ESSAY TIPS

1. ESSAY TIPS

2. 1. Simplicity • Life’s already tough enough – don’t make it tougher • The simpler an idea is, the clearer it is • ALWAYS think about how you can simplify your concept – jettison everything that is not necessary to the story • Be ruthless with your cuts • Simple sentences – avoid SAT words

3. 2. Show, don’t tell • Most essays should be narratives • Actions speak louder than words • Adjectives and adverbs are your friends – use them aggressively • Your pen is a camera • Active voice, please • We discover ourselves through conflict

4. 3. Creative • Think outside the box • Take chances! • Be willing to use different narrative structures and devices • Perspective • Time • Focus

5. 4. Planning • Have a definite objective – don’t drift • Focus on one idea per essay – do not try to do too much • Answer the question • Unity of effect – EVERYTHING in your essay should support main idea • Don’t waste time

6. 5. ??? • They already have your grades and test scores – tell them something they don’t know • It’s about you, not your resume • Brainstorm yourself – who are you, really?? • Try to avoid academic topics in main essay – you guys have a full life outside of Daewon, right?

7. 6. Too many cooks . . . • Limit the # of people who review your work • Be decisive – it’s your ass on the line! • Take suggestions and peer review seriously, otherwise don’t waste our time • Send essays to reviewers as early as possible – we need time to read all this stuff

8. 7. Prioritize • Rank your colleges at the beginning and work on essays in order of importance • Initially, don’t worry too much about grammar – we can fix that. Focus on your ideas and the creative structure of your essays. • FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON’T PROCRASTINATE!!!! I MEAN IT!!!!!!@@@!!

9. 8. Honesty • These guys can smell fakes – they read a bajillion essays a year • Truth is stranger . . . . • It’s much easier than making something up from scratch. • There is no such thing as a crappy idea. There are, however, crappy writers.

10. 9. Recycling • Everyone does it, but…. • You should recycle for your safety schools, not your top choices • Determine which essays are most important and focus on those • If things get too burdensome, cut schools you are not really interested in

11. 10. Research • Examine your schools closely and ask yourself: Why the hell do I want to go to this school??? • Research yourself -- what do you want??? • Research your career plan – determine best route • Research essay writing – way too much stuff online

12. 11. Empathy • Put yourself in reader’s shoes – reading thousands of essays, bored out of skull • Solution: stand out! • Ask yourself what school wants – small liberal arts school and Harvard have different preferences • Remember, this is like mock trial – it’s all about persuasion

13. 12. Subvert • Americans have certain expectations and prejudices • I.E. Asians are geeks • Deemphasize academics – your grades and scores will speak for themselves • Focus on who you are --- you are much more than a geek, aren’t you?? Prove it!

14. 13. Style • Less is more • Word limit is irrelevant, unless they specifically say otherwise • Keep sentences short and straightforward • Remember, your grades and scores already prove your intelligence – you don’t have to prove it again • When in doubt, cut it out

15. Conclusion • Have fun! • Remember, this isn’t a chore – it is an opportunity to tell them why they should let you in • Essays make a huge difference on the margins – please take them very seriously • I’d wish you good luck, but we all know you won’t need it!