the-college-times

[the-college-times]

The College Essay - What is it? And why is it so important?

It is that time of year again where high school seniors will be applying to colleges around the country. Although it can be exciting to determine what the next chapter of your life will look like, the months leading up to that date are surely an emotional roller coaster. Applying to college is undeniably stressful and the college admissions process can be scary. It is crucial to manage your time and not procrastinate to prevent feeling the burden of each school’s deadlines. One fear that hangs over students’ heads during this whole process is rejection. For a lot of students, going to college has always been the next step after high school and for some, going to an elite institution is expected. No student wants to fall head over heels for a school, end up getting rejected, and later having a conversation with someone that they did not get in. As a student who is currently undergoing the college process and experiencing the stress of it, I would like to share what I have learned thus far. 

One of the more difficult components of a college application is definitely the personal statement. Since every other part of the application is predominantly straightforward and this element is not - it is where a lot of students tend to struggle. There is so much pressure put on this 650-word essay that ultimately it can dictate which colleges will accept you and which ones will not. More recently,  it is expected to have this extraordinary topic written in a sophisticated way just as Paul Rudnick mimics in College-Application Essay - The New Yorker. Even though he is depicting an extreme version of a college application essay, it acts as a common model that many students think they should follow. But what if you have not had the “pleasure” of misfortune or insanity occur in your life?  Writing a monumental essay that makes you stand out is a true statement, but only to a certain extent. The essay functions as an effort to convince college admissions officers that you should be considered as a candidate for their school. Essentially, it is an opportunity to individualize your application, past your school grades and test scores. This does not mean you need to have the cure for cancer or start your own business; however, the purpose is to bring something else about you to the table that can not already be seen in the rest of your application and that you think admissions officers should know about you. James Warren, the author of “The Rhetoric of College Application Essays: Removing Obstacles for Low Income and Minority Students,” writes that the personal statement is essentially a “persuasive argument” disguised as an individual’s story. He recommends that instead of writing solely about what makes you different, you should try to convince admissions officers why you are the best candidate for the school where you are applying. It is important to remember the difference between persuasive and arrogant though. College admissions officers are not going to want to accept someone who is vain and boasting about all of their achievements. Use the skills you have from all of your accomplishments as a selling point to persuade admissions officers into thinking you are a perfect fit. 

 Along with the personal statement essay, there are also other essays that each school gives you the opportunity to write. Although they are much shorter and carry less weight, these supplemental essays act as a good way for admissions officers to see if you are truly interested in their school or are merely just applying. Generally schools will phrase a question to ask about how you will bring diversity to their campus. The definition of diversity is fairly ambiguous. What does it really mean in terms of college? And, what makes you stand out? Anna Kirkland and Ben Hansen explore the definition of diversity and how it relates to college in their analysis “``How Do I Bring Diversity?'' Race and Class in the College Admissions Essay.” The standard definition of diversity reads - the practice of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders and sexual orientations, but this is not exaclty how you are supposed to answer the question. Kirkland and Hansen both propose that students should discuss their “desire to understand international cultural or religious differences.” By writing in this way, it allows admissions officers to know your background and on top of that, it shows them your ambition and love for gaining knowledge. 

A big thing to remember is even though applying for college is extremely important, it is not something that should consume you and become an added stress in your life. Everyone moves at their own pace. As long as you pace yourself, follow deadlines, and are writing honestly you will succeed. When you do finish applying to all of the colleges on your list, be sure to congratulate yourself and be proud of whatever the outcome is.

This is my soccer ball. Soccer has been a huge part of my life since I was six years old. This sport has taught me so much and has created so many tight bonds with people that will last a lifetime. I've learned lessons of leadership, accountability, responsibility, and sportsmanship.

Soccer acts as an outlet for me to get away from any worries I am facing in the moment. Even though I have been playing for so long, that does not mean that everything comes easy to me. It can be frustrating at times not being able to get something first try, but it acts as a motivation to get better and be the best player I can be.

Since I was little I had always dreamed of playing soccer in college, but recently I made the tough decision to end my soccer career in high school. Although this choice was one that a lot of people disagreed with, I ultimately think that I made the right decision.