May 28, 2009
How To Ace The Harvard Admissions Essay
If you are hoping to be able to express yourself completely on the Common App, you will probably be disappointed. It is a limited document that provides a small amount of space for answers and information. Additionally, you may submit supplemental materials, and two essays. One of your essays should be specific to school. The other one can be generic.
Here are 5 Tips to help you maximize this opportunity:
1. Focus on selling yourself. You may have a very entertaining story to tell, but if it doesn’t illustrate the kind of person you are and what you have accomplished, it will not serve it’s purpose.
I remember reading a wonderful, heartwarming essay from an applicant who recounted the story of her family’s practice of adopting stray dogs. The very delightful story told of her experiences caring for the dogs as she grew up. While it was most enjoyable, it fell short of the mark in two ways:
-It did not tell me about anything the applicant had accomplished. -It only gave me an idea of one aspect of the applicant’s personality.
For these reasons, the applicant was put on the wait list. Of course, the essay was not the sole reason for this decision, but it was one of the reasons.
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2. Point out your accomplishments!
It is typical of overachievers to be modest. They tend to make the least of their spectacular accomplishments with statements like:
“Of course, there are lots of applicants who are more deserving of Harvard placement than I.”
Or the equally self-deprecating,
“Being accepted to Stanford will be the luckiest day of my life! I know there are others who have worked just as hard to earn it.”
You know very well these things aren’t true, so don’t say them.
There is a big difference between inappropriate boasting and a simple, straightforward accounting of your accomplishments. Know that difference and use it. Talk about your achievements, yourself, and your life in an honest and open way to make the best impression possible.
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3. Make it personal.
Telling anecdotes about the contests you have won, conflicts you have settled, and experiences you have had is very effective. It makes a strong impression in the mind of the reader. Be sure that your stories tell about your successes and ways in which you have prevailed against adversity. This sort of story supports the acceptance of your application.
4. Don’t bother to tell about shortcomings and failures. These things are not pertinent to the process. Tell about your successes.
This is not the place to share the fact that you only got third place in the first track meet you ever participated in. The only exception to this would be if that event acted as the springboard to your winning the state championship.
Avoid talking about ancient history, like the very first short story you ever published, unless that event led to your becoming seriously committed to creative writing, which in turn lead to winning serious contests and national recognition.
5. Name-dropping is not impressive.
Avoid saying things like:
“My friend, Harry Brown, goes to Harvard, and he is an excellent student. I have always aspired to be like him, so I am determined to attend Harvard.”
Dropping the names of alumni and professors is also not impressive.
If you need to mention a person’s name because it is necessary to the sense of the story you are telling, do so. Otherwise, it is best to avoid it.
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