Will Dix of Chicago Scholars gives seniors the inside scoop on the college admissions essay
Thank you to Willard Dix, Director of College Transitioning Programming for Chicago Scholars and former dean of admissions at Amherst College, for taking time out of his Friday afternoon to meet with 20 IIT Boeing seniors, parents/guardians, and their guests to talk about applying to college!
After showing how to navigate the Common Application, Mr. Dix described the central challenge the college admissions essay poses for applicants. Yes, the essay can be a challenge to write in the first place, taking hours and many drafts (see tips, below). But, as Mr. Dix pointed out, more importantly the essay should be engaging and even fun to read for the admission officer — who may, for all you know, encounter it as the 62nd application on a Wednesday night in February!
How does Mr. Dix suggest applicants overcome this challenge?
Visiting college admissions expert Will Dix got right in the spirit — donning an IIT Boeing Scholars Academy t-shirt!
Write about something that genuinely interests you — it is your interest in that something that will interest the application reader! Let your enthusiasm, involvement, and concerns carry you along.- Understand what’s really being asked. The essay is a way for admissions officers to gauge how “experienced” or “aware” you are, how engaged you are with issues surrounding you, and of course who you are and how you will contribute to their university community.
- Don’t be afraid to try something less traditional (i.e., not a 5-paragraph essay) if you think you can pull it off.
- Be sure to get feedback on your essay, but don’t allow extensive revising by others. This is a chance for you to speak for yourself. Try to enjoy it!
- Follow directions, and read the whole question; for instance, “Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.”
- Locate and understand the key words in the essay prompts. What does it mean to “evaluate” versus “discuss”? “Indicate” versus “describe”?
- Don’t get too personal in the “personal essay.” If a given topic seems like it may be taboo or inappropriate for this context, it likely is.
- Don’t repeat the question in your answer or restate what’s already in your application — or, if you do restate, take it beyond what you’ve already said. The essay is valuable real estate.
- When you think it’s finished, it’s finished. (Really.)
Find more pearls of wisdom at Mr. Dix’s blog, College Counseling Culture!
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What next for seniors? As you know, the deadline for dropping off your 7 COMPLETED paper applications (unless “online only”) to Marya Spont for the Chicago Scholars Onsite Admissions Forum is Thursday, September 15; see instructions in recent emails for details on what materials/format is required. Seniors who want help on their essays, short-answer questions, and/or application materials are invited to IIT at the following “open computer lab” times:
- Tuesday, August 30, 1-4pm (E1 029, computer lab in basement of Engineering 1 building)
- Saturday, September 3, 10am-2pm (SH 237, computer lab on 2nd floor of Siegel Hall)
- Saturday, September 10, 10am-2pm (SH 237, computer lab on 2nd floor of Siegel Hall)
Email spont@iit.edu if you want to sign up for a timeslot to sit down with an admissions or college counseling professional for assistance/consultancy as you finetune essays and other application materials. See campus map for locations.
Seniors should also “save the date” for the following:
- Saturday, October 8, 10am-2pm — Mock Interviewing Workshop @ IIT
- Monday, October 10, 11am-3pm — NACAC Chicago College Fair @ McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.
- Tuesday, October 25, 8am-5pm — Chicago Scholars Onsite Admissions Forum @ UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
- Saturday, November 19, 10am-12pm — Presentation: Applying for the Gates Millennium Scholarship @ IIT
Finally, as a former admissions counselor, I do have one final nugget of advice for our soon-to-be collegians: If you don’t already have a “professional” email (e.g., Firstname.Lastname@email.com, FLastname4@email.com) — get one. Even if your friends call you “cutiepiesnuggles”…that’s a little awkward for college admissions counselors. 
Again, much appreciation to Will Dix — it was such an honor and pleasure to be given the opportunity to learn from the best! — and I look forward to our continued work with Chicago Scholars!
Marya Spont
Program Director