll probably be focused on a couple of main areas: Writing and Languages, Sports, Dance, Leadership ( ie MUN positions, SBG, Amnesty etc....) I'll probably leave out all the random things I did for fun because then I'd REALLY have a random scatter. So under each topic ill have some sub-topics ( eg. Under sports there will be Basket ball and soccer)and then under each sub Ill probably have all the imp positions, awards, honors, etc.. I don't think I'll include any other supplementary stuff in this area as it would just be to much of a clutter. How does that sound ?
Again I really REALLY thank you for your responses and opinions. You are most cooperative</p>
<p>Definitely enjoy your summer, but write in your spare time, a bit each day. Edit, and rewrite. The essays and apps come due when you are very busy with school, so this is a wonderful time to devote to it. Takes the stress away in September and December. Write them all, and then decide. Once you have them written, and read aloud (Iagree) you can then make your choice.</p>
<p>Don't choose the topic ahead. It's good to rough draft a few essays and see which ones have legs. You don't write a good essay by thinking of what you could or would do or how it may or may not come out. You really have to put it to paper. It's pretty interesting to see what happens when you have to shorten it to 500 words.</p>
<p>You may find that you can then use parts of the essays in other pieces. Even for seemingly specific essays, you can get very personal. Personal details are really important. You'll likely have a chance to send in a second shorter essay too. I don't think a general essay that includes so many EC's is a very good idea. Best to focus on one area. They will see the laundry list elsewhere.</p>
<p>My S wrote his essays about 2 weeks before they were due. He had very good success, getting into his top choice. I tried to encourage an earlier start, but he said it would not be "him," whatever that meant. I'm not sure there is a path one should follow; all the advice here is very good, but going with what will be "you," may be the thing to do.</p>
<p>Get yourself a journal, or a composition book or just start on your computer, and write. Short paragraphs about you, and your thoughts. Don't try to write "the essay", you are just exercising the writing muscles. I think a good "topic" to work on at this point is the idea of what you would contribute to a college, what are your strengths - this could mean the things you do best, or could be qualities of your character, or experiences you have had. If at all possible, distill each one down to one or two words as a starting point.
Then illustrate with stories, why these are your greatest strengths. There should be twice as much thinking as writing, some of the writing may be phrases that sound good or single sentences - you are coming up with material for the real essay, not the essay itself. Work on it awhile, then take a break. A week or two before school starts, sit down one afternoon, and take a first stab at the first draft - using your materials. You may find that nothing is suitable, but a new topic is actually better. You may have discovered things about yourself that you weren't considering as strengths, that make better topics.</p>
<p>Another useful summer exercise is to write an essay, or take an essay that you wrote last school year and try to distill it down to 500 hundred words, replacing redundant phrases with single strong words. For some kids this will be easy, for others this will be the hardest part of the essay writing - it might be worth it to find out which kind of kid you are.</p>
<p>Thanx everyone!</p>
<p>Application essays are crazy beasts--yes, they are a vehicle by which colleges can see how well you think and write, but they are foremost a way for them to get to know something special about you and a way for you to "sell" yourself (convince them why they should pick you). </p>
<p>So the important thing is to focus your thinking. Think what 2 things you would want to tell an admissions officer about yourself--and somehow make sure that your 2 big essays talk about those 2 things. (Colleges may make you write more than 2 essays, but there are usually 2 big ones and the rest are shorter.)</p>
<p>For my D, it was music and science. She wrote 2 major essays--one on each topic and tried to incorporate them wherever she could. </p>
<p>For example, Stanford asked you to attach a picture that meant a lot to you and explain what it meant to you. Instead of finding a picture and then writing the essay, she took one of her stock essays and then went about finding a picture that would fit with it. Get the picture. . .</p>
<p>So I don't think it's too early to start jotting down ideas for your two big essays. Since you have so many ideas, work them all up and see what sticks.</p>
<p>ritz, Pepperdine is a religious school, were you aware of that? Nothing else on your list matches Pepperdine.</p>
<p>If Grinnell is a match, so are Colgate & Vassar.</p>
<p>Check out Occidental, very international flavor, small LAC in LA. Maybe Scripps?</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>with a 50+% acceptance rate, Michigan s/b considered along with your other lower matches/safties, IMO. A plus with Mich is that the state has declining HS kids, so OOS goes up! Indeed, it's considered a match for Calif suburban kids where UCLA and Berkely are reaches.</p>
<p>Very interesting, you have 3 colleges same as dd; Yale (wl), Chicago(in), Grinnell (in). But she didn't look at any of the others on your list (would have liked to look at Amherst and Williams,they just came up too late.) Her others were Brown (in), Wellesley(in), and UC system (UCB, UCSD, UCSC), instate (in,in,in). She didn't have to have safeties because of an EA acceptance. In the end when decisions had to be made, she went for the medium sized schools.</p>
<p>I think another interesting way to look at your schools are Big, Med, Small. If you group like that, check to see if you have a preference and consider an EA application. Anyway, if you are happy with the basic list that's good enough for now and you have lots of leeway to still learn, change mind and see without any pressure until app time.</p>
<p>But the main thing I'm thinking is: where is the true safety? The one you are a guaranteed admit. I don't know your stats, but I'm assuming you are in-range for Yale. Still, with dd's stats 'lower' UC's were going to be true safeties. I don't know about every school on your list, but it doesn't seem any for sure schools? Maybe I'm mistaken?</p>
<p>But again on the essays... dd did some practice ones at the begining of Sr year as a class exercise. This helped to get the juices going. Then she wrote a pretty good one for the EA school (mustard one for Chicago, they said they loved it). It had no word limit so was about 800 words. Still it took a couple of drafts, at least. Then she decided to use it for some other schools (minus mustard references), so had to condense it to 500 words. Somehow it came out even better, with seemingly nothing left out. That was the power essay. A second essay for the common application was done last minute and came out fine but really did not have the personality and characteristics that stood out on the very rewritten essay. It was a little bland and sincere.</p>
<p>I was actually aware that pepp. was a religious school as i have a friend who went there last year and seems to like it very much even though she isn't religious at all . However, I'm actually kind of re-considering it as it seems a little bit too conservative for my taste. The reason why I chose it is because I loved the campus -its so gorgeous and the academics seemed great.
Bettina: Firstly congrats to your D! thats really great, you must be proud! Secondly,I think a definite safety would be something like Boston U
I don't know if im right though but if you want you cantake a look at my stats:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=69515&highlight=yale%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=69515&highlight=yale</a></p>
<p>thanx so much for the college essay advice! I got started on some of your suggestions this afternoon!</p>
<p>well thanks again!</p>
<p>I really think you need some more safeties. Although you are first in your class (out of 7 students...), your SAT scores were 1260 the first time around. I'm sure they will improve when you take them again.... but your college list is VERY top-heavy. Please add some safeties!</p>
<p>Don't just find a safety. Find a safety THAT YOU LOVE, and would be very pleased to attend.</p>
<p>Whoops, with SAT 1260 Grinnell and Vassar et al cannot be considered matches, either. That is below median for these very selective schools.</p>
<p>I know im going to retake my sat in october and im SURE ill go up by 200 points or so. It was my first time and english isnt even my first language!!! I never considered applying with my current score, that would be pityful....but even then I dont understand why a place like grinell or vassar isnt even a match when my predicted IB score is a 41...and I feel like a pretty well rounded person.
anyways....what safty SAFTY would you recommend?</p>
<p>Why don't you do as much research about that question as about the others, or even more, as the answer to that question is much more important? There are 1,600 four-year colleges in the U.S., and I'm sure if you put your mind to it you can find at least a couple of safeties that you'd love to attend. Not spending the time yourself will be a clear indication that you aren't really interested, and that would not be a good sign. You have colleges large and small, public and private, religious and secular on your list. So I can name 1,200 safeties.</p>
<p>Do your homework.</p>