<p>I remember reading that there are a few college websites that show show examples of essays they felt were outstanding. Does anyone know which schools those are? Thank you.</p>
<p>Connecticut College:
<a href="http://www.conncoll.edu/admissions/essays/#essays%5B/url%5D">http://www.conncoll.edu/admissions/essays/#essays</a></p>
<p>Tufts:
<a href="http://admissions.tufts.edu/?pid=195&c=132%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.tufts.edu/?pid=195&c=132</a></p>
<p>This doesn't have essays, but does discuss reviewing essays from an admission officer's Point of View and has some tips.</p>
<p>This one doesn't have essays either, but they've got some helpful tips.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ups.edu/x470.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.ups.edu/x470.xml</a></p>
<p>I'm surprised Puget Sound has such a nice little section there. I've never heard of the place.</p>
<p>I hear about it all the time. But then again., I'm from OREGON!</p>
<p>This isn't a college website, but still might be of interest:</p>
<p>The Virginia web site mentioned above does have useful excerpts of sample essays ("good", "bad", and "risky"), at the bottom of the page. Lots of good advice, too.</p>
<p>I looked at several of the "winning" essays and I must say I found many of them contrived and overwrougt. They were also edited within an inch of their lives. Did anybody have this impression?</p>
<p>The essays chosen in the NPR contest are really good. They are quite genuine and each appears to reflect a real person. Thanks for posting mAP!</p>
<p>That essay about flying.......absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!! Applying to Tufts, is this what we're up against? :-)</p>
<p>Here's the Tufts section from last year: <a href="http://admissions.tufts.edu/?pid=148%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.tufts.edu/?pid=148</a></p>
<p>Remember, a good Personal Statement is one that lets an admissions officer understand you and the way you think.</p>
<p>balletgirl i could not agree more. so contrived and edited to the max, i completely agree!!</p>
<p>NPR was a great webiste, so real and totally a typical 17 year olds voice as it should be. It was refreshing to read "real essays". Thanks for sharing, that is more like it!</p>
<p>To DanAdmiss@TUFTS,</p>
<p>At least according to ctmomof3 and me, we find many of the admission essays you've posted to be highly contrived and overly edited. They do not, to us, reflect the voices of 17 year olds. Is this the overproduced stuff Tufts is looking for in its applicants? And who selects the ones you decide to post? Inquiring minds on CC want to know.</p>
<p>Don't forget that two of the NPR essays were from students admitted to Tufts...</p>
<p>Thanks angelt841,</p>
<p>Interestingly, NPR recognized the strength of those two essays and yet they (didn't) don't appear on Tufts' site. And the essays on the Tufts site are ... well I have already said. I don't think the essays Tufts has posted do them any favors. It certainly doesn't reflects well on them and it encourages more of the same from us. Same for Connecticut College.</p>
<p>I also found many of the sample essays very contrived and liked the NPR ones best. I think the NPR ones are good examples of "personal statements." I don't think all good essays are also good personal statements. One of the schools to which my D is applying doesn't ask for any listing at all of honors and activites - only a personal statment. There is alot she wants to pack into a brief statement but doesn't want it to look like a brag book. It is definitely the hardest one for her.</p>
<p>I know Leah Knobler! Great essay.</p>