Reflecting on an Experience
Typical Prompts: Any of the following can fall under the traditional 'significant experience'
P1: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it
If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
P2: Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
P3: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
P4: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Most of us know these as NARRATIVE essays - ones who tell a story and where we focus more on the experience than the format. Sensory language and vivid word choice are really important.
How long: 250 -650 words
P1: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it
If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
P2: Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
P3: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
P4: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Most of us know these as NARRATIVE essays - ones who tell a story and where we focus more on the experience than the format. Sensory language and vivid word choice are really important.
How long: 250 -650 words
Reflect before you write....
1. Make Sure Your Response is Analytical
Read the prompt carefully - at the heart of each you will see that you need to evaluate an experience, achievement, risk or dilemma. Evaluation requires you to think critically and analytically about your topic. The admissions officers are not asking you to "describe" or "summarize" an experience (although you'll need to do this a little).
The heart of your essay needs to be a thoughtful discussion of how the experience affected you. Examine how the experience made you grow and change as a person.
2. A Significant Experience or Incident Can Be Small
Many students shy away from certain essay options because of they seem to require a level of life experience they feel they lack. Many students feel that they are just 18 years old and nothing significant has ever happened to them. This isn't true. If you're 18 or even younger, even if your life has been smooth and comfortable, you've had significant experiences. Think about the first time you challenged authority, the first time you disappointed your parents or the first time you pushed yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone.
A significant risk can be choosing to study dance; it doesn't have to be about rappelling into an icy chasm to rescue a baby polar bear.
3. Don't Brag About an Achievement
The admissions team gets a lot of essays from students about the winning goal, the record-breaking run, the brilliant job in the school play, the stunning violin solo or the amazing job they did as team captain. Being proud is fine, but you want to be very careful to avoid sounding like a braggart or egoist. The tone of such essays is critical. An essay that says "the team never could have won without me" is going to rub your reader the wrong way. A college doesn't want a community of self-consumed egoists.
The best essays have a generosity of spirit and an appreciation of community and team effort.
4. A Challenged Belief/Ethical Dilemma Doesn't Need to be Newsworthy
Think broadly about what can be defined as an ethical dilemma or why one would challenge a belief? This topic doesn't need to be about whether or not to support war or capital punishment. In fact, the huge topics that dominate national debate will often miss the point of the essay question - the impact on you (why do YOU care?)
The most difficult ethical dilemmas facing high school students are often about high school. Should you turn in a friend who cheated? Is loyalty to your friends more important than honesty? Should you risk your own comfort or reputation to do what you think is right?
Describing your motivation for making a hard choice in your essay will give the admissions officers a good sense of who you are, and you will be addressing issues that are central to being a good campus citizen.
5. Reveal Your Character
Always keep in mind why colleges require admissions essays. Sure, they want to see that you can write, but the essay isn't always the best tool for that (it's obviously easy to get professional help with grammar and mechanics). The main purpose of the essay is so that the school can learn more about you. It's the only place on the application where you can really demonstrate your character, your personality, your sense of humor and your values.
The admissions officers want to find evidence that you will be a contributing member of the campus community. They want to see evidence of a team spirit, humility, self-awareness and introspection.
1. Make Sure Your Response is Analytical
Read the prompt carefully - at the heart of each you will see that you need to evaluate an experience, achievement, risk or dilemma. Evaluation requires you to think critically and analytically about your topic. The admissions officers are not asking you to "describe" or "summarize" an experience (although you'll need to do this a little).
The heart of your essay needs to be a thoughtful discussion of how the experience affected you. Examine how the experience made you grow and change as a person.
2. A Significant Experience or Incident Can Be Small
Many students shy away from certain essay options because of they seem to require a level of life experience they feel they lack. Many students feel that they are just 18 years old and nothing significant has ever happened to them. This isn't true. If you're 18 or even younger, even if your life has been smooth and comfortable, you've had significant experiences. Think about the first time you challenged authority, the first time you disappointed your parents or the first time you pushed yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone.
A significant risk can be choosing to study dance; it doesn't have to be about rappelling into an icy chasm to rescue a baby polar bear.
3. Don't Brag About an Achievement
The admissions team gets a lot of essays from students about the winning goal, the record-breaking run, the brilliant job in the school play, the stunning violin solo or the amazing job they did as team captain. Being proud is fine, but you want to be very careful to avoid sounding like a braggart or egoist. The tone of such essays is critical. An essay that says "the team never could have won without me" is going to rub your reader the wrong way. A college doesn't want a community of self-consumed egoists.
The best essays have a generosity of spirit and an appreciation of community and team effort.
4. A Challenged Belief/Ethical Dilemma Doesn't Need to be Newsworthy
Think broadly about what can be defined as an ethical dilemma or why one would challenge a belief? This topic doesn't need to be about whether or not to support war or capital punishment. In fact, the huge topics that dominate national debate will often miss the point of the essay question - the impact on you (why do YOU care?)
The most difficult ethical dilemmas facing high school students are often about high school. Should you turn in a friend who cheated? Is loyalty to your friends more important than honesty? Should you risk your own comfort or reputation to do what you think is right?
Describing your motivation for making a hard choice in your essay will give the admissions officers a good sense of who you are, and you will be addressing issues that are central to being a good campus citizen.
5. Reveal Your Character
Always keep in mind why colleges require admissions essays. Sure, they want to see that you can write, but the essay isn't always the best tool for that (it's obviously easy to get professional help with grammar and mechanics). The main purpose of the essay is so that the school can learn more about you. It's the only place on the application where you can really demonstrate your character, your personality, your sense of humor and your values.
The admissions officers want to find evidence that you will be a contributing member of the campus community. They want to see evidence of a team spirit, humility, self-awareness and introspection.
Click HERE for some sample from Ivy League Universities