College Essay/Personal Statement

Typed Rough Draft (Peer Edit) - 25 Points – Due 10/12/15

Rough Draft – 75 Points – Due 10/16/15

Final Draft - 100 Points – Due 10/22/15

Requirements for All Drafts:

  • 500 words, typed
  • MLA Heading, double spaced
  • Please type outthe prompt to which you are responding—

not just “UC #2”— singlespaced at the top of your paper, under your MLA

heading.

  • Follow MLA guidelines for the rest of the paper: 1” margins, Times New Roman 12 point font, double-spaced. REMINDER: go into the line spacing option under the Paragraph tab in Word and make sure you click the box that says, “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style.” This will prevent an additional half-space from appearing between paragraphs.
  • Your essay should have a title centered above the first paragraph, typed in title case (capitalize the first letter of important words, but not articles or prepositions). No bold, italics, or underline. Do not add extra space between the heading and title.
  • *Final draft will be submitted to Turnitin.com

Prompt #1 Describe the world you come from-for example, your family, community or

school – and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Prompt #2 Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment,contribution, or

experience that is important to you. What about this quality or

accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you

are?

Prompt #3 Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity

that they believe theirapplication would be incomplete without it. If this

sounds like you, then please share your story.

Prompt #4 Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect

you, and what lessonsdid you learn?

Prompt #5 Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you

to act? Would youmake the same decision again?

Prompt #6 Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do

you do or experiencethere, and why is it meaningful to you?

Prompt #7 Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your

transition fromchildhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or

family.

Prompt #8 Alternate prompt from college of choice.

Example:

Steve Miller

Mrs. Watenmaker

12CP

29September 2014

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution, or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?

Life in the Key of Me

I have not always been a street musician. It is something that developed in an unusual way, through the influence of a bearded, sunglass-wearing saxophonist named Blind Willie.