HECA ANNUAL CONFERENCEPhiladelphia • June 20-24, 2016http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays

Getting to Know You: The Purpose of Each College Application Essay

Chuck BachmanJessica DeSantisRebecca JosephCyndy McDonald

Your PresentersJessica DeSantisSenior Associate Director of Admissions, Lehigh University

Rebecca Joseph, PhDIEC and College Professor

Cyndy McDonaldIEC

Chuck BachmanSenior Associate Director of Admissions,Lafayette College

The Role of Essays

Getting to know you,Getting to know all about you.

Essays Are One Piece of The Applicant’s Quilt

Test Scores

Grades

Rigor of Coursework

ActivitiesRec Letters

Unique passions and potential

Demonstrated Interest

We Are Not Looking For…

The Common Application

Current CA 2015-2017 Prompts250-650 Words (2015-2016 percentages)

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (49%)

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (17%)

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again. (4%)

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (10%)

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. (22%)

Each College’s Additional Essays Differ

Lafayette College

Lafayette=Common App + 2 Additional Short Essays

2016-2017 Lafayette Member Questions: Additional Information• 1. Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless

reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why Lafayette? (Required, Paste in or type in, 20-200 word range)

• 2. There’s a difference between being busy and being engaged. Lafayette comes alive each day with the energy of students who are deeply engaged in their academic, co-curricular and extracurricular explorations. In response to the prompt below, keep it simple – choose one activity and add depth to our understanding of your involvement. What do you do? Why do you do it? (Optional, Paste in or type in, 20-200 word range)

• 3. If you wish to include a copy of your resume as part of your application, please upload it here. (Optional, Upload)

Lehigh University

Lehigh University: Common App + 2 Writing Supplemental Essays

2015-2016 Lehigh Writing Supplement (NO Member Questions with Essays)1. What do you and Lehigh have in common? Please reply with 250-350 words. (Required, 250-350 word range, Paste in)

2. Answer one of the following prompts. (Required, 150-250 word range, Paste in)• Imagine that you just completed your visit to Lehigh University. What would

you Tweet about us and why?• Describe your favorite ''Bazinga'' moment.• If your name were an acronym, what would it stand for and how would it

reflect your strengths and personality?• In your opinion, what are the five characteristics of a successful person?• You've just reached your one millionth hit on your YouTube video. What is

the video about?

College Perspectives• How we see the role of the

essay in holistic review

• The process must start with personal reflection

• Authenticity is crucial…in the essay as well as the application

• Our specific questions and what we hope to see

• Important points to always keep in mind

Essays=Opportunity

• Share•Reflect• Stand Out

http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays

Before All Essays: Strategic Planning

Before Common App Long Essay: Brainstorming Strategies

Before School Specific Essays

Through: Guided Questions

Through: Revising and Revising

Beyond: Completing The Puzzle

Contact UsJessica DeSantisjessicadesantis@lehigh.edu

Rebecca Joseph, PhDIEC and College Professor

Cyndy McDonaldcyndy@guidedpath.net

Chuck Bachmanbachmanc@lafayette.edu

http://tinyurl.com/heca2016essays