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Abstract:
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This study aims to develop a method for more clearly understanding the topics that applicants choose when writing their college or university application essay . As such , the purpose of this dissertation is two -fold . First , to analyze the unstudied volume of advice and guidance available to applicants on the World Wide Web , this study will analyze the guidance that is available to motivate and guide applicants as they embark on writing their essay . Second , this study examines the college application essay and will create a categorization of the application essay topics on which a select group of applicants chose to write . The purpose is not to evaluate the applicant or their demographics , nor is it to suggest “best practices” for college applicants to follow when writing their essays . Furthermore , as an examination of popular media and of narrative expression , this analysis does not attempt to reveal a causal link between media and the resulting narratives . Instead , this inductive analysis develops a baseline theory that begins a discussion of the application essay and the multitude of information that might guide its creation . The motivation for this study is grounded in the following : 1 ) many colleges and universities employ selective practices in their admissions process and they consider the application essay to be a helpful tool in selecting from among otherwise academically eligible students ; 2 ) applicants consider the essay to be one of the most challenging and unfamiliar aspects of the application ; and 3 ) a multi -million -dollar industry has developed to assist students with college and university applications . This research supports prior studies that indicate that the writing of college application essays (or personal statements ) is in fact as Paley (1996 ) suggests an exercise in a rhetorical conundrum . Applicants emerge from the angst and confusion of how to approach and what to write about in their college application essay to produce a work that reveals personal characteristics that they think are important to college admissions officers and that they hope , will ultimately , result in admission to their institution of choice . |