Counseling Corner: The beginning of the school year means college application time

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! August also means it’s college application time!

While senior students are getting back into the swing of school, they also need to start thinking about their post-secondary plans and begin filling out college applications. The Addison Trail Guidance Department will host a couple of upcoming events for seniors and their parents to help with that process.

  • College Night for Seniors and their Parents will begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the student cafeteria.
  • Seniors will meet with their counselor and complete a Senior Interview in the fall. During that personal meeting, we will discuss each student’s specific post-secondary plans and guide him or her through the application process.

Below are tips for writing the college essay:

Do’s

  • 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

Bring something new to the table – not just what you think admissions officers want to hear.

  • Don’t write a résumé

Don’t include information 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 to catch your mistakes.

- Source: College Counseling Sourcebook, 4th Edition