emerson college metaphor essay

Emerson College

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Emerson College’s 2024-25 Essay Prompts

Why this major short response.

As you know, the academic programs at Emerson College are focused on communication and the arts. Please tell us what influenced you to select your major. If you‘re undecided about your major, what attracted you to Emerson‘s programs? Please be brief (100-200 words).

Honors Program Essay

We often use metaphors to help us understand our world and persuade others. Write about a metaphor that you think is powerful, and explore its potential to be helpful and/or harmful in your thinking.

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

Please respond, briefly in 100-200 words, to one of the following:

Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why?

At its best, how does community benefit the individual, the whole, or both?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Honors Program Applicant Requirements

Undergraduate Admission

Eligibility & Requirements for First-Year Students

Eligibility & deadlines for second-year students, honors essay topic.

The Honors Program is an intellectual and creative community that provides a four-year, interdisciplinary, collaborative learning experience for academically motivated incoming students from all communities. The Honors Program supplements study in a student’s chosen major with a challenging liberal arts curriculum composed of interdisciplinary seminars, collaborative research projects, and faculty-directed independent study.

Each year, Emerson invites 50 applicants of exceptional ability and promise to join the Honors Program. Students are selected based on their past academic achievements, creative accomplishments, and demonstrated leadership in academic or community spaces. To be considered for the Honors Program, students must apply as they enter Emerson College as first-year students or as rising sophomores.

Eligibility

Admission to the Honors Program is competitive and only first-year students applying for September Admission are eligible. Students applying to one of our global partnership programs (e.g., Global BFA or Global BA programs) are not eligible for Honors Program consideration. Each fall, approximately 50 first-year applicants enroll in the Honors Program. Beginning in Fall 2023, each Honors Program Scholar is also awarded a $15,000 Trustees Scholarship, which is renewable for up to eight semesters at the College.

All eligible first-year students, regardless of major, are invited to apply to the Honors Program. Your Honors Program application decision has no bearing on your admission decision to the College. Students can be accepted to the College without being invited to the Honors Program.

First-year admission into the Honors Program is determined by the Honors Program Director and the Office of Undergraduate Admission .

The Honors Program selection process is competitive and only those first-year students applying for September Admission are eligible. Selection is based on personal and academic qualities and potential, such as:

Strong analytical and writing skills, as demonstrated by the supplemental essay
Excellent academic performance in a challenging high school curriculum
Commitment to community and service
Creative accomplishments
Demonstrated leadership

To remain in the Honors Program, students must maintain a 3.3 (B+) cumulative quality point average and a 3.0 (B) average in Honors courses.

Application Requirements

To be considered for the Honors Program, incoming first-year students must complete the following:

Complete all general requirements for undergraduate admission by the appropriate deadlines.
Complete and submit a 400 to 600 word Honors Program essay by November 15 (for Early Decision I and Early Action candidates), January 15 (for Early Decision II candidates) or January 31 (for Regular Admission candidates). This essay is in addition to the Common Application and Application Supplements required by the Office of Undergraduate Admission. The essay may either be uploaded with the Common Application at the time of submission or may be uploaded within the Admission Portal after submitting your Undergraduate application.

Contact the Office of Admission at 617-824-8600 or admission [at] emerson.edu (admission[at]emerson[dot]edu) to learn more about applying.

Selection into the Honors Program for rising sophomores is determined by the Honors Program Director. Because the program adheres to strict enrollment numbers, the number of open spaces is very limited. A select number of sophomore applicants are admitted into the Honors Program each fall. Rising sophomore students chosen for the Honors Program are recognized for their intellectual and creative achievements at Emerson.

Students are notified of their admission to the Honors Program by early to mid-June. Sophomore admits will take the Sophomore Honors Seminars during the Fall and Spring of their sophomore year (HS 201/2). Though students admitted into the program as rising sophomores will not take the First-Year Honors Seminars (HS101 and HS102/103), they must fulfill their Literary Perspective and US Diversity general education requirements.

Each rising sophomore student admitted to the Honors Program is awarded a Trustees Scholarship, which is renewable annually up to a maximum of six semesters, as long as the student remains in the Honors Program and is enrolled as a full-time Emerson student. Students needing to attend fewer than six semesters to complete their degree will only receive the scholarship for those semesters. The scholarship can only be applied to undergraduate level courses in fall and spring semesters, not winter or summer term. The Trustees Scholarship supersedes any previous scholarship offer that may have been made by the institution.

All materials must be submitted to the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts via the online application system by * May 1 . The application system will be available beginning April 1 .

This includes:

Completed Application Form, available via the online application system
Letter of application (1–2 pages, double-spaced) stating your reasons for applying, detailing what you can contribute to the Honors Program’s community of scholars, and why you want to write an honors thesis.
A short essay addressing the topic of the Honors Admission essay found on application form.
An academic writing sample from a class at Emerson (critical or expository essay).
Two letters of recommendation from Emerson faculty members. Applicants will select the names of their professors directly via the online application, and faculty will be notified to upload their letter. (One letter should be from your first-year IN seminar instructor, the second from either a professor in one of your liberal arts classes or a professor in one of your major courses.)
Unofficial transcripts of courses taken at Emerson College and elsewhere

Contact Honors Program Director Jon Honea at jon_honea [at] emerson.edu (jon_honea[at]emerson[dot]edu) or Associate Director in the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts Nicole Martignetti at Nicole_Martignetti [at] emerson.edu (nicole_martignetti[at]emerson[dot]edu) to learn more about applying.

Please respond to the following in 400–600 words: We often use metaphors to help us understand our world and persuade others. Write about a metaphor that you think is powerful, and explore its potential to be helpful and/or harmful in your thinking.

Our Honors Program allows you to take advantage of individual advising, special lectures, interdisciplinary fulfillment of Emerson’s general education requirements, collaborative research projects, and special extracurricular activities. You will also receive mentoring and interact with peers from across all years of the Honors Program. Through social events and community service projects, you become an integral part of the Honors Program’s “community of learners.”

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Honors Program Essay

How are people approaching this years question? I’m having a little trouble getting 400 words out on a metaphor. “Please respond to the following in 400-600 words: We often use metaphors to help us understand our world and persuade others. Write about a metaphor that you think is powerful, and explore its potential to be helpful and/or harmful in your thinking.”

What I decided to do was to compare the question to something I didn’t like about myself, and then described how that harmed/helped my thinking

I found a metaphor from one of my favorite books that related high school to the prologue of a novel and everything afterwards to the “real story”. I wrote about the ways in which I thought that statement was accurate and the ways I disagreed, based on personal experience.

I used a cliched one and share my experience with it in artistic exploration.

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Mastering Emerson College's 2024 Supplemental Essays

Emerson College is renowned for its strong focus on communication and the arts, making it a top choice for creatively inclined students. For the 2024 admissions cycle, Emerson College has introduced new supplemental essay prompts designed to gain insight into applicants’ motivations and personal stories. Let's delve into the best strategies to approach these prompts effectively.

Emerson College's Essay Prompts for 2024

This year, Emerson College asks applicants to respond to two supplemental essay prompts:

“As you know, the academic programs at Emerson College are focused on communication and the arts. Please tell us what influenced you to select your major. If you're undecided about your major, what attracted you to Emerson's programs? Please be brief (100-200 words).”

In 100-200 words, respond to one of the following: “Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why?” OR “At its best, how does community benefit the individual, the whole, or both?”

How To Tackle the First Essay Prompt

The first essay is your opportunity to convey what excites you about your chosen major—or, if you’re undecided, what draws you to Emerson’s unique programs. This requires introspection and specificity.

Be Specific: Detail the moment(s) that inspired your interest in your major. Avoid general statements. Instead, pinpoint experiences—like a defining class, project, or personal experience—that directed you toward this field.

If Undecided: Emphasize the qualities of Emerson’s programs that appeal to you, such as experiential learning opportunities, specific faculty members, or the college’s reputation in the arts and communication fields. Highlight how these resources will help you explore your options.

Conciseness is Key: With just 100-200 words, every sentence must add value. After drafting, revise to ensure clarity and brevity.

To ensure your essay captures your unique perspective, consider using resources like Sups AI . This AI college counseling platform offers brainstorming tools and can provide feedback, helping to refine your essay and make it stand out.

How to Tackle the Second Essay Prompt

For the second essay, you have two choices, either of which can showcase your creativity or reflection on community:

Story of Your Life: Think about a title that reflects your journey. This could be a metaphor, a literal statement, or something in between. Explain the choice by linking it to significant life events or core aspects of your personality.

Community's Impact: Reflect on how communities you’ve been part of (like your school, neighborhood, or a club) have shaped you and others. Highlight specific examples and link them to broader implications on personal growth and collective well-being.

Reflect Deeply: Whether discussing your life story or community, dig beneath the surface. Offer genuine insights rather than broad platitudes.

Make It Personal: Sharing anecdotes or personal reflections makes your response memorable and relatable.

Stay Focused: As with the first prompt, be concise and make every word count within the 100-200 word limit.

Need a second pair of eyes? Sups AI connects you with current students for one-on-one chats where you can get personalized feedback and tips on your essays. With their help, you can ensure your essay resonates with Emerson's admissions team.

Final Thoughts

Applying to Emerson College is an exciting opportunity to join a vibrant, creative community. By thoughtfully responding to the supplemental essay prompts, you can demonstrate your passion and fit for the college. Remember, platforms like Sups AI are invaluable resources to craft and perfect your essays. Good luck!

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