Friday, August 21, 2020
How to Write the Colorado College Supplement TKG
How to Write the Colorado College Supplement Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, CO. The undergraduate population is comprised of about 2,100 students. One of the most unique things about Colorado College is the Block scheduling system. Instead of the typical college schedule where you take 3-5 courses per semester or quarter, you take 1 class at a time. You attend class every day M-F from 9am-12pm for 3.5 weeks. Students then have a long weekend and begin a new class the next Monday. This repeats 4x per semester, and there are two semesters per year. We break down their supplement below:How did you learn about Colorado College and why do you wish to attend? (no more than 500 words)The way that Colorado College phrases this question makes it seem like it is a âWhy X School?â question, which it is, but it has a bit of a twist. They want to know why you want to attend, yes, but they also want to know HOW you learned about it. You have 500 words, so theyâre asking you to tell them a story. We start stories with a personal experience. So that is where youâd start for this story as well. The checklist for your story must be:A topic that hasnât yet been explored in your applicationA personal story that reflects a new side of yourselfBUT, not a story that reflects a side of yourself or a topic that is completely out of left fieldYour application should be continuous. Your background, goals, and interests are listed throughout your application (just once!) because the entire application as a package is being submitted. Your essays, test scores, extracurriculars, the list goes on...all together, they tell a story. This story, your Colorado College supplement, should be a part of that larger narrative. It should be new information, but it shouldnât stand out in the context of your application.The rule of thumb here is to start with an interest, and then incorporate the school from there. There isnât an obvious way to address the âhow,â because you likely didnât come across Colorado College in some sort of a magical way. Unless you have an incredibly story, weâd suggest starting with the âwhy.â Talk about your interest(s), give some context to them, and discuss how you plan to pursue those interests at Colorado College. Discuss why Colorado College is particularly unique in having the resources/offering the class/employing the professor/funding the extracurricular program that interests you. We had an engineering and computer science student tell a story from her childhood about how she became interested in computer scienceâ"then from there, she delved into the unique computer science opportunities that sheâd want to get involved in at the college. Your interests come first, and the college is a vehicle for expanding your interests. The essay itself was interesting and fun to read because there was a beginning, a middle, and an end. Ultimately, youâre trying to draw your admissions reader in with your language. You want them t o envision you on the campus, in the classroom, and contributing meaningfully to the community.The Block Plan at Colorado College has a tradition of innovation and flexibility. Please design your own three-and-a-half week course and describe what you would do. (no more than 500 words)This is one of our favorite supplement questions. The great thing about this question is that you can get ultra-specific and creative.Here are the rules:Donât create a course that directly mirrors something youâve already done. Itâs already on your application. Itâs done. Search, search more, and search again to make sure that Colorado College does not offer anything remotely like this course.There needs to be a title, a course description, and a list of required readings. It should reflect what it would look like in the college handbook.We suggest that you start with a problem, and then work backwards. Decide on a problem you want to solve and go from there. Social issues are a great way to s tart, but that shouldnât limit you. Notice that they use the word âinnovation.â This means that they are solution-oriented. This can mean inefficiencies, big or small. The course should aim to understand the problem as well as dive into the history of and various solutions to the problem. The best supplements are the ones that solve problems that the student is passionate about in a genuine way.How to find a genuine passion? Think about books, courses, and projects that youâve worked your way through that were solely based on your interests. What are you so fascinated in that you routinely find yourself hitting âPlayâ on YouTube video #31 on the topic at 12:04AM. What is so worth your time and brain energy that it doesnât even feel exhaustingâ"it feels like youâre fueling your spirit the more than you understand this topic. Once youâve determined a topic, you should take a look at the 300/400/500 level courses at the college to understand the structure of a course and how specific the classes get. At that point, itâs no more âWestern Political Tradition.â The classes are more like, âThe Cuban Revolutionâ and âIntervention, the Drug War and Human Migration: The U.S.-Latin American Relationship.â Theyâre not asking you to design a survey course here.One example that we came up with is:Fascination topic: Uberâs rise?Sub-topics: Artificial intelligence, economics, independent contractors, employment, technology, U.S. job market?Name of the class: What Will Robots Do Once Theyâre Uber Drivers: An Exploration of A.I.âs Impact On The Job MarketFrom there, youâll write up a brief class description and offer a couple of required texts. Remember, the course is only 3.5 weeks long so you donât have time to consume a lot of information. Keep it intentional and well thought out.Let us know if you need any help at all. We know this one is more challenging, but that just means itâs an opportunity to stand out. Weâd be happy to help you create an amazing supplement to Colorado College.
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