Parents Guide to Writing Private High School Application Essays

Your teenager's entrance into private high school cannot be taken for granted. With public schools beset with a variety of problems - discipline, poor test results, safety - private high schools offer your child a quality education in a safe environment.

When you request an information package from a private high school, you will discover that essays and short answer essays are required from both you and your teenager. Your teen, who should be comfortable with answering essay style questions will be asked about his academic strengths and weaknesses, his desire to attend the private school and about his hobbies and extra-curricular activities. Questions directed to parents, however, often have a different focus and are designed with different purposes in mind.

Usually, the essay questions directed to parents are analytical in nature. Instead of asking for facts, these questions ask you to speak about your teens character, to discuss family dynamics and to gauge your role as a supporter of the private school. Private high school admittance directors recognize that teenagers who are brought up in a stable, education focused home, are much more likely to succeed than their peers who have less support at home.

Similarly, private school administrators look at your essay answers to determine whether you can be counted on to support the high school financially or through volunteer work. As you might imagine, administrators cannot legally or ethically ask some of these questions but they can draw inferences based on your answers to application questions.

Analytical Questions

For example, an entrance application question may ask what you believe your child can contribute to the XYZ school. This type of question is really asking you to speak to your child's academic, social, athletic and out-of-school interests. If you have visited the school, reference your visit to show that you have made an effort to learn more about the school. Your answer should address each of your child's areas of interest and strength. Here is a sample answer to this question:

During our recent visit to the XYZ School, Tommy pointed out to me the well equipped science lab and asked a number of questions about the science curriculum available to students at the school. Tommy has a long standing interest in studying science and he has performed well in elementary school and we believe that he will bring that interest and aptitude to his high school studies. His current teachers note that Tommy regularly asks thoughtful and insightful questions in class. In addition to working hard to perform well academically, Tommy will be an willing participant in the school's baseball team and/or its marching band. Tommy keeps a busy schedule during the school year and as a well rounded and serious young man, he will represent the ideals and message of the XYZ School now and in the future.

Family Stability and Religious Questions

Other questions will more directly ask you about your future participation in school fund raising and other activities. These questions are designed to evaluate the stability of your home life and your future financial support potential. For example a religious school application might ask about the role your religion plays in your life. A non-religious school might ask why you are considering the XYZ School. Here is a sample answer to this type of question:

Our family is an active member of XYZ church. We are active members of the social action committee and every Thanksgiving, our entire family, including Tommy and his two sisters, volunteer at the XYZ Church gently used clothing center where we help distribute gently used clothes to homeless people. Tommy and his sisters have been greatly impacted by this activity as well as other church related functions. With a hands-on opportunity to minister to the less fortunate, Tommy has a personal understanding of the message of XYZ religion. We try to reinforce that message at home by attending services regularly and making daily prayer a part of our routine. At the XYZ Private Elementary School, both my husband and I have served on the Board of Directors and we are active participants in the school's Feed the Hungry annual campaign.

Answers like the ones set out above are designed to send a message to school administrators that both you and your teen are serious, dedicated and stable people who will fit in well with the community that develops within a particular private school. If you make an effort to study the type of community that exists within a particular school and you model your entrance questionnaire essay to that community, you greatly enhance your child's chances at gaining admission.

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Sample Graduate School Essays That Will Help You Get an Interview

Although the application process for admission to graduate school can really give you a tough time, this is not the sole purpose of all these admission requirements. What a university's admission committee wants to find out is if you have what it takes to survive and finish graduate studies. Of course, you have the results of the battery of tests and your transcript of records. Unfortunately, these are not sufficient on their own, especially since graduate school is not just a matter of aptitude but attitude as well. It's good that former professors and mentors at work can submit their recommendation forms to improve your chances. It's even better that an admission interview is part of the selection process, so you will be able to discuss your objectives more extensively. But before you get to that, you will have to submit an excellent graduate admission essay. It is advisable to read through a lot of sample graduate school essays to accomplish this.

What can sample graduate school essays do for you?

You may think that your writing abilities have enabled you to complete your bachelor's in flying colors and that you no longer need to read other students' sample graduate school essays. You may want to re-think that. Graduate school is an entirely different environment from college, and graduate school admission essays should go beyond the elements of style. Your essay should reflect your determination and suitability for graduate studies. For this reason, reading several essays should help you think of various ways that you can show the clarity of your personal and career development goals and your consistency in fulfilling these goals.

Where can you start looking?

If you're lucky, you may have friends who have successfully got into or completed their graduate programs. They could help you with your application by providing tips on what admission committees usually look for. They might even allow you to read the essays which they have submitted to give you a better idea. If you aren't that lucky, you can still access sample essays through the Internet. Choose the ones that are sure to catch and hold attention from the first line to the end.

What makes for a good essay?

As a statement of purpose, essays typically explain why you would want to get into graduate school. Make sure that you have the right reasons for wanting a master's degree or a PhD. The minimum or maximum number of pages or words for admission essays is often given, so you have to write one that is concise but comprehensive. Do your homework and research whatever you could find on the program and the university of your choice, so you can make a good match between your personal goals and their academic objectives. Cite personal experiences which can show how you deal with difficulties with a positive outlook. Be creative, and start with something catchy, such as a story that you grew up on. Relate how insights from the story or the values of a character shaped your goals the way they are now. It would also be great to write about social responsibility. After all, society should benefit from your graduate degree in the end.

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Student Savings: Save Paper, Save Money

Did you know that North American academics are among the highest paper wasters in the world? If academics in China used as much paper as we do in North America, the world's rainforest supply would be depleted within a year. You can choose to save paper, which is not only good for the environment, it's also good for your wallet.

1. Double side everything.

Whether you are printing the prof's powerpoint notes to take to lecture, or printing off an essay to proofread, always double side your paper. Keeping a tray of rough paper that you can print on the back of will definitely save you money.

And, as an added tip for printing off powerpoint presentation slides, try printing more than one slide per page. Often 8 slides per pages is a good size, but try to find the size that works for you.

2. Be creative.

It's amazing how many handouts you get in class that you don't even need. Perhaps the department requires that every single class hand out the plagiarism policy. Now you have five copies of the plagiarism policy, and nothing to do with them. Instead of simply throwing them out, you can also use this paper to print on!

Every department in a college has boards filled with paper. Often these are concert notices, upcoming conferences, or visiting lecturers. You can make it your job to help keep the departmental notice boards clean by taking down the notices that have passed their dates. You can then keep and print on this paper. Sometimes you get the best colours to print on this way!

3. Use a computer.

The more work that you can do onscreen, the less paper you will have to print. You will definitely have to print out your papers to do a final hard-copy proofread before you hand them in, but you don't need to print out endless drafts of the same paper. Often, you can also email certain documents to your friends and classmates instead of printing them out. Instead of printing 30 handouts for your seminar presentation, email the handout to the class a few days before you present. This will save you the printing and photocopying costs. Be sure to email the handouts out at least two days before you present, however. You want to give your classmates enough time to read and print your material.

4. Work with your prof.

Some professors accept "green" submissions. (Here you can think of green as in saving the environment, and green as in saving you the cash in your wallet). This means that they will accept work that is printed off doublesided, or on the backs of different work. You should always ask before you submit your essay, however. Whatever the prof wants is paramount. Also, if you are giving the prof work with stuff on the back, make sure that it is something you don't mind your professor seeing! Some professors also permit electronic submissions, which will also save you paper and ink.

5. Shop around.

Sometimes you come across something that you absolutely must photocopy or print. Check out the area around the university for the cheapest printing and photocopying. It probably won't be on campus, and it probably won't be a big chain like Kinko's. You'll want to find a small photocopying place, and often you can get your copies for as cheap as 3 or 4 cents. Sometimes convenience stores even have well-priced photocopiers.

6. Think of subsidies.

Particularly if you are a graduate student, you might be able to print your work at school in the department for a greatly reduced rate, or even for free sometimes. Sometimes services on campus allow members cheap printing--places such as the Women's Center or the International Student's Committee. If you are considering joining, or if you are already a member, take advantage of what you can. The best way to find out about deals like this is to attend information fairs and to ask people who have been on campus for a few years.

7. Remember the costs.

Sometimes printing at home is cheaper. Sometimes printing at school is cheaper. And generally photocopying is cheaper than printing. Often you will have a choice of what way to get your material printed, so choose the best one. And remember: you don't have to always print on white paper. Plain lined paper (even the cheap stuff) prints fine on a computer as well.

You can save yourself money, and feel good about saving the environment by saving paper. It's just one way to minimize the costs of your already expensive education.

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Intimidated By The College Entrance Essay?

This is unfortunate because they are not required to write like Descartes. They only have to write simply and logically their personal experiences.

Why is the essay daunting?

College beckons and promises a new experience as a high school graduate takes a leap towards adulthood. Preparing for college is a new adventure but writing that important paper can damp any enthusiasm.

Perhaps by itself the paper is not intimidating. The thought that it will have an impact on their college admission - approval or rejection - frightens them. This should not be the case if they understand the reason behind this requirement.

Students believe that the most polished paper with little or no grammatical lapses is the perfect thesis. They tend to forget the rationale behind this. The more they try to imitate others, the more they lower their chances of getting approval.

Simple, logical, and original

These three standbys are the winning combinations in any essay. Simplicity of thought and language that truly reflect the individual, logical arrangement and presentation of ideas, and originality of expression are the writing techniques that are favored colleges and universities swamped with thousands of essays.

It does not also mean to imply that this paper has to be done hurriedly, and anything will do. Good grammar, writing style, and originality of ideas or expression will grab the attention of weary college admissions officers. The moment they reach for a paper they can expect the same humdrum formula.

With these simple guidelines, write your paper with confidence. Read and rewrite your paper, and strive for perfection. You will know if you have winner or a loser in your hands.

The implications of your paper

If you are seeking college entrance, the school has to know the level of your readiness to take on college work. This will be revealed by your grades and SAT score. The paper will show them the person who made the grade, and how he can be an asset to the college or university.

If you are a transferee, the school admissions panel will want to know how prepared to take on your major field. The paper will serve as a guarantee that they will be taking in students who can make it because of their readiness, aptitude, and commitment.

What to show in your paper

If you are a 20 something, you would naturally write about the things people your age appreciate. You wouldn't be spouting philosophies behind an unforgettable experience; instead you will be telling it like you would your best friend. You will be honest about the whole thing -even if your conviction is not earth-shaking.

That's the voice the people at the college admissions are watching out for. They want the fresh perspective, free from artifice and pretense. They are not scouting for a budding Stephen King or John Grisham. They want an honest thought provoking account written clearly and effectively by a 20 something.

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What Is the Difference Between an Essay, a Dissertation and a Thesis?

These three assignment types; essays, dissertations and theses are all important to students because at some point in the life of a student, there will be the request to complete at least one of the assignment types listed above!

Essays, dissertations and theses are all types of academic documents, produced by scholars and students and based on a specific question, subject matter or dilemma. They are used by colleges, schools, sixth forms and Universities as a means of determining how well a student is performing in a certain subject area and how well they have grasped crucial knowledge about a particular subject. And yet essays, dissertations and theses' are also often used to see how well a student is able to respond to specific questions on a particular subject matter and how well developed their skills are in terms of actually writing essays.

So what exactly is an essay? What is a dissertation? And what is a thesis?

The online dictionary defines an essay as; '(a) a short literary composition on a literary subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author, (b) something resembling such a composition.'

The online dictionary goes on to define a dissertation as; 'a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research, usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree.'

And finally a thesis shares the same definition as a dissertation on the online dictionary website, with one crucial difference; a thesis is usually longer than a dissertation.

So ultimately an essay, a dissertation and a thesis all share many traits:

- They are all literary compositions; that is to say that they are written documents or pieces of text.

- They all reflect in some way the author's point of view.

- They are all based on some form of research.

- They are all discussing some form of topic or subject matter.

- They can all be used as a means of academic testing.

However, there are differences between these three academic assignment types, and when you are completing either an essay, a dissertation or a thesis it is important to know what it is that defines the document as either one of these forms or assignment types so that you can ensure that you approach the completion of the document correctly.

Some of the main differences separating out these three document types are:

- Essays are generally shorter than dissertations and theses.

- Essays are usually used to explore an argument or to provide more information on a particular subject. Thus you'll find that most essay questions start with 'who, what, where, how or why'. They are looking for a conclusion to be drawn by the author, following an assessment of research that is already available.

- Dissertations are usually looking for the author to find new evidence to draw a conclusion about a specific subject matter, as the definition states, to 'advance a new point of view'. This means that dissertations are looking to add to the research pool on a specific subject, not simply discuss research that is already available.

- Theses usually hold the same aims and goals as dissertations, but the level of exploration and investigation into a particular subject matter is greater, and so the length of a thesis is generally longer than that of a dissertation.

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Freelance Writing Services - How To Choose A Content Writing Company

Many freelance writing companies offer a wide variety of services, with some being entirely online based and therefore very affordable. They have a competent team of expert freelance writers who have vast experience in all areas such as commercial, social and academic.

Because of the web based nature of these companies, all that is required from a client is to merely log on to their site and detail the specifications of what needs to be written on their behalf. In addition, it should be stated how urgent the work is, so as to have it delivered within any deadline beyond the normal terms. A well written piece of work can only be obtained if the client place orders that are very concise and explicit, with clear and appropriate instructions.

Within academic writing, many students have derived immense benefit from freelance writing companies. This is because the writing of an essay is not a simple task for certain students especially those who are in their first year. There is usually a considerable learning curve before these students start writing quality academic papers which will earn them good grades. In these case students are normally required to spend some time doing due diligence before placing their orders because some of the essay writing companies are known for delivering low quality work. The foremost criteria are to search for an essay writing company which is not only after money but will also provide you with original freelance writing services.

You also need to be on your guard for certain freelance writing companies who covertly leak out information regarding their clients, through to the general public. This is a transgression of confidentiality, as there must be an agreement in place regarding ownership rights of any of articles after having submitted them to clients. A client must always rest assured that they get the full ownership rights of any freelance writing work, with an unequivocal guarantee that it will never be resold to anyone else.

If there is a need for specialised freelance written papers using secondary data to compile the information, the job can even be split separately obtain the primary research on a topic which appears complicated. This is a necessary action when consideration needs to be given to the reliability of certain websites and online portals as there are some which cannot be used in specialised academic freelance writing.

So how do freelance writers get started, in order to maximise on the demand and establish a relationship and reputation with potential clients? This is a somewhat perplexing question that most aspiring freelancers ask and even get worried about. The response to the question is that the route is simple, if you follow a proven methodology and not take any unwarranted short cuts. Always be yourself, focus on the topic on hand and deliver the best you can. There should be no rush as it is important to build up your work experience in a gradual manner until you reach a more prominent and stable writing position.

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Do You Really Need Medical and Academic Editing Services?

Most journals today recommend that ESL authors (authors for whom English is a second language) seek the help of a professional academic editing service or a native speaker of English before submitting their manuscripts. Why has academic editing become such an integral part of the publishing process? Isn't research about the subject and not the language?

As research output the world over increases and researchers compete to publish their findings in the most reputed peer-reviewed journals, the journals themselves are raising the bar for submissions. Authors now need to ensure that apart from submitting interesting, novel research, they are submitting a well-structured, grammatically correct, and well-formatted manuscript. Moreover, several studies have revealed that "poor writing" is one of the top 10 reasons for rejection at the peer review stage. This means that if your manuscript is not written in clear English, you run the risk of rejection. That's where academic paper editing services step in-they ensure that the language and formatting within a manuscript matches international standards.

Specialized academic and medical editing services staff professional English-language editors who edit your manuscript to make sure that it is written in native English and reflects current research writing conventions. Trained editors understand not only the minutiae of grammar-punctuation, spelling, sentence construction, word choice, etc.-but also the nuances specific to your subject. They ensure that your manuscript is written in a lucid, unambiguous way that communicates the true value of the manuscript content. So hiring an academic editing service is not simply about getting a language check; it is about enhancing the overall presentation, flow, tone, and structure and ensuring that your manuscript makes a good first impression.

Given the competitive nature of journal publication, even native speakers today are seeking out professional academic editing services. Of course, that doesn't mean that every researcher requires academic or medical editing help. So how do you decide whether or not to seek professional editing help? Here are a few pointers.

• You probably don't need an editor if most of the following statements are true:

o You're an experienced researcher with published papers to your name.
o You have a good understanding of English grammar and idiomatic expressions, and are experienced when it comes to writing in English.
o You understand the publication process, academic writing conventions, and subject-specific writing conventions
o You know how to format a manuscript to meet journal requirements

• You need an editor if most of the following statements are true:

o You have not published many papers in English-language journals.
o You are not confident of your English-language writing skills.
o You are not very familiar with the journal publication process and academic writing conventions.
o You are not experienced in formatting a manuscript to meet journal requirements.

In sum, for researchers who do not have much experience publishing in English or who are not fluent in English, seeking professional academic editing help is the recommended route. An editor will enhance the language and presentation of your paper, giving you a better shot at acceptance. If you're still unsure, consider this: your decision to hire an editor might be the difference between a rejection letter and a more favorable outcome.

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Rudyard Kipling

And I am admittedly a word addict, ever enthralled by the infinite potential of words to enable people to reach out, express, forge relationships, and build our own languages, histories, and futures.

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An Overview of Supplemental Educational Services

Supplemental Educational Services (SES) refers to free academic assistance that is provided to qualified students who need help in subjects like Math or English. This additional educational instruction is designed to increase the academic achievement of students in schools that have not met the state's targets for increasing student achievement. This is known as their Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP. Extra academic help consists of free tutoring outside of regular school hours. Students can receive assistance before or after school, on weekends, or over the summer. Online tutoring companies, community agencies, and private schools are some of the organizations that can gain state approval to offer Supplemental Educational Services.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, low income families receiving free or reduced-price lunch can enroll their children in Supplemental Educational Services if their school has been designated by the state to be in need of improvement for at least three years. No Child Left Behind was enacted to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice. SES provides many students with the opportunity they need to reach their potential and achieve academic success.

Organizations that are qualified to provide Supplemental Educational Services are identified by each State Department of Education. States consult with teachers, parents, and school districts to identify a wide variety of SES provider options for students. School districts must make a list of state-approved providers of Supplemental Educational Services in their area available to parents of eligible students. Parents can choose the provider that best meets the educational needs of their child.

Supplemental Educational Services providers must meet the comprehensive criteria established by the state to be included on the list of eligible providers. These organizations are monitored by the State Department of Education, and they are evaluated on the quality of services they offer. Providers of SES must demonstrate a record of effectiveness in increasing student academic achievement, and they must give information on students' progress to their parents and schools. These organizations must provide services that are consistent with the instructional program of their school districts, and with state academic standards. Supplemental Educational Services must be high-quality, research based, and specifically designed to increase student academic achievement.

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