America's Best Colleges for B Students - Tamra B. Orr

Скачать книгу

thoughts with positive ones. Instead of telling yourself, “I am just going to blow this entire test,” say, “This may be a difficult test but I will do the best I can on it.” Visualize yourself doing well on the test.

      5. When you are taking the test, remember those deep, slow breaths. Be sure to read the test directions carefully. If you don't know a question, skip it and go back later.

      6. If you find yourself tensing up during the test, put down your pencil, take a few deep breaths, relax your neck and shoulders and then go back to it. Go to another question or problem and come back to the one that made you anxious. Sometimes answering a few problems that you do know will help you remember the answer to the one that threw you a curve.

      7. When you are done, do something fun. See a movie, go out to eat, meet with a friend or just take a well-deserved nap.

123 4th St.Phone 555-555-5555
Anytown, USA 10000Fax 555-555-5556
Email [email protected]

       CHRIS SMITH

Community InvolvementVolunteered for six months (2015) at The Boys and Girls Club: helped organize and guide 30 children between the ages of 8 and 13 in multiple after-school activities. Learned skills of organization, teamwork, cooperation and discipline.
Intern at Wheels Unlimited, my grandfather's bicycle repair shop, after school for two years (2013-2015). Learned how to serve customers, run a register and basic mechanics/engineering skills.
Extracurricular ActivitiesParticipated in the Chess Club (2013) and the Debate Club (2014-2015). Director of the Drama Club (2014) and President of the Ski Club (2015).
EmploymentJune-August 2014 20 hours a week at Marin County Public Library
June-August 2015 18 hours a week at the Community Theatre
Education2012-2015 East County High School
Summer 2014 Theatre Workshop
Summer 2014 Sign Language 101 at St. Martin's Community College
ReferencesMr. Bob Smith, Youth Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club, 555-222-1111
Mrs. Jean Youngblood, English/Language Arts Teacher, East County High School, 555-982-1120
Mr. Rod Cooper, High School Debate Coach, 555-888-1210
Miss Lindsay Francis, Professor of Sign Language, St. Martin's Community College, 555-333-0101
Awards receivedDebate Team Regional First Prize, 2014
First Place, State Library Essay Contest, 2014
Heart of Gold, Volunteer Ribbon, 2015

      CHAPTER FOUR

      WINNING IN WRITING: THE ALL-IMPORTANT COLLEGE ESSAY

      Not every college requires an essay, but most of them want to see one. If you are applying at one of the colleges that do not require ACT or SAT scores, for example, the college essay is extremely important. Bottom line: The chances are pretty good you will have to write an essay. And, putting aside your fears for a moment, you will come to realize that this is a good thing.

      For many admissions officers, your essay is the first chance they get to see the real you. They already know your grades, test scores and what classes you have taken for the last four years, but they don't know YOU. Sure, they are looking at how well you remember those grammar and punctuation rules, as well as what kind of vocabulary you use, but they also want a glimpse of your personality, ambitions, talents, goals and dreams.

      College essays have become such an important part of the admissions process that there are many books dedicated to showing you how to write them. Many also give sample essays to read from students who were accepted by colleges. One excellent book is Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays by Gen Tanabe and Kelly Tanabe. Check out the many websites on the Net dedicated to the topic.

      Be aware there are unscrupulous companies and people willing (for a price) to take the headache out of your hands and write the essay for you. Yes, you can buy your college essay. Is this ethical? What do you think? Not only is this wrong, but it also won't help you get into college. Purchased essays are never able to convey the real you to a college. Don't ask a friend or relative to write it for you either. The admissions officers are good at spotting styles that don't fit with students. Also consider that if you turn in something that reads like Ernest Hemingway, but your GPA in English class has always been a B or less, a red flag will pop up immediately.

      But the best reason for writing your own essay is that regardless of your skill, you can write a successful essay that will reflect your personality and your passion for life. It's not as hard as you might imagine! Read on to learn how.

      The questions and/or topics you might be given to write about in college essays vary a great deal in subject area. Regardless of the question, the point is to say who you are. You will show that in how you respond, what anecdotes you use, what examples you include and so on.

       Describe your most significant personal experience. How has it influenced you?

       Identify and discuss a problem facing your generation.

       What have you read that has had a special significance to you? Explain why.

       Describe a person or experience of particular importance to you.

       Describe the reasons that influenced you in selecting your intended major field of study.

       If you could travel through time and interview a prominent figure in the arts, politics, religion or science, whom would you choose and why?

       Describe your experience in living in a racially, culturally or ethnically diverse environment; what do you expect to need to know to live successfully in the multi-cultural society of the future?

       Make up a question, state it clearly and answer it. Feel free to use your imagination, recognizing that those who read it will not mind being entertained.

       Indicate what you consider your best qualities to be and describe how your college education will be of assistance to you in sharing these qualities and your accomplishments with others.

       Evaluate a significant experience, achievement or risk that you have taken and its impact on you.

       Indicate a person, character in fiction, a historical figure or a creative work (as in art, music, etc.) that has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.

       Why do you want to spend two to six years of your life at a particular college, graduate school or professional school? How is the degree necessary to the fulfillment of your goals?

       Use this space to let us know something about you that we might not learn from the rest of your application.

       How have you grown and developed over the four years of your high school career?

       What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? Explain why you took it and what you learned afterward.

       Discuss some issue of personal, local or national concern and why it is important to you.

       Write about your favorite book or film and tell why it has influenced you.

       Relate the most humorous experience in your life.

       You have just finished writing your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217.

      Remember that you want your essay to stand out from the others in the pile on that admission officer's desk. You want to make a favorable and memorable impression and you want the reader of the essay to feel as if he or she is getting to know you. To make sure that your essay sounds unique and individual, take care to avoid certain pitfalls; for example, don't respond with the

Скачать книгу