The College or Job Application Essay and/or Product Some colleges and universities require candidates to submit a personal essay as part of the application process. The application form and supporting documents present essentially a two-dimensional person; the essay can give an important third dimension. This essay should reveal who you are, what you value, how you live your life, and what you would bring or add to a college or university. SHOW them why you are interesting enough to be a part of that institution! One admissions officer has described it as creating "a window into the mind and soul of the individual." Instead of asking, "What should I write about?" consider, "What should I tell them about me?" What makes you DIFFERENT from everybody else? The essay also reveals: -basic writing sk**s -ability to think in complex ways -basic understanding of developing an essay -higher order thinking sk**s The essay should come from your personal experiences: what you know the best! Remember: 1. Don't write an essay or make a product that any one of a 1000 other seniors could make! 2. Don't sell appearances: let your CREATION (essay or product) speak and come ALIVE -- just show them who you are, what you care about, what moves you to emotion, what the pivotal points in your life have been, etc. 3. Focus NOT on how good you are or what you have accomplished but what these things mean to you, how they have changed you. Remember: Think small. Anecdotes and rich details paint the most vivid picture. Pick something you feel strongly about. Think of the essay in terms of sharing some part of yourself with a new friend. You may choose a writing prompt specific to a college, university, or JOB to which you plan to apply. Create your own prompt, Or create an answer or product for ONE of the sample questions in this annotation: BRAINSTORM!!! Choose something important to you and leave your audience or interviewer with a memorable picture of yourself. SHOW, don't tell USE IMAGERY!!! Optional Outline Tips and Format Check out these Top 10 Tips for more help! 102 ESSAYS THAT WORKED!!! TLDR: Minimum requirements! TAKE LUCK!!!