sample college admission essays

How to Effectively Support Your Essay Thesis with the Help of Sample College Admission Essays

Writing is an inevitable part of life.  Writing usually becomes persuasive, convincing others that you have a valid, logical point of view on a particular subject.  Like in college, students are often asked to present an academic argument, or a persuasive case done in writing, with the objective of convincing your reader of your viewpoint.  After a short introduction of your topic, you state your points of view, also known as the “thesis statement,” which is usually in a single sentence.  It serves as the road map of the argument you’ll be making till the end of your paper.

How strong is your thesis statement?

When you are aked to write about something requiring your analysis, interpretation, demonstration of cause and effect, or merely to take a position on an issue, you are being asked for an essay thesis statement. The very first thing you should do is gather all evidence related to your topic, then start formulating a working thesis, based on the relevance and interrelationships of the evidence you gathered. Then, analyze how strong your thesis is, since you’re also the one who is going to argue for it later on in your paper.

Evaluating your thesis

Review your first set of drafts and answer the question as to whether you have taken a position that your reader might be antagonistic about, or whether you simply stated facts or gathered other people’s opinions, putting you in a safe place of no arguments.  Sometimes, you unconsciously forget to make an argument; you just merely provide a summary.

Supporting your thesis

Check if all your arguments are relevant to the thesis statement, because even if you plenty of arguments but they are not relevant to your thesis statement, they don’t make sense at all.  They are just a waste of time, not only for you, but for the reader as well.  Make sure you incorporate adequate strong evidence at all times, also providing sufficient main ideas to fully support the statement.  One tip to really make your essay thesis heavily supported is to be specific in explaining each main topic or argument. You can add on some specific examples and accurate explanations to effectively support your essay thesis.  Also, identify what needs further clarifications and support, so you can revise and bring more impact to them.

If you feel that your main thesis has vague points and lacks backbone, then, support it with stronger and more relevant pieces of evidence.  You can do this by gathering some more relevant information about your thesis. Furthermore, before you wrap up on your essay thesis, put yourself in your readers’ shoes.  Ask, “If I were the one reading this, would I be convinced?  or at least raise relevant questions about the topics?”  Also, check if there is coherence between your thesis statement and your arguments.

Finally, check for overall unity.  Do all pertinent information relate to the thesis statement?  Make sure you presented an argument not mere facts.  If not, then that calls for you to change your working thesis, based on the evidence and pieces of information you’ve previously gathered.  Remember, a good writer always reevaluates and revises his or her writing as necessary.

Photo Credit : Jacob Botter

Using Sample College Admission Essays as Guides when Applying to Schools with Topnotch Environmental Programs

If you want to pursue a career related to the environment, you may want to check out the profiles of the following schools.  These institutions of higher learning have topnotch environmental programs.

Yale University

Yale University, with its Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, has for over 20 years, built the most credible reputation in producing brilliant conservation and environmental leaders.  They offer students with Yale Business & Environment Program, a topnotch environmental education under a three-year joint degree program, combining MBA and Environmental Master’s Degree.  Training is geared towards environmental sciences and conservation, teamed up with management development.  Yale University has also partnered with Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to select candidates with potential managerial capabilities of environmental and conservation organizations worldwide.  Through Yale University’s FES’ various programs, the candidates will be trained to emerge as effective managers posing  changes in the most critical eco-systems in the world.

There’s also the Industrial Environmental Management (IEM) Program, established in 1990, combining academic training and a comprehensive approach to intertwining environment with technology.  The program aims to train students in handling intricate, multifaceted environmental problems in the world.  Furthermore, there’s the Environmental Engineering Program which started in 1998, the most comprehensive program wherein undergraduates may choose from four degree programs: Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering Science, Environmental Chemical and Biological Science, and Environmental Resource Management.

Washington State University

Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington.  Though situated in the middle of vast wheat fields, the university has a lot to offer that’s why it is considered one of the best institutions in the nation.  In 2004, Washington State University was again recognized as one of the best national universities by the U.S. News and World Report.

There are many academic programs available at WSU, but one of its best education programs include Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences which offers a wide selection of specializations.  In environmental engineering, they offer general environmental engineering, air quality engineering, and hazardous waste engineering, for both undergraduate and graduate levels.  Washington State University also offers academic programs on Environmental Soil Science, which emphasizes on the basic principles of soils in relation to the quality of the environment, as well as tackling their role in agricultural and natural ecosystems.

University of Alberta, Augustana Program

Due to the rapid changing of our environment, many universities like the University of Alberta, in Camrose, Alberta,  see the need to educate students about environmental issues, such as the deterioration of our natural environment, climate change, natural resource depletion, and many others.  Thus, the University of Alberta, in Camrose, Alberta is now offering a wide selection of environmental programs.  These include the B.Sc. degree in Environmental Science and the B.A. degree in Environmental Studies at the Augustana Faculty. These are highly interdisciplinary courses which provide graduates adequate knowledge to deal with various environmental issues. The objective of their programs is to educate students about the earth’s natural processes, teach them techniques to critically analyze environmental issues, and to eventually, formulate solutions for implementation.

The experience of an Augustana outdoor education provides a rural perspective to the programs.  And their programs conform to the competency profile for universities and schools, as provided by the Environmental Careers Organization and by the Canadian Council of University Environmental Science Program Heads.

Photo Credit : JOE M500

How Sample College Admission Essays Can Help You Discuss Relevant Health-related Experiences in Your Essay

If you are a student planning to take up a medical degree in the future, it is very important that you gather as many health-related and research experiences as possible to guarantee your medical school admission.  Make sure you capitalize on them when you write your essay for the admissions committee.  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, emphasizing your health-related experiences, which definitely will help guarantee your school admission.

Highlighting experiences

Highlight your “hands-on” or practical experience on handling real patient-care situations, either in school or in your community. Focus your writing on your previous experiences on the various health fields such as having direct patient contact, working in a hospital or doctor’s office as a receptionist, or working in summer camps for diabetics.  Tell them how these experiences allowed you to observe the nature of work of various professionals that make up a health system, which includes the doctors, nurses, support staff and patients.

Clinical, research, and community service experiences, which you may have had, are also very important to highlight especially if they involve direct patient contact.  You should aim to list down as many health-related experiences you’ve had as possible, so that you will be a very much potential candidate for admission, as well as be very knowledgeable in preparation for your admission interviews.

You may also include your practical experiences in hospital work such as hot-line or personal counseling, EMT, and lifesaving CPR, which are highly valued by the admissions committee.  If you emphasize these, you increase your chances of being accepted to medical school.  Since your experiences will indicate your interests in the field of medicine, be unique in laying-out your health-related experiences.  You may also highlight a volunteer organization you have joined, such as the volunteer services in hospitals and health-related agencies, where you have participated in.  If  you have experienced paid jobs for positions such as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA), Phlebotomist, EMT, and many others, include them as well for they will be an integral part of your evaluation.

Other factors vital for admission

Students should be aware that high grades alone are no guarantee of admission. In recent years, admissions committees have been going beyond reviewing undergraduates’ grades and standardized test scores such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and PCAT. Now, they also review an applicant’s character, knowledge of health care, and the depth of commitment to pursuing medicine.  Dwell on these factors and you are guaranteed admission.

Most medical school committees also scrutinize for a trace of “leadership” or “organizational ability” in the applicants, looking for any record of health-related participations.  So, always remember that the school admission committee will put great value on your record of service.  Therefore, make sure you highlight this as well on your essay,not to mention that you have a broad understanding of the human conditions.  Again, if you really are decided on pursuing a career in the field of medicine, make sure you qualify for the school admissions committee’s criteria.  You should have theneeded level of maturity, participated actively in community service, have experience in healthcare-related fields, be aware of healthcare issues, show human compassion and sensitivity, possess medical ethics and the trait of a logical problem solver.  Make sure you clearly write them down on your essay.  With these, you are surely on your way to becoming a doctor.

Photo Credit : andymiah

Samford University

Samford University is a private, Baptist-affiliated university established in 1841 and located in Homewood, Alabama. Samford is home to eight schools and colleges and offers a wide range of majors and courses to undergraduate students. The university offers bachelor’s degrees in arts and sciences, business administration, education nursing, and music education. Samford also offers graduate and professional degrees for those who plan to receive further academic training on a specialized field. For those interested in applying, the complete list of majors and degrees offered in Samford University can be found at the school’s official website, www.samford.edu, with the application requirements and procedures detailed at the website’s admissions page.

University of San Diego

The University of San Diego was established in 1949 as a private, Roman Catholic university, and is located two miles north of downtown San Diego in California. The university is composed of six schools and colleges that cater to different disciplines: arts and sciences, law, nursing and health science, business administration, leadership studies and education sciences, and peace studies. Aside from undergraduate programs and degrees, the University of San Diego also offers master’s programs, PhD programs, a Juris Doctor degree, and graduate law degrees. The school’s list of notable alumni include Verizon Wireless President and CEO, Lowell McAdam, and Betsy Myers, Chief Operating Officer of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. For information on application procedures and requirements, visit the school’s official website at www.sandiego.edu and the school’s admissions page.

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University was established in 1851 as a private, Jesuit-affiliated Catholic university in Santa Clara, California. Santa Clara University is the oldest Catholic university in the American West, and is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university offers bachelor’s degrees in arts, science and engineering, and commerce. Aside from undergraduate programs and degrees, the school also offers graduate studies in the fields of law, business, engineering, education, counseling psychology, and pastoral ministries. Notable alumni of the Santa Clara University include author Khaled Hosseini and Google’s Chief Financial Officer, George Reyes. Interested applicants can visit the school’s official website at www.scu.edu and get information on application procedures from the website’s admissions page.

Alabama State University

Alabama State University or ASU is a historically black university established in 1867 in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. ASU is composed of seven colleges or divisions for different disciplines: arts and sciences, business administration, health sciences, education, visual and performing arts, school of graduate studies, and division of aerospace studies. Aside from undergraduate programs, ASU also offers master’s degree programs and PhD programs in physical therapy, microbiology, and educational leadership, policy, and law. The university’s diverse student body is composed of young individuals from over 40 states and six countries. For information on how to apply to ASU, visit the school’s official website at www.alasu.edu and the school’s admissions page.

Purdue University

Purdue University was established in 1869, and serves as the flagship university of the six schools and campuses within the Purdue University System. Purdue is one of the largest university systems in the US, and is best known for the highly competitive engineering curriculum and excellent aviation and aerospace programs offered at the Purdue University College of Enginering and School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Purdue’s West Lafayette campus offers more than 200 majors in the fields of agriculture, health sciences, liberal arts, management, education, nursing, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and consumer and family sciences. For detailed information on the course and program offerings at Purdue, visit the school’s website at www.purdue.edu, with application information on the site’s admissions page.

Cornell University

Cornell University is a private, Ivy League higher learning institution established in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is home to seven graduate divisions and seven undergraduate schools and colleges, which specialize in agriculture and life sciences, architecture, art and planning, engineering, arts and sciences, hotel administration, labor and industrial relations, and human ecology. Cornell offers around 80 major fields for undergraduate study, as well as dual degree programs and interdisciplinary majors. Detailed information on course and major offerings can be found at www.cornell.edu. Admissions is highly selective and competitive, so applicants should make sure they meet all the application requirements listed at the school website’s admissions page.

Adelphi University

Adelphi University is a private and nationally accredited school established in 1896 in Garden City, Nassau County, New York. Adelphi University is composed of eight schools and colleges that cater to different disciplines: arts and sciences, advanced psychological studies, business, education, nursing, social work, adult academic programs, and honors programs. The university also offers joint degrees and graduate studies in the fields of dentistry, engineering, law, optometry, physical therapy, and environmental studies. More information on course and programs offerings can be found at Adelphi University’s official website, www.adelphi.edu, with the application requirements and procedures listed at the site’s admissions page.

Adrian College

Adrian College is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college established in 1859 in the city of Adrian in Michigan. The school offers over 40 majors in the fields of accounting and business, environmental studies, sociology, social work and criminal justice, music, history, and earth and life sciences. Adrian College also offers pre-professional programs to prepare students for careers in architecture, engineering, physical therapy, law, health science, etc. Adrian’s alumni roster include US Congressman Mike Rogers, and distinguished businessmen, executives, attorneys, physicians, and educators. For those interested in applying to Adrian College, visit the school’s official website at www.adrian.edu where you’ll find details on application procedures and requirements on the site’s admissions page.

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as AAMU or Alabama A&M University, is a public, historically black university located in Madison County, Alabama. The school offers a wide variety of undergraduate programs including forestry, social work, art education, clinical psychology, urban and regional planning, communicative sciences and disorders, engineering technologies, counseling psychology, somputer science, food science, and civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. AAMU is also proud to be one of the very few historically black colleges and universities that have a baccalaureate degree program in telecommunications. For more detailed information on course and program offerings at AAMU, visit the school’s website at www.aamu.edu and get the lowdown on application procedures at the site’s admissions page.

Seattle University

Established by the Jesuits in 1891 as the School of the Immaculate Conception, Seattle University is located in downtown Seattle and is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Then named Seattle College, in 1931, the university was the very first in the country to admit female students. Seattle University is composed of eight colleges and schools for different disciplines: arts and sciences, business and economics, education, law, nursing, science and engineering, theology and ministry, and humanities for teaching. Aside from undergraduate programs and degrees, Seattle University also offers 24 graduate programs. For more information on the course and programs offerings, visit www.seattleu.edu and the school’s admissions page.

Stephens College

Stephens College is a private liberal arts women’s college established in 1833 and located in Columbia, Missouri. Stephens College is known for being the second oldest women’s college, and also for their programs in theatre, dance, fashion design, and fine arts. The college offers majors in various fields such as accounting, entrepreneurship and business management, equestrian instruction and training, legal studies, physical therapy, human development (psychology and education), and filmmaking. Students can also take minors in women’s studies, history, and other fields. The complete listing of majors and courses offered can be found at www.stephens.edu, with application procedures and requirements listed at the site’s admissions page.

Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University or ACU was established in 1906, and currently operates as a private university in Abilene, Texas. The university’s mission is to educate and train its students to become Christian leaders and servants in areas throughout the world. Abilene University offers a wide range of undergraduate majors such as advertising and public relations, criminal justice-sociology, natural resource management, international studies, occupational therapy, information technology, nursing, nutrition, and engineering physics. Interested applicants may check out the list of course and program offerings at the school’s official website, www.acu.edu, as well as the application requirements and procedures at the site’s admissions page.

Oxford College

Oxford College is a private residential college established in 1836, and is one of the divisions of Emory University in Oxford, Georgia. The college specializes in liberal arts courses and programs and has a diverse student body consisting of men and women of different ethnic and economic backgrounds. Aside from liberal arts courses, Oxford College also offers majors in business, nursing, life sciences, and even dual degrees in engineering. Oxford also offers pre-professional programs to prepare students for their post-graduate degrees and careers in law, medicine, business administration, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. For information on the programs and courses offered, as well as the application requirements, visit Oxford’s official website and admissions page.

Hofstra University

Hofstra University is a private, non-sectarian academic institution established in 1935 in the village of Hempstead on Long Island, New York. The school first started as a college of New York University, but later on became the independent Hofstra College and then changed its name to Hofstra University in 1963. Hofstra University offers over 140 undergraduate programs in the fields of business, communication, liberal arts and sciences, education, honors studies, and health and human services. The school also has pre-professional programs like premedical or prehealth professional studies, prelaw, and a certificate program in Natural Sciences. You can get more information on the school’s programs and admissions process at Hofstra’s official website and their admissions page.

Humphreys College

Founded in 1896 by John R. Humphreys, Sr., Humphreys College is an independent college with campuses in Stockton and Modesto that offers a wide range of certificates and associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees in the fields of human services, business, law, and liberal arts. Humphreys College also has a graduate studies division where students can opt to pursue higher learning in law, business, and management. For those interested in applying to Humphreys College, you can check out the school’s complete listing of courses and programs offered, as well as their applications process and requirements, at the school’s official website, www.humphreys.edu and their admissions page.

Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College, also known as LVC and The Valley, is a private university established in 1866 in Annville, Lebanon County. The Valley offers a wide range of baccalaureate programs and courses in more than 35 fields of study, as well as graduate degrees and doctorate programs. From Digital Communication to Forestry to Religion and Philosophy, LVC has a long list of course and program offerings that students can choose from. To know what these specific courses and programs are, as well as get information on the school’s applications process, simply go to the www.lvc.edu and the school’s admissions page.

The University of Miami

Also called Miami of Florida, UM, or The U, the University of Miami is a private university founded in 1925 in Coral Gables, Florida. The school offers a wide variety of courses and programs in different fields and disciplines such as business administration, communication, engineering, nursing and health studies, arts and sciences, and architecture. The University of Miami also has a diverse student body which they claim is representative not only of all the 50 states of the US, but also of over 100 countries all over the world. For those interested in applying to the University of Miami, detailed information on their course and program offerings can be found at their official website, www.miami.edu, with information on application procedures and requirements listed at their admissions page.

Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University or RWU is a private, non-sectarian, and coeducational university located in Bristol, Rhode Island. RWU was established in 1956 and named after the cofounder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams. The university specializes in liberal arts, although it does have course offerings in other fields and disciplines such as architecture, engineering, life sciences, graphic design communication, and legal studies. RWU currently offers 36 liberal arts majors and they also have professional schools where students can pursue graduate studies. To see the complete list of major and minor courses offered at RWU, simply go to www.rwu.edu. You can also find information on application requirements and procedures at the school’s admissions page.

Some people work best when left all by their lonesome, while some absorb and understand information better with the help of others. If you fall under the latter category, you have probably already considered joining study groups for some of your classes. Study groups are effective and helpful in that they provide you with insights and perspectives that you may not be able to pick up and realize on your own. Getting your classmates’ opinions and take on certain topics can add depth to your own understanding of the subjects taught in class.

But just as study group sessions can help you in your studies, they may also be just a waste of your precious studying time if left undirected and aimless. To avoid this, here are some tips to help you get the most out of study group sessions:

Do your own studying prior to the study group session

Study group sessions are venues for students to share knowledge, information, and their own understanding of lessons and topics. This means that even before going to the study group session, you should already have gone through your notes and done your own information-processing. The most annoying study group members are the freeloaders who feed off other people’s learnings without bothering to share their own. Not only are you not contributing to the group, you are also not helping yourself because you’re merely echoing your classmates’ thoughts and not developing your own ideas on the topics.

Have your group follow specific objectives for each study group session

Because study groups usually consist of friends, or students who have a lot of things in common, it’s all too easy to steer off-topic during discussions. Without realizing it, your group may be going from discussions on the Pythagorean theorem to controversial love triangles in Hollywood history. To avoid veering off-topic, one member should be assigned as the “party pooper” in that he or she will remind the group when the discussion is going on a path no longer related to the topic.

Photo Credit : ericskiff