sample college admission essays

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.

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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.

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Among the horror stories you’ll hear about college, the ones about the dormmate from hell are by far the most popular. From unhygienic habits to sneakily stealing your stuff, annoying dormmates have a special way of creeping into your hearts and making it turn black with angst. Most students who get stuck with such dormmates do not think twice about transferring residence halls, and some even transfer schools!

But before you get scared into sharing a room with a dormmate, you should also know that there ARE people out there who make good dormmates. As long you establish and maintain a good relationship with your roommate, dorm life may even be a rewarding and good learning experience for you. To ensure that you make the most out of college dorm life, below are some tips that should be real easy to follow:

Establish spatial boundaries and respect them

One easy way to avoid petty fights with dormmates is by respecting their personal space, both spatial and emotional. Clearly, your dormmate’s bed is not the place for you to put heaps of your stuff. And obviously, your dormmate will be mad if you “borrow” their laptop for two days without asking permission. Establishing spatial boundaries may be a bit too awkward for some, but this can be an effective way to keep your stuff organized and to prevent your dormmate’s stuff from getting mixed with yours. That way, you both know that each of you are responsible for your own things and no one is in charge of keeping the whole room spick and span.

Be sensitive to their quirks and irks

By quirks and irks, we mean the things that they’re into and the things that make them tick. If your dormmate’s a vegetarian or hard-core vegan, have the decency to not joke about his or her beliefs and leave bloody pieces of meat on the desk or sofa. The same goes for religious and political beliefs. If you want your dormmate to respect the fact that you actually like spending Friday and Saturday nights studying undisturbed in the room, you should also learn to respect whatever eccentricities and traits they have.

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While some college graduates immediately enter the rat race to secure employment, some are left thinking of ways to pay off the loans they incurred during their time in college. For some, landing a high-paying job is the best way to pay for college student loans. But for others, a high salary still may not be enough to pay off their loans AND maintain the lifestyle needed in the professional world. The good news is that college grads have tons of options to pay off student loans. Below are just some of them.

Loan consolidation for lower interest rates

Paying off separate loans means also paying for the interests of each specific loan. Instead of letting these annoying interests add unwanted layers to your loans, you can consider consolidating all these loans so you end up with just one big loan. It may seem overwhelming once you learn the total of all your loans, but at least you’ll rid yourself of the extra payments you make for the interests. This is not to say that you won’t be paying interest on your “mother” loan, but it may be cheaper than all your loans’ interests put together. The difference may be just a few dollars or so, but a buck is still a buck, and the bottomline is you’ll have a lesser amount to pay off.

Money from the military

So you’re quite the adventure seeker, eh? If that’s the case, then you probably wouldn’t mind doing military service to pay off your college student loan. You can consider joining the Army Reserve or the National Guard after you graduate so you can get up to $10,000. And if you really want to up the ante on your thrill-seeking quests, you can even request to be assigned in hostile or conflict areas, which will allow you to get even more money to pay off your college loan. Just make sure you survive and LIVE to actually pay off the loans.

Loan forgiveness options

Unfortunately, this is one type of forgiveness that requires more than just being sorry. The government is willing to grant you loan forgiveness if you engage in social work and volunteer for non-profit organizations. Your options under loan forgiveness include signing up for the following: VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Americorps, and Peace Corps.

Photo Credit : Joshua Davis