How to Write the Regular Decision Essays for the Little Ivies Sarah O'Neill Supreme Editing

Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing Now that RD season is among us, let’s talk about applying to what is considered the “little ivies.” What are the Little Ivies? Coined the Little Ivies around 1955 for a group of small colleges in New England, today they are a bundle of liberal arts colleges known for their dynamic educational opportunities, stellar financial options, and low admittance rates. Why Choose a Liberal Arts College? Simply, these schools offer a broad education and experimentation into various fields, they are more close-knit which means closer proximity to professors, and they pay off in the end. The list of Little Ivies include: From Wikipedia: A 2016 article by Bloomberg Businessweek lists the members of the Little Ivies as:[9] Amherst College Bates College Bowdoin College Bucknell University Colby College Colgate University Connecticut College Hamilton College Haverford College Lafayette College Middlebury College Swarthmore College Trinity College Tufts University Union College Vassar College Wesleyan University Williams College Below are instructions and essay samples for Amherst, Swarthmore, Tufts, Vassar, and Williams! Amherst College Amherst College Excerpt According to Amherst College admissions (via their website): Amherst College educates students of exceptional potential from all backgrounds so they may seek, value, and advance knowledge, engage the world around them, and lead principled lives of consequence. Think of your essay(s) in context, as they comprise a portion of a total application package that represents you. Other components, such as your resume and transcript, contain important data points, but they do not reveal your motivation, your goals, or your vision. Use the essays to tell what cannot already be gleaned from those materials. Avoid the trap of aiming for what you think the selection committee wants to hear. They want to know how and what you think. Be your own critic! Allow enough time to write your essay, sleep on it, and come back to it a few days later with fresh eyes. You’ll be surprised by how clearly you’ll see ways to clarify or enliven your writing. Personal statements, answer the following questions: 1. Who are you now? What interests you and is important to you? What personal qualities (skills, abilities, attributes) do you want to convey as your strong points? 2. What experiences have been important in your development? These could be classes, internships, work experience, personal episodes — moments that contributed to and illuminate who you are now. Successful essays included applicants who distinguished themselves by painting a more detailed picture of themselves. They made it personal! They gave a deeper sense of themselves and the contributions they’d make to the Amherst community in terms of fresh ideas and perspectives. The essays demonstrated they were committed to diversity and making campus a safe place for all. They highlighted leadership skills and showed growth and their impact on others. They proved that they were motivated and engaged students. Pick the quote that you can connect with. — Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay. Supplemental Essay Example: Prompt 1 Question: What do you see as the benefits of linking learning with leadership and/or service? In your response, please share with us a time where you have seen that benefit through your own experience When I started Tang Soo Do (Korean Martial Arts) in 3rd grade, I didn’t know I would find a role in serving the community through the structure, discipline, and traditional customs. Sharing my skills with others drives my service. As I moved up in ranks, I loved showing younger students my skills because I knew the significance of having a role model in class. I often demonstrated the proper form of a flying side kick to students having trouble. I also helped my fellow older students persevere through tough workouts, whispering words of encouragement and sparring with others to improve our collective skills. Transitioning from kid to adult classes, I encountered a lack of motivation due to tougher workouts and drills. However, through these experiences, I learned to teach without being overbearing, to stick with a commitment, and to communicate better with students when fists are being thrown around. Tang Soo Do instilled confidence in my abilities to accomplish many of my goals. Outside of the studio, I used my improved teaching skills to help younger kids in my school’s mentoring program, teaching them respect and organization. I also entered Green Key, my school’s ambassador program. In this program, I lead groups of prospective students around campus, providing an example of what a model student looks like by using my organization, communication, and knowledge. Martial arts has developed some of my core values: organization, guiding others, and effective communication. It has also served as an incredibly enjoyable outlet for exercise. Swarthmore College Swarthmore College Excerpt According to Swarthmore College (via their website): They strive to provide learners of diverse backgrounds a transformative liberal arts education grounded in rigorous intellectual inquiry and empower all who share in their community to flourish and contribute to a better world. They commit to this vision by: Offering a robust, liberal arts curriculum connecting the arts, humanities, natural sciences and engineering, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs Fostering innovative research and creative production and encouraging collaboration among faculty, students, and staff Building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive residential community that enriches our experiences and expands our worldviews Stewarding our resources through intentional daily and long-term sustainability practices, honoring our location on the ancestral land of the Lenni Lenape people. Learn more about the College’s Land Acknowledgement Creating opportunities for education and growth among faculty, students, staff, and alumni by sharing in the multitude of talents of the College community, exploring the beauty of our natural environment, and actively engaging in the rich cultural diversity of our region and our world Committing to peace, equity, and social responsibility, rooted in our founding as a co-educational Quaker institution Supplemental Essay Questions Via Their Website 23–24 The types of students admitted consisted of: Students who were admitted, cut to the chase! They went beyond typical reasons and dug deep into why they wanted to go to Swarthmore, and what they’d get out of the experience they couldn’t get anywhere else. They demonstrated their commitment to the school while also showcasing a unique perspective. Supplemental Essay Example: “Arboretum” is a cool-sounding word, and in the case of Swarthmore’s campus, it doesn’t disappoint. A place that’s conducive to thought and in tune with its environment, it is the ideal place to develop my thoughts and discover my niche. However, it’s the ideas and values that draw me in; that fill the hallways and bring the campus to life. It’s the people who unite around these values, and wield them not as weapons of war, but as instruments of change and constituent parts of a warm community. These are the people whom I want by my side for four years; across a chessboard, center stage in Lang, chasing winged prehistoric lizards, or wandering across Parrish beach. The apparent self-contradictions that make up Swarthmore: uniqueness as a norm, a sphere of discourse without dissonance, only amplifies its qualities. Its academics are unparalleled particularly in the humanities. The Humanities and Arts Career Showcase demonstrated how students mold their passions into careers. It told me that Swarthmore cares about how to transfer skills like writing and analytics to any vocation, proving humanities is worth taking. I want a place to what mark I will make on this world; to pinpoint where my passion, proficiency, mission, and vocation intersect. I want to expand my horizons in every direction, be it through the active and eclectic student body, the liberal arts tradition, or the campus hiking trails; there is no place better to do it than the open-minded and open-hearted community that is Swarthmore. Tufts University Tufts Excerpt According to Tufts admissions (via their website): “Think outside of the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you.” READ: A Short Guide to the Tufts Supplemental Questions 5 Essay Writing Tips Personal essay: What we love about these pieces is that they capture the distinct voices of the applicants. Some were conversational, some sarcastic, some compellingly serious — but they all forged a powerful human connection with us: the readers. They helped to set these students apart in our applicant pool because we could picture them as human beings and community members. They made us pause to laugh, think, or shout to the nearest fellow reader, “This student is incredible.” We hope that these essays will inspire you to find your unique voice as you craft your stories in the months to come and even — dare we say it? — to have some fun. In history, the types of students admitted consisted of people who focused primarily on fresh word choice, a deep but pithy delve into who the person is and what drives them to apply like what they “crave”, what is captivating, and how their own spectrum of interests directly coincide with Tufts. This involves doing research on the school on YOUR PART and finding a way to express your unique (even fun) voice. I would not say the one below in green is especially the BEST example of creative language, but you can really hear the voice of the person in the ownership and authority they will take on with their education at Tufts. Supplemental Essay Example: Since the first time I stepped on Tufts’ campus to watch an African dance performance, I have been struck by how authentically diverse this place is. Diversity is reflected through Tufts’ curriculum, where opportunities for interdisciplinary study are taken advantage of by many students. It is reflected in the abundance of student-led clubs and organizations — I am especially impressed by The Daily and The Zamboni. Diversity is reflected through the voices that made me think and laugh on the “Jumbo Talk” blogs, the slurry of movement and energy in the Mayer Campus Center during my visit. I am not only able to see its diversity on paper, but also able to feel how this focus of diversity trickles into a community focused on growth, kindness, and providing for each other. I feel like this is exactly the community where I would feel supported yet uninhibited to pursue my passions. Vassar College Vassar College Excerpt According to Vassar College admissions (via their website): Vassar is known for taking a bold approach to academic inquiry and offers hands-on courses and interdisciplinary majors. Independent thought is one of Vassar’s core values! The mission of Vassar College is to make accessible “the means of a thorough, well-proportioned and liberal education”* that inspires each individual to lead a purposeful life. The College offers an education that promotes analytical, informed, independent thinking and sound judgment; encourages articulate expression; and nurtures intellectual curiosity, creativity, respectful debate, and engaged citizenship. Vassar supports a high standard of engagement in teaching and learning, scholarship and artistic endeavor; a broad and deep curriculum; and a residential campus that fosters a learning community. READ: Becoming a Competitive Applicant Collaborating across such differences, a concept at the very core of Vassar’s values is necessary for social transformation and critical for the well-being of any community and its members. Through programs such as the Engaged Pluralism and the Office of Student Growth and Engagement, the College affirms the necessity of creating a diverse campus that reflects our lives as members of multiple local and global communities. In history, the types of students admitted consisted of the following: They used rich details and brought the reader into their world- the more specific, the better. They demonstrated HOW they’d contribute to Vassar’s community and HOW Vassar would benefit them. They shared their vision and showed how their growth led to newfound skills and life-long learning. They researched and proved why they were a good fit for Vassar and vice versa. Supplemental Essay Example: At Vassar, we aim to foster an inclusive community through our philosophy of engaged pluralism. Engaged pluralism is rooted in “the conviction that collaborating across differences is necessary for social transformation and critical for the well-being of any community and its members.” In short, we believe it’s our differences that make us stronger. Tell us a little bit about what makes you unique and what you hope to add to our community. (Limit 300 words) As a light-skinned, soft-spoken, empathetic, and analytical Black woman, a lot of times I have felt that I am not a part of my own community. Many of my family members ask me why I relate so much to the East Asian community and culture. This, of course, has led me to question whether or not community is only skin-deep. I became engrossed in the East Asian community at a young age. My dad, an international pilot, often brought movies home from China. One day he brought home Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki. He described it as something similar to Alice in Wonderland. I could truly see myself in the Miyazaki’s heroines: from how they transcended their roles in life to how they met obstacles with resilience and bravery, these heroines helped me feel less alone. I evolved from watching Miyazaki movies to joining anime clubs, to reading East Asian philosophy, and eventually studying the works of Japanese author Haruki Murakami. This culminated in a trip to Japan last summer as a People to People: Student Ambassador. Immersed in the culture, I visited a Japanese high school, hiked Mt. Fuji, soaked in an onsen, and experienced a deep connection with my homestay family, the Mishimas. Through being a part of the East Asian community, I have explored answers to metaphysical questions, prayed at a Shinto shrine, and realized that community is a state of mind, much more than skin deep. Williams College Williams College Excerpt According to Williams College admissions (via their website): Our Mission The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Williams College dedicates itself to a community where all members can thrive. We work to eliminate harmful bias and discrimination, close opportunity gaps, and advance critical conversations and initiatives that promote inclusion, equity, and social justice on campus and beyond. As a residential learning community, Williams believes that some of the most important experiences happen while living and learning alongside those different from oneself. Diversity is central to Williams’s mission and it furthers important goals: It enhances the life-long learning of all members of our community, both inside and outside of the classroom, by bringing in a range of perspectives and experiences. It deepens our understanding and expands our knowledge of a growingly complex world. It builds cultural intelligence and prepares all members of our community for global citizenship. It challenges and encourages critical thinking about systems and structures of oppression. It fosters equity and inclusion; cooperation and collaboration; empathy and compassion. It broadens our contributions to the communities around us. It adds multiple perspectives to help us to achieve excellence in research, learning, teaching, and service. It increases student retention and persistence, by creating inclusive and supporting learning and living environments for those of all identities. How to write a successful essay: The Williams essay is unique in that it is not a traditional supplemental essay. The paper may be creative or analytical. Students must submit a Williams College supplemental essay. The Williams supplemental essays allow admissions officers to understand your academic interests. Additionally, the Williams essay lets you showcase a piece of work that you’re proud of and demonstrate your academic writing skills. This means you should take the Williams supplemental essays seriously, even if they are not required for the Williams College application. The more information you can give to admissions officers, the better. They want to know your academic interests and your writing abilities. You should take advantage of this great opportunity to share something you’re proud of. Common App Essay Example: Two red dumbbells sit on my windowsill. Might seem funny that two clunky metal blocks are in a girl’s bedroom, but they’re my most prized keepsakes. My grandpa’s a blacksmith, and I’d go with him every morning as a kid to the foundry to watch him cast iron. The best moment was when the hot, molten came out. He’d remove the scum and pour the fiery red liquid into a giant bucket. Under the glow of 1500 °C magma, was grandpa’s unshaven face: resolute and radiant. In this modern automated world, Grandpa is an anachronism. He sticks to primitive production, making every tool by hand from scratch. Under heat, dirt, exhaustion, and danger, people in blacksmithing possess incredible strength and camaraderie. Grandpa and the others would chant sonorously, “one, two, three, lift!” as they carried an injured friend from the foundry. When I left my home to study abroad, I never forgot the blacksmiths’ — nowhere else did I meet people as caring and who I aspired to be. There was one thing about them that was hard to attain — their strength. That was when Grandpa, hearing that I’d play squash at school, promised to make dumbbells. He worried I was too skinny and vulnerable. But, he was unable to fulfill this promise because in the winter, he got cancer, and I rushed home to see him languishing. He was smiling. “There’s no need to worry,” he told me pointing at his friends at his bedside, “We blacksmiths are made of iron.” What he said hit me like a like a hammer on the anvil. He was indeed made of iron. Over forty years ago, he hammered vigorously to support his family. Now under treatment, he fought disease like iron as his strength multiplied like waves of heat and ore turning into steel. I made up my mind… I’d go to the foundry to make him a pair of dumbbells. Grandpa’s friends agreed to teach me. So, I spent all summer embarking on it. From designing the shape, to refining the wooden mold, to cutting the sprue, to pouring the metal on my own, and putting my body and mind to the test! Although I’d visited the factory many times, it was only when I labored myself that I understood the phrase “made of iron”. Even the easiest tasks were backbreaking: shoveling sand, squatting for hours to shape sand, making sand compact by pounding it with a heavy iron rod… unable to keep up with everyone, on the third day, it was utterly unbearable. I plopped down, my last energy drained. I resolved to quit. But, as I got up and passed the furnace and workers, I was instantly brought back to the past, when I watched Grandpa pouring the molten metal. I thought… growing up, I never had to cast iron like Grandpa or tend crops like Grandma or wander the city penniless like my parents. I was the most refined in our family, but also the crudest. These thoughts intertwined with the workers’ silhouettes, convinced me to keep casting. I clenched my teeth, and after a month, I chiseled a pair of shiny, red dumbbells. Handing them to Grandpa, his eyes welled up. Holding my rough hands covered by band-aids, he said: “You’ve grown up, Yuchen. You can be a blacksmith, too.” Today, whether it’s conducting research for pancreatic cancer or running cross country, I remember this time. My grandpa even used my model and cast me a pair of red dumbbells. Every day, I try to use this positive strength to empower people. Outside, that late afternoon sky from grandpa’s hospital room flamed with red and orange like the glaring light of the furnace. This moment is etched forever. I offer gratitude for the blacksmiths, a sense of accomplishment for my dumbbells, an appreciation for my grandpa, and the realization that I, too, am made of iron.