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Tell us about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

Reflect on a moment when your actions made a difference for others.

Describe one of your passions and why it lights you up. 

These aren't just ideas for your next journal entry. They're prompts you might see when you sit down to write your college essay — one of the only places on the application where students use their own voice to tell an admissions committee about themselves.

 In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we chat about crafting a strong outline, how to keep your reader engaged, mistakes to avoid in the essay and more.

Our guest is Jennifer Hilborn, a former high school English teacher and current admissions reader at Bucknell.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Info about applying to Bucknell
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• Plan a visit to Bucknell
• @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram
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• Latest news for prospective students
• Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

We hope to see you soon — either on campus or online. <a href="https://www.bucknell.edu/admissions-aid/plan-visit?utm_so