Diagnostic Assessment Guide

What is an Academic Essay?

An "Academic Essay," especially one focusing on the "Why Major" theme, is a personal narrative that explores your academic journey and the process that led you to choose a specific field of study. This essay type is crucial for college applications, including those for UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), as it gives the admissions committee insight into your intellectual curiosities, your dedication to your chosen field, and your potential contribution to their academic community. The core of this essay revolves around a pivotal question: Why have you decided to pursue expertise in a particular area?

So, what does an academic essay constitute? 

- Deep reflection on past experiences, academic interests, and revelatory moments that guided you towards your academic passions. Consider influential classes, books, projects, or encounters with professionals that made a significant impact.

- Aim to create a narrative that showcases your enthusiasm, resilience, and dedication to your chosen field. 

- It can include past experiences (within the academic sphere) and/or your future plans in university for the intended major. For instance, specific classes or working under specific professors who have done recognisable research in the field of study will make the essay stronger.

- Going beyond recounting events to explore how these experiences have shaped your understanding and your role (both present and future) within the academic discipline.

Consider the following pointers:

- Start with a hook: Capture the reader's attention with an interesting anecdote or fact that sets the stage for your story.

- Be specific: Use detailed examples to support your narrative and demonstrate your engagement with the subject.

- Reflect: Don't just list experiences—reflect on them. Show how they contributed to your decision to pursue a specific major.

- Connect to the future: Highlight how your chosen field of study aligns with your future aspirations and how it will enable you to achieve your long-term goals.

EXAMPLE-

•    Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250)

Points to focus on – Before answering the how, you need to address the ‘why’ and the ‘what’. Why do you plan to do your intended major? 

The fact that intricate structures such as trade, markets, and people can be dissected using a mere three questions always leaves me enthralled:

“What to produce, how to produce, and who gets it?”

A similar trifecta dominated my work with Dr. Poornima Dore. Researching India's regional economic composition, we used three forms of access—to markets, finance, and labor—to map differences between districts. Unironically, we discovered that the lack of growth could be pinned down to three broad reasons—a lack of innovation, casteist policies, and perverse political incentives. (This sentence explains one of the instances that led to their academic interest). 

My goal at USC is to further my understanding of the forces that shape policy design and contribute to the exploration and discovery within the university. In particular, I aspire to contribute to the work being conducted at the USC Center for Economic Development, especially the research on Economic Inclusion and Inequity. By focusing on housing policies and their impact on local economies, I hope to bring a fresh perspective to its ongoing analysis of the Los Angeles community. (The ‘how’ part extends between the second and concluding paragraphs by further breaking it down into two parts. The second paragraph mentions what exactly the student wants to do within public policy. i.e., research on Economic Inclusion and Inequity).

In pursuit of academic excellence, I aim to learn from and collaborate with esteemed faculty members like Prof. Yan Tang, Prof. Adam Rose, and Prof. Julie Marsh. Their groundbreaking work on resource dependency, economics of disasters, and urban governance, respectively, would prove to be diverse and exciting milestones during my quest to understand the externalities and long-term effects of policy through the intricate dance of the 'threes', and spur me towards a career bringing about meaningful developmental changes through policy research and policymaking. (While the concluding paragraph talks about how they can achieve that through the help of professors. A good strategy would be to include the university statement or some words relevant to your intended major).

What is a Creative Essay?

A "Creativity Essay" offers a broad canvas for showcasing your originality and innovative thinking, emphasizing activities and projects that highlight your creative talents and break from conventional norms, and is particularly valued in Western educational contexts for their emphasis on unconventionality and interdisciplinary pursuits. This type of essay encourages you to share unique aspects of your personality and experiences that differentiate you from other candidates, allowing for a wide range of topics beyond academic achievements.

What does a Creative Essay consist of?

- Exploring themes of creative academic projects in STEM fields. For example, creating an app to help deliver essentials such as food or medicine to people during COVID or creating a website to assist the local library with bookkeeping. It can also include the theme of helping underprivileged groups of people through technology. 

- The topics can also range to long-term commitments in activities like dance, music, or sports, showcasing a deep commitment and passion (typically five years or more).

- Describing a recent personal experience that significantly changed your perspective, revealing new aspects of your personality. This can include a summer school you were a part of or activities like camping, hiking, and artistic pursuits.

- Highlight your capacity for introspection, personal growth, and learning from life's unpredictable moments.

Key strategies for a compelling creativity essay include:

- Emphasizing the uniqueness of your creative pursuits or experiences and their impact on your personal development.

- Reflecting on how these activities or experiences demonstrate your innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to engage with complex challenges.

- Connecting your creative endeavours to broader life goals or how they have shaped your outlook and aspirations.

EXAMPLE-

•  For one week at the end of January, Reed students upend the traditional classroom hierarchy and teach classes about any topic they love, academic or otherwise. This week is known as Paideia after the Greek term signifying “education” – the complete education of mind, body, and spirit. What would you teach that would contribute to the Reed community? (200 words minimum, 500 words maximum)

As part of my Paideia course, I would teach crisis management (addressing the ‘what topic’) a subject with immense benefits for students' well-being. I find this topic intriguing as it challenges individuals to think critically and creatively when faced with crisis situations (the why; why are they choosing this topic). My teaching approach will involve exploring the impact of crises on the human body and its influence on rational decision-making. Additionally, I will emphasize the connection between crisis management and diverse cultural traditions. In my own cultural background of India, I have discovered the use of a chant called 'Hare Krishna, Hare Hare' which, upon investigation, has been found to slow down the heartbeat and increase oxygen concentration in the bloodstream due to its ingressive sounds that require inhalation to produce (the how).

I believe it is crucial to approach crisis management from a multicultural perspective, examining how different cultures and religions spiritually and physically address crisis situations. This can be achieved through engaging in discussions and real-life demonstrations within the local Portland community. (Here, the student explains why this is an important topic to be taught).

(The second half of the essay elaborates on the keywords of the prompt, which are "education of mind, body, and spirit". It explains that education doesn't necessarily have to be limited to academic pursuits. It can also encompass a lifestyle course that would help a student become more well-rounded as an individual).

Incorporating the Paideia course, I would also provide training on basic first aid, including administering Narcan and clearing airways. This additional knowledge will empower students to make a positive impact on the surrounding local community of Reed campus.

By fostering a discourse on crisis management, I aim to shed light on a topic that is often overlooked yet significantly affects everyone. Acquiring crisis management skills can equip individuals to be valuable contributors to their communities.

As someone who has navigated multiple crises, it would be a fascinating opportunity to study and teach crisis management from mental, physical, and spiritual perspectives (‘literally’ addressing the keywords of the prompt), benefiting the Reed community by enhancing their understanding of their own physical, emotional, and spiritual processes for crisis management, an experience that is universally shared. 

What is a Community/ Community Service Essay?

A "Community Service Essay" plays a pivotal role in university applications, reflecting the significance of social contribution and engagement within academic environments. These essays vary widely, both in structure and in the interpretation of 'community' and 'community service,' offering a platform to demonstrate your commitment to societal betterment and personal growth through volunteerism. Depending on the prompt, the focus may range from detailing a singular community service project to discussing your role and learnings within a specific community.

What do Community Essays comprise?

- When focusing on a specific community service activity, such as volunteering at an NGO or working with low-income families, detail the project's scope, your contributions, and its impact on the community to demonstrate your commitment and ability to create change.

- When discussing your role in a community, make sure to define your community, i.e., you belong to a community of basketball players, young entrepreneurs, or even a part of your locality. Share experiences, challenges faced, and personal growth, highlighting your deepened understanding of community needs and improved interpersonal skills. This can also include any measures you took to make ‘your’ community a better place.

- For essays on diversity and contribution, explain how community service has given you unique perspectives and skills which will contribute to the university's diversity. Discuss how these experiences have expanded your worldview, promoting inclusivity and empathy, and how they align with the university's values.

Key strategies for a compelling community service essay include:

- Providing specific, detailed examples of your community service to offer a clear, impactful narrative of your engagement.

- Reflecting on personal growth and learnings derived from your service, emphasizing how these experiences have shaped your values and approach to community involvement.

- This essay type is an opportunity to underscore your dedication to community service, your ability to initiate and contribute to meaningful change, and the diverse perspectives you bring to enrich the academic and social community of the university.

EXAMPLE – 

When I joined the Incognito Blueprints Research Bootcamp, I did not anticipate working with a team from different parts of the world – from Gujarat in India to Romania. Our team transcended the boundaries of ethnicities, age, and backgrounds. Despite our differences, we shared a love for coding and science, which helped us create a unique web-based extension promoting local and minority-owned small businesses. As the oldest member, I learned to lead the team and coordinate meetings across different time zones, forging lasting friendships and becoming more adaptable to new environments. (The introductory paragraph highlights the student’s experience with a diverse group of people and how they were united by a common interest, i.e., commitment towards community service).

Colgate's commitment to an inclusive community resonates with my personal values. Having grown up in a multicultural city has taught me the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and learning from lived experiences different from my own. I believe that Colgate's diverse environment will provide me with the opportunity to do the same on a global platform. (Here, the student talks about how diversity plays an important role in her life by citing her upbringing in India).

By actively engaging in Colgate Conversations, participating in weekly Brown Bag discussions, and immersing myself in community-building exercises at the ALANA Cultural Centre and the Colgate International Community, I aim to interact with a diverse range of individuals, enhance my teamwork and communication skills, and cultivate a global perspective in the most rewarding manner. Furthermore, having the opportunity to learn from esteemed faculty members like Dr. Abdel Isakovic and Dr Grusha Prasad, who have made remarkable contributions to science and possess unique life experiences, will serve as inspiration, nurturing my cultural competence and motivating me to approach problems from multiple angles. (The conclusion answers the tag question of the prompt and talks about how the student would want to continue collaborating with a diverse body of people over their passion for CS).