Application Tips
Advice on essays, applications, and everything in between, straight from Purchase College’s Dean of Enrollment Management, who has reviewed thousands of applications and knows exactly what makes one stand out.
Caitlin Read is Purchase College’s Dean of Enrollment Management and has spent almost 20 years guiding prospective students through the college application process. Here’s what she wants every applicant to know.
Top 5 Tips for Writing Your College Essay
The college essay is the one part of your application that is entirely yours. No grade, no score, no list of activities can show us who you actually are, but your essay can. These five tips will help you write something we actually want to read.
5. Say What You Actually Mean
Focus on what you want to say, not what you think admissions committees want to hear. Authenticity is far more compelling than trying to guess the “right” answer. We’ve read thousands of essays. We can tell the difference.
4. Write Like You Talk, Because That’s Your Voice
Use your authentic voice. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re not, don’t force it. Genuine always reads better than trying too hard. The goal isn’t to sound like a college essay, it’s to sound like you.
3. You Don’t Need a Dramatic Story
Don’t worry if you don’t have a major life event or unique experience to write about. Some of the best essays take a seemingly ordinary experience and offer a fresh perspective that reveals personality and insight. The story isn’t what makes an essay, your perspective on it is.
2. Show, Don’t Tell, But Don’t Forget to Explain
Use vivid examples, but also provide enough context so the reader understands your story and perspective. “Show, don’t tell” is good writing advice, but the reader still needs to know what they’re looking at.
1. AI Is a Tool. Your Voice Is the Point.
AI is available, but use it thoughtfully. Submitting something generated from prompts won’t help us get to know you, and that’s the entire purpose of the essay. You can use AI to brainstorm, organize, or get unstuck. But the words on the page should be yours. Don’t miss the opportunity to share your voice with us.
Top 5 Tips for Your College Application
A great application doesn’t happen the night before the deadline. Here’s how to set yourself up — starting earlier than you think you need to.
5. Start Your Essay in Junior Year
Don’t wait until the last minute to write your essay. Get something on paper during your junior year so you can return to school senior year ready to apply — not starting from scratch. You’ll thank yourself in October.
4. Build (or Update) Your Resume Now
Create or update your resume now. It helps your recommenders understand the full picture of your experiences, and you can use it for applications, work-study jobs, and internships later. One document, multiple uses.
3. Ask Your Recommenders Early and In Person
Ask your recommenders early, and ask them in person. Your favorite teacher is likely a favorite for many students — give them plenty of time and the courtesy of a real conversation. A rushed recommender writes a rushed letter.
2. Keep an Open List
Have a list, but stay open-minded. Be open to colleges that may not be as well-known but could be a great fit for you. The right school isn’t always the most famous one; it’s the one where you’ll actually thrive.
1. Visit When Classes Are in Session
Visit schools when classes are in session. This will give you a far more authentic sense of the campus culture and student experience than an empty summer tour ever can.
At Purchase, that means seeing studios in use, performances in rehearsal, and students who actually live here, not a highlight reel.
Ready to Apply to Purchase?
Purchase College is a top 10 public liberal arts college with world-class conservatories in dance, theatre, music, and visual arts, 35 miles north of New York City. Nearly 80% of students receive financial aid. Explore our programs, plan your visit, or start your application below.
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