• Presentation: "Applying to College: How to Write a Personal Statement"

• "Essays That Worked" from Johns Hopkins University

• "Common Application Personal Statement" from Tufts University

• "Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay" from the CollegeBoard

A class magazine of your personal statements! Here are some of previous G12 magazines: 2017; 2018. Here are the project details that will get us to our magazine.

Now that we've contemplated our personal identities, let's listen to part of a podcast episode on Getting In: A College Coach Conversation. The episode is "Common App Essay; Tuition Payment Plans; Strengths Coaching" from July 30, 2020. (Listen from 19:30-36:50.)

Afterward, discuss:

1. What ideas and tips stand out to you?

2. How do they relate to what you already know about personal statements?

3. What makes you excited about writing a personal statement?

Presentation & notes: "Applying to College: How to Write a Personal Statement"

Read the article "Personal statement: 10 most overused opening sentences" by Andrew Marszal. Don't forget to check out the personal statement insider's guide - there is link to the guide in the article.

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• What stands out?

• What do you find surprising?

• If you have already written a personal statement, did you fall into any of the mentioned pitfalls?

  • What will you do to avoid them this time around?

Take a look at the Common App essay prompts and jot down some ideas for the prompts that speak to you.

See the requirements and rubric for your personal statement here.  As you continue on your writing quest, consult the examples from the "essays that worked" to see how yours compares.

It's time to publish our work! Can we design an even better class magazine??? Get the specifics here.

"In this Princeton University graduation address, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we're endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime."

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As you watch the TED Talk, ask yourself the following:

1. What is his message/argument?

2. How does he support the message/argument?

3. How does he relate his message/argument to his audience?

4. To what extent do you agree with his message? Why?

5. How does his speech related to our unit of writing a personal statement?