Seniors, at this point, the biggest current hangup for many of you in the college application process is the essays. Not every college requires them, but those that do want you to show them who you are—and that’s a different kind of writing than what you do in English class.
A quick guide on an approach to essay writing is here. In addition, let’s talk about the three roadblocks you’re probably facing now.
First—Word limits It’s hard enough to write about yourself without having to do it in only 600 words, or 500 words, or 150 words. Your best bet is to just write what you want to say, count your words when you’re done, and edit from there. If you need help, find an English teacher who knows you well (who won’t treat your essay like it’s a book report), and bring armloads of chocolate when you bring them your work.
If you’re still worried word limits kill your chances of saying something important, I offer this evidence to ease your concern:
The Gettysburg Address Lincoln spoke to a modest crowd in the darkest days of the Civil War, and gave all of America hope, in 252 words.
The Ten Commandments Found in variations in both other religions and in non-religious moral codes, this is one compass for clean living. 323 words. (A close second is attributed to the Cherokee. 31 words.)
Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech He set an astounding record for most consecutive baseball games played, until illness took him from the game too soon. Faced with all that, he moved all of baseball to tears when he said “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth”. 272 words.
The Speech at Caesar’s Funeral Shakespeare’s take on how Marc Antony’s words turned the tide of a nation in just 268 words.
“We the People” The founders of our country had to justify why they took the colonies through a revolutionary war that was fought in America’s backyards, all in one paragraph. They did it. 52 words.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening Was Frost writing about how busy he was, or was he contemplating his age? Ask your English teacher when you take your essay drafts to them. 108 words. (Tempted to write your essay in poetry? Make sure you show it to a teacher.)
The Old Pond If I had my way, students would write 50 haiku before writing a single college essay. Three lines and seventeen syllables to say something wonderful. Matsuo Basho is considered a master. 13 words. (If you can write a great haiku for a “Why Us?” essay of 150 words, you’re in. But that’s because it’s really, really hard to do.)
Shake it Off It gave birth to a new wave of girl power, all in about 4 minutes—and in about 595 words.
Second—Time Limits if you’re looking at a November 15 application deadline, Handel could wait 3 more days from today before starting on Messiah, and still make the deadline—and he went waaaaaay over 600 words.
Third—Content You haven’t climbed Everest or cured cancer—but have you flown on a plane? My student was the only passenger who spoke Spanish besides two unaccompanied children under 10, who were coming to America. They bonded, he got them to their family at the airport, and wrote an essay on the event that the dean of admissions at an Ivy said was the best he’d read in two years.
You have a story. You don’t need someone else’s story. Tell it.
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