Counseling Corner: Addison Trail Guidance Department helps seniors prepare for life after high school

For members of the class of 2017, the beginning of the 2016-17 school year means it’s college application time!

Seniors should start thinking about their post-secondary-education plans, and the Addison Trail Guidance Department will host two events to assist those students with the college application process.

  1. A College Night for senior students and their parents/guardians will begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 25 in the cafeteria.
  2. Throughout the fall, seniors will meet with their counselor to complete a Senior Interview. During that meeting, we will discuss their specific post-secondary plans and guide them through the college application process.

Below are tips for writing the college application essay:

Dos and Don’ts on writing the college application essay

Dos

  • Keep your focus narrow and personal

Your essay must prove a single point or thesis. The reader should be able to find your main idea and follow it from beginning to end. Ask someone to read just your introduction to see what he or she thinks your essay is about.

  • Prove it

Develop your main idea with vivid, specific facts, events, quotations, examples and reasons. There’s a big difference between simply stating a point of view and letting an idea unfold in the details.

  • Be specific

To avoid clichéd, generic and predictable writing, use vivid, specific details.

Don’ts

  • Don’t tell your readers what you think they want to hear
    Most admissions officers read plenty of essays about the charms of their university, the evils of terrorism and the personal commitment involved in being a doctor. Bring something new to the table – not just what you think they want to hear.
  • Don’t write a résumé
    Don’t include information that is found elsewhere in the application. Your essay will end up sounding like an autobiography, travelogue or laundry list.
  • Don’t use 50 words when five will do
    Eliminate unnecessary words.
  • Don’t forget to proofread
    Typos and spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell-checker.

Source: College Counseling Sourcebook, 4th edition