Essays, Resumes, and Letters of Recommendation. Christina Hunter Admission Counselor University of Denver

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1 Essays, Resumes, and Letters f Recmmendatin Christina Hunter Admissin Cunselr University f Denver

2 Different universities have different requirements Check yur cllege applicatins.

3 Types f Cllege Essays Cmmn Applicatin Used at ver 520 clleges and universities Essay f at least 250 (but n mre than 650) wrds 6 tpics t chse frm Cmmn Applicatin supplemental essays Prmpts vary by schl Cllege-specific

4 Sample Essay Size: 250 wrds isn t much! DU s Center fr Cmmunity Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) has received a $315,000 grant frm the Mrgridge Family Fundatin t create a variety f civic engagement pprtunities fr DU students. The Mrgridge Cmmunity Schlars prgram is fr DU students interested in mving frm critical thinking int critical actin. Student participants will fllw a prject structure that includes research; develpment f a prject plan in cllabratin with faculty and ther students; and prject implementatin. The Cmmunity Leader Crps is fr students interested in develping cmmunity-based leadership skills by wrking with ther students and cmmunity partners arund scial justice issues. Students will learn hw t identify lcal scial justice issues, develp public relatinships, wrk with cmmunity partners and accmplish cmmunity wrk with ther students. Mrgridge Cmmunity Schlars will receive a $5,000 schlarship t cmplete their wrk. Cmmunity Leaders will receive a $2,000 annual fellwship and are eligible t receive a $500 annual stipend t implement cmmunity wrk. Fundatin supprt als will be used t develp alternative spring breaks, internatinal immersin prgrams and a Vlunteer Crps fr DU students t wrk in ecnmically stressed areas f the cuntry and the wrld and t develp skills and habits that will allw them t wrk with thers t make a difference in these cmmunities. The Mrgridge Family Fundatin s supprt is imprtant t CCESL because it prvides us with pprtunities t supprt students wh are interested in accmplishing cmmunity-based wrk, says Eric Fretz, directr f CCESL. The gift will allw us t prvide schlarship dllars and

5 The Cllege Essay In the rest f yur applicatin, admissin cunselrs hear abut yu. The essay is ur pprtunity t hear frm yu.

6 Cmpnents f a Quality Essay Keep it simple. Always answer the questin r chse a tpic that interests yu. Write in yur wn vice. Prfread yur wrk! Demnstrate yur writing abilities. Dn t whine r criticize. Tell yur readers smething they dn t already knw abut yu. Tell yur stry!

7 Essay Prmpts 1. Open-ended Opprtunity t describe yurself and tell a persnal stry 2. Recunt an incident r event in yur life Explain hw that event impacted yu 3. Reflect n past experiences Discuss hw thse experiences made yu int wh yu are tday 4. Discuss an issue An pprtunity fr yu t shw yur ability t think utside the bx 5. Explain why yu wuld like t attend ur cllege Research the university have cncrete reasns why yu want t attend

8 General Essay Tips Revise yur cllege essays fr schlarship applicatins. Get started by brainstrming. Yur essay tpics d nt have t be earthshaking. They simply need t be authentic, real, and unique t yur experiences. Start writing yur cllege essays early! Prfread, and then prfread again.

9 Resumes Use Naviance t create yur resume Resume Builder in the abut me sectin What t include in a resume fr cllege? Gal (career gal/ cllege majr) In-schl athletics, clubs and activities (Key Club, Band, Ftball) Out-f-schl athletics and activities (Club sccer, Dance, By Scuts) Wrk experience Vlunteer experience Internships Leadership (captain f sprts team, club fficer, drum majr) Hnrs, awards and recgnitins (black belt, hnr rll, letter) Summer / enrichment prgrams

10 Letters f Recmmendatin 3 Kinds f Letters: 1.Cunselr Recmmendatins 2.Teacher Recmmendatins 3.Other Recmmendatins (cach, emplyer, religius leader, etc.)

11 Tips fr Requesting Letters f Rec Check t see hw many and which type f letters f recmmendatin are required by yur prspective clleges. Only ask fr what yu need. Yu will nt be able t request 5 teacher letters and pick the 3 that yu think are the best. Letters will be sent directly t the clleges. Give at least three weeks ntice when asking fr a letter f recmmendatin. Yur cunselr r teachers may nt be able t write their best recmmendatin fr yu with nly a few days ntice. Waive yur right t view recmmendatin letters n yur applicatin frms. Admissin fficers will trust them mre if yu haven t seen them. Make sure yur references knw the deadlines fr each cllege. Fllw up with yur recmmenders a week r s befre yur deadlines. Once yu ve decided which cllege t attend, write thank-yu ntes. Tell yur references where yu re ging and let them knw hw much yu appreciate their supprt.

12 Cunselr Letters f Rec 1. Make sure cunselr letter f recmmendatin is required Required fr Cmmn App 2. Ask early three weeks in advance! 3. All cunselr recmmendatins are cnfidential sent directly t clleges 4. Prvide yur cunselr with a list f clleges that yu re applying t and their deadlines. Let them knw if yu are applying Early Decisin anywhere 5. Cmplete yur Senir Planning Wrksheet n Naviance in August. 6. Request transcripts be sent t each cllege (details will be prvided in August).

13 Teacher Letters f Rec 1. Ask early three weeks in advance! Sme teachers will nly write a specific number f letters because f the time invlved. 2. Cmplete the NHS Teacher Recmmendatin Frm Helps teachers write better recmmendatins 3. Give teachers at least three weeks t cmplete 4. Sme cllege applicatins will allw yu t enter a teacher s address and an request will be sent t the teacher t submit their recmmendatin electrnically.

14 Other Letters f Rec (Cach, Emplyer, etc.) Make sure the clleges yu are applying t will accept additinal letters f recmmendatin. Give these individuals a resume and ask them t fcus n yur invlvement within their grup, rganizatin r religius cmmunity Prvide deadlines t yur recmmenders. Fllw up abut a week befre yur deadline t make sure yur letter is sent n time.

15 DU Requirements 1 Essay & Cunselr Recmmendatin Optinal: Resume Additinal Letters f Recmmendatin

16 Cntact Inf The University f Denver Undergraduate Admissin 2197 S. University Blvd. Denver, CO admissin@du.edu Christina Hunter Christina.Hunter@du.edu Cnnect with us!

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