미국대학은 학교마다 고유한 특징이 있어 지원자가 해당대학과 얼마나 잘 조화를 이룰 수 있는 지를 판단하는 근거로 Essay를 본다. 학교마다 Essay 질문이 다르지만, 결국 지원자의 성향은 경험을 통해 나타나기 때문에 단순한 작문실력보다는 자신의 Unique한 경험을 얼마나 진솔하게 전달할 수 있는 지, 그리고 해당학교 성향에 얼마나 잘 맞추어 썼는가가 중요하다. 눈에 띄는 특별활동, 리더십 활동, 학생회장 경험, 해외 경험, 꾸준한 봉사활동 등은 Essay의 좋은 소재가 되는데, 이는 결국 명문대 지원생들이 학업 성적뿐 아니라 다방면에서 뛰어나야 하는 이유다.

명문 대학의 경우 Common Application Essay를 포함해 보통 3개 정도의 Essay를 제출해야 하기 때문에 10곳 이상의 대학을 지원한 학생들의 경우, short Essay를 포함 적어도 15여 편 이상의 Essay를 작성해야 한다. 대부분의 학교에서 공통적으로 요구하는 에세이 질문은 지원자의 중요한 경험, 의미 있는 과외활동, Academic Interest 등이다. ‘왜 해당 대학을 지원하는가’에 대한 학교별 Supplemental Essay 작성을 위해 Campus tour, Web Search, 참고서적 등을 통한 사전조사는 필수이다.

11월 1일 마감인 조기 전형에 지원할 학생들은 12학년, 10월 말까지는 Essay를 완성시켜야 하는데, 12학년 가을 학기가 시작되면 학사 일정으로 바빠지므로 Essay는 늦어도 11학년 여름방학까지는 작성하는 것이 바람직하다. 11학년 여름에 SAT 등 시험이 마무리 되지 않아 학교선정이 확정되지 않는다 하더라도 Common Application 에서 요구하는 Personal Essay, 추후 전공과 관련한 Academic Essay만이라도 미리 작성을 하는 것이 중요하다. 한 두 편의 Essay를 완성도 있게 준비해 두면 다른 대학 지원 Essay도 이를 편집해 쓸 수 있다. 글자수에 대한 제한은 반드시 지켜야 하며, 영어교사나 Essay 전문가, Native Speaker의 도움을 받아 글의 내용, 전개와 형식뿐만 아니라 문법 등도 수정 받도록 한다.

	2012-2013 Common Application Essay Questions _SHORT ANSWER: Please briefly elaborate on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience). Attach your response on a separate sheet (150 words or fewer). _PERSONAL ESSAY: This personal statement helps us become acquainted with you in ways different from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. We are looking for an essay that will help us know you better as a person and as a student. Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below. Please indicate your topic by checking the appropriate box. 􀀃 Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. 􀀃 Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. 􀀄 Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. 􀀅 Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. 􀀆 A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. 􀀇 Topic of your choice

학교별 Supplemental Essay Questions 예시

Harvard University

Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so.

Possible Topics:
• Unusual circumstances in your life
• Travel or living experiences in other countries
• Books that have most affected you
• An academic experience (course, project, paper or research topic) that has meant the most to you
• A list of books you have read during the past twelve months

Johns Hopkins U

Students applying as freshmen to Johns Hopkins using the Common Application plus the Johns Hopkins Supplement must submit both the Common Application essay and both of the short answer questions below (250 word maximum each). Include your name, birth date, and the last four digits of your Social Security number on these and all other additional sheets.

Write a brief essay (250 words maximum each question) in which you respond to the following questions. (freshman applicants only):

1. Johns Hopkins offers 50 majors across the schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering. On this application, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn’t you choose? (If any past courses or academic experiences influenced your decision, you may include them in your essay.)

2. Tell us something about yourself or your interests that we wouldn’t learn by looking at the rest of your application materials. (While you should still pay attention to sentence structure and grammar, your response is meant as a way for us to get to know you, rather than a formal essay.)

UC-Berkeley

The Personal Statement
Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total.
You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words.
Stay within the word limit as closely as you can. A little over — 1,012 words, for example — is fine.

Prompt #1 (freshman applicants)
Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Prompt #2 (all applicants)
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

Georgetown U
 
Short Essay
In the space available discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (a half page)

Essay Requirement
Compose two brief essays (approximately one page each) on the topics given below. Essays should be typewritten.

Essay One
ALL APPLICANTS: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Essay Two
APPLICANTS TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE: Please relate your interest in studying at Georgetown University to your goals. How do these thoughts relate to your chosen course of study? (If you are applying to major in the FLL or in a Science, please specifically address those interests.)

U PENN

Short Answer
A Penn education provides a liberal arts and sciences foundation across multiple disciplines with a practical emphasis in one of four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, or the Wharton School. Given the undergraduate school to which you are applying, please discuss how you will engage academically at Penn. (Please answer in 300 words or less.)

Essay
Ben Franklin once said, “All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.” Which are you? (Please answer in 300-500 words.)

U Michigan Ann Arbor

Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. Approximately 250 words)
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.

Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 500 words maximum.)
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

Emory U

Many students decide to apply to Emory College based on our size, location, reputation, and yes, the weather. Besides these valid reasons for making Emory College a possible college choice, why is Emory College a particularly good match for you?