• How basketball has changed me:

+ Introduced to different kind of music from other guys. Now listen to rap music.

+ The guys are from a different social group.

+ Have gotten confidence; even an athletic letter.

+ Have gotten more respect from other students.

+ You really get to understand the game: you can talk the talk.

+ It’s so much fun.

+ Wouldn’t give it up for anything.

+ Thrill of being at the Sports Arena for a championship game, to be a part of a championship team.

+ Love the process: everything from the coach coming out with his clipboard to talking strategy to practicing.

+ What makes a good player: Talent + smarts + practice + heart.

+ You really have to love it in order to put up with all the practices. Gets hard around the latter part of the season. Sometimes have even thought, “Can’t we just lose so that I can go home and study.”

There were all kinds of messages in the above notes that Peter wanted admissions people to get about him: there is a lot more to Peter than his brain: he is humble, has a great sense of humor, is a hard worker, and he works well on a team. Who wouldn’t want admissions officers to know this?

adMISSION POSSIBLE® TIP! Some students are tempted to use an old paper written for a high school class as an admissions essay. Be careful about doing that. Traditional high school papers are not usually what college admissions people want (unless, of course they ask for a sample high school paper). Unless a previously written paper is very personal — shows something about who you are, directly answers the essay question, and takes account of the above-mentioned writing tips, don’t use it.

6. Organize all your thoughts and write a first draft
The next step is for you to take your notes, organize them into some kind of order, and write a first draft. For the moment, don’t worry about how long it is. Also forget about making the first draft perfect. All you want to do is to get the words down. After all, you and others will edit the essay once, twice or three times after this first attempt.