June Dear Seniors,

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Brittany Roxanne Hoover
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Dear Seniors, June 2017 This summer, in preparation for your senior year, a time when you will be called upon to write essays for college that in many ways will be mini memoirs, we are asking you to

1 Dear Seniors, June 2017 This summer, in preparation for your senior year, a time when you will be called upon to write essays for college that in many ways will be mini memoirs, we are asking you to do two things: read one full-length memoir and then write the first draft of your college essay, to be submitted to your teacher on the first day of school. Please understand that the reason for reading the memoir is to help you understand how people write about their own experiences, the ones that have left a lasting impression on their lives. After reading the memoir, the idea is for you to think of yourself as the subject of your own memoir and start your college essay. The list of memoirs to choose from can be found below, as can a list of some of the possible questions from the more popular colleges to which our students apply: List of Memoirs To Choose From: Below is a list of exemplary memoirs, written by authors from varied fields, with abridged reviews from amazon.com. Please choose one from the list below and bring it with you on the first day of class. Of course, you may choose more than one. Thinking in Pictures, by Temple Grandin: Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism because Temple Grandin is autistic, a woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us. In this unprecedented book, Grandin delivers a report from the country of autism. Writing from the dual perspectives of a scientist and an autistic person, she tells us how that country is experienced by its inhabitants and how she managed to breach its boundaries to function in the outside world. Her clear exposition of what it is like to think in pictures is immensely mind broadening and basically destroys a whole school of philosophy (the one that declares language necessary for thought). Grandin, who feels she can see through a cow s eyes, has great insight into human-animal relations. Always by My Side, by Jim Nantz In this sentimental look back, Nantz recounts his beloved father s descent into illness during his own rise to success in sports broadcasting. Sadly, as Nance finds greater recognition within the industry, the man who inspired him becomes more distant. The elder Nantz, who served as a constant benchmark for his son, is the impetus for his son s approaching his life armed with one question: What would Dad do? Nantz finds

2 father figures in his friendships with George H.W. Bush and golfer/broadcaster Ken Venturi and turns up charming stories of others he admires like Tony Dungy, Arnold Palmer and former college roommate Freddie Couples. Growing Up, by Russell Baker Russell Baker, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979, deserves to be a national treasure on the basis of this book alone. The memoir traces his youth in rural Virginia, from the death of his father when he was only five through his growing up years between the wars. The rest of the book is a paean to his mother, a strong willed optimist who never accepted defeat as an alternative to success. Her unfailing faith in the talents of her young son was not misplaced. This is an iconic and magical piece of literature, a story of courage and love, of the bonds of family in spite of tension and disagreement. This Boy s Life: A Memoir, by Tobias Wolff This unforgettable memoir, by one of our most gifted writers, introduces us to the young Toby Wolff, by turns tough and vulnerable, crafty and bumbling, and ultimately winning. Separated by divorce from his father and brother, Toby and his mother are constantly on the move, yet they develop an extraordinarily close, almost telepathic relationship. As Toby fights for identity and self-respect against the unrelenting hostility of a new stepfather, his experiences are at once poignant and comical, and Wolff does a masterful job of re-creating the frustrations and cruelties of adolescence. His various schemes running away to Alaska, forging checks, and stealing cars lead eventually to an act of outrageous self-invention that releases him into a new world of possibility. The Point of Vanishing: A Memoir of Two Years in Solitude, by Howard Axelrod This elegant, questioning memoir details that moment and events prior to it, but mostly it achingly limns Axelrod s two years living alone in a ramshackle cabin in the Vermont woods. His writing whether describing an aspect of the wilderness around him or noting the first lesson of solitude: everything really is your fault is lush and savory, exact in its intent to document just how Axelrod regained the ability to feel that quiet of already belonging. That he allows the reader to participate in this journey, from whatever distance, is more than a pleasure it s an honor.... Axelrod so adroitly and wisely re-creates the youngster he was that readers forget the passing of time, hearing only the voice of sorrow, longing, and determination. This memoir is a keeper, touching and eloquent, full of hard lessons learned. Readers will hope for more from first time author Axelrod. Booklist, Starred Review When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi When Breath Becomes Air is a powerful look at a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis through the eyes of a neurosurgeon. When Paul Kalanithi is given his diagnosis he is forced to see this disease, and the process of being sick, as a patient rather than a doctor--the result of his experience is not just a look at what living is and how it works from a scientific perspective, but the ins and outs of what makes life matter. This heartwrenching book will capture you from page one and still have you thinking long after the final sentence. Penny Mann

3 Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table, by Ruth Reichl At an early age, Ruth Reichl discovered that food could be a way of making sense of the world.... If you watched people as they ate, you could find out who they were. Her deliciously crafted memoir, Tender at the Bone, is the story of a life determined, enhanced, and defined in equal measure by a passion for food, unforgettable people, and the love of tales well told. Beginning with Reichl s mother, the notorious food poisoner known as the Queen of Mold, Reichl introduces us to the fascinating characters who shaped her world and her tastes, from the gourmand Monsieur du Croix, who served Reichl her first soufflé, to those at her politically correct table in Berkeley who championed the organic food revolution in the 1970s. Spiced with Reichl s infectious humor and sprinkled with her favorite recipes, Tender at the Bone is a witty and compelling chronicle of a culinary sensualist's coming-of-age. We have taken time to create this list and hope that our efforts are rewarded by hours of enjoyable and meaningful reading on your part. Have a good summer and enjoy the book(s). Sincerely, Dr. Carol Master Chair, English Department Arthur J. Poleyeff Principal Potential College Essays: COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY PROMPTS The word limit on the essay will remain at 650. These prompts have been designed to help all applicants, regardless of background or access to counseling, see themselves and their stories within the prompts. They are designed to invite unencumbered discussions of character and community, identity, and aspiration. 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change from last year] 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised from last year] 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised from last year]

4 4. Describe a problem you ve solved or a problem you d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change from last year] 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised from last year] 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New] 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New] COALITION ESSAY PROMPTS, Submission Guidelines With so many institutions participating in the Coalition, there are many different admissions guidelines and schools will treat these general application essays differently in their admissions processes: some schools won t require an essay at all; other schools will require one of the general essays and answers to additional school specific essays or short answer questions. Please consult the application requirements for each Coalition school in which you are interested. In general, we have found that concise, straightforward writing is often the best for college essays and that good essays are often 300 to 400 words in length. While there is no perfect length for an essay, most application readers find college essays are rarely improved when they are longer than 500 to 550 words and we strongly recommend you stay within that limit. For more information on specific application requirements, please consult the website for each institution to which you are applying, as requirements often vary. Essay Prompts: The prompts for the application years are: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution. Has there been a time when you ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)? Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

5 YESHIVA UNIVERSITY APPLICATION ESSAY, All applicants, except for Honors Program applicants, must respond to one of the following prompts in 750 words or fewer: If you could design your ideal college course, what would it be and why? Describe one time you advocated for yourself or for somebody else. Discuss the internal conflict and/or values that drove your decision to act. What, if any, were the rewards or consequences of your actions? YESHIVA UNIVERSITY HONORS ESSAYS See the essay prompts below for the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva College: Applicants must complete each essay in 750 words or fewer. 1. Argumentative Essay: Which idea or invention would you uninvent if you could? Explain. 2. Personal Essay: What book or written work do you feel should be mandatory reading for all students during their first year at Yeshiva University? Explain. See the essay prompts below for the Sy Syms Business Honors and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program: Applicants must complete each essay in 750 words or fewer. 1. Argumentative Essay: Which idea or invention would you uninvent if you could? Explain. 2. Personal Essay: What would be your ideal career? Describe how your leadership, work and/or internship experience would make you an ideal fit for this profession.

Stepping Outside the Box: The Importance of a Different Perspective Robert Brooks, Ph.D.

Stepping Outside the Box: The Importance of a Different Perspective Robert Brooks, Ph.D. I recently received an e-mail that was thought-provoking. Given the speed with which material on the internet crosses