College Essay Dos & Donts

College Essay Dos & Don’ts Since you already know how it’s supposed to read, and you’re accustomed to reading it, it’s often easier for another person to catch your mistakes. You should also try reading the essay aloud to yourself. Have another person (or several!) read your essay, whether it’s a teacher, guidance counselor, parent, or trusted friend. You know what you meant to say, but is it clear to someone else reading your work? Nearly all of the high school students I know who cross that bridge daily do so with no thought of the creek below. This emphasis on diversity can also be found in the variety of specialized departments found at State University. On top of its growing cultural and ethnic diversity, State University is becoming a master at creating a niche for every student. I don’t recommend a friend who is afraid to correct your mistakes, or a parent, if you can help it. A teacher or family friend would be a great choice. Take time to understand the question or prompt being asked. Now forget all that, because a successful college application essay is totally different. You need to be sure we can deliver on our promises. However, this does not isolate students by forcing them to work with only those individuals who follow their specific discipline. Instead, it is the seamless interaction between facilities that allows each department, from engineering to programming, to create a real learning environment that profoundly mimics the real world. Have these people review your application essay to make sure your message is on target and clear to any audience. Don’t rely solely on the computer spelling and grammar check. Computers can't detect the context in which you're using words, so be sure to review carefully. They might be fine in a text message, but not in your college essay. Believe it or not, the brainstorming stage may be more tedious than writing the actual application essay. Soon Ernest Hemingway’s essays found their place next to Trout Unlimited magazines by my bed. I caught that 10-inch fryling five years ago on Fall Creek using a $5 fly rod given to me by my neighbor Gil. The creek is spectacular as it cascades down the 150-foot drop of Ithaca Falls. Only 100-feet further, however, it runs past a decrepit gun factory and underneath a graffitied bridge before flowing adjacent to my high school and out to Cayuga Lake. Aside from the falls, the creek is largely overlooked. Thus, State University is not just the perfect place for me, it is the only place for me. Once you have completed your application essay, be sure to find a couple of people you trust to look over your work before you submit it. The purpose is to flesh out all of your possible ideas so when you begin writing, you know and understand where you're going with the topic. Get your creative juices flowing by brainstorming all the possible ideas you can think of to address your college essay question.