The
"What Issues Greatly Concern You?"
Admission Essays
What
They are Looking for in these Admission Essays
The admissions committee
wants to admit students who care about
things other than themselves. The 3 primary things they will be looking for in
these admission essays are:
-
The
issue that you selected
-
Your
knowledge of the issue
-
The
insight you provide into this issue
The
Issue You Select
Think hard
about the different things you care about. The goal is to paint a picture to the
admissions office about what makes you unique and separates you from the myriad
other applicants.
The issue
you select does not have to be of such grand proportions as Israeli-Palestinian
peace or world hunger. Once again, a smaller, more personal issue like your
maintenance of a local hiking trail can make for wonderful reading and you can
be certain that the material will be new to the audience as opposed to an essay
about the national workings of the Sierra Club for instance.
Your
Knowledge of the Issue
Keep in
mind that this audience will be inherently skeptical about your altruistic
claims so be sure you have knowledge of the selected issue and you share enough
details in your essay to convey this knowledge.
The
Insight You Provide Into this Issue
Remember to
keep this essay -- and all your admission essays for that matter -- squarely
focused on you, the reader. The best way to do this is to provide your analysis
and insight into why your issue is of primary importance to you. Be sure to tell
the admissions director what makes you tick and why you are different from the
other applicants.
One
Final Note
All
admissions directors prefer applicants who take an interest in outside issues
over applicants who are self centered. This is a great essay to use to
demonstrate your concern about the world around you!
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