College admissions essay prompts are notoriously vague and difficult to write. As a writer and a college professor, students often ask me, “What does my response to an obscure quote tell the admissions committee about my abilities?” My answer: Not much! Admissions essays are a necessary evil utilized by colleges to narrow applicants in terms of a few main criteria. Unfortunately, the specific criteria are often a closely guarded secret that varies by institution. Ensuring your essay meets three main guidelines though will exponentially improve your odds for success admission:
You’ve probably heard of the standard format for term papers: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Students are generally taught to tell their readers what to expect, give them that information, and then restate it for the not-so-exciting end. While it’s ideal to complete an outline prior to jumping into the writing stage, most college students start writing the beginning line of their papers and finish as soon as the last sentence is complete. This can make for a pile of ideas with an anticlimactic finish. What happens if you start from the end?
Distance education is becoming an increasingly popular way for students to complete their college degrees. Classes can be completed anywhere and anytime. Many students underestimate the amount of time and focus that successfully completing a distance education course can require. Instructors for these courses comment on a number of mistakes they see students repeat semester after semester. Consider these three secrets to success to avoid online education pitfalls and earn an A:
By this point in the semester, students have developed and solidified a series of study habits. For distance learners, these habits center on where, when, and how the work is completed. The standardization of classroom settings, uncomfortable chairs, and specific hours is no longer a requirement for online students. This flexibility opens up a range of possibilities but it can also lead to the development of bad habits. As the semester closes, this term’s grades are in the books. It’s the perfect time, however, to consider your approach to learning as an online student. Tis the season to change those bad habits! Here are the three top troublesome habits for distance learners.
The selection of the right place to learn is one of the biggest decisions of your life. Make a list of your accomplishments and what you’d like to include in an admissions essay. Work with one of the skilled writers at Power Papers to create a letter that makes a strong case for the asset you’d be to the learning institution of your choice. Our writers can help highlight your accomplishments while still responding to those sometimes vague and even odd admissions essay prompts. We recognize the importance of this task and have been entrusted by countless other students to support their writing process.
It’s near the end of the semester and many students are in the ultimate cram mode. Books out, desks lined with energy drinks, and a seemingly never-ending list of assignments to complete. Without the accountability of attending class, distance-learning courses can be particularly difficult to complete successfully. Many students find themselves in the precarious position between losing credits entirely or finishing with a dismal grade. It’s difficult to become motivated with those outcomes but there are other options.
With the holidays, comes the exam seasons. Students everywhere are cracking their textbooks in preparation for their exams. Finals vary from course to course and professor to professor. Students are often most familiar with multiple choice format exams. The answer is right before your very eyes and it’s simply up to you to select the correct response. Essay exams are entirely different. The very mention of an essay or even short answer final can send chills down the spines of students. On these exams, the answers are NO WHERE to be seen on the exam. Question prompts can be brief, vague, and even confusing. Consider these five strategies to ensure you succeed on your essay exams this finals season:
A growing number of college course require some or all their work to be completed online. Discussion posts are a common requirement for hybrid and online courses. Students are sometimes frustrated that prompts for discussion posts can be vague and they may be uncertain how they should respond to peers. With three basic steps, it is easy to write discussion posts that stand out from the rest.
You’ve probably heard of the 5-second rule for a piece of food that hits the ground. The suspicion contends that food won’t be fully contaminated by bacteria if it’s retrieved from the ground quickly. Writing is very much like that unfortunately dropped food. If its message isn’t clear within 5 seconds, the entire piece is more likely to be left on the ground or worse-thrown out! The opening, or abstract, of writing should make its point and capture the attention of readers within the first few seconds after it's read.