Seasons Greeting and Last Minute Advice

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to  all my readers.

 With just a week left , here is some last minute advice

1. Do not Copy/Paste  your  supplementary essays.   Many follow a standard  " why are you  interested in your major and why at our university?"  prompt.
 spend 15 minutes on each universities web site and look up a few details unique to  each school.

  A copy/paste essay is quite easy to spot and it   only serves to tell the admissions team that you are being lazy and do not  want to spend a few minutes to  research the school.  A sure way of   getting rejected.
2. Do not apply to too many schools.  15 should be your upper limit. Count multicampus  institutions as  UC as 1 for simplicity.

  everyone involved in college  applications is looking forward to a long weekend on Jan 1-3.
 I hope yiu take some time to relax and I mean really relax before resuming  your regular life.



 Wishing  everyone a happy new year in advance.





 

Princeton Application

 Princeton  is arguably the best University in the USA. It is consistently ranked in the top 3 along with Harvard and Yale.   However Princeton is more focused on undergraduate education   than  them.     Princeton  is centered around a  strong    liberal Arts and Sciences core. with most classes taught as seminars.



 Admission to Princeton is extremely competitive with an acceptance  rate of only 7%.


 Princeton also uses the common application but has a    comprehensive supplement.
 The essays you will need to write are:
 1. Activities- Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences that was particularly meaningful to you. (Response required in about 150 words)
2. Summers - Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held. (Response required in about 150 words.)
3. Your  Voice- In addition to the essay you have written for the Common Application, please write an essay of about 500 words (no more than 650 words and no less than 250 words). Using one of the themes below as a starting point, write about a person, event or experience that helped you define one of your values or in some way changed how you approach the world. Please do not repeat, in full or in part, the essay you wrote for the Common Application.
1.Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way
. 2. "One of the great challenges of our time is that the disparities we face today have more complex causes and point less straightforwardly to solutions." Omar Wasow, assistant professor of politics, Princeton University; founder of Blackplanet.com.
 This quote is taken from Professor Wasow's January 2014 speech at the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Princeton University.
 3. "Princeton in the Nation’s Service" was the title of a speech given by Woodrow Wilson on the 150th anniversary of the University. It became the unofficial Princeton motto and was expanded for the University’s 250th anniversary to "Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of all nations." Woodrow Wilson, Princeton Class of 1879, served on the faculty and was Princeton’s president from 1902–1910.
 4. "Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful." Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy, chair of the Council of the Humanities and director of the Program in Humanistic Studies, Princeton University.
5. Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay.





 The way to answer such an open ended prompt is to first  make a list of  your accomplishments and characteristics you want to showcase - especially those that Princeton  values.


 Focus on intelligence, perseverance, accomplished and ambitious. Select incidents, or accomplishments that showcase thes qualities and  write a narrative around them .  Princeton attracts a lot of students from privilaged backgrounds and  if you fit that category, it ids important to show that  you are aware of your status and are interested in helping those less fortunate.   Do talk about  your social service work or volunteer efforts.

Johns Hopkins Application

Johns Hopkins  University is a major research University  located in Baltimore. It is considered to be  the first research university in  the USA.

 While  Johns Hopkins is best known for  its school of medicine and health science    programs. the core Arts and Sciences programs are also very strong.  JHU also has well regarded schools of  Engineering, Business and international studies, the latter being located in Washington DC. Johns  Hopkins is consistently ranked in the top 20 Universities. and is a  Reach  program for most students.

  JHU uses the Common App  and has  a fairly standard supplementary essay prompt:
 Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 on a spirit of exploration and discovery. As a result, students can pursue a multi-dimensional undergraduate experience both in and outside of the classroom. Given the opportunities at Hopkins, please discuss your current interests—academic or extracurricular pursuits, personal passions, summer experiences, etc.—and how you will build upon them here.

 A great resource on the Johns Hopkins Admissions site is a set of Essays that worked with notes on why the admissions team liked them

 As  you can see , a good Essay explains what your goals for college and JHU in particular are. You should give an insight into experiences that shaped you  and how you will be able to contribute to life ( both academic and  socialO) on the JHU campus.

Early Decision Results

 Early Decision and Early action results are  being released  this  week.
Some of you
ill no doubt be   celebrating as you got an offer letter from your dream  school.
 You don't have much to do but pay your deposit fee and start thinking of how  you could spend your summer in a meaningful way. Please resist the urge to  tease your classmates .


 If like most students, you did not get an acceptance letter,  the first step  is take a deep  breath.
 Its  not the end of the world.  Sit with your counselor  and analyse  your application for weaknesses.
 Now  start to look at    universities that   could be classified as "realistic" or "safety".

 Your common ap is already done, just look at the  supplementary essays and  make sure you devote enough time to  them.

some of you  may have been accepted  at a safety school option that you applied to in Early Action.  Now its time to focus on your sett of reach  universities.


 I am available for a quick analysis of  options. You cam use your free call to figure out  the list of colleges to apply to. email clearskyeducation@gmail.com



 I

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Cornell application

Cornell is an ivy league University located in  Ithaca, New York.
Cornell has a vast range of majors and academic opportunities. This  breadth stems from  its founders  mission statement.
"I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study

Cornell  is divided into 7  component college with  the college of   Arts and Sciences  and College of Engineering accounting for  most undergraduates.  While Cornell has an excellent business school ,  it dies not offer an undergraduate program.  One of the unique programs is the school of hotel  Dministration. 

Cornell is known for its extremely diverse student body which means every student can usually find a club or social group they identify with .


 Like most universities Cornell also uses the common application.

 The supplementary essay   depends on the undergraduate college  you apply to:
 Here are the prompts for Arts and Sciences as well as Engineering:
 College of Arts and Sciences: Describe two or three of your current intellectual interests and why they are exciting to you. Why will Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences be the right environment in which to pursue your interests?

College of Engineering: Tell us about an engineering idea you have, or about your interest in engineering. Describe how your ideas and interests may be realized by—and linked to—specific resources within the College of Engineering. Finally, explain what a Cornell Engineering education will enable you to accomplish.

Notre Dame application

 The University of  Notre Dame i s arguable the best Catholic school in the USA.   It is  Located in South Bend, Indiana, about an hour a half from Chicago, it is considered to be one of the most scenic campuses.
 Notre Dame has strong undergraduate programs in the Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering.
  rather uniquely , the architecture program in housed in a separate college.
 Notre Dame  fosters a very strong school spirit  partly centered on its  renowned football program.

 there is a strong sense of social responsibility and the  Mendoza busines school even stresses the importance of   "doing good in business".

Please provide a response between 150 and 200 words to the following question (required).

·         What excites you about attending Notre Dame?
Please select two of the following five prompts and provide a response between 150 and 200 words to each. 

·         Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, served as a trusted adviser to U.S. presidents and popes. A champion for human rights, Fr. Hesburgh was one of the architects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Reflect on the current state of civil rights, the progress that has been made, or the problems still being faced today.·         What question fascinates you? Tell us why.

·         What’s broken, and how would you fix it?

·         Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, described education as “the art of helping young people to completeness.” How are you incomplete?

Identify a recent Facebook post, Tweet, text, Instagram photo, Snap, blog post, or WeChat post of yours. What does it reveal about you and your digital footprint

Emory Application

Emory is a  highly ranked private research  university in the  Atlanta  area. It is one of the oldest  research institutions in the country.  Emory is a research university  built around a strong school of Arts and Silences. Emory also has strong professional  law, business and medical programs.

 A unique component of Emory is  Oxford College, a small  liberal arts campus about 50 miles away from the main university. Oxford college is a two year residential program after which students complete their studies on  the main Emory campus.

 The Emory Supplement is as follows:

 In addition to the Common Application's Personal Statement, applicants to Emory University are required to compose an answer—500 words or less—to one of the following essay options:

Essay Option 1
Last August, Susan Grant, chief nurse executive for Emory Healthcare, said this of Emory's choice to treat patients with Ebola: "We can either let our actions be guided by misunderstandings, fear and self-interest, or we can lead by knowledge, science and compassion. We can fear, or we can care." Consider her idea of doing what is in the public interest despite potential cost. Please discuss an example in your life or the life of another that's come to your attention.

Essay Option 2:
In the spirit of Emory's tradition of courageous inquiry, what question do you want to help answer, and why?

 Keep in  mind that the Emory Mission statement revolves around teaching,  fostering creativity  and research, and  service  to humanity.

University of Southern California( USC) Application

USC is the oldest private research  university in California.


Most students are enrolled in the  college of Arts, Letters and Sciences which provides a strong  Liberal Arts education. USC also has very strong undergraduate programs with in the  Viterbi School of Engineering and the Marshall  school of  Business.




USC is also uses the common Ap

 The Supplementary questions are as follows:

1. USC students are known to be involved. Briefly describe a non-academic pursuit (such as service to community or family, a club or sport, or work, etc.,) that best illustrates who you are, and why it is important to you. (250 word limit)
2. Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 word limit).
3. Describe yourself in three words. First Word:

Second Word:

Third Word:

     4. Favorite food:

     5. Favorite fictional character:

     6. Greatest invention of all time:

     7. What do you like to do for fun?

     8. Role model:

     9. Favorite book:

    10. Best movie of all time:

    11. Favorite musical performer/band or composer:

    12. Dream job:

 These questions seem straightforward but try to give the admissions team a feel fpr your personality  in thes answers.

Safety Universities

 Now that I have discussed  the Reach and Realistic  college lists,  its time to look at the  third set , the so called "safety" options.
 Safety schools are those  in which a well prepared student has a very strong chance  of admission.
While there are many  colleges that will admit pretty much anyone,what  I aim  todo is identify  strong academic  programs where there  the odds of admission are still very good.

 It takes a  bit f effort to find these safety schools and they often depend on your interest. A university may be an excellent safety school for a liberal arts major but a terrible choice for an engineer and vice-versa.

 Some of the Universities I recommend as geerally safe choices are

• Penn State University
• Michigan State University
• Syracuse University
•  University of Pittsburgh
• Franklin & Marshall College
• Bucknell University
• College of Wooster

 Ther sare a  coupe of STEM  institutions that  have strong engineering programs  but are not too difficult to get into

•  Rochester Institute of Technology
• Worcester  Polytechnic Institute

 The key is to find the right  "reach", "realistic" and s "safe" options for you.

 Contact  us at clearskyeducation@gmail.com to schedule a free consultation and start working on your college list

 Now  lets return to looking at individual university applications

Realistic Universities

 The most important choices are those I refer to as the realistic set.    These are colleges  where  you think  you have a reasonable chance  of admission. Like all  good things, there is a lot of work involved.
   Many of the programs I  rate as realistic options are large  public universities. While thes schools re not as competitive as the "Reach programs" thry are just as strong academically.
 The realistic group also includes   several liberal arts schools which

 Some of the realistic schools  I recommend are:

• University of Michigan
• UCLA
•  Georgia Tech
• University  of  Virginia
• CMU ( non cs  majors)
• New York University
• University of Southern California
• Emory
• Tufts
• Rochester
• Case Western Reserve
•  Brandeis
• University of  North Carolina
• University of California - Berkeley
• Purdue
•  Miami ( Ohio)
• Oberlin
• Davidson
• Wake Forest 
• 
  

• 
  

Reach Universities

A good place to start with your  List of schools to apply to is with the  list of "Reach programs.


  Aspirational is another tag for  reach schools.A reach school is  one that you think you wil not get into and that it is out of reach. However if you set your goals high  and apply your self  to the task there is no reason  you cannot convert "out if reach" to "within reach"

 The canonical reach  schools are the  ivy  league universities. However  top STEM  universities and elite liberal arts colleges also fit in this list. Many big Research  universities are also in this category


 Here is my list of reach programs

•  The Ivy League schools-  namely
• Harvard
• Yale
•  Princeton
• University of Pennsylvania
• Cornell
• Columbia
• Dartmouth
• Brown
•  the  best STEM programs
• MIT
• Caltech
• CMU ( for Computer Science especially)
• Harvey  Mudd College
•  Large Research Universities
•  Northwestern
•  University of Chicago
•  Johns  Hopkins
•  Stanford
• Duke
• Rice
•   Elite Liberal Arts schools
• Amherst
• Swarthmore
• Williams
• Pomona

 Of course  this a is a generic list , It is individualised for each student based on their academic and  other interests.

Finalize your College List

With about 5 weeks( 38 days to be exact)until Jan 1  left to get your applications complete, the furst thing is to decide where to apply. I recommend applying to between  8 to 12  colleges and not more than 15 under any circumstances..


 I recommend applying to between  8 to 12  colleges and not more than 15 under any circumstances.
While its true that most universities use the common ap, each program will have at least one supplementary essay   and    you are looking at writing, editing and rewriting  about 15 essays  in 44 days. That one every 3 days for 6 weeks - a tiring and daunting scenario.

My method for selecting schools is to start by forming 3 big lists .
 Create  a list of Universities that appeal to  you  and form 3 groups - the reach schools which you know are   tough to get into and  you realize  your odds of admission are around 30% or   less.
 The Ivy league schools and premier STEM programs  are  the  best example of Reach programs.
  Then you have a realistic list where  your chance of admission should be between 30 to 50%.
 Many of the big public universities  such as UCLA, Michigan  are often excellent   realistic choices
 Finally the all important safety list  where  you think you have a better than 50% chance of being accepted.
 Urban  universities  along with  Some of the public universities and smaller liberal arts schools are ideal safe options.
Examples are -  University of Pittsburgh, Boston U Northeastern, Depaul.

 I will   be giving long lists of  universities by these categories in the coming week



 Send an email to clearsky education with your profile to get consulting aid on this.
 Your first session or  phone call is free.

Time to get started

  The early Action and Early decision application deadlines have passed.
 I had  reviewed and analysed the applications for several universities for this.
 However most people need to

 The universities I recommended  and reviewed for Early application were:

• Caltech
•  University of Chicago
•   University of Pennsylvania(UPenn)
• Northwestern University
• 
  
•  Brown University
•  Columbia University
• Carnegie  Mellon  University
• Rice University
• Dartmouth University
• Duke University
• MIT
• Georgia Tech
• University of  Michigan
• University of Illinois

 Hopefully some of you will be receiving congratulatory letters in mid December and ending your college application process.

 However most people need to start  finalizing their college list and send out 5-10 applications by  January 1.

 I will be  looking at several other programs in the next few weeks  as well as provide information on schools which have late deadlines in February and rolling deadlines.

 If you have not started finalizing your  college list or essays yet - It  about Time.


 Pleae look at www.clearskyeducation.com and Contact me at clearskyeducation@gmail.com to  warn about my services

Clearskyeducation.com

I have enjoyed blogging on this site for the past three months  and am now launching my website
http://www.clearskyeducation.com/.

 I will continue blogging on this site until the January  application deadline and  plan on covering many more  university  applications
 Please log into the website or leave comments here  to  suggest   to suggest  universities  you  think I should  look at.

 Anyone can  get a free  telephonic consultation   by sending me a request at http://www.clearskyeducation.com/

Details of services offered and the way I work are mentioned there.

 I look forward to getting to know some of my readers

last week for Early Applications

 Early Decision and Early Application deadlines are due  this week.
Early  applicants can improve their admission chances by as much as 10% at some universities


 I have   selected several universities and  have  provided details on the supplementary essays as well.

 The universities I recommend  and have reviewed for Early application are:

• Caltech
•  University of Chicago
•   University of Pennsylvania(UPenn)
• Northwestern University
• 
  
•  Brown University
•  Columbia University
• Carnegie  Mellon  University
• Rice University
• Dartmouth University
• Duke University
• MIT
• Georgia Tech
• University of  Michigan
• University of Illinois

 I provide a special last inute E D service for  students. Please contact me soon
 at clearskyeducation@gmail.com to  know more

Brown University Early Decision

 I will conclude my set of ED   schools by  looking a Brown University
.
 Brown is an  ivy league university  in  Providence, Rhode Island.

 Brown is unique in that it is a relatively small  camus for a research university.
 Brown has excellent science and engineering programs taught in a liberal arts  context.


 Brown  also uses the Common Ap.
 There are a few supplementary short answers required


1.Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? (50 words or fewer)
2.A distinctive feature of the Brown Curriculum is the opportunity to be the “architect of your education.” Why does this academic environment appeal to you? (100 words or fewer)
3.Tell us where you have lived—and for how long—since you were born; whether you’ve always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (50 words or fewer)

Dartmouth Early Decision

With just over a week left  for ED EA applications, I will try to squeeze a few more  in

 Lets take a look at Dartmouth. Dartmouth is the smallest  member of the ivy league.

 It  is best known for  a strong liberal arts program  that is supported by     departments with  research capabilities.

Apart from  the common ap . Dartmouth requires one additional essay. Students must attempt one of the  following:( one page limit)

• Every name tells a story: Tell us about your name—any name: first, middle, last, nickname—and its origin.
• Tell us about an intellectual experience, either directly related to your schoolwork or not, that you found particularly meaningful.
• When you meet someone for the first time, what do you want them to know about you, but generally don’t tell them?
• Describe the influence your hero has had on your life.
• We believe it is critical that your candidacy reflect the interests, experiences and pursuits that are most important to you.  To this end, is there anything else you would like us to know?

 One thing  you should keep i mind is that  each prompt has multiple  spects to it. If you talk about your hero  ,m the focus of your essay is on the influence they had on you not  about why they are your hero.   Your hero need not be a famous person.  Pick someone  close to you and focus on the influence aspect especially if they have influenced  your academic interests or the way you think. 

Carnegie Mellon Early Decision

Carnegie Mellon (CMU)   is another school I highly recommend for ED applicants.
 To be honest CMU is not for everyone. Its a very work intense  culture.

CMU has  what it refers to as a liberal-professional cirriculum focusing on professional programs( Engineering, Management , Fine Arts) within a liberal arts  framework.
 However for serious  Engineering, Science and especially CS students , CMU is one of the best  universities.

 The application  seems simple.

 CMU uses the common ap.  You have a few short supplementary essays to write.

 One is  why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s).

 The best way to answer this is by connecting  your answer to your long  term goals and career aspirations.
2.List the books (if any) you’ve read this year for pleasure. Choose one and in a sentence describe it’s impact on you.

 Select books you have read outside school.  Show a broad variety if possible.   Its useful if your book  is related in some way to your  major.

A safe choice for this prompt is former CMU CS professor Randy  Pausch's book : The Last Lecture

 Other books I can recommend ( that are science related) are:
 1. The Martian - Andy Weir
2. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen -   Paul Torday
3.  Godel Escher  Bach -  Douglas Hofstadter
4.  Thinks ... - David Lodge
5. The Art of Racing in the Rain-  Garth Stein

 CMU also asks you to  write about your experience with the Alumni interview if you have completed it. This interview is  highly recommended  a it is more to  gauge a "cultural" fit rathe than your  academic/intellectual ability.

Rice Early Decision

  I am continuing the ED list with Rice.
 Rice is an excellent research university with very strong STEM programs  and a unique residential college system. Rice is also smaller in size than most major national universities.

 The supplementary essays for Rice are both short answer questions  related to  Rice.
 One asks about  what you are interested in and which college( Engineering/Humanities/Social Sciences/Natural Sciences)  you want to study in.
Thr other prompt is:

The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (500 word limit) 


 The admission rate for ED applicants is about 30% while it id around 20% for Regular Decision.


To avail of clear sky education services for your Rice application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Duke Early Decision

 Continuing my list of ED universities -   I will take a closer look at Duke.

Duke is a large, research university on  Durham, North Carolina.  It is  highly reputed for strong programs in the arts and Sciences as well as Engineering and business. Duke if often referred to as a "Southern Ivy". Of course Duke  receives the most publicity for the  Blue Devils  Basketball program  but this  only makes the campus a more vibrant and socially active place to be.



 You can see the Duke  admissions home page at this link

 Duke is also on the common ap and has two  short supplementary essays, of which one is optional.

Here are the 2015-2016 Duke Prompts

The following question is required for Engineering applicants.

• If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as either a first-year or transfer applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (150 words maximum)

The following question is required for Arts & Sciences applicants.

• If you are applying to the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences as either a first-year or transfer applicant, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something particular about Duke that attracts you? (150 words maximum)

As always  do your homework before starting this type of answer.    Talk about your interests and intended major and  how  the  Trinity college /Pratt  School fits in. Duke offers undergraduates  the chance to get involved in research and  find relevant summer internships .

 These can be considered as  the fairly standard  " What do you want to study?" and Why do you want to study and Duke questions.

The following question is optional for all applicants to Duke University.

• Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had to help us understand you better—perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background—we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)
 Keep in mind this is optional. Do not submit anything that does not improve your profile.  Above all  resist the temptation to  reuse an essay from another  college application. People in admissions offices are familisr with  various esay prompts and can easily spot a copy/paste job.

To avail of clear sky education services for your  Duke application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Northwestern Early Decision

Northwestern Early   Decision

Continuing my series   on Universities  I recommend for  ED applications, lets take a look at Northwestern. Northwestern is a highly ranked Research University in  the Chicago area.

 Northwestern is  well known for its excellent programs in the Arts and Sciences as well as Engineering. The Kellogg School of management is consistently ranked as one of the best undergraduate business programs. Early Decision candidates at Northwestern have a higher acceptance rate than regular decision.

 You can see the admissions home page at this link


 Northwestern has just one  open ended Question - essentially " Why Northwestern?"

 To answer this  properly do  your homework first,  go through the  Northwestern  website.   Try to Identify the major/program you  are interested in. Northwestern has over a 100 majors and minors on offer  along with many   special interdisciplinary programs. Also check out the blogs by current students. Here  is a link to the admissions blog  written by students
  Talk about  your academic interests and orofessional aspirations clearly.

Applying as an International Student

 Applying as an International Student 

As someone who studied in India, Malaysia, the Philippines before going to study at University in the  USA I am   familiar with the difficulties and issue involved in applying as an international student.

 Increasing numbers of  international students are studying at the undergraduate level in the USA. Most  students are interested in STEM  and business related programs a these are  relevant degrees for employers. A liberal arts degree is often not fully appreciated or understood outside the USA.
 international students also tend to prefer universities  in urban areas. Here is  the  USNews  list of universities with the largest  percentage of  international students

 Many aspects of the common ap are  rather odd to  international students , especially those from Asia. Asian students and teachers are not used to  letters of recommendation as most evaluation tends to be test based and purely numerical. International students are also less likely to have any  work experience or exposure to the extra curricular activities that an  American student  would have
 On  a related note an international student  has less familiarity  writing the kind of essay involved in the common ap prompts. An experienced consultant/counselor such as myself can  hepl you  put together a strong  polished essay,



i am in a unique position to assist  international students with their college appolications.  To  see the services  offered please click here . Also refer to My pledge

Send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com  to set up a  free phone call and  profile  evaluation 

Essay Writing Inspiration

Essay Writing Inspiration

 By now most people will be  done with test taking , the October 3rd test  being  the last one whose scores will be valid for ED/EA applications. The November test  is still an option for regular decision applicants but in all seriousness you should be done by now.


 If your essays are complete by now, its time to get to work! You have 22 days to Nov 1 and 83 to Jan 1.


 I am  sharing some of my favorite quotes on writing in the hope it will inspire you to  get started .

QUOTE:

(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.

(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.

(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

-excerpt from George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language", 1946.

Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.

– Barbara Kingsolver
 The above quote  is   very relevant for college essays.   Don't try to  become some "ideal" student in your essays. That person  does not exist.  Its best to be  yourself and be honest .   Talk about yourself abd your interests.  At least  this way   the  colleges  you are accepted at are  probably interested  in people like yourself and you will be a good fit.
Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short
– Henry David Thoreau
Another very appropriate quote regarding college essays.  Most essays have a tight word limit.  Do not underestimate the time you will need to edit your  essay.  When you have 250 words ,  its important to select each word carefully..

 Begin with an individual, and before you know it you have created a type; begin with a type, and you find you have created – nothing.

– F. Scott Fitzgerald

Writing is its own reward.
– Henry Miller

 Dont be intimidated by essay writing. Relax and let your thoughts flow directly. Allocate at least  an equal amount of time to edit.   If approached correctly  this can be fun.


I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
– Douglas Adams

And  of course Don't panic.   I will be blogging on various university specific essays  until January. Feel free to contact me for a free consultation. 
 I will also  highlight universities with February dedlines and those with rolling admissions.

MIT Early Action

MIT is  the premier STEM University  in the world.   Because of its well known excellence in science and Engineering people tend to  overlook the excellent programs in the Social Sciences and management studies.

I strongly suggest all students interested in STEM programs and the social sciences such  Economics to consider an Early Action application to MIT.

MIT is not on the common ap. It  uses its own  application system.Instead of one long essay and a supplement, the  MIT application comprises of 5 short  writing prompts.

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100 words)

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you’d like to tell us about. (250 words)

Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (250 words)

Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (250 words)

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (100 words)

Don't  get overwhelmed by this. The  pleasure and department are not really essays  but just  a couple of lines.  The best strategy is to  rite a direct  open and honest response to each question ( naturally it goes without saying that you should be  open and honest   throughout the college application process). Do not try to b the ideal student and talk about  how you enjoy programming  or building robots for fun. Of course if this is what you really do   then  by all means mention it but focus on the "pleasure" aspect-  I enjoy seeing conceptual ideas being implemented and functioning. Again be honest about your intended major/department. There are no quotas for  each department  and you will have the opportunity to change if admitted  at  MIT. One hing to keep in mind is that MIT   focuses on the importance of implementation of technology and science rather than theory.

 The essays on challenge and world are also  relatively short  so again  keep your answers simple and honest.   The world topic is very open ended , for brevity's sake just select one aspect of your life to highlight - your  home, school, community or  even  church group. rather than describing your environment focus on how this has shaped your interests and academic aspirations.

The challenge topic is similar in nature , don't write too much about the  issue  you g faced but about the impact it had on you and your academic/intellectual  ambitions and how  MIT fits into the picture.

www.clearskyeducation.com

 To avail of clear sky education services for your MIT application  send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com