GRADE 11 READING AND WRITING

LESSON 16:
APPLICATION LETTER FOR
COLLEGE ADMISSION

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God, send the grace of Your Holy Spirit on me to strengthen me that
I may learn well the subject I am about to study and by it become a
better person. Let Your blessings of happiness and prosperity with
success dwell within my shelter on this day and in the days to come.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son and the prayers of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. Amen.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the period, it is expected that I can:
• identify the features and parts of an effective application letter for college admission;
• write an effective college admission application letter that projects a professional image; and
• observe ethics in writing a college admission application letter.

INTRODUCTION:
Most of the prestigious college institutions and universities in the world require an application
letter for admission, so it is important to know how to design one that can set you apart through the
information you can provide as an aspiring candidate. Your letter of application tells the admission’s
office about you in a little more depth than your formal application. It can show your interest in a specific
school and why you would be a good fit for that particular program. The letter of application does not
have any requirements for length or content but including enough key information can make
an admission officer feel like they really know you as a complete person after reading it.

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SWITCH ON!
ACTIVITY 1: Mix ‘n’ Match!

DIRECTIONS: Arrange the scrambled letters or words to form a word or phrase in the first column.
Then, match your answer with the corresponding word that relates them with each other in the second
column. Write your answer on the separate sheet of paper.
COLUMN A COLUMN B

1. GEELLOC A. Ateneo de Davao University

__________
2. VERSIUNITY B. Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
__________
3. ESCUOR C. CHED
__________
4. AMDRE D. Jose Maria College
__________
5. EDUCATION ON HIGHER COMMISSION E. Future
________________________________

WARM UP!
ACTIVITY 2: INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY!

Imagine that you have just graduated from senior high school and have decided to pursue your
college education at one of the top universities in the Philippines. Choose a college or university to
which you want to submit your admission application. Consider the course you wish to pursue and
explain why. Additionally, provide details such as the location of the school and your financial standing.
Write your answer on the separate sheet of paper.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

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LET’S LEARN!

ACTIVITY 3: PRESENTATION OF CONCEPTS!

A college application letter shows your interest in the university while justifying why you are
qualified at the same time. It also serves as a cover letter for all your other college admission
documents. As with any other correspondence, it follows a standard letter format. Generally, a college
admission application presents your academic qualifications, accomplishments, and reasons for
applying for admission.

PARTS OF COLLEGE ADMISSION APPLICATION LETTER

1. Letterhead - identifies the writer’s name, address, email, and contact number.

2. Date Line - is placed between the letterhead and the inside address.

3. Inside Address - identifies the reader’s name, position, and school, and address; it is placed
immediately below the date.

4. Salutation - refers to the writer’s greeting to the reader.

Three formats:
- Dear Sir:
- Sir:
- Dear Mr. Garcia:

5. Introduction

1. State who you are and what you are applying for.
2. State an eye-catching statement about yourself that will cause the reader to continue reading
your qualifications.
3. Show your enthusiasm to study in the university you are applying to.

6. Body

1. Present your academic qualifications, extracurricular involvement, community activity

engagements, and some personal qualities with specific evidence.
2. Organize your thoughts and segregate them into paragraphs. You may separate paragraphs by
theme (one paragraph for academic qualifications and one for extracurricular activities).
3. State the benefits the university can obtain by admitting you. Do not just give facts; explain how
these facts will benefit the university.

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7. Conclusion

1. Indicate your interest for an interview.

2. Indicate how the interviewer can contact you.
3. Express your hope for a positive response from the Admission Director.
4. Say thank you.

8. Complimentary Close – refers to the expression used to end a letter.

Below is the level of formality of the complimentary close.

Highly Formal Respectfully yours, Respectfully, Very respectfully

Polite and Formal Very truly yours, Yours very truly, Yours truly
Less Formal Sincerely yours, Yours, Cordially yours
Informal and Friendly As ever, Best regards, Kindest regards, Regards

9. Signature Block – includes the writer’s signature and the typed name. The typed name can be
in all caps (HARRY DAMUS) or CLC format (Harry Damus)

TIPS IN PREPARING AN APPLICATION LETTER

“I just read your application letter.

You seemed to forget that “UNIVERSITY” HAS ONLY ONE ‘N.”

Look at the illustration above and briefly discuss with your seatmate whether you think or
not the student will be accepted by the administrator.
To avoid a similar situation, it is important to make a good impression through your letter.
The following tips will help you write a persuasive and interesting application letter.

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Content
1. The application letter must not simply repeat the content of your academic records. Emphasize
concrete examples.
2. Address the letter to a specific person. If you do not know the specific addressee, call the
university and ask.
3. Market yourself by presenting your academic qualifications, extracurricular activities, and
community engagements. Tell the university that you have a unique or special skill to offer and
how these skills are relevant to the university.
4. Do not begin with an awkward statement such as: “Let me tell you something about myself. My
names is….”
5. Highlight two or three of your most significant accomplishments or abilities. Avoid superfluous
information.
6. Avoid fancy statements such as “I think ABC University is the best university in the entire world.”
Instead, be realistic and provide specific reasons why you believe the university is perfect for
you.
7. Be factual. Never misrepresent yourself by overstating your experience and skills. In short, do
not exaggerate.
8. Minimize opinions about yourself. When you claim one, be sure to support it with specific and
factual evidence.
9. Do not beg for admission (e.g., “Please take me in because this is my only hope for success. I
am desperately eager to study in your university.”)
10. As you write, imagine that you are writing a script for your interview: how you can break the ice
at the beginning of the interview; how you can convey a positive personality; the things you want
to talk about during the interview; and what you hope to get from the interview.
11. Read everything there is about your target college or university. Be sure to match your letter to
the mission-vison of the university.
12. Focus on your strength and avoid mentioning any weaknesses.

Language
1. Use the active voice and verbs that denote action.
2. Be sure to have correct grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and usage. Avoid jargon, cliches, and
verbosity. Readers expect good grammar and writing. Any typographical and grammatical errors
may cause the reader to question your competence.
3. Be direct to the point so as not to lose the interest of your reader.

Format and Mechanics

1. Use letter-sized bond paper with a 1- to 1.5-inch margin on all slides; limit the letter to one to two
pages.
2. Do not forget to put your signature above your name.
3. Use a letterhead. Include all your full name, address, phone number, and email address.
4. Use a business letter format (block, full block, semi-block, or simplified).
5. Use a font size of at least 10 points and maximum of 12.
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SAMPLE COLLEGE ADMISSION APPLICATION LETTER

Teresa P. Juan
101 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila Letterhead
Contact No.: +63975-200-1111
Email: teresapjuan@yahoo.com

January 15, 2017 Dateline

Mr. Frederick P. Ralta

Director, University Admission Office Inside Address
C&E University
Sampaloc, Manila

Dear Sir: Salutation

Good day!

I am Teresa P. Juan, a senior high school student at San Pedro International

school (SPIS). I have chosen to apply for admission at C&E University because
your education program offers the best environment for excellence in the field, Intro
as reflected in your graduates’ performance in the teacher’s licensure exam

As an aspiring teacher, learning is important to me. The grades in my transcript

of records and achievement test results, as well as the several academic honors
I received during my elementary and high school years reflect a strong intellectual
foundation that will enable me to contribute to your university’s goal of producing
globally competitive and socially responsible graduates. Body

In addition to this, I am also active in various community engagement activities.

Through volunteer work, I learned how I can touch others through teaching. It was
a humbling experience and it inspired me to contribute to society as an educator

As required, I am attaching the duly-filled application form, two recommendation

letters, and a personal statement for your consideration. I hope that you find my
qualifications fit for admission. In case, you have questions, feel free to contact me
at the given contact number and email address.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you very much

Sincerely, Complimentary Close

Signature
Teresa P. Juan
Applicant Signature Block

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LET’S PRACTICE!
ACTIVITY 4: INDIVIDUAL WRITING.

It is now your turn to individually write a college admission application letter. Be sure to
use the correct format, language, and content. Apply the strategies presented in the input by
doing the following.

A. Obtain an authentic announcement from any university about its college admission procedure.
You can get this online. Then, set the context for writing your college admission application letter
by completing the following items.

Course applied for: _________________________________________________________

University/College: _________________________________________________________
Requirements: _________________________________________________________
Source of information:_________________________________________________________

B. Generate ideas and facts relevant to the writing of your application letter. Consider the essential
parts of a college admission application letter when writing your letter.

C. On a separate sheet of paper, organize the ideas via an outline and draft your letter accordingly.
Encode your draft.

D. After writing your letter, assess your work using the Rubric for College Admission Application
Letter as a guide.

E. Submit your application letter to your teacher for feedback. As soon as you receive your paper,
do the necessary revisions. Focus first on revising the content, style, organization, and structure
of your paper. Encode your paper using the format appropriate format document.

RUBRIC FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION APPLICATION LETTER

VGE GE SE LE N
5points 4points 3points 2points 1point
Letter begins with an interesting lead.
Letter provides concrete examples.
Letter specifies the needed information.
Applicant tailors the letter to university or college
goals.
Applicant minimizes opinionated claims.
Letter is factual and direct to the point.
Introduction specifies the purpose.
Organization is smooth and logical.
Content focuses on essential credentials.
Conclusion thanks the receiver and shows interest for
interview.
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Letter projects professional image and sincere tone.

Letter uses correct format.
Sentences are varied, clear, complete, and energetic.
Letter uses correct grammar and typography.
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL

Legend:

VGE- To a very great extent; GE- To a great extent; SE- To some extent; LE- To a little extent; N- Not
at all

Rating: VGE- 57-70; GE- 43-56; SE- 29-42; LE- 15-28; N- 14

ACTIVITY 5: INTEGRATION

DIRECTION: Answer the question. Write your answer on the separate sheet of paper.
▪ Content- 3
▪ Organization- 2
5 points

• (ICV/RV: EXCELLENCE/COMPETENCE)
Question: How can knowing how to write a college admission application letter help you soon
as a grade 11 student, particularly in terms of preparing for university applications and
developing essential communication skills for academic and professional success?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

• (SO: EDUCATION)
Most prestigious colleges and universities around the world require an application
letter for admission. Knowing how to write one will increase your chances of being admitted to
the school and program of your choice. This underscores the importance of pursuing an
education that allows you to excel and use your skills to inspire others in the future.

• (LAD: PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1)

PR 1: The college admission application letter provides details why the applicant is interested in
a specific university/college or program and what they tend to achieve there. On the other hand,
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experience in practical research can show specific interests in a field. Including practical
research details in an application highlights the applicant's hands-on experience and deeper
understanding of their chosen field. Together, both the application letter and practical research
provide a comprehensive view of the applicant's abilities, interests, and readiness for higher
education or academic research, complementing each other to showcase various aspects of
their academic journey and future aspirations.

(BT) Matthew 19:26

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”

EXIT SLIP!

INSTRUCTION: Cite three things you had learned about the topic.

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REFERENCES:
• Academic Reading and Writing for Senior High School
• Holy Bible

(HAVE YOUR PERSONAL PRAYER AFTER ANSWERING THIS MODULE.)