Should I Complete Optional College Essays

Should I Complete Optional College Essays? Many battle-worn applicants, weary from the slog of completing a dozen or so applications, encounter optional essays and requests for other non-compulsory application components such as a resume, interview, or writing sample(s) and simply wave the white flag. On one level, this response is understandable. You’ve spent years grinding out strong grades in honors and AP courses and retaking the SAT or ACT to hit your target score. You poured your heart into the Common App essay and then refined the heck out of it to squeeze under the 650-word limit. Why can’t these colleges just be satisfied with all of this and leave you the heck alone!?Again, we get it. Yet, unfortunately, electing not to complete these non-mandatory tasks can severely hinder your prospects for admission—especially at highly-selective colleges and universities where the line between acceptance and rejection is razor thin. To put it in terms of obscure 1990s pop-culture references, not completing o ptional portions of the application can sink your chances at getting into an elite school faster than the infamous  Ninja Rap  sunk Vanilla Ice’s rapping career.The optional â€Å"Why this college?† essay When colleges offer optional essays, one prompt usually involves explaining why you are applying to their school. Some students mistakenly think this is unimportant and skip the task entirely. Others hatch what they believe to be a plan for the perfect crime—write a generic enough â€Å"why this college?† statement that it can be recycled for every school to which they apply. Trust us, admissions officers can spot attempts at application Mad Libs in their sleep.â€Å"It has always been a dream of mine to attend _______ University/College. The level of academic rigor at your institution is unparalleled and I would be proud to call myself a  mascot name  here  for life.†Going this route, you might as well just fill in the blanks with †Å"snot† and â€Å"butt† like you did in 5th grade. It might at least elicit a smile from an admissions officer.Reference specific academic programs at each prospective school, talk about a tour you took around campus, mention a restaurant where you dined, a student you spoke to about life on campus, etc. Check out the school’s webpage, social media, and any recent news stories about exciting developments around campus. Anything you can do to demonstrate knowledge of each prospective school and genuine interest will help your admissions cause.Other types of optional essays â€Å"The why this college?† prompt is just one of a multitude of optional essay variations inhabiting the oft-overlooked bowels (another good 5th grade Mad Libs word) of the college application.As an alternative, Duke offers students a chance to address the following:Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that t he diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If youd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences youve 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.If you are gay/bi-sexual, have a non-Caucasian ethnic background, or grew up on a hippie commune, you’ll likely be able to address this question in a compelling manner without too much consternation. Yet if you resemble one of the first 43 Presidents of the United States (white, male, and financially comfortable), you’ll have to get a bit more creative. Unless, of course, you look like  Martin Van Buren, in which case you’ll need all 250 words just to explain those mangy sideburns.The University Of Pittsburgh offers a f ull-blown smorgasbord of optional essay topics, nine in total, from describing an influential person in your life to sharing a talent that was otherwise not noted on your application. There is literally a topic for every conceivable applicant and while not explicitly stated, it is fully expected that students will avail themselves of the opportunity.Do I need to submit a resume?Some schools allow the submission of a resume, others—mostly larger state schools receiving up to 100,000 applications, do not. If your prospective colleges do not outright prohibit the submission of a resume, then we recommend submitting one. For some, the information contained in the resume may seem redundant. After all, you already included all of your honors, awards, work and volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities within the application itself.On the other hand, the format in which this material is presented within the application is often less-than-perfect. Due to strict character li mits it is very difficult to convey certain key elements of your bonafides. For example, the Common App makes it very challenging to demonstrate one’s rising responsibility in a position, say the debate team, over a four-year high school career. You may have room to state that you were the captain in your senior year, but not have room to lay out how you gradually climbed the ranks beginning in freshman year. Additionally, for certain off-the-beaten-path activities, it can be very challenging to fully convey why the credential is impressive. For example, the political commentary magazine you started with your faculty sponsor gained traction online and one particular story ended up being reposted by The Washington Post; another received a handwritten letter from a congresswomen stating that she would share the opinions expressed with her colleagues. Good luck trying to capture that entire story in a measly 150 characters or less on the Common App.Can I skip an optional intervi ew?We only recommend this if you have a miserable personality and zero interpersonal skills. Just kidding†¦sort of. Whether with a member of the admissions committee or an alumni interviewer, this one-on-one conversation is a chance to show the college of your dreams that you are a flesh-and-blood human being with innumerable intangible qualities. Making this intimate connection can go a long way, especially if your chances of admission are teetering right in between the accept and reject piles.For tips on how to best shine in front of an admission rep, check out our piece entitled Acing the College Interview. To view a list of interview policies at 360+ of the top schools in the United States visit our Dataverse page.Should I include writing samples Ideally, your Common App and/or school-specific application essays will sufficiently convey your aptitude as a writer and communicator. However, if you have an artifact of which you are particularly proud that you feel showcases yo ur talents as a creative writer or budding researcher, then it may be worth including as part of your application. The caveat here is that not every school is seeking more material from their applicants. Some schools have strict policies against including unsolicited supplementary materials; others welcome them. Check your prospective institutions policies in this area prior to submitting but as a general rule of thumb, small liberal arts colleges are far more likely than large state universities to a) accept a writing sample; and b) actually consider it in their admissions decision.Those using the Coalition Application will actually be encouraged to submit organic writing samples as part of your â€Å"digital locker.† There are presently 139 schools, including many of most prestigious colleges in the country, who accept the Coalition Application.College Transitions’ final thoughtsFor serious applicants, completing optional components of your applications are about as optional as brushing your teeth. The ramifications of not doing the latter are demonstrated quite aptly by another former commander-in-chief,  Woodrow Wilson. Likewise, leaving optional fields blank on college applications, especially at competitive institutions, will undoubtedly decay your prospects of winning the admissions game.As T.S. Eliot once said:â€Å"Kickin’ it up, hour after hour,  Cause in this life there’s only one winner,  You better aim straight so you can hit the center.†Actually that was Vanilla Ice accompanied by four mutant amphibians, but you get the point.

How to Write a Research Paper

<h1>How to Write a Research Paper</h1><p>Since such a large number of individuals might want to compose their own examination papers, it is imperative to see how to compose an exploration paper. The principal thing that must be considered is simply the subject of the paper. Since each theme is unique, this must be picked cautiously, alongside the sort of creator you need to show up in the paper.</p><p></p><p>Once you comprehend what the primary focal point of the paper will be, it will be simpler to arrange for what the key purposes of the paper will be. It will be a great idea to have a general thought of how the focuses in the paper will be founded on what the exploration should show.</p><p></p><p>There are a wide range of sorts of subjects that individuals expound on in their papers. These incorporate research themes, for example, advertising, brain research, history, governmental issues, insights, and significantly more. What makes every one of these various kinds of research papers one of a kind is the center that they have.</p><p></p><p>The composing of research papers takes additional time than different sorts of composing, because of the topic that is being expounded on. Ordinarily, the author should think about that other research papers have just been done on this subject, making it a lot simpler for them to comprehend the point and its relationship to different themes. There is an explanation that these sorts of research papers can be utilized in a test, or other kind of research that will be utilized for a test or assignment.</p><p></p><p>Since such a significant number of understudies and teachers lean toward the composed word, there are numerous assets that can help compose examine papers, in the event that one has smart thoughts on the most proficient method to do it. One can just utilize the web, or access the assets accessible at th e library, for composing an exploration paper. These assets can assist with making the creative cycle much easier.</p><p></p><p>When composing an exploration paper, it is consistently a smart thought to be predictable with how the paper will be introduced. This implies one needs to compose everything from the earliest starting point, and not simply pick a theme that is as of now set up in a manner that would fit into the subject. The examination paper ought to consistently be new and original.</p><p></p><p>Another incredible asset for figuring out how to compose an exploration paper is from the individuals who have just thought of one. This permits an individual to discover more data on their subject of decision and even figure out how to compose an exploration paper from the experts. Since every one of these essayists ought to be viewed as a specialist on their own field, it is anything but difficult to perceive any reason why such a significant number of individuals go to them for help.</p><p></p><p>A great research paper has a wide range of edges. The key is to ensure that the entirety of the data introduced in the paper is material to the current point. With such a significant number of various kinds of research papers to browse, this ought not be too difficult.</p>

Test Prep FAQ Can You Reschedule Your SAT or ACT

Consider Rescheduling Your SAT or ACT Exam Date If Appropriate The most important rule of test prep: Don’t sit for the SAT or ACT if you’re not ready. During the spring semester, students dedicate a significant amount of time preparing for a slew of exams ranging from AP exams and finals to the SAT or ACT and SAT Subject Tests. Many students may have a test prep plan in place already, but plans can change and that’s okay! Rescheduling your test date is an option, but how do you know if you should? Even if you are a junior, with the addition of the July ACT and the August SAT, there are now more chances than ever to improve your score before you apply to college. As long as you are sticking to your overall college prep plan, making necessary adjustments, informing your college counselor and tutor, and keeping track of any deadlines, delaying your test date by a month or two shouldn’t set you back significantly. Here’s how to know if you should consider rescheduling your SAT or ACT exam date. Your Practice Test Scores Are Not Where They Need To Be No matter what exam(s) you are planning to take, consistent studying and practice is key. Especially for SATs, ACTs, and Subject Tests, it is important to get a sense of where you stand numerically before heading into the exam. If you are not hitting your goal scores on your practice exams, it may be a good opportunity to reconsider when you should sit. This is particularly important for the SAT and Subject Tests because you do not have the luxury of omitting your scores once you receive them like you do with the ACT. That being said, planning and good discretion is key. It is more important to hold off on testing for another month or two in order to be fully prepared, rather than sitting before you’re ready just because it was in your original plan or because all your other friends are taking it on that date. Testing is a very individualized process, and what works for one student will not necessarily work for another. You Have A Packed Schedule If students do not budget their time during the school year properly, exams, testing, and regular assignments seem to creep up all at once. Without proper time management and planning skills, students can end up trying to sit for two SAT Subject Tests in May, taking AP exams the weeks before and after those Subject Tests, studying for final exams afterwards, and then sitting for their first ACT in June. On top of that, most students have extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and sports practices to worry about, so time for effective study is limited. We all know how much time and dedication it takes to prep for just one of those exams, so letting them all pile up at the end of the school year will not set students up for success. If you’re finding yourself in this situation, it may be a good idea to evaluate which of these exams you could push back. You should consider which exams allow for retesting, how many times at most you’d feasibly want to sit for the exam, and how many test dates there are before applications are due (if you’re a junior). Our counselors can help students map out their testing timelines throughout each school year in order to make a plan that will best maintain their stamina and ensure optimal preparedness. Will It Affect Your Overall Testing Schedule? Students taking the ACT sometimes have a slight advantage over SAT students in that they have more flexibility when it comes to planning out their Subject Test sittings. SAT testers need to carefully account for, in advance, when they need to take their Subject Tests since students are unable to take both the SAT and any Subject Tests on the same day. That being said, if you are an SAT tester, it is important to be hyperaware of how retaking either exam or pushing one of your tests back can affect your testing plan in the long run. In addition to this, certain Subject Tests are not offered during every administration. For example, if you are studying for the June World History exam and are not hitting your goal scores on practice tests, you should keep in mind that the next test date is not until December. In this case, pushing back this test may not be as beneficial of a solution for you as switching exams all together. As many students know, standardized testing is a marathon. In order to perform your best on test day, you need to have completed the most effective test prep schedule for you and put in your fair share of practice, all the while avoiding burnout. If you feel like you are juggling too many exams and activities all at once, take a deep breath and talk with your counselor about devising a new testing plan. If the best way for a student to succeed is by pushing back their test date, there is no harm in going with Plan B! Click here for information on how to reschedule your SAT test date. Click here for information on how to reschedule your ACT test date. Not sure if you’re on track with your test prep? Download our free tutoring and test prep checklist below to find out what you need to be doing this semester to get ahead! //

What Do You Write on When Discussing The Movie, Watchman

What Do You Write on When Discussing The Movie, 'Watchman'?The essay topics for 'Watchman' are as complex as the story itself. Of course, this is why the book so enthralling. Many people have been discussing the movie and some of the storyline points; the many questions that have been raised and some of the unanswered questions as well. That said, I've found a few article topics to be representative of the many types of essay topics and questions that may come up when writing an essay on the movie.One of the most popular essay topic is to write about the relationship between Watchman and the novel, 'The Silver Linings Playbook.' Each of the two novels follow very different plots. In this case, you could choose to write about what happens in each novel but do not worry if you do not have time to complete both books because the sequel will happen shortly. Or, you could decide to do both or even each.You could also consider what the word 'watchman' means in your specific area of study. Because some people will use the term differently than others, you might want to consider the popular usage of the word and look at how it pertains to your particular subject. If you are particularly curious about this subject, you may want to consider the research required for a topic paper.Other subjects that have been covered in some type of discussion groups include the influences of media and video games on today's youth. Some people have argued that violence and video games are not as bad as other forms of entertainment such as pornography, although others believe that they can have serious consequences on today's youth. This essay could be about how the media and video games impact our world today. Think about whether or not this topic would be newsworthy if it were coming out of the mouth of a high school student.The final question that must be answered when tackling this topic is whether or not 'Watchman' can be viewed in the current day. I think it can, although I'm not su re if the world has changed as drastically as the writer believes it has. Watchman was written before the birth of the iPod, as I understand it. The computers that are being used to read the eBook or movie are likely at least fifteen years old and could not handle a film that was that recent, no matter how good it may be.However, some people believe that Watchman and its sequels are a lot better than they give them credit for. A lot of them disagree with that assessment and believe that Watchman is nothing more than thinly veiled criticism of some of today's culture.There are many other essay topics on which one could write. You could either use Watchman as a catalyst for discussing a particular essay topic or simply as a jumping off point to discuss a number of topics on a wide range of subjects.I hope that this gives you a better idea of some of the many essay topics that will likely come up when writing your essay on the movie, 'Watchman.' While there are many topics to be discus sed, those that you decide to tackle should be something that will help you put your own personal stamp on the topic.