The Activate your Resume Essay

• Select one item that you list on your resume and tell the story behind it.

Write approximately two pages. Writing significantly less or more than two pages will have a negative impact on your application.

The essay is a critical piece of your application to the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College. This is an opportunity for us to get to know you beyond your resume and avademic record. We encourage you to be creative, but remember this should be an organized essay that demonstrates your ability to write clearly, think critically and reflect on your experience. We want to know what motivates you to do more meaningful work in Honors.

Enjoy writing your essay, and we'll enjoy reading your essay.

Consider the following questions as you write. You are not expected to answer all of these questions. Choose a few that are most interesting to you.

• What does the item you chose tell us about you?
• What led up to this experience?
• How did others help or empower you? How did you help or empower others?
• What happened during this experience that was meaningful to you? Is there one specific memory you have of that experience? Tell us that story.
• Whay did you learn from this experience?
• How might this experience prepare you to do more meaningful work in the Cohen Honors College?

For more help writing your essay, check out this advice from Undergradate Admissions Officers on Purdue's Online Writing Lab.