Students who don’t save their best term papers and essays from HIGH SCHOOL may be unable to meet application requirements for some colleges. What am I talking about? Some colleges are now asking for graded writing samples from high school junior or senior years . . . and these writing samples are REQUIRED application materials.

For example, Scripps College in southern California requires submittal of a graded, analytical writing assignment from student’s junior or senior year, preferably 3-to-7 pages in length. This paper is must be “analytical”; it should make an argument or analyze an issue or work of literature and is not creative, nor is it primarily descriptive.

Undoubtedly, the vast majority of college-bound students who are unaware of this graded-paper requirement will not save their best quality writings from high school; this may result in such students being unable to submit all required application materials to their favorite colleges and universities.

My advice for current high school students is to save all “A” graded writing assignments from sophomore, junior and senior years. Students’ best essays, term papers, laboratory projects, and any other top graded papers should be saved just in case their favorite college or university requires submittal of a particular type of writing assignment with their application for admission.