Applying to Regular Decision for College: How to Amplify Your Common Application Sarah O'Neill Chester County Teacher

 Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing

Regular decision deadlines to submit applications to your dream schools are usually in early January. With such a deadline just around the corner, let’s think about what you can REVISIT and improve upon in this round that might have kept you from your EARLY DECISION school.

Revisit Your Personal Statement (aka the Common App Essay)

One aspect of your college application that you can still control 100% in this process is the essay portion such as the supplemental essays and the main essay, the Common Application 650 word piece. If you were rejected or deferred for admission from your ED choice, now is the time to revisit that essay.

Follow these steps:

1 — Spend ample time reading and re-reading the piece to be sure it is authoritative, shows you doing something, and offers plenty of reflection. This will assure colleges that you will bring something unique to their campus.

2- You also need “other eyes” on the piece. I suggest you show a teacher you trust or an essay mentor to get their perspective on whether it is a stand-out piece. Does it speak to your entire application as a testament to your abilities and character?

3- Do a CONTENT, STRUCTURAL, and PRESENTATION edit of the essay.

A CONTENT EDIT means to ask yourself:

•What is the essay’s fundamental purpose? Where do you primarily focus your attention? What is the big message/focus?

This is focused on doing xxxxxxx for the purpose of xxxxx. Be clear on the focus — to figure out what is relevant and worthwhile, and be sure of the intent and the audience.

Write a FOCUS statement at the top of the essay with what your intentions are for the controlling or main idea. What is the main thing you want to express about yourself to admissions officers?

•Quality writing begins with a strong focus statement. A focus statement gives your writing direction. A focus helps you know what to say about your topic. A lack of focus leaves your readers unsure what point you are trying to make.

Here’s a simple formula you can use to form a focus statement. This statement can become the topic sentence in a paragraph or the thesis statement in a formal essay.

Topic (who or what you are writing about)

+ Focus (the part or feeling you want to highlight)

_________________________________

= Focus Statement

Next, do a STRUCTURAL EDIT. This means:

The structure of a story is HOW IT IS ORGANIZED. You can think of this as a framework for writing. Just as an artist would sketch before painting, an author would create a plan before writing. EDITING structure means identifying how the essay is put together, considering how the order should be put together to flow well or how to transition well. Here are some types:

Linear Narrative (ONE piece) all the way through: presents events in order in which they actually happened, usually staying with one event and topic. Always in first person, and at the end, you might branch out and connect the experience to a future endeavor

Problem here is that you don’t want to write about something in 6th grade if it doesn’t progress to who you are now so chronological order (strictly) could have its downfall UNLESS you are discussing ONE event and not a series of events. One event progressing from start to finish is fine

Non-Linear Structure: This presents the series of events around a topic out of order, employing flashbacks or projections into the future in other areas. Can build suspense but the problem is trying to fit too much into one essay. Just have to be careful with the flow.

Vignettes: series of stories. This is the most difficult to do but it can be done. It begins with presenting a motif or image at the introduction then relating that motif or image with a series of stories about yourself. Be careful! This can sound like LISTING, which is not what you want to do.

Finally, do a PRESENTATION EDIT:

•Proofreading is the final stage of the writing process when the essay is evaluated for mechanical correctness, such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, omitted words, repeated words, spacing and format, and typographical errors.

•You should proofread throughout the entire process of versions but normally it is really important to do it towards a final edit.

After you revisit your essay, REVISIT YOUR ACTIVITIES LIST:

The activities list on your Common Application is allows you to DEMONSTRATE how involved you’ve been within your school community and outer communities including jobs or charities.

If you are heading into the RD round of admissions this means taking a second look at your list by adding any pertinent activities you’ve done at the beginning of senior year. You can submit up to ten entries in the areas of sports, service, internships, summer programs, and even informal but meaningful hobbies. Give your best participation details with strong verbs.

EXAMPLE

Here is a snippet of an Activities List of someone admitted to HARVARD.

Sample College Activities List

Ultimately, even though it might feel a little “late in the game”, you can add substance and memorability to your Common Application before RD submissions by revisiting your Common App Essay (the personal statement) and your Activities List.

One more note, you can also write letters of continued interest for ED school if you were deferred. You might also submit a special portfolio of art or writing or add a more in-depth resume to the “Additional Information” section of the Common Application.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing