College prep made easy

Before entering college, you may feel that your life is becoming hectic with making the preparations that are necessary for becoming a college student. The need to write stellar essays and the worry of wondering who to ask for letters of recommendation can put a lot of pressure on, especially if you don’t have a plan for success. Hopefully these tips can start to guide you in the right direction so, on top of everything else, the application process doesn’t have to be as stressful as it seems.

The Essay

Essays are a crucial component to college admissions and can determine whether or not you’re accepted into the college of your dreams. They reveal your personality as well as your deepest thoughts

“Writing an essay is like painting a picture with words,” says Durango High School counselor Rebecca Wooldridge

For college admission essays, it’s important to take your time writing; it’s not an assignment that’s meant to be completed at the last minute

By contributing a significant amount of time and effort, you’re demonstrating your work ethic as well as showing that the topic was something you were motivated to write about

“The best way to write an essay is to read the question a few times and give yourself a few days to think about how you would like to present yourself to the world,” Wooldridge adds

Writing about a random topic can be a struggle if you’re not organized. If you provide your essay with a structure, however, your thoughts and ideas will be understood more clearly, seeming more uniform and concise

Add humor if the topic allows for it, but make sure you know your limits

“Use humor at the right moments, but sparingly; this allows the reader to become engaged,” Wooldridge says

Making your essay too “funny”can confuse the admissions officer reading it and might take away attention from the focus of the essay

Writing with a personality that is too serious, however, can make your essay sound dull and too complex to understand

Finding the right balance between the two will help with the tone of your essay

The tone is a strong focal point as well. If discussing your accomplishments, for example, you don’t want the reader to get the impression that you think too highly of yourself

Adding a sense of who you are, as well as your personality and character traits, allows your reader to make a deeper connection with the topic you’re writing about

College prep made easy “Writing truthfully is the best approach towards writing an essay,” Wooldridge explains. “Speak from the heart and omit words such as ‘like,’ ‘as if’ and any other sentence fillers.” Grammar, punctuation and capitalization also play a major role in determining whether your paper is easy or difficult to comprehend. After all, most of your college career relies on your writing skills

“You should use a thesaurus to help you convey different words. Instead of saying that it was a ‘beautiful day,’ try saying that ‘it was a day that could paint a smile on your face,’” Wooldridge says

Letters of Recommendation

As for recommendations, it’s crucial that you choose someone with the authority to speak about your accomplishments -- a teacher, administrator, faculty member, boss or community member you’ve worked with

You must be polite and conscientious of this person’s time when you ask

For example, don’t ask teachers during lunch, in the hallway or during one of their classes. Instead, meet with them at a time when you’re both available to sit down and talk. Don’t ask at the last minute! “The best way to get a letter of recommendation is to fill out a student recommendation information sheet,” Wooldridge says

The individual should know you well enough to provide some background about yourself, as well as positive information about your work and work ethics. He or she should be someone who already has a high opinion of you and who has the ability to write a good letter and get it back to you by your deadline

“Just because you, the student, likes the teacher, doesn’t mean that you should choose them to write your college recommendation letter; make sure to have a good relationship with them, and this isn’t just a wave hello,” Wooldridge says

Letters of recommendation should be asked for in advance (at least three to four weeks before the end of the semester)

You should also prepare a folder with your background information and make an appointment to meet with the individual to discuss your accomplishments, goals, awards, grades, internships and other experiences you’ve been through. Remember, though, don’t make the mistake of bragging about yourself too much! College admission should not be a hassle. Just be sure to make plans and decisions in advance. With preparation you will not be forced into making last-minute decisions that could mean the difference between getting accepted at the college of your choice and not getting in at all.

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