College Office Autobiography Sheet

Here's the College Office's remarks on creating your college autobiography:

GUIDE FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Purpose:
The purpose of this essay is to help the College and Career Office write a recommendation in support of your application for college admission. Admissions personnel want us to provide information beyond what they see on your transcript. Therefore, your autobiographical essay is crucial because it enable us to get to know you so that we can write strongly on your behalf. This essay should not be a list of your courses or extra curricular activities. Instead, it should reflect your personality and help us to see you as an individual. This essay does not go to the colleges; however, it may become the foundation for college essays you will later submit with your applications.

 Content: In general, it is best to concentrate on the present (your high school years) with a view towards the future. You may select a theme from the following suggestions or choose a topic that you feel reveals something unique about you.

 1. Family: How has your family influenced you to become the person you are? What special circumstances do you feel College Admissions should be aware of, such as: illness or a death in the family, relocation, divorce, etc,; factors that may have affected you or your ability to achieve your full potential or inspired you to do your best.

 2. School: a) How has your academic program reflected your interests and future goals? Have you pursued any related studies outside of school? (Give specific data.) DO NOT give you’re your course grades. b) What are the most meaningful extracurricular activities in which you have participated? What, specifically, did you do? How have those experiences benefited you, the school and/or the community? How are they related to your interests and goals?

3. Special Interest/Future Goals: What special interests (music, athletics, hobbies, etc.) occupy your personal spare time and your summers? What specifically have you done in pursuit of these interests? Are they related to your personal goals and plans for the future? How? What do you expect to prepare for? (If you are undecided, say so.) What choices have you considered? Why d you think you’d like such work?

4. Work Experience: What jobs have you had? What, specifically did you do? What were your responsibilities? Specify whether this work was part-time (after school), summer employment, salaried or volunteer. What did you learn in skills, self awareness, understanding of others, etc.? In what way was the work related to your ideals, future goals or needs?