1. U.S. News and World Report Education section – Ratings and articles
2. The Choice – New York Times Blog -  High quality college news
3. Collegeboard – SAT testing information and much more.  Separate sections for students, parents and professionals.
4. The ACT - ACT information
5. The Common Application – One application for hundreds of schools
6. National Association for College Admission Counseling
7. College Answer – Created by SallieMae, the nation’s leading provider of  student loans
8. Federal Student Aid FAFSA – Get started applying for financial aid
9. College Bound Network – Includes trade schools too.  3 million visitors a month.
10. College View – Check out the student blogs and questions for college visits in the application process section

And Two Bonus Sites

1. College Confidential – “Get the College Vibe,” “Ask the Dean,” huge discussion boards
2. Grand Valley State University Accountability Report 2009  – Compare Michigan public colleges

College essays have much in common with college recommendation letters: they both provide insight into the student voice.

To help St. Clair County teachers and counselors with this writing challenge, Debbie Merion and John Boshoven presented at two three-hour sessions, using the powerpoint slides shown above to answer these questions:  What types of letters do college admissions officers find compelling? How can you effectively write them?

We created this presentation at the request of the the visionary designers of St. Clair County RESA’s KnowHow2Go college prep program. Our special thanks to:
Cathy Busdicker, Parent Liaison
Joanne Hopper, Director of Education Services

Scholarship Update for December, 2009***

If you have completed your college essays and your college applications, now is the time to look into these scholarship opportunities:

1. Scholastic Art and Writing Award


Deadline to apply: Varies
middle or high school art or writing program
Consider entering your college essay into this competition for an award. Other types of writing are also accepted.
Art & Writing Awards

2. *Rare Everyday Heros Senior Scholarship


Deadline to apply: 12/1/09, essay Rare Everyday Heroes Scholarship

3. Toyota Scholars


Deadline to apply: 12/1/09 Senior Toyota Community Scholars Award

4. DAR Good Citizen Award


Deadline to apply: 12/5/09

5. Comcast Achievers Scholarship


Deadline to apply: 12/11/09 Senior

6. AXA Achievement Scholarship


Deadline to apply: 12/15/09 $10,000, $25,000 www.axa-achievement.com

7. Brueggers Scholarships,


Deadline to apply: 1/1/10

8. JFK Profiles in Courage Program:


Deadline to apply: 1/9/10 www.jfklibrary.org

9. *Gates Millenium Scholars,


Deadline to apply: 1/11/10, minority scholars www.gmsp.org

10. *2010 Tomorrow25 International Competition,


Deadline to apply: 1/15/10, nominations required www.bentley.edu/tomorrow25

11. National Scholarships


Deadline to apply:1/15/10 www.gwcf.org

12. University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit Scholarships


Deadline to apply:1/15/10 www.umclubgreaterdetroit.org

13. Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel


Deadline to apply: 1/20/10www.bronfman.org

14. Burger King Scholarship,


Deadline to apply: 2/1/10 www.haveityourwayfoundation.org

15. *KFC Colonel’s Scholars:


Deadline to apply: 2/1/10 (entries begin 12/1/09) Seniors, 2.75+, financial need www.kfcscholars.com

16. MEA Scholarship


Deadline to apply: 2/12/10 www.mea.org See John B.

17. *Co-Op Scholarship Program,


Deadline to apply: 2/15/10, , $6000 scholarships to 8 college/universities that participate in Co-Op education, www.co-op.edu

18. *Ayn Rand Anthem Scholarship,


Deadline to apply: 3/20/10, 9th, 10th graders essay on novel www.aynrandeducation.com

19. *Ayn Rand The Fountainhead Scholarship,


Deadline to apply: 4/26/10, 11th, 12th graders essay on novel www.aynrandeducation.com

20. *BigSun Scholarship


Deadline to apply: 6/24/10 Senior athlete www.bigsunathletics.com

21. Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Program


Deadline to apply: See site $1000-10,000 http://www.girlsgoingplaces.com

22. Veterans for Peace


Deadline to apply: Varies essay http://www.veteransforpeace.org

23. Bailey’s Guide


Deadline to apply: varies
$2500 collegebound student or non-traditional student
http://www.baileysguide.com

24. National Caring Award


Deadline to apply: Varies
Community service and social responsibility
http://www.caring-institute.org

25. Inroads Internship Program


Deadline to apply: Varies


26. Underrepresented minorities internship opportunities


Amount Varies
http://www.inroads.org

27. Youth for Understanding Exchange Scholarships


Deadline to apply: Varies
Summer and academic year scholarships
http://www.yfu-usa.org

28. Heart of America Christopher Reeve Award


Deadline to apply: Varies
Seniors, demonstration of courage and community service
http://www.heartofamerica.org

29. Stuart Phillips Memorial Scholarship


Deadline to apply: Varies
Financial need, 3.0+, balance bet. academic and service $3000-10,000
http://www.phillips-scholarship.org/

30. Truman Picard Scholarship


Deadline to apply: Varies
Native or Alaskan Student Scholarship
http://www.itcnet.org/picard.html

31. Educaid Gimme Five Sweepstakes


Deadline to apply: Varies
http://www.educaid.com/sweepstakes.htm

32. Illustrators of the Future Contest


Deadline to apply: Varies
science fiction and/or fantasy artwork $500-4000

33. Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service


Deadline to apply: Varies
Outstanding community service and leadership, (Hitachi Foundation)

34. Rotary Youth Exchanges


Deadline to apply: Varies
experiences in many countries Rotary Foundation
http://www.rotary.org

35. President’s Student Service Challenge Scholarship


Junior or Senior Community Service $1,000

Deadline to apply: none

36. Linda Riddle/Women’s Sports Foundation Int’l Scholarships

Deadline to apply: varies

http://www.WomensSportsFoundation.org

37. Learning for Life/BSA Scholarships


Deadline to apply: varies
College and community-based community service $varies
Contact Boy Scouts of America 1325 W.
Walnut Hill Lane, Box 152079, Irving, TX 75-015-2079

38. Bill and Melinda Gates Scholarships


African American, Financial need
http://www.gmsp.org
Deadline to apply: None

39. Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund


Deadline to apply: None
Financial Need at Historically Black Public Colleges
http://thurgoodmarshallfund.org

***Thanks to my colleague John Boshoven from Community High School in Ann Arbor for supplying this information.

Scholarship Information updated monthly also at:
http://www.a2community.org/community.counseling/scholarship_update

Scholarship Advice available at: http://www.a2community.org/counseling/Resources/scholarship-advice

Photo Credit: heraldpost | CC BY SA 2.0

Yes, it can. Here is a quote from one college admissions counselor in College Essays that Made a Difference:

There are essays that are compelling, that make a difference. A great essay can carry the student. A poor essay might do the opposite. – John Latting, Director of Admissions at Johns Hopkins University

In general, small schools weigh the importance of the essay more heavily than a larger school. The U.S. News and World Report Ultimate College Guide is the only college guide that lists how important the essay is in a college’s admission decision: very important, important, considered, not considered. For example, here is a listing of essay importance for Michigan colleges.

Here is another article on the topic:  How Much Do College Admissions Essays Matter?

Photo Credit: stuartpilbrow | CC BY-SA 2.0

After an Essay Coaching workshop, one high school student said to me:

Now I understand. High school essays are about what we know. College application essays are about who we are.

She was right. Colleges want to know more about you than whether you can get an “A” on your physics test. They often have to choose between many students with strong test scores, extensive advanced placement classes, and a 3.9 or even 4.0 grade point average.

How Admissions Officers Use the Essay to Help Make the Admit Decision

So how do admissions officers make their tough decisions? They choose the most impressive students. They read what you say in your essay and they read between the lines. They choose the student they understand, respect and like, the one who shows more maturity, self-insight, initiative, intellectual curiosity, passion, creativity, focus, and/or drive. They choose the student who they believe will fit into their college, contribute, be successful, and graduate. So the goal is to reveal yourself in your essay, in a positive, memorable way.

Remember that high school essays were written for teachers who know you. Your teacher sees whether you raise your hand and look engaged or stare down at your desk. He knows whether you hand in your homework on time (i.e., you’re reliable) and whether you stop in during your lunch period to ask questions about an upcoming test.

Structuring your College Essay

The college admissions officer doesn’t know you the way your teachers do. She uses the essay to get to know you. That’s why finding your writing voice is so important.

When it comes to essay structure, a five paragraph essay is not required. The major structure is this: make sure that your essay answers the question and sticks to the word length. When no word length is given, it is best to not exceed 500 words.

Draw in your readers by including details (e.g. sensory details, and names of places, people, books) and keep them compelled to read to the end with your unique experiences (what has happened to you and what you have done) and reflections (what you’ve thought and felt about the experience).

An Example: One Sentence Can Show Who You Are

I smile at people when I pass them in the hallways. Sometimes they even smile back, and I wonder, “Will we become friends?” Because I know that’s one way that friendships start.

The student is drawing a strong image for the reader. She’s connecting an experience (walking in the hallways and smiling) and reflecting on the experience (she knows her smiles can start a friendship). She is showing her inner strength because her smile is not dependent on others’ reactions. Readers of these sentences may read between the lines and see the writer as confident, friendly, risk-taking for a positive goal (not afraid to get shot down by unrequited smiles), self-aware (knowing why she does what she does), and as a person with vision: all characteristics of leaders.

Photo Credit: oxfordshirechurches | CC BY 2.0

“It’s easy when you know how.” Have you ever felt that?

Before you learn how to do something, it seems scary and maybe even impossible. Then, after you’ve learned a technique, the mystery is gone, and in its place is a perfectly attainable goal.

The goal of this blog is to speed you towards the after.

But first, here is a little quiz to assess where you are right this minute:

1. I know why colleges want to read an essay. T F
2. I know how to describe my strengths so I don’t sound like I’m bragging. T F
3. I know what my “writing voice” is when writing essays. T F
4. I have a draft so far, and I know how to edit it to improve it. T F
5. I know the best length for my essay. T F

No one was born knowing how to write a college application essay, so five “F”s are pretty standard. But even if you circled “T” five times, you most likely have other uncertainties.

You may have written an essay before, but you’ve never written an essay to be admitted to college. A college application essay is not what the same type of essay that your English teachers have been talking about for years.

Learn more by reading this blog and information in the resources. Take yourself on a tour around the site, click around.

Welcome to Essay Coaching!

Photo Credit: quinn.anya | CC BY SA 2.0