As college admissions offices turn to “Turnitin,” an anti-plagiarism service, make sure that you are writing your own college essay and not borrowing anyone else’s words.
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During a recent visit to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Mark took a few moments to explain that many universities in the United States are divided administratively into separate colleges that focus on a particular academic area.
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The Boettcher Scholarship selection process is a difficult and competitive one but also an incredibly rewarding experience. Take the time to understand what the Boettcher Foundation is looking for during the selection process.
Continue readingSnowboarder From Holderness School Gets Great College Advice
Alex needed help with his college applications and essays, as well as finding the schools that fit him best. He turned to Mark Montgomery for help.
Continue readingEssay Tip #3-Use your own words!
You never know which admission office might be checking to see if you actually wrote your own essay!
Continue readingEssays That Worked–Examples of Successful College Applications
Sometimes looking at examples of successful college essays can help you get the creative juices flowing.
Continue readingBest College Admission Video Essays–A Positive Trend?
More and more colleges allow students to submit YouTube videos as a part of the admissions process. While some are pretty creative, is this move to video a positive trend? Have a look at the videos themselves here, and weigh in with your opinion.
Continue readingHow To Write A College Essay
The presentation of this video is meant to make you giggle. But the advice it contains is pretty darned good.
If you need help with your college essay, you might want to work with a professional…to help you avoid becoming a “forest-enabling loser.”
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant and College Essay Editor
How Not To Write A College Essay
College Admissions Essays: Wacky Prompts
High school seniors are now in the final stretch of cranking out their college admissions essays. Pity them.
In an effort to keep students entertained during the admissions process, some colleges ask students to respond to some pretty wacky prompts.
Why? Well, the cynic in me wants to say that these essays are a way to separate those who are really interested in a particular college, and those who are not. Those applicants who spend the time and energy to address these prompts are perceived by the admissions office to have at least “run the gauntlet,” and are therefore more worthy of admission.
Admissions offices that require these crazy essays swear that they glean something interesting about the writer that helps them to determine whether the student is really someone they want to grace their campus. Maybe so.
Either way you look at it, my job is to help students brainstorm ways in which to respond to these kooky prompts. Sometimes the process is fun–hysterical, even. Sometimes, it’s like pulling teeth.
So, readers, how would you respond to the following prompts? I’d love to read your comments!
1. How do you feel about Wednesday? (University of Chicago, 2002)
2. What outrages you? (Wake Forest, 2009)
3. Write a haiku, limerick, or short poem that best represents you. (New York University, 2009)
4. In the year 2050, a movie is being made of your life. Please tell us the name of your movie and briefly summarize the story line. (New York University, 2009)
5. What is college for? (Hampshire College, 2009)
6. Are we alone? (Tufts, 2009)
7. Make a bold prediction about something in the year 2020 that no one else has made a bold prediction about. (University of Virginia, 1999)
8. Write a short story using one of the following titles: a.) House of Cards, b.) The Poor Sport, c.) Drama at the Prom, d.) Election Night, 2044, e.) The Getaway. (Tufts, 2009)
9. How did you get caught? (Or not caught, as the case may be.) (Chicago, 2009)
10. You have just completed your 300-page autobiography. Please submit Page 217. (University of Pennsylvania, 2009)
Thanks to Allen Grove for bringing this list–originally published at CNN.com–to my attention. I’ve worked with students writing nearly all of these this year. Whee!
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant