Finding Inspiration for Your College Essay

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Popp & Associates is dedicated to providing expert college admissions guidance to students and their families.
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September 2014

Finding Inspiration for Your
College Essay in the Past

Light bulb with drawing graph inside isolated on white background

This past week, I returned to my alma mater, Tufts University, to celebrate the Jewish New Year. The community at Tufts Hillel is diverse during the high holidays, and our chapel was filled with faculty, staff, alumni, and of course, current students. I have to confess that the main reason why I often return to Tufts Hillel for Rosh Hashanah is because when I was a student, the very first sermon that I heard Rabbi Jeff Summit deliver was very inspirational, and to this day, it still is fresh in my mind. I look forward to returning when I can in hopes of experiencing that same spark of insight all over again.

This year's sermon did not disappoint. In fact, it is especially meaningful to me because it directly connects to the work that is being done at P&A every day with our seniors. During the holiday service, we were encouraged to view the year ahead as a clean slate, as an opportunity to create change. But then a question was raised: Why is there a need to change the future? Nothing has happened in the future yet. There is nothing to fix, redo or even regret. The inspiration to create change for the future does not lie in the future as much as it does in the past. While we cannot change any events in the past, we can change how we interpret them and the meaning we derive from our experiences. By revisiting moments from the past and trying to understand them from a new perspective, we create an opportunity for growth for ourselves. That growth has limitless potential to impact our decisions in the future.

As high school seniors work to polish their personal statements, they are remembering significant events from their pasts, discovering the valuable life lessons they bestowed, and appreciating how those lessons are shaping their lives today. The future goals that students are sharing in their writing are born from their efforts to better understand their pasts. Students are not only developing college application essays, they are also sewing the seeds for change in the college years ahead.

Is Early Decision Right for You?

Earlier this month, we featured a blog post about a very popular topic of conversation with P&A seniors. Check out the article below to learn more about whether Early Decision is a good fit for your college application process.

A frequent topic of conversation that is coming up with many seniors these days is Early Decision and whether this option is a good fit for them. Students should apply to a college Early Decision if it is their first choice and the school is an affordable option for the student's family. If financial aid...�

Fall College Fairs and Events

Fall college fairs have been taking place since early September and will continue into the coming weeks. High school seniors can definitely benefit from attending these fairs as they provide good opportunities to learn more about colleges of interest, especially if visiting a particular school in the near future is not possible. Students and parents can speak directly with admission officers who are happy to share information about their schools.

For tips on how to make the most of a college fair, please contact us. We are happy to help!

NEACAC (New England Association for College Admission Counseling) hosts college fairs throughout New England. Visit this link for the Fall 2014 schedule.

The Education Cooperative will host a college fair on
October 7 at Waltham High School. Many colleges located throughout the US will be in attendance.

NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) hosts the Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) College Fairs in many US cities during the fall. Students interested in undergraduate programs including music, dance, theater, graphic design, visual arts, and other related disciplines should consider attending a PVA. The Boston fair will be held on October 8.

Calling all artists! The Boston National Portfolio Day is hosted by the National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA), which includes representatives from regionally accredited colleges and universities. These institutions are also members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). All Portfolio Day events are free, open to the public and do not require pre-registration. Visit this link for the 2014-2015 schedule. The Boston event will be held on October 19.

All events are free and open to the public.

Please visit P&A News and Events to find more upcoming events in your local area.

Website Pick of the Month

Grammar-Monster.com

College essay writing is keeping all of us busy at P&A these days. We are therefore especially grateful for helpful grammar guides! Grammar-Monster.com addresses the common questions that students of all ages may confront in their writing. Keep this free online resource in mind for college essays, school assignments, and more!

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