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are optional essays really optional: The Enlightened College Applicant Andrew Belasco, Dave Bergman, 2023-05-15 Deluged with messages that range from “It’s Ivy League or bust” to “It doesn’t matter where you go,” college applicants and their families often find themselves lost, adrift in a sea of information overload. Finally—a worthy life preserver has arrived. The Enlightened College Applicant speaks to its audience in a highly accessible, engaging, and example-filled style, giving readers the perspective and practical tools to select and earn admission at the colleges that most closely align with their academic, career, and life goals. In place of the recycled entrance statistics or anecdotal generalizations about campus life found in many guidebooks, The Enlightened College Applicant presents a no-nonsense account of how students should approach the college search and admissions process. Shifting the mindset from “How can I get into a college?” to “What can that college do for me?” authors Bergman and Belasco pull back the curtain on critical topics such as whether college prestige matters, what college-related skills are valued in the job market, which schools and degrees provide the best return on investment, how to minimize the costs of a college education, and much more. Whether you are a valedictorian or a B/C student, this easy-to-read book will improve your college savvy and enable you to maximize the benefits of your higher education. |
are optional essays really optional: Hey AdmissionsMom Carolyn Allison Caplan, 2019-03-15 Welcome to a no-nonsense, unconventional approach to college admissions! Hey AdmissionsMom: Real Talk from Reddit from the voices of r/ApplyingToCollege, with Carolyn Allison Caplan, aka u/admissionsmom FRONT DOOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS HELP Discover what over 100,000 engaged r/ApplyingToCollege subscribers are learning about as they discuss a fresh approach to college admissions. With Hey AdmissionsMom, Carolyn and the kids from r/ApplyingToCollege give you a place to stop trying to figure out what your top schools want in you and instead ask yourself, What do I want out of life when I leave high school? What do I see for myself? You're a talented, interesting student, and when you really know who you are, you're going to make the best decisions for yourself As a sophomore or junior entering the college admissions process, maybe you're overwhelmed by the paperwork, school descriptions, test score requirements, extracurricular activity options, and the daunting task of figuring it all out without losing yourself. Others of you already started the college admissions process and feel okay about your applications, but you're struggling with the personal statement or essays. Or, you want permission not to be a carbon copy of the ideal student and want out-of-the-box ways to be yourself, both in life and in the admissions process. And you're not just managing your expectations, but also your parents. College admissions can be especially intimidating if your high school sucks, you're first in your family to go to college, or you haven't always been a model student. You might also be a concerned parent or mentor looking for a guide designed not to stress you and your kid out and might even help with that as you learn the ropes of college admissions. For all the times you or your high school student thought, There has to be a better way, when you hear advice about high-performance, achievement, and crazy amounts of EC's (extracurriculars)... You were right. You just found it. Hey AdmissionsMom: Real Talk from Reddit In this refreshingly honest, irreverent digest of college admissions questions and answers from u/admissionsmom and the subreddit, r/ApplyingToCollege, you'll find 37 bite-sized chapters of practical information, inspiring personal stories, insider tips, and yes, we have to be honest about this here - the occasional swear word, too. The time is NOW for you to: Focus on who you are, what you want from life, and how college fits into your goals, not the reverse Write essays and personal statements that actually sound like you, the real you Stop being one of 50,000 students applying to the same 20 colleges Stay positive even if you're not valedictorian or you didn't cure cancer (nobody else has either -- yet) Find questions asked by students just like you, so you don't feel alone or like you're the only one who doesn't already have it all figured out Take a deep breath as you learn about mindfulness By the end of Hey AdmissionsMom: Real Talk from Reddit, you will have peeled back the layers of your authentic self and be able to appreciate your personality traits, interests, and talents as you breathe and apply to college with a smile. |
are optional essays really optional: Is Reality Optional? Thomas Sowell, 2020-06-19 Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his thoughts on politics, race, and common sense with a section at the end for thought-provoking quotes. |
are optional essays really optional: College Admission Essays For Dummies Geraldine Woods, 2011-06-15 The competition to get into your college of choice has never been fiercer. Unfortunately, much of the application process is out of your hands. But one major aspect of the admission process is under your control—your personal statement. Your application essay provides you with the opportunity to let your true, unique and totally irresistible self shine through. College Admission Essays For Dummies is your total guide to crafting application essays that will make people sit up and take notice. It demystifies the authority figures who’ll judge your work, helps you decide what to write, and then arms you with the knowledge and skills you need to write your essay on time and on target. Step by step, it walks you through the entire essay-writing process, offering priceless tips on how to: Choose the best topic, tone, and structure for your essay Capture the crucial stories that reveal who you are Avoid common pitfalls that can sabotage your application Overcome writer’s block Know how to respond to unusual and off-the-wall essay questions Write successful short answers to specific application questions College admission guru Geraldine Woods punctures common myths about application essays and tells you what you absolutely must do to write a good one. With the help of many inspiring and instructive killer essays, she shows you how to: Put yourself in the right mental state for writing well Gather ideas, focus on a topic and choose the best structure for your essay Use topic sentences, detail, and strong introductions and conclusions Write a rough draft Show rather than tell your story Make sure your spelling and grammar are pitch perfect Create smooth transitions and avoid repetitions Your college application essay is your chance to show the committee that you’re more than just a statistic. Let College Admission Essays For Dummies show you how to write “admit-clinching” college essays. |
are optional essays really optional: College Essay Essentials Ethan Sawyer, 2016-07-01 Let the College Essay Guy take the stress out of writing your college admission essay. Packed with brainstorming activities, college personal statement samples and more, this book provides a clear, stress-free roadmap to writing your best admission essay. Writing a college admission essay doesn't have to be stressful. College counselor Ethan Sawyer (aka The College Essay Guy) will show you that there are only four (really, four!) types of college admission essays. And all you have to do to figure out which type is best for you is answer two simple questions: 1. Have you experienced significant challenges in your life? 2. Do you know what you want to be or do in the future? With these questions providing the building blocks for your essay, Sawyer guides you through the rest of the process, from choosing a structure to revising your essay, and answers the big questions that have probably been keeping you up at night: How do I brag in a way that doesn't sound like bragging? and How do I make my essay, like, deep? College Essay Essentials will help you with: The best brainstorming exercises Choosing an essay structure The all-important editing and revisions Exercises and tools to help you get started or get unstuck College admission essay examples Packed with tips, tricks, exercises, and sample essays from real students who got into their dream schools, College Essay Essentials is the only college essay guide to make this complicated process logical, simple, and (dare we say it?) a little bit fun. The perfect companion to The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2020/2021. For high school counselors and college admission coaches, this is an essential book to help walk your students through writing a stellar, authentic college essay. |
are optional essays really optional: Graduate Admissions Essays, Fifth Edition Donald Asher, 2024-07-16 The fully updated fifth edition of the go-to guide for crafting winning essays for any type of graduate program or scholarship, including PhD, master's, MD, JD, Rhodes, and postdocs, with brand-new essays and the latest hot tips and secret techniques. Based on thousands of interviews with successful grad students and admissions officers, Graduate Admissions Essays deconstructs and demystifies the ever-challenging application process for getting into graduate and scholarship programs. The book presents: Sample essays in a comprehensive range of subjects, including some available from no other source: medical residencies, postdocs, elite fellowships, academic autobiographies, and more! The latest on AI, the GRE, and diversity and adversity essays. Detailed strategies that have proven successful for some of the most competitive graduate programs in the country (learn how to beat 1% admissions rates!). How to get strong letters of recommendation, how to get funding when they say they have no funding, and how to appeal for more financial aid. Brand-new sample supplemental application letters, letters to faculty mentors, and letters of continuing interest. Full of Dr. Donald Asher's expert advice, this is the perfect graduate application resource whether you're fresh out of college and eager to get directly into graduate school or decades into your career and looking for a change. |
are optional essays really optional: Creating a Class Mitchell L Stevens, 2009-06-30 In real life, Stevens is a professor at Stanford University. But for a year and a half, he worked in the admissions office of a bucolic New England college known for its high academic standards, beautiful campus, and social conscience. Ambitious high schoolers and savvy guidance counselors know that admission here is highly competitive. But creating classes, Stevens finds, is a lot more complicated than most people imagine. |
are optional essays really optional: The Law School Admission Game Ann K. Levine, 2013 Learn everything you need to know to get into law school. This re-written and completely updated version of the bestselling law school admission guide (first published in 2009) provides detailed information on how to present yourself in the law school application process. Ann Levine brings more than a decade of experience in law school admissions (as director of admissions for law schools and as a law school admission consultant) to provide advice about writing the best law school personal statements, how to choose people to write letters of recommendation, what to include in your resume, how to explain weaknesses in your application such as a low GPA or LSAT score, the best way to prepare for the LSAT, and how to choose a law school. Once you've submitted your law school applications, this book will continue to guide you on getting accepted from a waiting list, negotiating law school scholarships, and transferring to a new law school after your 1L year. The book includes sample resumes with annotations, an analysis of personal statement introductions, tips on writing optional essays for law schools, and sample addenda. Even if you are a non-traditional applicant, an international student, or if you have learning disabilities, you will find tips specific to your situation. |
are optional essays really optional: 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays Dan Erck, Pavel Swiatek, 2004-09 The staff of the Harbus, the Harvard Business School's newspaper, presents essays that got their writers into the #1 business shool in the nation, with tips to help readers do that same at Harvard--or elsewhere. |
are optional essays really optional: Law School Essays that Made a Difference Eric Owens, 2014 The inside word on law school admissions. To get into a top law school, you need more than high LSAT scores and excellent grades--you also need a personal statement that shines. Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition, gives you the tools to craft just that. This book includes: - 70 real essays written by 63 unique law students attending Columbia, Harvard, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and other top law schools--along with each applicant's test scores, GPA, and admissions profile - An overview of law school admissions and tips for prepping your applications - Insider advice: Interviews with admissions pros at 17 top law schools, including Berkeley, Northwestern, UCLA, and many more Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition, includes essays written by students who enrolled at the following law schools: American University Washington College of Law Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Columbia University School of Law Cornell University School of Law Duke University School of Law Emory University School of Law Georgetown University Law Center Harvard University Law School New York University School of Law Northwestern University School of Law The University of Chicago Law School University of Michigan Law School University of Pennsylvania Law School University of Virginia Law School Yale University Law School |
are optional essays really optional: On Writing the College Application Essay Harry Bauld, 2001 Offers tips on how to write meaningful essays for college admission applications. Includes sample essays. |
are optional essays really optional: College Essays that Made a Difference, 4th Edition Princeton Review, 2010-09-14 College Essays That Made a Difference, 4th Edition includes real-life essays written by applicants to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, MIT, and more, as well as complete application profiles of over 100 students, including test scores, GPAs, demographic information, and where they got in and where they didn't. College Essays That Made a Difference, 4th Edition includes essays submitted to the following schools: Amherst College Bard College Barnard College Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr College California Institute of Technology Carleton College Claremont McKenna College Columbia University The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College Duke University Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Georgetown University Hamilton College Harvard College Kenyon College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Middlebury College New College of Florida New York University Northwestern University Pomona College Princeton University Reed College Rice University Smith College Stanford University Swarthmore College Tufts University University of California–Los Angeles University of California–San Diego University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania Washington & Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University Whitman College Williams College Yale University |
are optional essays really optional: Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition The Princeton Review, 2015-02-10 The inside word on law school admissions. To get into a top law school, you need more than high LSAT scores and excellent grades—you also need a personal statement that shines. Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition, gives you the tools to craft just that. This book includes: • 70 real essays written by 63 unique law students attending Columbia, Harvard, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and other top law schools—along with each applicant’s test scores, GPA, and admissions profile • An overview of law school admissions and tips for prepping your applications • Insider advice: Interviews with admissions pros at 17 top law schools, including Berkeley, Northwestern, UCLA, and many more Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition, includes essays written by students who enrolled at the following law schools: American University Washington College of Law Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Columbia University School of Law Cornell University School of Law Duke University School of Law Emory University School of Law Georgetown University Law Center Harvard University Law School New York University School of Law Northwestern University School of Law The University of Chicago Law School University of Michigan Law School University of Pennsylvania Law School University of Virginia Law School Yale University Law School |
are optional essays really optional: Measuring Success Jack Buckley, Lynn Letukas, Ben Wildavsky, 2018-01-15 Once touted as the single best way to measure students from diverse backgrounds, schools, and experiences, standardized college admissions tests are now criticized for being hopelessly biased in favor of traditionally privileged groups. Out of this has emerged the test-optional movement that seeks to allow students to apply to schools without sitting through the rigors of the SAT. This book takes a step back and applies rigorous empirical measurements to these rival claims. Drawing upon the expertise of higher education researchers, admissions officers, enrollment managers, and policy professionals, this edited volume is among the first to investigate the research and policy implications of test-optional practices. It was conceived in response to the editors' frustration with the fragmented and incomplete state of the literature around the contemporary debate on college admissions testing. Many students, teachers, parents, policymakers--frankly, nearly anyone immediately outside the testing industry and college admissions--have little understanding of how admissions tests are used. This lack of transparency has often fueled beliefs that college assessments are biased, misused, or overused. Decades of research on various aspects of testing, such as the predictive validity of assessments, makes a compelling case for their value. But all-too-frequently researchers and admissions officers talk past one another instead of engaging substantively. This collection intends to remedy the situation by bringing these disparate voices together. This book is designed for provosts, enrollment managers, and college admissions officers seeking to strike the proper balance between uniformity and fairness-- |
are optional essays really optional: College Essays that Made a Difference Princeton Review (Firm), 2012 Earlier editions, 1-2, cataloged as monographs in LC. |
are optional essays really optional: 55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays Staff of the Harvard Crimson, 2014-07-08 Harvard Law School is the premier law school in America. It as well as other top schools draw thousands of applicants from the best colleges and best companies from around the world. As the admissions departments become more and more selective every year, the competition becomes even fiercer, and even the best and brightest need an edge. 55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays is the best book for anyone looking for that edge. Through the most up-to-date sample essays from the Harvard Law School students who made the cut and the most insightful critiques advice from the staff at The Harvard Crimson, it teaches applicants how to: * Stand out * Argue their case effectively * Arrange their accomplishments for maximum impact * Avoid common pitfalls 55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays guides applicants toward writing essays that reveal their passion for the law, the discipline they bring to this demanding profession, and the strength of character they possess for the ethical and moral challenges that lie ahead. The no-nonsense advice and all new essays give applicants all the help they'll need to write the essays that will get them in to the best law schools in the world-- |
are optional essays really optional: Are You Ready for the SAT and ACT?, 2nd Edition The Princeton Review, 2016-05-17 It's never too soon to start preparing for the SAT and ACT. From the experts at The Princeton Review, this book helps ambitious 7th, 8th, and 9th graders build the critical reading skills they need to succeed on both tests and beyond! Whether or not you like it, the truth is that scoring well on standardized tests is undeniably important in today's academic environment. The SAT and ACT verbal portions test important reading comprehension skills that many students are unprepared for—or need extra help with. In this book, The Princeton Review brings you a focused, strategic approach to improving crucial reading skills for both exams. Inside, you'll find: A Strategic Approach to Sharpening Your Skills • Zero in on specific wording to unlock hidden info • Pinpoint the primary purpose of reading passages • Analyze source texts, brainstorm, and compose your essays to best effect Fun, Engaging Activities and Drills • Identify the puzzle pieces that make up words • Decpiher unfamiliar vocabulary with context clues • Tackle practice SAT and ACT essay prompts This book has been specially formatted for on-screen viewing with cross-linked questions, answers, and explanations. |
are optional essays really optional: What It Really Takes to Get Into Ivy League and Other Highly Selective Colleges Chuck Hughes, 2003-04-22 The ultimate insider's guide to getting into the nation's most competitive colleges Written by a former senior admissions officer at Harvard University, this book provides keen insights into what it takes to get into America's top schools. With the help of case studies of successful Harvard applicants, Charles Hughes II defines the goals and mission of highly selective schools. He explains the relative weight given to: Academics Extra-curricular activities Personal qualities Intangibles in the admission process Hughes breaks down the components of the application, explaining the significance of each and how they are evaluated. And, drawing upon his extensive experience, he clues readers in on effective ways for applicants to improve their candidacy, including: How to prepare early in high school How to write a better application How to find the school best suited to their interests, personality, and goals With this essential guide, students will be able to present their talents in the best light possible, and create a winning college application. |
are optional essays really optional: The College Application Essay Sarah Myers McGinty, 2012-07-17 The 25th- anniversary edition of this best-selling guide gives students simple strategies to maximize the opportunity to tell us about yourself. Updated to reflect the experience college applicants face today, this book provides a clear path to an essay that says, Pick me!-- |
are optional essays really optional: College Admission Essentials Ethan Sawyer, 2020-07-21 You can get into the perfect school! You may think that getting an acceptance letter from selective colleges and universities is a mad dash to the top that only the very best students survive, and those who make it are just the lucky ones. Stress levels soar as it feels like the bar is rising higher and everything is out of your control. But that's not true! You can take control, and you can do it in a way that's as effective as it is empowering. From describing your extracurriculars to interviews with admission officers, it comes down to two questions: What matters most to you? How does it manifest in your life? The answers will give direction to every part of the admission process. Ethan Sawyer (the College Essay Guy), along with dozens of top admission experts, will help you stand out by showing colleges and universities how your values and your drive will change you, your alma mater, and the world. Inside you'll find... Advice and insight from a team of counselors, advisors, and deans of admission Interactive exercises that quickly and easily provide the best content for your application Access to a massive database of online resources, including organizational tools and in-depth guides Guidance for veterans, students with learning differences, LGBTQ+ students, students interested in women's colleges or HBCUs, and more www.collegeessayguy.com |
are optional essays really optional: The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges Sidonia Dalby, Sally Rubenstone, 1993-01 Discusses when and where to transfer, financial aid, transcripts, applications, and interviews |
are optional essays really optional: The College Application Essay, 6th Ed. Sarah Myers McGinty, 2015-07-07 This popular guide helps students write essays that win admission Winning college application essays take admission officers beyond the numbers and shows them what the students really care about, how they think, and who they really are. But even the best of students can be daunted by the task. This easy-to-follow guide provides the tools to tell a memorable story. Updated to reflect recent changes to the all-important Common Application, which nearly all applicants to competitive colleges use, this book provides a clear path to an essay that says, Pick me! Features: -Best approaches to the new Common Application questions -Clues to how colleges read essays -Simple steps for successful drafts -Revision strategies -Quick fixes for procrastinators -The right role of parents in the process Critiques of actual sample essays guide students toward the best practices and away from common mistakes. No other book on this topic has this breadth and depth of expertise. |
are optional essays really optional: The Admissions Meg Mitchell Moore, 2015-08-18 From the bestselling author of Vacationland comes a novel that perfectly captures the mania of the college admissions process as a seemingly perfect family comes undone by a few desperate measures, a long-buried secret—and a teenage girl's application to Harvard. “A fun, fast-paced, completely engrossing tale of a California family trying to get their eldest daughter into Harvard.... Brilliant and enjoyable on every level.” —Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of 28 Summers The Hawthorne family has it all: great jobs, a beautiful house in one of the most affluent areas of northern California, and three charming kids with perfectly straight teeth. Then comes eldest daughter Angela’s senior year of high school. Suddenly, everyone is floundering. As Angela writes and rewrites her application for Harvard—her father's alma mater—and struggles to maintain her position as valedictorian, Nora Hawthorne’s career hits a rough patch, taking her away from a newly distracted husband and uncharacteristically anxious younger daughters. And as the secrets everyone has been keeping will come to light, it sets the family on a final collision course that will force them to reevaluate, with humor and heart, the value of achievement. |
are optional essays really optional: Who Gets In and Why Jeffrey Selingo, 2020-09-15 From award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo comes a revealing look from inside the admissions office—one that identifies surprising strategies that will aid in the college search. Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good college.” Hint: it’s not all about the sticker on the car window. Selingo, who was embedded in three different admissions offices—a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus—closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers. While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that “who gets in” is frequently more about the college’s agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors—like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted. One of the most insightful books ever about “getting in” and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an unusually intimate look at how admissions decisions get made, but guides prospective students on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests. |
are optional essays really optional: The Enlightened College Applicant Andrew Belasco, Dave Bergman, 2016-08-30 Deluged with messages that range from “It’s Ivy League or bust” to “It doesn’t matter where you go,” college applicants and their families often find themselves lost, adrift in a sea of information overload. Finally—a worthy life preserver has arrived. The Enlightened College Applicant presents a no-nonsense account of how students should approach the college search and admissions process. Instead of providing recycled entrance statistics or anecdotal generalizations about campus life, authors Belasco and Bergman incorporate cutting-edge data and research to pull back the curtain on critical topics such as: Whether college prestige really matters, How to maximize your college admission prospects Which schools and degrees provide the best return on investment How to minimize the costs of a college education What college-related skills are valued in the job market, and much more. Whether you are a valedictorian or a B/C student, this easy-to-read book will improve your college savvy and enable you to maximize the benefits of your higher education. |
are optional essays really optional: Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions Sally Rubenstone, Sidonia Dalby, 2002 Discusses college choice, tests, finance, the application process, the admission decision, and other concerns. |
are optional essays really optional: 55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays Staff of the Harvard Crimson, 2007-06-26 Here, 55 of the successful applicants to Harvard Law School share the essays that helped them make the cut. Each is analyzed by the staff of the Harvard Crimson and accompanied by no-nonsense advice to help readers craft their own winning essays. |
are optional essays really optional: The Common Law Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1909 |
are optional essays really optional: The Years that Matter Most Paul Tough, 2019 The bestselling author of How Children Succeed returns with a devastatingly powerful, mind-changing inquiry into higher education in the U.S. |
are optional essays really optional: Law School Essays that Made a Difference, 4th Edition Princeton Review, 2010-09-14 One of the best ways to stand out in a crowd of law school applicants is to write an exceptional personal statement. Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 4th Edition, contains 70 real application essays as well as interviews with admissions pros and with students who've been through the process and made it to law school. Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 4th Edition includes essays submitted to the following schools: American University Washington College of Law Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Columbia University School of Law Cornell University Law School Duke University School of Law Emory University School of Law Fordham University School of Law The George Washington University Law School Georgetown University Law Center Harvard University Law School New York University School of Law Northwestern University School of Law Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey School of Law–Camden South Texas Law College of Law Stanford University School of Law University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law University of Chicago Law School University of Colorado–Boulder School of Law University of Houston Law Center University of Michigan Law School University of New Mexico School of Law University of Ottawa Faculty of Law University of Pennsylvania Law School University of St. Thomas School of Law University of Texas at Austin School of Law University of Virginia School of Law University of Wisconsin Law School Vanderbilt University Law School Yale University Law School |
are optional essays really optional: The Old New Thing Raymond Chen, 2006-12-27 Raymond Chen is the original raconteur of Windows. --Scott Hanselman, ComputerZen.com Raymond has been at Microsoft for many years and has seen many nuances of Windows that others could only ever hope to get a glimpse of. With this book, Raymond shares his knowledge, experience, and anecdotal stories, allowing all of us to get a better understanding of the operating system that affects millions of people every day. This book has something for everyone, is a casual read, and I highly recommend it! --Jeffrey Richter, Author/Consultant, Cofounder of Wintellect Very interesting read. Raymond tells the inside story of why Windows is the way it is. --Eric Gunnerson, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation Absolutely essential reading for understanding the history of Windows, its intricacies and quirks, and why they came about. --Matt Pietrek, MSDN Magazine's Under the Hood Columnist Raymond Chen has become something of a legend in the software industry, and in this book you'll discover why. From his high-level reminiscences on the design of the Windows Start button to his low-level discussions of GlobalAlloc that only your inner-geek could love, The Old New Thing is a captivating collection of anecdotes that will help you to truly appreciate the difficulty inherent in designing and writing quality software. --Stephen Toub, Technical Editor, MSDN Magazine Why does Windows work the way it does? Why is Shut Down on the Start menu? (And why is there a Start button, anyway?) How can I tap into the dialog loop? Why does the GetWindowText function behave so strangely? Why are registry files called hives? Many of Windows' quirks have perfectly logical explanations, rooted in history. Understand them, and you'll be more productive and a lot less frustrated. Raymond Chen--who's spent more than a decade on Microsoft's Windows development team--reveals the hidden Windows you need to know. Chen's engaging style, deep insight, and thoughtful humor have made him one of the world's premier technology bloggers. Here he brings together behind-the-scenes explanations, invaluable technical advice, and illuminating anecdotes that bring Windows to life--and help you make the most of it. A few of the things you'll find inside: What vending machines can teach you about effective user interfaces A deeper understanding of window and dialog management Why performance optimization can be so counterintuitive A peek at the underbelly of COM objects and the Visual C++ compiler Key details about backwards compatibility--what Windows does and why Windows program security holes most developers don't know about How to make your program a better Windows citizen |
are optional essays really optional: Business School Essays That Made a Difference, 5th Edition Princeton Review, Nedda Gilbert, 2012-09-15 Real essays written by MBA hopefuls-with commentary from admissions experts |
are optional essays really optional: How to Prepare a Standout College Application Alison Cooper Chisolm, Anna Ivey, 2013-08-26 Demystifying the process of completing a college application Written by two former admissions officers at top universities and current admissions coaches, this book is a must-have for preparing a winning college application. The authors reveal the mystery behind what college admissions officers are looking for and show applicants how to leverage their credentials, stand out in the over-crowded applicants' pool, and make a genuine, memorable impression. This is the book that will help the college-bound get off the like many others pile and onto the acceptance list. Includes instructions and examples for every component of the college application, from writing the essay to answering questions like Why do you want to go to College X? Shows how to avoid underestimating the importance of critical features on any application Includes the latest information on the Common Application 4.0 and corrects outdated, holdover advice still stressed in many other books This book is filled with step-by-step advice that students and parents can use immediately and will refer to again and again. |
are optional essays really optional: Work Optional Tanja Hester, 2019-02-12 A practical action guide for financial independence and early retirement from the popular Our Next Life blogger. In today's work culture, we're expected to hustle around the clock. But what if you could escape the traditional path and get on one that doesn't require working full-time until age 65? What if you could wake up every day without an alarm clock and do the things you love most? Tanja Hester and her husband Mark left their crazed careerist lifestyle to live their dream life in Lake Tahoe, retiring early from high-stress careers. Now Tanja will help you map out a customized plan for freedom and make it easy to succeed, whether you're good at math and budgeting -- or not! Work Optional is more than just a financial plan: it's a plan for your whole life -- designed by you, not by an employer or clients. Tanja walks you through envisioning your dream life, accounting for variables such as health care and children, protecting yourself from recessions and future unknowns, and achieving a purpose-filled early retirement, semi-retirement, or career intermission with completely doable, non-penny-pinching steps. You can live a happier, more meaningful life, free from the daily grind. Regardless of where you are in your career, Work Optionalwill get you there. |
are optional essays really optional: How Will You Measure Your Life? (Harvard Business Review Classics) Clayton M. Christensen, 2017-01-17 In the spring of 2010, Harvard Business School’s graduating class asked HBS professor Clay Christensen to address them—but not on how to apply his principles and thinking to their post-HBS careers. The students wanted to know how to apply his wisdom to their personal lives. He shared with them a set of guidelines that have helped him find meaning in his own life, which led to this now-classic article. Although Christensen’s thinking is rooted in his deep religious faith, these are strategies anyone can use. Since 1922, Harvard Business Review has been a leading source of breakthrough ideas in management practice. The Harvard Business Review Classics series now offers you the opportunity to make these seminal pieces a part of your permanent management library. Each highly readable volume contains a groundbreaking idea that continues to shape best practices and inspire countless managers around the world. |
are optional essays really optional: Hacking Elite College Admissions Gaelle Pierre Louis, 2020-07-27 Did you know that most elite colleges typically accept only about 2,000 students for their incoming class? That means that of the 34,000 valedictorians, class presidents, and star athletes graduating from high school every year, an average of only 6% applying to selective colleges will be accepted. Given the stiff competition, you may be wondering, how you can stand out in the college admissions process. In Hacking Elite College Admissions: 50 Surprising Insights on the College Application Process, you will learn: How to write a meaningful college admissions essay The role of testing and grades in the admissions process How to motivate your advocates, i.e. guidance counselors, teachers, mentors, to write excellent letters of recommendation on your behalf How to apply for scholarships in order to make college affordable While the college application process can be overwhelming, this comprehensive guide includes expert advice from admissions officers to help guide you through this process with accurate up-to-date information. You do not need to do this alone! On the Back Cover: Please include Foreword on the Back Cover of my book. Foreword by John Branam, Executive Director of Get Schooled Foundation |
are optional essays really optional: The Best ACT Math Books Ever, Book 1 Brooke P. Hanson, 2019-03-14 An in-depth study guide for the ACT math section by a perfect scoring tutor. Book 1 in a two-book series. |
are optional essays really optional: The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015-09-21 A New York Times Bestseller Winner of the James Beard Award for General Cooking and the IACP Cookbook of the Year Award The one book you must have, no matter what you’re planning to cook or where your skill level falls.—New York Times Book Review Ever wondered how to pan-fry a steak with a charred crust and an interior that's perfectly medium-rare from edge to edge when you cut into it? How to make homemade mac 'n' cheese that is as satisfyingly gooey and velvety-smooth as the blue box stuff, but far tastier? How to roast a succulent, moist turkey (forget about brining!)—and use a foolproof method that works every time? As Serious Eats's culinary nerd-in-residence, J. Kenji López-Alt has pondered all these questions and more. In The Food Lab, Kenji focuses on the science behind beloved American dishes, delving into the interactions between heat, energy, and molecules that create great food. Kenji shows that often, conventional methods don’t work that well, and home cooks can achieve far better results using new—but simple—techniques. In hundreds of easy-to-make recipes with over 1,000 full-color images, you will find out how to make foolproof Hollandaise sauce in just two minutes, how to transform one simple tomato sauce into a half dozen dishes, how to make the crispiest, creamiest potato casserole ever conceived, and much more. |
are optional essays really optional: The Oxford Book of Essays John Gross, 2008 The essay is one of the richest of literary forms. Its most obvious characteristics are freedom, informality, and the personal touch--though it can also find room for poetry, satire, fantasy, and sustained argument. All these qualities, and many others, are on display in The Oxford Book of Essays. The most wide-ranging collection of its kind to appear for many years, it includes 140 essays by 120 writers: classics, curiosities, meditations, diversions, old favorites, recent examples that deserve to be better known. A particularly welcome feature is the amount of space allotted to American essayists, from Benjamin Franklin to John Updike and beyond. This is an anthology that opens with wise words about the nature of truth, and closes with a consideration of the novels of Judith Krantz. Some of the other topics discussed in its pages are anger, pleasure, Gandhi, Beau Brummell, wasps, party-going, gangsters, plumbers, Beethoven, potato crisps, the importance of being the right size, and the demolition of Westminster Abbey. It contains some of the most eloquent writing in English, and some of the most entertaining. |
are optional essays really optional: Writing Essays For Dummies, UK Edition Mary Page, Carrie Winstanley, 2010-12-23 This straight-talking guide will help you develop your essay-writing skills and achieve higher marks Do ever wish that you could write the perfect university essay? Are you left baffled about where to start? This easy-to-use guide walks you through the nuts and bolts of academic writing, helping you develop your essay-writing skills and achieve higher marks. From identifying the essay type and planning a structure, to honing your research skills, managing your time, finding an essay voice, and referencing correctly, Writing Essays For Dummies shows you how to stay on top of each stage of the essay-writing process, to help you produce a well-crafted and confident final document. Writing Essays For Dummies covers: Part I: Navigating a World of Information Chapter 1: Mapping Your Way: Starting to Write Essays Chapter 2: Identifying the essay type Part II: Researching, Recording and Reformulating Chapter 3: Eyes Down: Academic reading Chapter 4: Researching Online Chapter 5: Note-taking and Organising your Material Chapter 6: Avoiding Plagiarism Part III: Putting Pen to Paper Chapter 7: Writing as a process Chapter 8: Getting Going and Keeping Going Part IV: Mastering Language and Style Chapter 9: Writing with Confidence Chapter 10: Penning the Perfect Paragraph Chapter 11: Finding Your Voice Part V: Tightening Your Structure and Organisation Chapter 12: Preparing the Aperitif: The Introduction Chapter 13: Serving the Main Course: The Essay’s Body Chapter 14: Dishing up Dessert: The Conclusion Chapter 15: Acknowledging Sources of Information Part VI: Finishing with a Flourish: The Final Touches Chapter 16: It’s all in the detail Chapter 17: Perfecting Your Presentation Chapter 18: The afterglow Part VII: Part of Tens Chapter 19: Ten Tips to Avoid Things Going Wrong Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Make Your Essay Stand Out |
OPTIONAL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of OPTIONAL is involving an option : not compulsory. How to use optional in a sentence.
OPTIONAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
OPTIONAL definition: 1. If something is optional, you can choose if you want to do it, pay it, buy it, etc.: 2. If…. Learn more.
OPTIONAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
adjective left to one's choice; not required or mandatory: Formal dress is optional. Synonyms: voluntary, elective, discretional leaving something to choice. optional / ˈɒpʃənəl /
Optional - definition of optional by The Free Dictionary
Define optional. optional synonyms, optional pronunciation, optional translation, English dictionary definition of optional. adj. Left to choice; not compulsory or automatic. op′tion·al·ly adv. …
optional adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...
Definition of optional adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
OPTIONAL - Definition & Translations | Collins English Dictionary
Discover everything about the word "OPTIONAL" in English: meanings, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one comprehensive guide.
Optional Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary
Optional definition: Left to choice; not compulsory or automatic.
Optional - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
If you can choose whether or not to do something, it is optional. Extra credit is always optional; death and taxes are not. When you buy a new car, you can decide which options or choices, …
Optional Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
Jackets are required at the restaurant, but ties are optional. Many optional features are available on this car. Registration is optional, not mandatory.
OPTIONAL | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary
OPTIONAL meaning: If something is optional, it is available but you do not have to have it: . Learn more.
OPTIONAL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of OPTIONAL is involving an option : not compulsory. How to use optional in a sentence.
OPTIONAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
OPTIONAL definition: 1. If something is optional, you can choose if you want to do it, pay it, buy it, etc.: 2. If…. Learn more.
OPTIONAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
adjective left to one's choice; not required or mandatory: Formal dress is optional. Synonyms: voluntary, elective, discretional leaving something to choice. optional / ˈɒpʃənəl /
Optional - definition of optional by The Free Dictionary
Define optional. optional synonyms, optional pronunciation, optional translation, English dictionary definition of optional. adj. Left to choice; not compulsory or automatic. op′tion·al·ly adv. …
optional adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...
Definition of optional adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
OPTIONAL - Definition & Translations | Collins English Dictionary
Discover everything about the word "OPTIONAL" in English: meanings, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one comprehensive guide.
Optional Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary
Optional definition: Left to choice; not compulsory or automatic.
Optional - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
If you can choose whether or not to do something, it is optional. Extra credit is always optional; death and taxes are not. When you buy a new car, you can decide which options or choices, …
Optional Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
Jackets are required at the restaurant, but ties are optional. Many optional features are available on this car. Registration is optional, not mandatory.
OPTIONAL | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary
OPTIONAL meaning: If something is optional, it is available but you do not have to have it: . Learn more.