How to Write an Ivy League Opening Line

As this academic year is quickly drawing to a close, I have my sights on summer vacation - paddle boarding in Walden Pond with thoughts of Thoreau, trucking through Big Sky Country in our Winnebago with Pickle's (my dog) tongue happily licking the whipping wind - and just yesterday, I spent an hour or more in Barnes & Noble carefully selecting all that I want to read during these luxuriously warm days.

And as I stood there pulling books from shelves, I was reminded of my days working college admissions --- reading a few lines and saying to myself: nah ... too boring ... and: wow ... I absolutely can't wait to turn every single one of these pages.

This is why crafting a jaw-dropping opening line is so crucial in the college personal statement process.

Like a scrimmage before a big first match, today's video gives us a wee bit of practice to hone this skill.

I have created a rhetorical situation, and students can let their imaginations fly as they try to peg down a stellar opening line.

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