Synopses & Reviews
Today's college admission applications involve writing more than just one essay. The various required paragraphs and statements demand skill and finesse. Writing Successful College Applications offers vital tips and step-by-step expert advice to help students create outstanding essays to succeed in all aspects of their college applications. This new book offers proven strategies to help students craft a successful essay or personal statement, with tips and insights to guide them through the writing process. There are over 50 sample personal statements from successful students plus bonus information on how to write strong activity and academic paragraphs as well as the "Why This School" paragraph-essential pieces of college applications that should not be overlooked. Interviews with Deans of Admission offer valuable information on what colleges are really looking for in an admission essay.
Review
"Muchnick covers everything a student needs to make their application stand out...By sharing a list of dos and don'ts that cover everything, down to which Internet browser is the best when formatting your work, as well as including a section of common questions and answers, Muchnick ensures that virtually any topic you might need assistance with is covered."--Newport Beach Independent
Synopsis
Peterson's Writing Successful College Applications offers outstanding suggestions and detailed expert advice to help students create a college application package that will help them stand out from a crowd of competitive candidates.
'It's more than just the essay.' This guide reviews all the components of a successful college application process in an honest and engaging way.
- This new book offers proven strategies to help students craft a successful essay or personal statement, with tips and insights to guide them through the writing process.
- There are over 50 sample personal statements from successful students plus bonus information on how to write strong activity and academic paragraphs to highlight your leadership and teamwork skills.
- The guide provides advice and writing tips on the all-important Why This School paragraph to emphasize the student's interest.
Interviews with Deans of Admission offer valuable information on what colleges are really looking for in an admission essay. Often, it's not what you think. Be unique and bright - but also have a great story that will make you memorable. If the Dean is still thinking about your personal statement two days later, it achieved its purpose.
Today's multiple college applications involve writing more than just one long essay. The myriad required paragraphs and supplemental statements demand skill, finesse, tenacity, and patience.
Peterson's Writing Successful College Applications reminds the reader that what defines the application are the little details like:
- biographical information
- GPA and transcript
- standardized tests
- strong letters of recommendation
- extracurricular and volunteer activities on a resume
- A writing project or art or music portfolio add to the memorability factor, if the student has talent or writing skills to showcase.
The advice about writing an essay that only this student could write is excellent. Be unique and tell your own story. But remember - 'It's more than just the essay.'
About the Author
Cynthia Clumeck Muchnick is a graduate of Stanford University with bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Art History and a master's in Liberal Studies. She is a former Assistant Director of Admission for the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago. She has read and evaluated over three thousand applications for college admission to competitive colleges. Cindy is also the co-author of The Best College Admission Essays (ARCO/Peterson's, 1997). For the past fifteen years, Cindy has run a private educational consulting/college counseling business. She has conducted numerous essay-writing workshops across the country and personally privately counsels eighth through twelfth grade students as well as transfer students. She works with her students on high school guidance, focusing on course selection, study skills and time management, and also she teaches seminars and leads workshops on how to be successful in high school. She lives with her husband and four children in Newport Beach, CA.