How long should pomona essay be

Why do you think it would be important for the Pomona student body to be exposed to this debate? Option B: Tell us about a subject that you couldn't stop exploring, a book you couldn't put down, or a Wikipedia rabbit hole you dove into. Why did it fascinate you? Option C: Pomona has a long history of bringing together students of diverse backgrounds who want to push intellectual limits and who want to engage in a community that values difference.

Write about a time when you were aware of your difference. How did it change you and what did you learn from the experience? In my view, the common thread throughout these questions is intellectual vitality. Instead, Pomona is looking for signals in these essays that the student is interested in really understanding issues from multiple viewpoints. They want students that are actually interested in investigating their blind side. How might their views be unsupported, or perhaps even wrong?

It seems to me that Pomona is actively looking for students who are interested in tackling these tough questions. Start by outlining your argument. Underline it, circle it, and highlight it. Make sure you understand exactly what you are arguing, because forgetting your thesis is the best way to waste time. Figure out exactly what you want it to be, and then make sure you can support it.

Find a couple quotes now, and make a note of where they came from. Keep your outlined notes in front of you, and type out your ideas as they come. Do not, I repeat, do not get stuck on word choice or spelling mistakes. Get your ideas out, and, no matter how ugly they might look, wait and copy-edit at the end.

Keep checking in at the beginning of each paragraph: how does this relate to my thesis? If you are having trouble with structure, go back to the basics:. Check your argument to make sure you stuck with the prompt and your thesis. Double-check your evidence to see that you supported your point. See if your organization makes sense, and that you included some transition sentences between paragraphs so it flows.

Now, copy-edit. Check for repetitious word choice, tense shifts, grammar, and spell-check. If you can delete any words from a sentence, do it. The Requirements: 1 essay of words, 2 essays of words, 5 optional essays of up to 50 words.

This prompt is nothing more or less than an academically-inclined Why essay. As you dig into the writing, aim to answer these two key questions: 1 What do you love about the subject?

In other words, your goal is not just to geek out although this is highly encouraged! So before you start scribbling away or pounding out words on your computer , remember that the backbone of any good why essay is research! Give yourself some time to dig through the Pomona website and get to know your department as well as any related programs, centers, and opportunities.

Whatever the program and whatever your reasoning, build a bridge from your lived experience to your future life as a Pomona student. Pomona College knows that you are a multifaceted person, that your identity cannot be boiled down to nuggets of information on an application. The more specific your words are, the more memorable your answers will be. Favorite way to eat a potato? Many schools ask students about their communities because they want to know how you relate to the people around you, forge connections, and commune with your peers.

In this particular instance, the question emphasizes diversity and inclusivity. How do you see diversity and inclusivity play out in your community? And, looking forward, how would you keep those values alive at Pomona next fall? If you choose this prompt, then social justice is probably pretty important to you. What keeps you up at night? Income inequality?