134 / Types of Writing
Depending on the college or university, your final copy may be submitted electroni-
cally or in print. Follow their guidelines.
SAMPLE CoLLEGE ADMISSIoN APPLICATIoN ESSAY
This sample essay is a response to the following college admission application topic:
Discuss some issue of local or national concern and its importance to you.
Last year our community destroyed part of its own heritage when the wrecking ball brought
down the ornate Gothic structure that was once the railroad station. Such was the media’s
wording: The wrecking ball brought it down. In fact, we, the citizens of this community, brought
it down. Mincing words to avoid blame falls short of accepting reality. Although city officials pur-
portedly made an attempt to locate potential developers, many of us questioned their serious-
ness. Deadlines, extended twice, came and went with “not even a nibble” of interest. So now
the old railroad station is gone. Its demolition testifies that historic preservation, only a fancy
word for some local individuals with stately old homes, lacks meaning for the general citizenry.
How sad. For instance, many contemporaries living in the fast lane lack the roots that give
stability and sense of direction from the perspective of where they have been. In contrast, the
picture in our family album shows Mother, aged twelve, standing in the crowd waiting at the
railroad station for debarking passengers, steam puffing from beneath passenger-train cars.
Grandma and Grandpa stand together, their suitcases pried against a post, waiting for Uncle
Frederick’s approaching surrey. That is “heritage.” That is where I came from, my family, a pic-
ture that tells me more than names and places. Their lifestyle spills out for me. But the station
is gone. My children will never see what they should not have been denied. They will not walk
through waiting rooms or hallways where their great-grandparents walked; they will not share
the heritage. The sabotage hangs as a sin on this community’s shoulders.ANALYSIS of THE SAMPLE
The preceding essay response achieves what is discussed in the explanation and pro-
cess analysis in this section. Note these specifics:
- The response to the topic takes a local approach and adds personal interest.
The destruction of a railroad station has obviously affected the writer; so as
a result, the essay gives her an opportunity to respond specifically to an issue
that matters. - Specific details abound. Readers see the structure of the station (Gothic), learn
about the family (through the details in the photograph), and recognize the
writer’s reaction (should not have been denied, sin on this community’s shoulders). - The response allows a glimpse of the writer’s personality. (Do you not have an
idea now what the writer’s interests are?) - The writer uses a good variety of sentence structures and an effective
vocabulary to demonstrate command of the language.
College admissions people who read these kinds of essays take note of the writers!