Your Application Readers
Picture an independent school admission officer in the middle of February in New England. Tired eyes, a cup of tea, and snow coming down outside at an alarming rate. Beside them are stacks of applications to review and countless essays to be read. Yes, those determined admission folks love getting to know about the passions of prospective students through the all-important and revealing essay. So how can you awake them from their essay-reading routine, force them to sit up in their seat, and take pause with your determination to be authentic and take a risk in your approach?
Application Writing Tips
Whether you’re applying to an independent school or working on your college application, beginning your essay can be intimidating. New Hampton School’s English faculty teamed up with the Admission Office to offer you a few simple essay writing tips to make your words come alive and stand out.
- Be specific.Try to show your experience with a concrete example or two. Often times, a single event will be more memorable than a series of stories, so try to use one detailed example to show a lesson learned rather than telling your audience about what you learned.
- Be yourself. The essay is the Admission Office’s chance to see what makes you, you. The Admission Office will read hundreds of essays. Allow your unique voice to stand out, rather than trying to be someone you are not. Let your preferences, thoughts, and character show through your writing.
- Be immediate. Rather than giving a long introduction, try starting in the middle of a conversation, a story, a memory––something that engages your reader right away. If you jump right into your story, you are more likely to interest your reader.
Reading applications is always fun for the Admission Office. There is still so much to learn about each applicant, even after spending a morning with them and sitting down for an in-depth interview. As you get ready to complete your application, think about writing an essay that you would like to read.
Come Visit!
We will continue to welcome visitors into the winter months. Should you have specific questions about the application, or New Hampton School, don’t hesitate to contact the Admission Office.
If you’d like to visit campus, New Hampton School will also host an informal Winter Open House. This event is for prospective families to return for another look and for new families who have yet to visit campus.
