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“Seven Secrets for Writing Standout College Essays”

October 16, 2014. St. Clair Country RESA, MI

Debbie Merion, MSW, MFA

www.essaycoaching.comdebbie@essaycoaching.com

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Seven Secrets

1. Smash writer’s block.

2. What have you done that you feel good about?

3. Think about a real moment to write about.

4. You, 2.0.

5. Rope in readers from the first word.

6. Be a private investigator.

7. Edit, edit, edit. 5

1. Smash Writer’s Block

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• Write lists

• Freewrite

• Don’t just sit and think…writing makes the ideas emerge from your brain

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The College Admissions Officer Reads Your Essay to Visualize

You:– ATTENDING his/her school

– CONTRIBUTING positively in class and in the college community

– GRADUATING with a good GPA in approximately 4 years

2. What Have You Done That You Feel Good About

• (In the last three years)

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• Do you have any skills or talents? YES!

• Do you have any characteristics that help you succeed in school? YES!

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• Have you taken initiative? YES!

• Have you ever started anything or done anything without being asked? YES!

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• Have you ever attended a great educational camp?

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• Have you ever gotten a job or an internship?

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• Have you ever trained a horse? Or taught anybody anything? [example knitting/iPad]

• Have you ever helped someone, or received help and improved because of it?

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• Have you ever read a book or met a person and then felt inspired to do something?

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• Have you ever tried something new and been successful, or failed but you learned something?

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Remember: Doing

trumps

knowing,

thinking, and

believing.

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3. Think about a real moment to write about.

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• You were at a certain place (where? when?)

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• You did something or something happened (you looked at the sky…you started a club…you watched an experiment in class…).

• What did you see, smell, touch or hear?

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• You thought or felt something. (I love that Yale is a place that encourages students to act…)

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How to Freewrite:by Natalie Goldberg*

• Set your phone time for 10 minutes• Write a prompt at the top of the page• Keep your hand moving• Don't cross out• Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, and

grammar• Don't think, don't get logical• Feel free to write the worst junk in America.

*author, Writing Down the Bones

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4. You, 2.0

• How have you changed after a challenge, epiphany, achievement, milestone, event, life experience (big or small).

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• You 2.0 is going to college.

• At least ½ of the essay should be a detailed description of what you do differently now.

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Characteristics of Sought-After Students

• GGrowth potential or evidence

• EEnthusiastic (AKA passionate)

• TTalented

• (shows) InInitiative

• (demonstrated) LeadLeadership

• Anagram to remember: GET In LeadGET In Lead

• Growth and leadership in areas of interest

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5. Rope in readers from the first word.

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• 12.“We have to get to this turtle!” Mike yelled through the roaring wind and fierce rain that was pummeling our faces, when suddenly the ATV hit a bump and started pulling wildly to the left. Luckily, Mike yanked the steering wheel and slammed on the brake, regaining control of the vehicle. “Everybody okay? Where’s Kyle?” he asked.

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• 21. It was a thrill to land my dream job this summer as an intern with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with everything associated with transportation.

• 75. I love Perrier water with the depths of my soul. I cannot get enough of the cool, fizzy bubbles rolling on my tongue…. Maybe I love Perrier because I am French to the core.

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6. Be a P.I. (Private Investigator)

• Investigate why the college is a fit for you.

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• For college-specific essays, read websites, ask questions, talk with students, faculty, alumni, or college counselors.

• Mention names, courses, dates, specific experiences, conversations, faculty you have met, college camp.

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7. Edet, Ed it, Edit

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Seven Secrets

1. Smash writer’s block.

2. What have you done that you feel good about?

3. Think about a real moment to write about.

4. You, 2.0.

5. Rope in readers from the first word.

6. Be a private investigator.

7. Edit, edit, edit. 33

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YOU CAN DO IT!

How to write your essay

1. Write lists of things you feel good about and moments you remember.

2. Freewrite a paragraph for ten minutes. Repeat. Again.

3. Write a draft. (Prompt at the top)

4. Share with an adult or friend and then edit to clarify what confused that person.

5. Write a list of what people will learn about you from your essay. Read your essay to a friend and ask her write a list of what she learned about you. Share lists.

6. Edit to emphasize what you want a reader to know. Then edit for clarity, smoothness, grammatical errors.

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Elbow Partners

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Here to Help

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debbie@essaycoaching.com

“No one ever died from writing” –Natalie Goldberg

S – Show, don’t tell

A – Ask yourself and others what a reader learns about you

F – Fast writing quiets the inner editor

E – Edit, edit, edit

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“Seven Secrets for Writing Standout College Essays”

Debbie Merion, MSW, MFA

www.essaycoaching.comdebbie@essaycoaching.com

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“Seven Secrets for Writing Standout College Essays”

October 16, 2014. St. Clair Country RESA, MI

Debbie Merion, MSW, MFA

www.essaycoaching.comdebbie@essaycoaching.com