50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

The powerful tools in this invaluable resource equip students with the skills to write successful entrance essays for top-notch universities. The strengths and weaknesses of 50 application compositions from Ivy League schools, as well as Caltech, Duke, MIT, Stanford, and University of Chicago, are analyzed in detail, highlighting techniques to emulate and mistakes to avoid. College admission officers from some of these schools provide informative strategies and inside information on their writing assessment criteria. A comprehensive writing workshop provides tips toward selecting topics, developing stories, editing drafts, and applying finishing touches. Acknowledging that the written portion of the process is one of the most important factors for admission into highly selective schools, this helpful guidebook offers sage advice and inspiration to keep applicants on the right track.

"Includes advice from college admissions officers and the 25 essay mistakes that guarantee failure."

The powerful tools in this invaluable resource equip students with the skills to write successful entrance essays for top-notch universities. The strengths and weaknesses of 50 application compositions from Ivy League schools, as well as Caltech, Duke, MIT, Stanford, and University of Chicago, are analyzed in detail, highlighting techniques to emulate and mistakes to avoid. College admission officers from some of these schools provide informative strategies and inside information on their writing assessment criteria. A comprehensive writing workshop provides tips toward selecting topics, developing stories, editing drafts, and applying finishing touches. Acknowledging that the written portion of the process is one of the most important factors for admission into highly selective schools, this helpful guidebook offers sage advice and inspiration to keep applicants on the right track.

"Contains 50 essays with analysis from successful Ivy League applicants, tips on how to select the best topic, what Ivy League admission officers want to see in your essay, 25 mistakes that guarantee failure and tips from Ivy League students on how to write a successful essay"--

The largest collection of successful college application essays available in one volume. These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Colby, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country. This helpful guide includes: 100 complete essays with professional commentary Examples of essays on common topics (family background, athletics, work experience), as well as the more offbeat Essays on the immigrant experience by foreign-born students A section of drawing and cartoon essays Insider advice from a Princeton dean of admissions A “What Not to Do” chapter from a top college counselor And more Compiled by members from The Harvard Independent, the weekly newsmagazine of Harvard University, this is an invaluable resource for students who want to write the best possible essay—and improve their chances of admission to the best possible school.

A former admissions officer at Dartmouth College reveals how the world's most highly selective schools really make their decisions.

This helpful collection of successful samples completed by Harvard students, compiled by the student-run newspaper, "The Harvard Crimson, " analyses each essay to point out effective and diverse ways to write an essay and the common pitfalls to avoid.