Tips on writing your application essay and résumé
Youth studies undergraduate program
Preparation
Gather information:
- Research and read about the program.
- Attend an info session to gather more information. If you can't make it to a session, contact Arien Telles, transfer admissions coordinator.
- Visit the Exploratory, Transition, and Career Services center in 127 Appleby Hall to help you edit your essay or to learn more about the program.
Writing the essay
Write a document (double-spaced, 3-4 pages, typewritten) that addresses the following five questions:
- Why did you choose the youth studies major?
- Talk about your past and current interests, experiences, and/or training that have influenced you to choose the youth studies major. If any, make sure to talk about how academic classes you have taken and/or personal learning experiences have influenced your decision to pursue this major.
- Briefly describe an adult who made a major difference in your life
and also in your vocational/career choice to work with young people?
- Discuss a significant person(s) in your life who may have inspired you to pursue an interest in working with young people. These may be teachers, parents, past employers, etc.
- What is your life experience living and/or working with people from
communities other than your own?
- Highlight your experience with diversity. Within this discussion, highlight your personal and working experiences with diverse populations/communities and how this might/have contribute to or enhance your academic study and/or personal growth.
- What local and global issues effecting young people do you find
compelling, and why?
- Talk about social issues within your community, nationally, and/or globally that you feel are important (i.e., lack of certain services for youth). These concerns and interests are usually what lead students to pursue a youth Studies major. Share why you are interested in these social concerns and relate it to why you would want to study more about them.
- What are you personal and professional goals?
- This is where you combine all your above thoughts. Integrate why you are interested in the youth studies major, the local and global social issues that you want to study, and how it relates to your personal and professionals goals. Explain how you plan to reach your goals and how the youth studies major can help prepare you to reach these goals.
Sample technology education résumé
Specific instructions by the youth studies program on what to include in your resume: a résumé highlighting knowledge and experience relevant to the field.
- Sample youth studies résumé [.doc]
- Sample youth studies résumé [.pdf]
December 2006