67 C C ollege application essays and high school exit essays have much in common. They
are both high stakes assignments that help determine your future course. It is
important to write to the best of your ability, within the guidelines of the essay. Most
of this chapter applies to both types of essays, even if some material seems geared only toward
college admissions. Learning how to approach these essays, instead of jumping into writ-
ing as if it were a regular high school assignment, is vital to your score.
Thousands of secondary schools require a senior exit essay in order for a student to be
eligible for graduation. Unfortunately, few of them follow the same format. They vary greatly
in timing of the assignment, length, and choice of topic. Some schools assign an essay of a
few hundred words, while others expect ten pages (approximately 2,000 words) or more.
Topics could be personal and reflective, or strictly academic. It is vital that you gather all of
the information you can about every requirement before beginning your essay. A great ben-
efit of the exit essay is proximity to those who can help you. Take advantage of the fact that
those who will score your essay are right in your school. If you have any questions, you can
easily get answers.
College admissions essays are different. They are read and judged by strangers. If you have
questions, it might be difficult to get an answer from the admissions committee. But enough
C H A P T E R Untimed Essay Writing Strategies
