Time Traveling Through Your College Application Essays: A Journey Back to Your Past Self (and Maybe Some Embarrassment)
Remember those college essays? The ones you poured your heart and soul into, agonizing over every comma and semicolon, praying that they’d be the key to unlocking the doors of your dream schools? Well, guess what? Those essays are still out there, floating around in the digital ether, waiting to be unearthed.
But before you embark on this nostalgic journey, consider this: It’s like opening a time capsule, and you might discover a version of yourself that’s a little… cringe-worthy. Maybe you were a bit too dramatic, or perhaps your writing style was a touch too… passionate. (Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to read my own application essays, especially the ones I wrote about my unwavering love for the color blue.)
So, Why the Need for a Time Machine?
Maybe you’re curious about how far you’ve come since those application days. Or perhaps you’re looking for inspiration for a new writing project. Whatever your reason, it’s good to know that the College Board does have your back (or at least your old essays).
How to Find Your Lost College Essays: A Guide for the Time Traveler
1. The College Board: Your Portal to the Past
The College Board is the gatekeeper to your old essays. It’s like a digital vault, holding all your academic secrets, including those cringe-worthy essays you wrote about your passion for the color blue. To access this vault, you’ll need to:
- Log in to your College Board account. If you’ve forgotten your login credentials, don’t panic! There’s an option to reset your password.
- Head to the Common App section. You’ll find your application essays stored in PDF format on your dashboard.
2. The Common App: A Digital Time Capsule
The Common App, that ubiquitous application portal that every college-bound student knows and sometimes dreads, is also your key to unlocking the vault of your past essays.
- Sign into your Common App account. Just like with the College Board, if you’ve forgotten your password, there’s an option to reset it.
- Venture into your dashboard. There, you’ll find the PDF copies of your submitted applications, including your essays.
3. The College Board’s Score Reporting System: Your SAT Score History
If you’re looking for your SAT scores, the College Board has a special system for that. It’s like a digital hall of fame for your academic achievements (or maybe a little bit of a reminder of those scores you wouldn’t mind forgetting).
- Log in to your College Board account. (You’re starting to feel like this account is the key to your entire academic history, aren’t you?)
- Go to the “Past Score Sends” section. This will show you all the colleges, universities, and scholarship programs that you’ve sent your SAT scores to.
4. AP Scores: The Proof You Were Once a Student (and Maybe Even a Genius)
Want to relive those glory days when you aced AP exams? The College Board has got you covered.
- Log in to your College Board account. (You’re getting pretty good at this by now, right?)
- Head to the “Past Score Sends” section. You can see a history of all the AP scores you’ve sent to colleges, universities, and scholarship programs.
5. The “Lost and Found” of AP Essays: Requesting Your Free-Response Booklet
If you’re looking for a way to revisit those AP essays, you’re in luck! The College Board allows you to request a copy of your free-response booklet, which includes your essays. Just be prepared to pay a small fee (it’s only $10 per booklet).
- Fill out the Free-Response Booklet Request Form. You can find this form on the College Board website.
- Submit your request by September 15 of the year you took the AP Exam.
6. The College Board’s Customer Service: Your Last Resort
If all else fails, you can always contact the College Board customer service. They’re like the librarians of your academic past, ready to help you find those lost essays.
- Call the College Board customer service number at 866-756-7346 if you’re in the US, or 212-713-7789 if you’re outside the US.
What to Do With Your Found Essays: A Guide for the Time Traveler
So, you’ve finally found your lost college essays. What’s next?
- Take a trip down memory lane. Read through your essays and see how far you’ve come since those application days. Maybe you’ll be surprised by your insights or even a little bit embarrassed by your writing style.
- Use them as inspiration for a new writing project. Maybe you’re working on a personal essay or even a novel. Revisiting your old college essays could spark some creative ideas. (Just don’t copy and paste them directly, that would be a major academic faux pas.)
- Share them with your friends and family. They’ll probably get a good laugh out of your youthful enthusiasm or maybe even a little bit of cringe-worthy awkwardness.
A Word of Caution: The Past Can Be a Bit Harsh
Remember, those old essays are like a snapshot of your past self. You might not agree with everything you wrote or even like the person you were back then. But that’s okay! It’s all part of the journey.
So, grab a cup of coffee, put on your favorite music, and take a trip down memory lane. Who knows what you might discover? And if you’re feeling brave, you can even share your old essays with the world. Just make sure to warn them about the cringe-worthy moments.
Still have questions about how to look at your old college board essays? Need more help navigating the digital labyrinth of your academic past? Join us at JobLoving! We’re a community of career-minded individuals ready to offer advice, support, and a healthy dose of laughter.