Admissions essay angst

Q: How important is the admissions essay? If my students haven’t built houses for the poor or won national contests, what should they write about?

A: If the university requires an essay for admission, it is in my opinion that the student put time and effort into the passage. I do not think it matters if a student has built a house for the poor or won an academic contest. Those things are important, but each student’s interests and experiences are going to vary. Students should write an essay based on what they have an interest in, with their own experiences. They will be surprised at what they come up with! I don’t think the topic of an essay will necessarily get students in or keep them out of a university. They should be aware of content, how the essay flows and grammar. They should put their thoughts in a well-organized essay, and the college admissions staff will be impressed. Billy T. Henderson is assistant director of admissions at Gardner-Webb University. E-mail [email protected] to have your college admissions questions answered by a financial aid or admissions representative.

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