Adventures in Admission

How to write a stellar college essay

I started reading applications today. I will read the first of many letters of recommendations, resumes, transcripts and test scores to come my way this year. My favorite part, however, (or my least favorite… it depends on the student) is the essay. I wouldn’t say it makes or breaks many decisions, but it helps me remember Little Johnny compared to the other students who also have the 3.7 GPA and 27 ACT, who are involved in sports and community service. There are not many other places in the application I learn about a student’s humor, character and values. To help you (and selfishly, me) here are my recommendations on how to write an essay that will help round out your application.

The essay presents the person behind the paper. Some popular topics discuss motivations, goals, dreams, successes and failures, but regardless of the topic, it should demonstrate reflection, self awareness and originality while giving insight to the admission committee. You can create a picture by telling a specific story only you can tell and shade it by including personal reflection, context, meaning and detail. An exercise I recommend is to come up with fifty (yes, 50!) topics. Your last ten will be your most creative; most likely an original I have not read about and unique to you.

Writing the essay is often the most difficult part of the application for many students. To help with the process, I recommend just get started! Accept the “roughness” of your first draft. Write continuously (but don’t forget to delete later what you don’t want in the final draft). I want you to put me right into the action…cut out the thought process.  Think about your ending and discuss what you have learned and remember to provide insight. Come back to a rough draft after a few days and ask yourself if you have told a story in your own voice. Read it aloud for tone, fluency and message. Re-read your essay line by line, looking for sound construction, grammar, punctuation and mechanics. You don’t want to be the student who writes, “I have always loved mucis.”

The three most common mistakes students make are they 1) write about what they think the committee wants to hear, 2)wait to the last minute, or 3) repeat their resume. Count your adverbs and times you’ve used “I” (I did this, I did that), explanation marks (!) and CAPS. You don’t want to overuse them. You should also avoid nondescript words and phrases such as, “It was something I’ll remember for a long time” and “It was very important to me.”  Finally, have other people read your essay. Ask them if it sounds like you and have them make sure there are no errors. Even professional writers have editors.

I thought this article on CNN was timely, and it reminded me that I wrote my essay on aliens, and they still let me in…

Shanna Pomager, Associate Director of Admission

Roses are red, violets are blue…How do you pick the right college for you?

 It’s that time of year again when students are beginning to fill out their college applications, and I’m suddenly remembering that frantic feeling that came the fall of my senior year. What schools did I want to apply to? Should I go for a state school or private university? Did I want to stay close to home or move away? And how, with thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, how was I going to narrow it down?! Would they even admit me?!! Picking the schools I would apply to felt like I was a contestant on the “My Future College Dating Game”; I learned a little bit about each school, shared some information about myself with them, and hoped to find a compatible match. If there is one thing I’ve learned growing up with reality tv though, it’s that you probably won’t find true love on a 30-minute sitcom. Similarly, it can take a little extra time and information to really know if a certain campus is going to be the right fit for you, and the best way to do that is to visit!

At DU, we give prospective students the chance to really get to know us through a program called Open House. During the day-long Open House program, you’ll have the chance to visit and have lunch on campus, take a tour, meet and talk with current students and professors, and learn about the organizations and activities that are offered for students. There are interactive Q & A sessions and opportunities to connect with your admission counselor.  It’s a great way to get a little more insight on what DU has to offer you, both academically and socially. You can even stay overnight in the residence halls and experience what living on campus is really all about. The Open House program gives you the chance to learn everything there is to know about DU, including all the behind the scenes information that you might miss by just surfing the website – and we want you to come and see it all for yourself! There are two Open House programs this year: October 11-12^th and October 25-26^th. Registration is a 5-minute process you can complete today at http://admission.du.edu/admissions/visit/extendedvisit.asp.

After my visit to DU, I knew it was love at first sight, but you may need some more convincing before you find that warm, fuzzy feeling. Open House gives you the chance to see all aspects of DU, from the residence hall lounges and crowded pathways in between classes, to the athletic facilities and the lab classrooms, and all the friendly faces that bring life to the 125-acre campus. After spending some time on any campus you visit, hopefully you’ll walk away with a better sense of if it’s the campus for you. The best advice I ever got was to take risks, give myself options, and trust my instincts because remember - this is the real thing! If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-525-9495 or locally at 303-871-2036, or by visiting the DU website at www.du.edu. Happy hunting!

Lalu Abebe, Program Visit Fellow

Take a deep breath

...and just relax.  We certainly realize that this can be a stressful time of year for seniors as they are trying to make the big decision about where to go to school, how to finance their education, where their friends are going and actually enjoying the end of their senior year.  And many juniors are watching their friends go through this process and starting to freak out that they need to get started!  While many people say that college is the best time of your life, there are still so many great memories from high school, that you don't want to miss any of them because you are stressed out about moving to the next phase.  Wherever you are in this process, our advice is to take time to breathe and do a little stress management.  Here are our top 10 tips:

10. Just smile & laugh - these simple acts make you feel better automatically.  Find something humorous (movie, comic strip, friend, etc) and just let go.

9. Be realistic about your expectations.

8. Sit in total silence or listen to classical or other soothing music for 15 minutes.

7. Work out - release those endorphins!

6. Treat yourself to a favorite food (anything chocolate, Ben & Jerry's ice cream...)

5. Find one positive thing each day that you have never noticed before.

4. Talk through stressful situations with family and friends.

3. Give back to the community - it allows you to take your mind off other things and gives you a chance to make a difference in someone's life.

2. Force yourself to slow down and enjoy every moment - stop to smell the roses!

1. Take this advice - Don't Worry, Be Happy

When you do make your final decision regarding your college choice, you will be able to truly celebrate and enjoy the rest of your time in high school while preparing for the next great adventure.  We wish you the best of luck in making your decision and hope to see you on our campus!

Emily Forbes, Admission Counselor

The Low Down on the Ammi Hyde Interview

As nation-wide college application dates quickly approach you may wonder how a college or university will ever be able to distinguish you from others.  ENTER AMMI HYDE INTERVIEW.  The Ammi Hyde Interview is a component of the application process at the University of Denver.  It is strongly recommended for many reasons.  First, the Hyde Interview is designed to be a blind interview with two to three individuals who are DU faculty, staff or alumni.  You as the student are in a unique position.  The panel does not know a single thing about you other than your name; no GPA, no SAT or ACT scores, not even your high school!  This allows you to show the University of Denver a completely different side of yourself.  The Ammi Hyde Interview gives your application the extra boost beyond what is written on those pieces of paper.  From my experience, the University of Denver was the only school I looked at that took this much time and energy to get to know students who applied.

 

So if this interview is so important, it must be really hard, right?  Wrong!  I’ll admit, when I signed up for my interview I had no idea what to expect.  Well, now you will know what to expect after reading this! 

 

The Hyde Interview focuses on three things: Your openness to difference and new ideas, you motivation to learn and continue your education, and your concern for honesty and integrity.  Before you go into your interview think of situations you have been in, or examples in your life that would focus on these three topics.  If you can do that the interview will be a cakewalk!  Ever since I have participated in the Ammi Hyde Interview I tell everyone the same thing.  The Hyde Interview is more of a conversation between you and the panel.  If you can hold a conversation and feel comfortable answering those three topics then you have completed one of the best supplements to your application!  I wish you the best of luck, and hope to see you on campus next fall!

 

Jase Roberts, Admission Fellow, Class of 2009

To register for the Hyde Interview, please visit http://admission.du.edu/admissions/apply/hyde.asp.