Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements

Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements The University of Wisconsin System has a holistic admissions process that includes at least one personal statement. The flagship campus in Madison requires two essays. Applicants can apply using either the Common Application or the University of Wisconsin Application. This article addresses strategies for responding to the essay prompts.   Personal Statements for the University of Wisconsin-Madison The main campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison is the most selective of all the UW schools, and it has an application separate from all the other campuses. It also asks for two personal statements. If you apply using the Common Application, you will need to respond to one of the seven essay prompts. This gives you the freedom to write about anything you choose, for not only do the prompts cover a wide range of topics, but option #7 allows you to write on a topic of your choice.   If you use the University of Wisconsin application,  the first essay prompt asks the following: Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why its important to you. You have so many options here that you might find the essay prompt daunting. As you figure out what the something in your life is that you should write about, keep in mind the reason why UW-Madison is asking this question. The admissions process is holistic, so the university wants to get to know you as a whole person, not just as a set of empirical data such as grades, class rank, and standardized test scores. Your extracurricular activities and employment history are part of the holistic portrait, but they dont tell the whole story.   Use this prompt to explore something that isnt obvious from the rest of your application. If one of your jobs or extracurricular activities is particularly important to you, you could use this essay to explain why that is so (much like a typical  short answer essay  on the Common Application). Or you could use this essay to present a side of your personality that doesnt appear on your application at all. Perhaps you like rebuilding motorcycles, fishing with your younger sister, or writing poetry. Almost anything thats important to you is fair game here, just make sure you follow through and explain  why  its important to you. If you fail to address the why of the question, youve failed to present the admissions folks a full window into your passions and interests. The second essay prompt is the same whether you use the Common Application or the UW Application. It asks the following: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement. UW-Madison has packed a lot into this essay prompt, and it might be best to view it as three essay prompts, not one. The first- why UW-Madison?- is typical of the supplemental essays for many other colleges. The key here is to be specific. If your answer could be applied to schools other than UW-Madison, then youre being too vague and generic. What  specifically  about UW-Madison appeals to you? What unique features of the university distinguish it from other places youre considering? Similarly, with the question about academic, extracurricular and research opportunities, be sure to do your research. Make sure you know what the university offers so that you know what opportunities you can take advantage of should you be admitted. UW-Madison is trying to make sure applicants are familiar with the university and can imagine themselves being active and engaged members of the campus community. When it comes to explaining circumstances that may have had a negative impact on your grades and extracurricular involvement, keep in mind that this part of the prompt is optional. As the article Should You Explain A Bad Grade? notes, youre not always doing yourself a favor if you make a big deal out of slightly off semester in high school. That said, if you did have a major disruption in your life- a significant injury, a death of a parent or sibling, divorce of your parents, or an ill-timed move to a different school- it can be a good idea to comment on the event if it impacted your academic or extracurricular record in a significant way. The Personal Statement for all Other UW Campuses For all of the other University of Wisconsin campuses, youll be asked to respond to this personal essay prompt: Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring to our specific campus that will enrich our community. The question is refreshing in its directness, for, in truth, it is asking what every college admissions essay asks- How will you enrich our community? Colleges want more than students with good grades and high test scores; they also want students who will contribute to campus life in a positive way. Before you write your essay or take part in a college interview, youd be wise to figure out your own answer to the question. What is it that you will contribute? Why will the college be a better place because of your presence? Think about your hobbies, your sense of humor, your quirks, your academic passions... all of the features that make you you. Each of the Common Application essay options  is really getting at this very issue. Whether you are writing about a a challenge youve faced, a problem youve solved, an important accomplishment in your life, or an important dimension of your life experiences, a good essay shows that you bring to campus the type of passion and personality that will enrich the university community. Make Your University of Wisconsin Essay Shine You have lots of breadth in choosing what to write about, but youd be wise to steer clear of bad essay topics that often go astray. Also, dont just focus on what to write, but also how you write it. Pay attention to the style of your essay so that your narrative is tight, engaging, and powerful.   Also be sure to follow the tips on the UW website. One important tip relates to your essay length. While the application allows you to write essays that are up to 650 words, UW recommends essays in the 300-500 word range. While you may be tempted to use the entire available space, youd be wise to heed the universitys recommendation and exceed 500 words.

Long Distance Gift Ideas for Couples

Long Distance Gift Ideas for Couples Your college boyfriend or girlfriend might be back at home while youre away at school. Or you might be studying abroad in Vienna while your significant other is in Tokyo. When the holidays, a birthday, and Valentines Day come around, however, you definitely need to give a gift- regardless of the physical distance between you. Since the hardest thing in a long-distance relationship  is often the distance itself, looking for gifts that can help make that distance seem a little, well, less far than it is can make all the difference. Skype Credits Skype- and several other similar companies- offer a life-saving service when it comes to long-distance relationships. A Skype credit for your boyfriend or girlfriend to use is just about the closest thing to your actual self that you can give. Be respectful, too, that your partner may use some of the credits to talk with other friends or family members; distance is distance, after all. But hopefully, the two of you can splurge on a little extra time with each other online without having to worry about the balance in your Skype account. A Digital Picture Frame Digital frames have come down in cost significantly. You can now pick one up at a nearby department store or even drug store for a reasonable price. To make the gift even better, pre-load the frame with pictures of the two of you together. That way, youre giving not just a nice gift but a nice gift personalized with happy memories of your time together. A Printed Picture With so many pictures being digital these days, its uncommon to be given a good, old-fashioned printed picture in a classy frame. Fortunately, this gift is super easy and doesnt have to break your bank. You can print a great picture of you and your partner from your printer or, if you want something with a little higher quality, you can simply email a picture of the two of you to a nearby drugstore or photo shop. For a dollar or two, you get a great picture. And with a little search at places like Target, you can find a great-looking frame thats also inexpensive that you can personalize, too. Put the two together in a nice care package, and ... perfect! Something Handmade Do you have an old sweatshirt your girlfriend loves? Use your handy skills to turn a piece of it into something creative that she can treasure. Are you an amazing artist or poet? Create something of your own design that speaks to what you love best about the two of you and send it along. Gifts like these, despite their low cost, are often cherished much more than higher-priced but impersonal items. A Shadowbox With Mementos Did you have a great fall vacation together? Grab some leaves and combine them with pictures of your weekend away. If you use a shadowbox, you can create some awesome-looking designs that speak to the highlights of your relationship. You can even make a collage with movie tickets, pictures, quotations, or passages from books that you both hold dear. Be creative! A Gift Certificate to a Streaming Site Give a gift certificate to a place where you can rent movies online (like Amazon or Netflix). When is the last time you and your significant other were able to enjoy dinner and a movie together? Dont let the distance stop you. Arrange to meet up online- with either a meal you make in your room or something fun, like popcorn and licorice- and simultaneously rent a movie together. You can be Skyping or simply on the phone, but with a little patience, it can be like having a classic date.