free college admission essays

For those who went through college, we all know how difficult it was adjusting to the new surroundings and way of life.  Didn’t we all groped around for a guide to help us through it all?  Well, that’s what That College Kid tries to be.  The blog gives advice and information about college life.  In the blog, you can find study guides, tools, and information about what you may experience in your college life.

What this site offers

What’s interesting about the blog is that it has a decent coverage of the common issues that students encounter in college.  You can find useful information on student loans, scholarships, study materials, and living in dorms.  For incoming freshmen, and even for upperclassmen, there should be information on That College Kid that they can find very useful.

As for the site design, it’s easy on the eyes.  Site navigation is easy, and the archives are organized.  Also, you have the basic RSS subscription if you want to follow the blogs.  One thing though is that it could use some work on adding some social networking sites.

Other suggestions for improvement

As for the format of the blog, it could use multi-media to spice things up.  Though the content itself is interesting, some people do need some visuals to get interested in the material.  And as time goes on, reading plain text can be boring.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.  So putting some nice images or videos won’t hurt.

The content could also use some specifics.  It can be more narrowed down to a specific course or college.  In line with that, it could also use more bloggers from different universities and colleges to have their say.  Though the general information found on the site is useful, specific information can be more appreciated by some people.

The name of Study Hacks can be called a misnomer, but in a good sense.  When people think of hacking, what enters their minds is that of some form of cheat or workaround.  That is not what Study Hacks is all about.  What the blog provides are good, old, basic pieces of advice in keeping you organized and focused in your college studies.  And that’s what’s great about the content of the blog—the advice given are so simple to follow that you wonder why you haven’t thought of them yourself.  And the most important thing is, the advice given on the site works for most people.

What’s good about this blog

The tone of the blog can be quite serious.  Not the boring kind of serious, but one that gets straight to the point and gives out the essentials.  And that’s one way of showing what the blog is about, being effective and productive with time and effort.

The site is well-organized as expected.  Navigation is made easier by the side links which are categorized by what you may need to learn.  There’s a section to get started and additional links to proceed.  One of the entries that make a lot of sense is the one about becoming exceptionally good.  Basically, you just have to keep working to become great at what you do so that your skills and talents just can’t be ignored.  It’s basic advice, and it makes a lot of sense.

There’s not much tweaks that can be suggested for the blog because it gets its message across effectively.  It also has a healthy community of people commenting on the posts, so exposure among readers is no issue.  Aside from comments, people can also email Cal Newport (the owner of the blog) directly for any advice or stories to share in the blog.  Overall, the setup of the blog is very good.

Hack College aims to bring more of the web into the educational system, as what they claim in their About section.  And they have been doing a good job at it.  Aside from that, the blog also provides very useful and practical advice on getting on with college life.  The topics vary, and most of the posts do make good use of technology, particularly the Internet and the free online options and resources that it provides for students.

What to like about Hack College

One thing that’s noticeable about Hack College is the tone of its posts.  It can be called the voice of the current generation.  If you want your posts to have some attitude and some sarcastic humor, then Hack College is for you.  And they do add valuable information that any college student could use.  For example, the post about getting your textbooks for free was very informative and most probably, not a lot of students know about those options.  As they also say, there’s a need to work smarter, and not harder.

The blog’s features and network is also impressive.  The blog has a UK version, where it deals with college issues that the Brits deal with.  Also, the blog has its own podcast that is entertaining and informative as well.  As for its network, there are links for guest bloggers to share content.  So everyone is free to make a contribution aside from the comments.

What can be improved

Some comments on navigation need improvement.  You’d need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to check out the navigation links for the blog.  Another thing to note is that the topics are archived by date only.  It would be nice to have the posts sorted out by topic for the reader to head on to what interests him or her the most.  But all considered, Hack College is a fun and educational read.

This blog is as what its name suggests; it is a blog about clothing style and fashion at the college scene.  Of course, the blog is targeted towards female college students.  Men don’t generally care about fashion, and if some do, they would be the exception rather than the rule.  Back to College Fashion, the blog was born because there was no blog before that addresses college fashion specifically.  And that is what College Fashion has done.

What to like about College Fashion

There are several things to like about College Fashion.  The fashion tips on this blog are wide and varied.  You can find several fashion advice for different seasons and there are information about different get-ups and attires.  Aside from those, you can also find posts about the latest, and somewhat controversial, fashion trends.  One post that’s very attention-grabbing is the one where you’re asked whether or not you’re willing to wear a visible bra, or having your bra showing from your outfit.

The growing blog community is also noteworthy.  Now you can find different blog writers from various colleges and universities in the US.  This gives out a more localized view of college fashion and you also get a real feel for the current fashion trends in different colleges.

Suggestions for improvement

There really isn’t much to suggest to College Fashion.  One thing that could be a nice addition is to have a fashion expert as a guest blogger and share some tips and advice.  It would also be nice if they can have a make-over feature, where they’ll give a fahion-challenged student and transform her to a fashion diva.  In line with that, a fashion advice column would also be interesting to see.

All in all, College Fashion is doing a good job at what it does—giving good fashion tips and information to college students.

Despite the rising cost of tuition, there are financial aids you can turn to, even when you belong to a minority group.  You can easily find scholarship grants for African-Americans, Latinos, Filipino-Americans, or just any other ethnic group.  Even women can apply for some minority scholarships, especially in male-dominated course programs or career fields.

Available scholarships for minority students

Even top universities support cultural diversity, and offer minority scholarships.  Options for college aid, however, are not only limited to group-specific scholarships.  You can broaden your search and include scholarship grants intended for minorities in general, or go for federal aids.  This will help tide you over with your college spendings–from school fees to board and lodging.

You should also inquire about sponsorships from professional organizations and community groups.  Don’t limit your search to these sponsors, however.  Some local community stores can offer support through financial aids that range from a few hundred dollars to more.  Practically, you should consider every option available to you.

There are need-based programs for all types of students, whether or not they belong to a minority.  Students with good academic records are also more likely to qualify for most kinds of scholarships.

Common requirements for application

There are different application packages for each scholarship program.  But usually, applicants are required to submit proofs of academic achievement, letter of recommendation, and scholarship application essay.  For need-based programs, you may be asked to submit proofs of income.  You may also need take and pass a qualifying exam and meet the GPA requirement.  Application for scholarships may also include a one-on-one with the selecton panel for cross-examination.

Tips when applying for aids and grants

Before you scour the Net for scholarship programs, you may want to stop by the guidance counselor’s office first.  You can get referrals from here as well as recommendations.  After listing down every option you can find, the next step is to inquire about the application requirements.  Take note of special instructions.  A lot of applicants are taken off the list simply because they failed to follow special directions for the application process.  Begin your search months before your high school graduation.  Submit your application as soon as possible to increase your chances of getting the scholarship grant.

When writing your scholarship application essay, research about the sponsor and not just about the requirements.  The organization’s mission or vision statements can be your best guide.  Know what the selection panel is looking for, so you can tailor your essay to meet the specific requirements of your sponsor.  Free college admission essays are also there to help you through effective writing tips.

It’s important to allot several weeks or even months when writing your college admission essay.  After all, this could be your ticket to your dream college or university.  As you gather ideas for your essay, try to read free college admission essays to have an idea on what the admissions panel is usually looking for in a personal statement.

Expository essay writing 101

When thinking of tackling a challenging admission essay question, it’s best to think of the essay as an expository essay.  An expository essay is basically an essay that does either of the following: describe a process, explain an event, or even analyze ideas or other written works.  You usually use expository essay writing techniques when you are asked to answer an essay question.  Colleges and universities use different essay questions for their admission essays; some schools actually don’t have specific questions — they just let the student choose a topic for their personal statement.  Nevertheless, learning the basics of expository essay writing is very important when preparing your college admission essay.

Using expository essay writing techniques in your essay

Some of the basic expository essay writing techniques you have to keep in mind when creating the first draft of your admissions essay is that you have to have a thesis or topic.  When choosing a topic for your admission essay, you can think of an experience or an event that made you choose a school over others.  You can also think of someone who has inspired you to choose a specific course as a topic for your essay.  It can also be a favorite hobby, music genre, or even movie.  Whatever topic you choose, make sure you’re able to convince the readers that you do deserve a slot at your dream school.

After coming up with a topic for the admission essay, you now have to come up with supporting statements.  These supporting statements should be able to help you persuade your readers about your goal — to get into your dream school.  When writing the draft for your essay, it’s unavoidable to make mistakes.  After all, a well-written essay is a result of a work that has been revised over and over again.  If you think one of your supporting statements doesn’t really contribute to the overall coherence of your essay, then don’t hesitate to rewrite or revise.

How to come up with a strong intro and conclusion for an expository admission essay

Another tip worth keeping in mind is that you have to have a strong introduction and conclusion for your admission essay.  In writing an expository essay, an introductory paragraph that catches the readers’ attention is very important.  As for the conclusion, make sure that you don’t leave your readers hanging.

While writer’s block often keeps writers from starting on a writing assignment, others have a hard time finishing their assignments with a strong conclusion.  The conclusion is one of the most important sections of the essay and, without it, your essay would probably be lacking that one element that ties everything together.  It can be difficult to write a good conclusion though.  If you are struggling with writing your conclusion and finishing up your essay, you may want to check out some of these helpful tips.

Benefits of having a good conclusion

Before getting into how to write a good conclusion, it’s important to understand why you would want a strong conclusion.  Here are some of the biggest benefits of having a good conclusion
-  You can leave a lasting impression on your reader.
-  You can resolve any topics that were left hanging earlier in the essay.
-  You can make a strong point that takes a stand for your cause.
-  Your conclusion will present any new information that you have found through your research, analysis, and writing.

Tips in writing a strong conclusion

A good conclusion should be a culmination of everything that you have written in your essay.  It should be a summary of the main points that you have made in your essay, tying together the topics and issues you discussed.   One of the best ways to do this is to go back to your introduction and write a conclusion that answers any questions or unresolved issues expressed in your introduction.  You may want to write a main concluding sentence that resolves, reiterates, or proves your thesis statement.  The point is basically to reiterate why you have written your essay by writing a conclusion that states your findings, your thoughts, and your perspective on the topics you tackled.  You want your conclusion to be compelling, to the point that it makes a strong impact on the reader.  It’s important not to simply restate the points you made in the body of your essay, but instead to use the other topics as a springboard to make a valid and clear conclusion.  Your main aim is to round your essay out, polish the fine points, and give a final message to the reader that will stick in the reader’s head.

How sample essays can help you come up with a good conclusion

If you are still having a hard time understanding what makes a good conclusion and how to write a strong conclusion for your piece, you may want to take a look at some sample essays.  Sample essays can give you an idea of what the conclusion is all about, how the conclusion is used to wrap up the essay, and why the conclusion is such an important part of the essay.  Make sure that you don’t just read the conclusion, but you should read the entire sample essay to get a clear notion of how the conclusion is connected to the introduction and body of the essay as well.  Read multiple samples of different types of essays so you can see how the conclusion can be tailored to various types of essays, topics, and audience.

One of the marks of a great essay is that it should be able to capture the attention of its readers and hold their attention to the very last punctuation mark.  To do so, you will need to begin your essay with an introduction that interests your reader from the get-go.  It may sound easy, but capturing the reader’s attention from the very start of your essay can prove to be quite tricky.  Keep reading if you want to find out how you can write a catchy introduction that will have your reader excited to continue reading your piece.

Why a catchy intro is important

The introduction of your essay is most likely the very first part of your essay that the reader is going to read apart from your title.  If you bore the reader from your first sentence alone, that wouldn’t bode well for the rest of your essay.  Though you can surely make up by writing a strong body and conclusion, it would be best to have a strong body, conclusion, and introduction as well.  Basically, you want to draw the reader into your essay and get the reader interested about what he or she will be reading about.  An interesting introduction is one that informs the reader, whets his or her reading appetite, and gives the reader a reason to look forward to reading the rest of your essay.  An unsuccessful introduction may change the reader’s perception and mood toward your essay from the first sentence alone.  This is why it’s important to have a catchy intro.

How to come up with a catchy intro for your essay

The first step to coming up with a catchy intro for your essay is to make an outline of what you will be writing about.  This doesn’t have to be a full outline, but it should at least cover the main ideas and main topics of the essay.  Next, come up with a good thesis statement that acts as an anchor for the rest of your essay.  The thesis statement should be clear, concise, informative, and it should tell the reader what the purpose of the essay is.  Another tip for writing a catchy intro is to have a good opening line.  Some of the writing techniques used for opening lines include using an anecdote, quote, fact, strong opinion, or controversy.  Aside from your opening line and thesis statement, the rest of your introduction should contain background information on the topic or problem you will be tackling in the essay and the overall purpose of the essay.

Using sample essays as guides when writing your essay intro

Instead of jumping right into writing your own introduction, you may want to go over some sample essays to get an idea of what a good introduction is.  When looking at samples, pay attention to the structure, arrangement, content, and writing style used in the introduction.  Then, analyze how the introduction relates to the rest of the essay including the conclusion.  You may even want to look up some of the most famous or historic essays to see what makes them so good.  After analyzing these samples, take a shot at writing your own interesting and compelling introduction and essay.

Using Free College Admission Essays as Guides: Coming up with a Winning Essay Focusing on Relevant Travel Experiences

If you are a student planning to write an essay or a personal statement for your college admission, one good topic could be about your travel experiences and how they have affected your life.  It is very important that you are able to do it creatively and effectively to guarantee your college admission.  Make sure you capitalize on the positive aspects of how such travels made a positive impact in your life.  Of course, as an applicant, you’d want to be the best candidate in the eyes of the admissions committee.  So, here are some tips on how to write your essay, with emphasis on your travel experiences, to guarantee your place in the college of your dreams.

A quick guide in writing your own essay

Basically, put all your thoughts about your travel experiences into writing.  Try to recollect all the events in each adventure, and highlight how such experiences have affected your life.  Simply state some facts or share information about each exprience.

Steps in writing an essay

Before starting to write on the topic you’ve decided on, which is about your travel experiences, contemplate on how you are going to introduce this topic.  Focus on your main topic and then base it on all the information about your experiences.  You may need to provide some supporting information, which should be relevant to each travel adventure.  This will consitute the body of your essay, so you have to make the content as informative and exciting as possible.  It is also important that, as a writer, you make sure you write clear and simple sentences for your reader to understand clearly.  They key here is for your essay to stay focused; to do this, never ever stray away from your main idea.  Support it by providing subpoints from your subheads.  The best way to do it is by preparing an outline or skeleton for all your ideas, so as to come up with a creative essay.  But how does one really create an effective essay?  It goes beyond choosing a topic.

Things to remember when writing your essay

Again, start writing by dividing your essay into three parts.  You have the attention-getting introduction, the interesting and highly engaging body, and the effective conclusion.  Describe your experiences during the time you spent traveling and how each has made a significant effect on you.  Furthermore, always bear in mind, as a student vying for a slot in a school, what the members of the admissions committee would be looking for, so you’ll know which approach you will use for coming up with an effective essay.

The key to come up with an effective and creative essay is you should catch the reader’s attention right away.  Start with the title, which should be interesting and attention-grabbing.  Then provide an interesting lead, so your readers will not stop reading before they find out how good your article is.  And lead them on some more to the point they look forward to how you are going to end your essay.  Add your final touches on the essay, and that’s when you give them your final and striking exit, leaving them with a message and an impact.  Doing all these will surely help you secure a place in the college or university that you are considering.

Photo Credit : robertnelson

Using Free College Admission Essays as Guides When Writing an Essay Focusing on Family Problems That Have Affected You the Most

If you are a student pursuing college admission and you are asked to write an essay but just can’t seem to think of a topic, well, try writing about “Family Problems That Have Affected You the Most,” and you will surely make an impact among the members of the school admissions committees who will be reading your article.

It is very important that you first establish in your essay how these family problems affected you and ultimately caused a positive impact on your life.  Make sure you capitalize on this and make it so noticeable enough for the admissions committee to grant you admission.  Here are some tips on how to do it, with emphasis on your family situations or challenges.

Highlighting experiences

Focus your writing on each family problem you have experienced in the past and emphasize how you were able to overcome such difficulties at a young age.  Also write elaborately on the lessons you have learned from each problem, since these are two things that every school or university’s admissions committee are looking for in their applicants.  Therefore, make this your essay statement and make it so persuasive, convincing the admission committee members that you truly are a remarkable person worthy of being admitted to their school.  Also, make a short introductory paragraph of your topic, wherein you state your points of view, then support it with your real-life family experiences that will make up the body of your essay.  This part has to be so informative and descriptive so as to add depth and specificity to your essay.

Examine your essay body

Check if all your narrations are relevant to the main topic, because even if you abound in stories about your family problem experiences, but they are not significantly relevant ,then your essay’s body doesn’t make sense at all.  You will just be wasting the reader’s time if you mistakenly do so.  Make sure you provide sufficient main ideas to fully support your statement.  One tip to really make your essay thesis heavily supported is to be specific in explaining each main topic.  You can add some specific examples of what transpired and offer accurate explanations to effectively support your original statement.  Also, identify what needs further clarification and supporting points, so you can revise and bring more impact to them.

Evaluate your essay

Review your first few draft and answer the question as to whether you have convinced your readers that you are deserving of their college admission; or whether you simply narrated a story or stated some facts.  Because sometimes, writers forget to pursue their objective of convincing the readers; the writer just ends up telling a story.  If you feel that your essay has some vague ideas and lacks specifications and that it doesn’t emphasize how you’ve surpassed all the family difficulties, then support it with stronger positions.  Explain how you were not overwhelmed by such problems, and how you saw them as challenges that you needed to battle.  But before wrapping up, put yourself in the shoes of your reader, and ask if what you’re reading is convincing you to believe what you are reading.  And last, end with a big bang — how you laid out all the options for solving such problems and how you grew and developed positively into a person with healthier self-image and self-esteem.

Photo Credit : ralphunden