The Worst Question

"What do the admissions people want?"

That is such a common, innocent-looking question. I hear it all the time from prospective clients, clients, and my audience when I give presentations.

However, behind that seemingly logical question frequently lurks a more sinister one: What is the magic-bullet essay that will earn me admission to the school of my choice?

You may wonder why I consider the question dangerous. Why do I cringe when I hear it? Because the questioners are either trying to avoid the necessary introspection and reflection that will contribute to a truly great application essay, or they do not want to reveal the unique and interesting aspects of their characters and experiences — their personal side.

Ironically, those who dwell on this question, usually and foolishly succeed in removing themselves from their essays in vain attempts to realize mythical expectations. Attempting to be Dr. Kildare, Bill Gates, or Johnny Cochran, they suck the personality out of their essays and ignore the unique experiences and insights that would make an admissions person say, "I would like to meet this person," or "This applicant would make a great addition to our incoming class."

So now that you can imagine me gritting my teeth and swallowing hard when I hear the words "What do they really want," you may wonder how I actually respond to the question. Pretty much along the following lines:

There is no guaranteed formula, pat answer, or magic bullet that will get you in.
Admissions officers want the following in your essays:
They want to know what is important to you and distinctive about you.
They want a well-written essay.
They want you to answer the question, if you are responding to a specific question.
Now that you know what they want, you can visit http://www.accepted.com to find out how to write it.

By: Linda Abraham

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Linda Abraham, Accepted.com's founder and president, has helped thousands of applicants develop successful admissions strategies and craft distinctive essays. In addition to advising clients and managing Accepted.com, she has written and lectured extensively on admissions. The Wall St. Journal, The New York Times, and BusinessWeek are among the publications that have sought Linda's expertise.