Consider whether you asked deep enough questions. Are there interesting things about your record that you missed because they are too familiar to you?

Look back at the prompts. How are you going to choose how to answer each prompt?

Step Two Activity: Organize

Look at the questions you came up with and sort them according to which prompt they best fit. Here's an example of how you can organize your questions:

·         Prompt #1 Examples:

o    Why is developing my fluency in my family's native language important to me? [Home]

o    How did my student government experiences shape my perspective on the political process and how I want to participate in shaping that process in the future? [School]

o    How has my experience working in a nursing contributed to my understanding of and desire to work on health care issues? [Community]

·         Prompt #2 Examples:

o    How did my focus on martial arts impact my grades? [Talent]

o    What did I learn about myself as a scholar by participating in a small learning community at school? [Experience]

o    How did my military service contribute to my educational choices? [Accomplishment]

o    Why is personal leadership so important to me? [Quality]

o    What impact has the service club I started at my school had on student morale and achievement? [Contribution]

Now that you've organized your thoughts a little better, you can start thinking about how you will answer each prompt. Consider the following points:

·         What topic will each response focus on? Because these are relatively short essays, you should focus on one topic per prompt.

·         Will the topic you have chosen for each prompt give you the opportunity to make the most persuasive argument? Does it answer the most pressing questions related to this prompt?

·         You may be wondering about the length of your responses. If you have a similar number of questions from your application for each prompt, consider making both responses equal length. If you have more questions for one prompt than the other, think about responding to the prompt with the most questions associated with it in a longer essay. The prompt withthe most questions associated with it is likely to be the one that you have the most to write about.

Step Three Activity: Decide on topics for your responses

Now it's time to decide on your focus for each prompt. Since you don't have many words to spare, you'll want only one topic for each prompt. Write a descriptive sentence for each prompt that details what you'll be writing about. Consider whether you have chosen the most persuasive and compelling topic for each prompt. Then make sure you have chosen the topic with the most questions associated with it for your extended response.

Writing Strategies

Before you begin writing, check out the tips and strategies below for each of the responses. Admissions readers will be looking for the following when reading your short responses:

·         Write responses that get right to the point. These are short essays, so there is little room for wandering. Don't worry about being abrupt — you need to get your information out there.

·         Use specific, concrete examples and language. Avoid generalities like "being on the track team was fun" and go right for the details. Make sure your response directly addresses the prompt, avoid a collection of facts or examples, and expand on — don't simply repeat — information contained in your application.

·         Adhere to word restrictions.Keep to the word count as closely as you can — a few words over or under the limit is okay, but be careful.