R U ready to polish or start that college essay?

Hey Seniors!

 

Many of you are working on your college applications – Good 4 U!  There is a natural tendency to stop when you see those essay prompts.  Have no fear; College Coach is here to nudge you closer!  The pink Senior Information Sheet provided an Essay Starter exercise.  If you haven’t turned that into your counselor take another look at the brainstorming exercises and actually try them out.  It will help – I promise!

Several years ago, a student let me read his essay for input.  Every word was 12-15 letters long.  The essay didn’t make sense.  Turns out he changed up every one of his words with words from the Thesaurus.  When he rewrote using his own words and told his own story, the essay was just wonderful!  (It’s OK to use the Thesaurus a bit.)

Many English teachers are working on Essay Writing right now in your senior classes.  If both of your English classes are next semester or if you need a little encouragement to proceed with that essay….

Check out the upcoming (hands-on) Essay Writing Workshops!

            Essay Writing Workshops

Tuesday, September 20^th – 2:45-3:30PM – Library

Thursday, October 6^th – 2:45-3:30PM – Room 313

Thursday, October 20^th – 2:45-3:30PM – Room 313

Above all... Be yourself, write your own essay, use your own voice and don’t be afraid to have a little fun with it!  You do not have to write about something earth shattering or life altering; sometimes the most simple topics make the best essays. 

Good luck!

T.T.Y.L.

GW College Coach

            

How's UR stress level?!?!?

Hey Seniors!!!

Next year at this time you will be in college!  Which brings me to Mia, from the first blog.  After an epic goodbye week filled with packing up, organizing stuff, and unrelenting sobbing from her family, Mia moved in to her dorm room at UW-Madison.  The first week was filled with getting used to her roommate, dorm meetings, dorm dinners, a concert, and her first Badgers home football game.  Mia reports that the student fan section was WILD as they counted Bucky the Badger’s push-ups for every point Wisconsin scored (51!).

You now have lots of information from your counselors about the college application process.  How’s your stress level?!  Take control of your time and organize your life.  Here’s a few tips to get your started...

Ø  Make a TO-DO LIST every day

• Put most important things first and do them first. Reward yourself for accomplishments.

Ø  Use Spare Minutes Wisely

• Read or compose ideas for essays or papers while in line, etc.

Ø  It’s OK to say No

• If a friend asks you to hang out and you have a test the next day.

Ø  Find the Right Time

• You’ll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work.

Ø  Become a Taskmaster

• Give yourself a time budget¾figure out how much free time you have each week before you add any commitments.

Ø  Don’t Waste Time Agonizing

• Instead, just do it.  Wasting an entire evening worrying about something that you’re supposed to do can increase stress!

For more time-management tips, go to collegeboard.org. 

T.T.Y.L.,

GW College Coach

P.S.  Tell your friends to “like” the Glenbard West Guidance - College Coach fan page on Facebook!