College Essay Examples and Writing Tips for Florida Universities, Assignments of Spanish Language

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1. Application Essay Topics Page 1

2. Steps to a Great College Essay Page 3

3. The College Essay – Creating Your Story Page 6

4. Essay Proof Read Checklist Page 7

Table of Contents

Essay Tips & Topics

Section 4

AAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONN EESSSSAAYY TTOOPPIICCSS Below are Essay topic examples for different Universities for your reference.

COMMON APPLICATION (FAU, FGCU, Florida Polytechnic, FSU, New College of Florida,

UCF, UF, UNF, USF, and many other private and public universities around the country)

2021 - 22 Essay Prompts:

 Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?  Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?  Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you.  Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

No essay required:

USF – University of South Florida

FIU – Florida International University

FAU – Florida Atlantic University

UNF – University of North Florida

UWF – University of West Florida

FAMU – Florida A & M University

Florida Polytechnic University

SSTTEEPPSS TTOO AA GGRREEAATT CCOOLLLLEEGGEE (^) EESSSSAAYY Below are some pointers on the Essay Writing Process for reference.

YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH SHOULD GRAB THE READER:

The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission's reader. It is imperative that the introduction to the college essay captures the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read more. There are different ways to grab a reader.  Try starting with a question.  Begin with a bold statement.  Use an interesting quote.  Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things. Place the reader in the middle of something happening or in the middle of a conversation.  Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.  Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.  Sometimes even a single word that stands as a paragraph can make the reader wonder and read on.

APPROACH THE ESSAY FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE:

If you look at things a little differently from others you stand out. In answering an essay prompt, you need not always do it the most normal way.  What if you were to take the negative approach to answer the prompt? What are your hopes? Maybe you can tell what your hopes are by writing what you do not hope for.  Perhaps you can create a little mystery by not answering the prompt immediately. What do you want to study? Maybe you could reveal that in the last sentence of your prompt after telling about all the little things that have some relevance to your area of study. For example, you might describe many natural flora, observe fauna, then list feelings you have about nature to lead up to writing that you want to study biology.  You might even bury your answer to a prompt in a story or in a moral tale or even in a description.

LEAVE YOUR READER WITH A LASTING IMPRESSION:

People remember last things first or, at least, best. As Alan Alda said in a commencement address he delivered to his daughter’s graduating college class, the most important things are said on the way out the door. His last words in that speech were, “I love you.” In the same way, you should end your college essay with something that not only summarizes the most important aspects of you but that is also memorable. Memorable endings are poignant, making the reader feel an emotion. Or, they capture a several-line conclusion in one pithy, well-worded phrase or sentence. Or, maybe they end with a simple, clean truth written from the heart. More information on writing college essays can be found at www.collegebasics.com/applying-to-college/admissions-essays.

SSTTEEPPSS TTOO AA GGRREEAATT CCOOLLLLEEGGEE (^) EESSSSAAYY Below are some pointers on the Essay Writing Process for reference. There are three basic essay styles you should consider:

1. Standard Essay: Take two or three points from your self- outline, give a paragraph to each, and make sure you provide plenty of evidence. Choose things not apparent from the rest of your application or light up some of the activities and experiences listed there. 2. Less-Is-More Essay: In this format, you focus on a single interesting point about yourself. It works well for brief essays of a paragraph or half a page. 3. Narrative Essay: A narrative essay tells a short and vivid story. Omit the introduction; write one or two narrative paragraphs that grab and engage the reader's attention, then explain what this little tale reveals about you. C. Editing When you have a good draft, it's time to make final improvements to your draft, find and correct any errors, and get someone else to give you feedback. Remember, you are your best editor. No one can speak for you; your own words and ideas are your best bet.  Let It Cool: Take a break from your work and come back to it in a few days. Does your main idea come across clearly? Do you prove your points with specific details? Is your essay easy to read aloud?  Feedback Time: Have someone you like and trust (but someone likely to tell you the truth) read your essay. Ask them to tell you what they think you're trying to convey. Did they get it right?  Edit Down: Your language should be simple, direct, and clear. This is a personal essay, not a term paper. Make every word count (e.g., if you wrote "in society today," consider changing that to "now").  Proofread Two More Times: Careless spelling or grammatical errors, awkward language, or fuzzy logic will make your essay memorable??”in a bad way. This article is based on information found in The College Application Essay, by Sarah Myers McGinty.

TTHHEE (^) CCOOLLLLEEGGEE EESSSSAAYY CREATING YOUR STORY... List any challenges you have faced and overcome, especially experiences which gave you strong survival skills and demonstrated your ability to continue your education despite setbacks and difficulties. If you have an experience like this, describe the situation in detail. List any childhood experiences that demonstrated an early ability to learn or a dedication to academic subjects. You may also indicate here your family’s experience with education, traveling, or any summer camp or volunteer experiences that tell a story about who you are. List any languages and cultures you know outside of your current home. If you have come from another country, talk about the challenge of competing with native speakers and achieving at a high level nonetheless. Any experience with travel abroad (Experiment in International Living, family trips) or an acquaintance with another culture should be described. What experiences make you unique, or set you apart from other candidates? These experiences can come from any aspect of your life – your family, your academics, your extracurricular activities, your work, etc.

Table of Contents

• 1. UF & FSU Essay – Relationships Page
• 2. UF & FSU Essay #2– Family Struggles Page
• 3. UF Essay – Personal Challenges Page
• 4. Harvard Essay – Interests vs. Life Page
• 5. UCF Essay – Heritage Page
• 6. UCF Essay – Meaning of Life Page
• 7. FSU CARE Essays Page
• 8. FSU Essay – Dating Page
• 9. UF Essay – Immigration – DACA Page
  • Section Essay Samples

UF & FSU Essay, 2019

The only thing my brother, Jonathan, loved more than playing games was demolishing me at

them.

Mancala was a particularly passionate competition. The faint sound of multi-colored

marbles hitting the wooden board initiated mental preparation for the upcoming tournament.

Sitting on the floor with the board between us, my brother initiated the game, mischievously

smirking, “You go first.”... then adding, “You need it more than I do.” Watching my brother’s

pile of stones increasing exponentially whilst my designated pit for points remained barren, we

played until he grew tired of winning; then, he would suggest Monopoly.

One day I decided to win; I studied. Sitting in my room with the wooden block in front of

me, I proceeded to try every possible combination of moves to figure out which one pit out of the

twelve would put the optimal amount of marbles into my mancala. I worked out all of the

possible moves he could make in response and then determined how I should respond to his

response. I committed all of these moves to memory and he was never the wiser. Success! I

finally won my first match. I beat my brother. I was endlessly proud of my victory. In hindsight,

I am now proudest of my resolve.

I did not graciously accept all of the losses prior to my triumph. There were days that I

wanted to grab all of the marbles and throw them at his smug face. Fortunately, a similarity

between Mancala and life is that the games weren’t finished until we chose to be finished. When

I was nominated to be Monroe County’s Girl’s State representative I was ecstatic, but when I

was notified that I wasn’t selected I was miserable. However, like the endless rematches there

was going to be another opportunity for me to excel. When I was nominated to be the Sunshine

State Scholar of my county, I decided to win. I spent the entire twenty-four hours before a

family trip to Cuba drafting and editing my application. Returning home, I was the official

Sunshine State Scholar of Monroe County.

I hope to never let fear of failure hold me back. Even after I destroyed my brother, he did

not easily relinquish his title of “Master of the Marbles.” In spite of my study, my skills didn’t

keep me from falling short of conquest. This didn’t stop me from playing.

The second day of band camp, we spent the entire morning sweating while marching

back and forth on a field. It wasn’t until we were inside, enjoying the air conditioning, that I

fainted. I returned to consciousness mortified, not because my body temporarily shut down, but

because I ate carpet in front of everyone. I skipped the third day of camp out of terror of further

humiliation. The fourth day I dragged myself back to that field; my need to persist outweighed

my fears. I am now a band officer and can proudly boast that I haven’t missed another day.

Without losses in life and Mancala, I never would have achieved anything truly valuable.

I know that my future failures will probably outnumber my successes, but at least I have one

consolation to get me through: I’m pretty good at Mancala.

UF & FSU Essay, 2019

When we are children we have a firm, unwavering belief that our parents are invincible.

We believe that any problem magically evaporates with a smile and a reassuring hug. We don’t

notice the tight lips that form the smile and the slight shake of the arms that act as our shield. We

choose to believe, for a little longer, that they can make everything good again and we cloak

ourselves with the false security; unable to imagine a world where our parents are as helpless as

us. Throughout my childhood I have consistently faced off with obstacles that challenged this

belief.

I was eight-years-old, walking in on my mother crying, the word divorce hanging in the

space between us. I was thirteen-years-old, standing in the line outside of a church, holding her

hand as we waited in the cold for free groceries. I was fifteen-years-old, listening to her explain

that we had to leave our house, the look in her eyes ripping off the protective cloak I had tried so

desperately to cling onto.

Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. Everything is

not okay.

After spending most of my life moving around, one would think I had become

accustomed to saying goodbye to my home, but it is different when that goodbye is unwilling,

when it comes out of nowhere, shaking the foundations of the barricades you have put up against

the fear of money. I was forced to come to the realization that my mother was not an unbeatable

force, she was human.

In the midst of all the chaos and stress, I turned to the one thing that made me feel like I

had control, like I was invincible. My education. It became my release, and it gave me hope and

a future to look forward to. A future that no one in my family had yet experienced.

In school I did not falter, I redirected my anger and my stress into motivation to succeed.

In the classroom, the financial situation of my family didn’t matter. What mattered was my brain,

my thoughts, ideas and most of all my desire to learn and grow as a student. Success in school

boosted my confidence that for so long had been tainted by finances. My hope was that one day

my mother or my future family could rely on me as much as my younger self had relied on my

parents. This resulted in a fire that burned inside of me, one that could not be extinguished by a

fear of money or crushed childhood beliefs.

My family’s difficulties, in a way, stole my adolescence from me. I no longer believe that

parents are superhuman. At fifteen I resented this enlightenment that I had reached. I wanted to

believe that nothing could truly harm me as long as my mother sheltered me from the awful parts

of life. However, our struggles have averted my beliefs to something stronger. I believe in the

importance of resilience in the face of adversity. I believe that while not invincible, my mother is

an unrelenting force and that I too can achieve this through persistence and the hope and desire

that:

Everything will be okay.

Harvard Essay, 2020 April 7, 2014, was the day my life changed forever. This was the day Paige won the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Diva’s Championship. Initially, women in WWE – Divas – were not taken seriously. These strong young women were nothing but a beautiful sideshow: never given a chance to showcase their skills but instead charged with holding score cards for the men’s main event. As a young Hindu girl, I was taught to act like one of these original Divas; I was taught that my place in the world was on the sidelines, that I did not need to be talented, passionate, or strong. Not knowing any better, I kept this mindset for too many years. Then on April 7, 2014, the TV mimicked a mirror and pride swelled in my chest as a young black-haired girl fiercely hoisted the Diva’s Championship. She screamed with confidence and passion, and I was in awe. Although it was only her first day in WWE, Paige made it clear she had no intention of continuing the tradition of sitting on the sidelines: Paige was determined to be the main event. Seeing Paige victorious, I began to envision a different outcome for my life – one where I could hold a championship over my head. Inspired, I began to wrestle for my future. Through wrestling, I found my passion. Captivated by the way WWE would keep me on the edge of my seat for hours, I signed up for my school’s Television Productions class, not knowing anything about cinema. I imagined Paige’s isolation turned triumph as I wrote my first screenplay, Paradise , about a boy who gets stranded on an island. This debut circuited the All-American and Palm Beach International Film Festivals, Florida Scholastic Press Association, and the Tropic Cinema. Paige’s entrance music bellowed through my mind as I learned how to produce my own music to accompany my films. WWE helped me realize that I had a passion and talent that I should explore rather than hide. Through wrestling, I found the world. For five years, I followed Paige’s journey as she went from a small- town girl to defending her championship all over the planet. It didn’t matter what language they spoke, religion they followed, or race they were: Paige was always willing to tag-team with any wrestler and put on the “Match-of-the-Night.” For years, I admired her openness to collaborate with others and learn about the world. I decided to further develop my proficiency in Hindi, Spanish, and American Sign Language so I, too, could engage with others from around the world. I decided to take more opportunities to travel and learn about new cultures, from Argentina to the United Arab Emirates. The more I experienced, the more I realized that I had much to learn. I also began to develop a new sense of acceptance and understanding. Through wrestling, I found my strength. Growing up overweight, teetering on obesity, I was not able to do the things kids are supposed to do. I couldn’t run, jump, or play. How I looked was reflected in how I felt about myself. My lack of confidence prevented me from going to the beach or pool parties and from taking pictures of myself with others. That all changed when I delved into WWE. I wanted to be as strong as Paige. I started Crossfit, weightlifting, and kickboxing, and my burdens didn’t feel so heavy anymore. Just as Paige stuns the audience each time she walks to the ring, I walk the hallways with confidence and flare. April 7, 2014, wasn’t just the day Paige won the Diva’s Championship. It was also the day I embarked on my own journey to be a champion. Throughout my adolescence, WWE taught me to challenge myself, find my passion, and expand my horizons. I’m not sure what opponents I’ll face next but, no matter what, I’m ready and excited for them all.

UCF Essay, 2019 How has your family history, culture, or environment influenced who you are?

My entire life I have been surrounded by the importance of my Hispanic heritage. I was

born to a Cuban father and a Peruvian mother, and although both my parents are from two

diverse cultures, I feel as though I have been equally influenced by both. In Peru, my

grandmother stressed to my mother the importance of challenging herself academically. She

taught my mother that to have a successful life and career, she needed to obtain a degree. Just

as my grandmother instilled the importance of an education to my mother, my mother

conveyed this fundamental truth to me. Her influence has always been the driving force

pushing me to challenge myself academically. My father was a carpenter in Cuba. With his

carpentry skills and inventive mind, he helped build the raft that took him and sixteen other

people to America to escape communism’s grip. When the odds were stacked against him and

it seemed like his dream would never come to fruition, he persisted. He never gave up on the

notion that he could of establish a better life for himself and his family. I have such a deep

respect for both my mother and father for displaying bravery and persistence throughout their

lives. Their influence has definitely shaped me for the better, and I hope to keep learning and

growing from the lessons I’ve been fortunate enough to receive.

Although my parents have provided a great foundation for my life, I have still faced

challenges. One such challenge was entering the workforce at the age of fourteen. When I

started working I was unsure of what having a job entailed, but was excited nonetheless to

have my first real taste of responsibility. In my first job I observed favoritism being shown to

people who had worked far less time than I had. This was frustrating, but I kept working hard

and actively pursuing the position I wanted. After speaking to my manager on three separate

occasions I was granted the promotion. Through this, I learned that it’s important to take

initiative when you want to achieve something. With enough hard work and persistence you

can meet your goals in the face of others’ prejudices and opposition.

During high school I was fortunate enough to earn a full paid summer study abroad

scholarship to China. The program sent me on a month-long journey through a country I had

never been to and threw me into a culture I knew nothing about. Along with overcoming

culture shock, the language barrier was the most difficult challenge I had to face. During my

home stay with a Chinese host family it became evident that being able to effectively

communicate my life experiences while learning about theirs was difficult and hindered me

from connecting on a personal level. Despite the challenges, I was able to leave China with a

newfound understanding of a culture unlike my own, giving me a deeper appreciation of the

world outside of my small cultural bubble.

FSU CARE Essay, 2020 FSU CARE #1 (MHS 2020) Life is filled with challenges, whether it be emotional struggles, finances, or health. Throughout my life I have faced plenty of obstacles, some more challenging than others. As life went on I realized how important it was to have money because money is our life’s driving force. You have to have it to pay bills, buy food, clothing and go to college. Growing up I never had expensive shoes, clothes, or even school supplies. We were always on a budget. My mom worked 16 hours a day most of the year, most of that money going into house repairs because I live in a trailer park. My home was always hard to maintain in good shape when it slowly continued to fall apart in random places. My mom was constantly trying to put food on our table, clothes on our backs, and as she said “una cobija, para que estes calientita en la noche,” or a blanket to keep you warm at night. Even though we didn’t have everything, she made sure to always have some money in the end for fun. Money has always been an issue, but this has taught me to value what I have, do not fuss! My upbringing has pushed me farther, to work harder, so in the future I can return the favor to my mom. Thinking of the goal of one day buying her a house is what motivates me to put more effort on essays, projects, tests. Everything that could possibly bring me closer to helping my mom for every drop of sweat she has put into making me the person I am today. She constantly complains of body pain, yet she fights each day, to get my brother and me the best materials we can have for school. FSU CARE # As I matured, I began to realize the importance of valuing what you have, not to take things for granted. At any point in life things can just disappear. I learned to have patience, to remain calm, because in the end things will be okay as long as you have faith and work hard. At Florida State University, I would have the mindset of working nonstop and I would continue pushing myself no matter how tough the day may have been. I believe that knowing that my mom went through so much is only an inspiration to continue working persistently throughout college to achieve my goals of my true potential. This life lesson will allow me to motivate myself to be successful while in school, it would transform me into an outgoing student. If there is anything my mother’s struggle has taught me, it would be, that things happen for a reason, accept it. My mother’s lifestyle has showed me to accept and learn from whatever is thrown at me, any obstacle or challenge. No matter how complicated things may be, if I pour every drop of sweat into my work at Florida State University I will become an extraordinary student who would never let her professors down. I would continuously fight and continue to create my own path to become the best I can possibly be. FSU CARE # 3 As a first generation student, I hope to experience the whole college dorm adventure. I want to see how it feels to be independent and to do as I please to enjoy myself while I am away from home. Mostly, I want to experience the classrooms, the vast array of choices and the campus. College life sounds so interesting

FSU CARE Essay, 2020 when students speak about the sizes of the classes, how a class can be so big that there is the chance of being in a class with up to 200+ students, where a professor sometimes would not even remember your name. This would introduce me into a large diverse group of people, where they all meet and learn about one another’s background and personality. Along with the new perspective of cultural identities, I would have the exciting lifestyle of walking to class in a new environment. An area filled with trees, nature and just people talking amongst themselves. Especially when winter finally arrives to Florida, the air gets colder and friends get closer. While bringing a special feeling to my heart, it would remind me of home when my mom gave me a mug of hot chocolate, “tenga, para que no te me enfermes”, she would always say, “here, so you don’t get sick.” The surroundings would make me feel at home while being away from home. FSU CARE # 4 While at Florida State University, I believe that the campus itself provides a sense of relaxation and calmness just with its environment. This would allow me, as a student to find areas on campus to calmly and successfully study for tests and get my work done. Having the support from the FSU CARE program would guide me through the college experience, step by step. Being a first generation student can make it difficult to find out how to do things correctly, as well as even knowing the right person to ask the hundreds of questions that I will surely have. The CARE program would be like my guardian angel, always there in my time of need. I know CARE would absolutely keep me on track, keep me up to date with advice and solutions even when my issues may not just be academic. Florida State CARE would provide for me during the most stressful of times, starting college! The staff and fellow students would help me maintain the pace I need to be at, supporting me to stay ahead of the game.