2015_HSGuide
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APPLYING 101:<br />
ESSAY<br />
Some schools will ask that you write an essay as part of<br />
1. Read the essay topic and be sure to pay attention to<br />
the instructions. Note if they are asking you to write one<br />
long essay or a few short answers. Pay attention to what<br />
they are specifically asking you to answer. Some schools<br />
may give you a topic to write about and may include<br />
several other questions that they would like you to answer<br />
throughout your essay. Most importantly, look to see if<br />
there is a page or word count minimum or maximum. If for<br />
any reason you are confused by what is being asked, then<br />
call the admissions office as soon as possible to get clarity.<br />
2. Once you are familiar and comfortable with the topic,<br />
begin planning what you will write. There is no right way<br />
to begin writing an essay. Some students prefer to make<br />
an outline of the topics they will cover and then fill in<br />
those topics with more detail later. Other students may<br />
prefer to just write down any thoughts that come to<br />
mind in no particular order and organize them later. You<br />
may be a student who just gets inspired and can write<br />
the entire essay in one sitting and then revise and edit<br />
later. Remember, this is really your choice as long as your<br />
finished product is your best work!<br />
3. A common essay topic for high school applications is<br />
to discuss why you want to attend the school or why you<br />
should be accepted into the school. However the question<br />
is written, keep one thing in mind: this is an opportunity<br />
to sell yourself! Be sure to include your goals and how<br />
attending the school will help you achieve them. Also,<br />
make a list of important attributes of the school and why<br />
you think you will be a good match. Include what you will<br />
be able to offer the school if they accept you. It is okay to<br />
provide information on extracurricular activities, such as<br />
cheerleading, band or football; however, don’t let them<br />
be the focus of your essay.<br />
4. Once you have finished writing your essay, have<br />
someone proofread it for grammatical errors and for<br />
content. There are people in your life that will be more<br />
than happy to help you during this process.<br />
5. Whether you decide to use these tips or others,<br />
just make sure that the final product that you turn in is<br />
YOUR BEST WORK! It is much more meaningful if you<br />
write your own essay; therefore, schools will be able to<br />
see that you took your time and put forth effort<br />
during the writing process. Also, it will be a great way<br />
to get acclimated to what will be expected of you in<br />
years to come.<br />
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