Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Important Essay Tips...Do Yourself a Favor
Take your time but beware over-editing.
Spend plenty of time writing and fine-tuning your essays. Ask for feedback from people you trust before submitting your essays. But be careful. Don't allow helpful editors to edit you out of your own essay.
Although you want to write with care, you should not spend weeks or months rewriting essays. There is little to gain after the third draft.
Express yourself:
Appeal to the senses when you write: show us what is beautiful, sad, impressive, scary, confusing, frustrating or comforting. Don't just tell us that it was so. To make your story resonate employ detail, description and precision rather than pretension and melodrama. Don't simply tell us what you think or what you feel in abstract terms. Describe it. Make it real.
Size matters:
Although the University's BeALonghorn essay information suggests an essay should be no longer than one page (single-spaced) we find that essays shorter than one full page are skimpy by Plan II Honors' standards. It's quite rare to see top-notch essay written with fewer than 250 words. That doesn't mean that longer is better or that we will reward you for "filler." Write to the point! In most cases, the most successful Plan II application essays are in the 500-600 word range.
More Essay Tips on the Plan II web site
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Accessing the Honors Application
Keep in mind that the required on-line Honors Application will not be available until 24 to 48 hours AFTER the applicant has submitted ApplyTexas and that application has uploaded into the system.
The Honors Application is an electronic application that's separate from ApplyTexas. AFTER ApplyTexas has loaded, the applicant can access the on-line honors application.
Once ApplyTexas has up-loaded, the applicant will receive an email (and hard-copy letter, eventually) saying "thanks for applying to UT." That email tells you that ApplyTexas has loaded and the honors application is accessible. The on-line honors application is found at the link in the email or through BeALonghorn Honors pages.
One more reason to complete the application as early as possible! After November 1, it will take longer than 24 hours for your application to upload into the system (perhaps two or three days), and therefore it will take longer for you to have access to the honors application to complete your Plan II application requirements.
Please be sure to refer to the application instructions and admission information on the Plan II website. These two web pages clarify these points and many other important details. A smart applicant will read all the information under the Admission heading on the main menu of the Plan II web site.
The Honors Application is an electronic application that's separate from ApplyTexas. AFTER ApplyTexas has loaded, the applicant can access the on-line honors application.
Once ApplyTexas has up-loaded, the applicant will receive an email (and hard-copy letter, eventually) saying "thanks for applying to UT." That email tells you that ApplyTexas has loaded and the honors application is accessible. The on-line honors application is found at the link in the email or through BeALonghorn Honors pages.
One more reason to complete the application as early as possible! After November 1, it will take longer than 24 hours for your application to upload into the system (perhaps two or three days), and therefore it will take longer for you to have access to the honors application to complete your Plan II application requirements.
Please be sure to refer to the application instructions and admission information on the Plan II website. These two web pages clarify these points and many other important details. A smart applicant will read all the information under the Admission heading on the main menu of the Plan II web site.
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