Mathematically Modelling Basketball Shots Essay Example

Mathematically Modelling Basketball Shots Essay The manager of a professional basketball team is having a tough decision in choosing which of his two top scorers this season are better at free-throw shots. The final decision will go towards picking the team for Saturdays Cup Final match. On a training session one week before the match the coach decides to go all out and bring some mathematical genii in to model a situation where Lee Grimes and Dominic Aspbury, the goalscorers, will shoot at the basketball net. The mathematical genii are students from Cambridge and are benefiting from this opportunity in that they will be able to show evidence of coursework for their final exam. Their coursework will be using their abilities to collect data and test the appropriateness of a probability model on a real situation whilst the coachs aim will be to pick the better of the two players for the big game. If the random variables X and Y count the number of independent trials before the event, having a probability p, occurs then X and Y have geometric distributions: We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematically Modelling Basketball Shots specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematically Modelling Basketball Shots specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematically Modelling Basketball Shots specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer P ( X = r ) = q r 1 p where r = 1,2,3, X~G ( p ) and Y~G ( p ) I will define X as being the number of shots required before Lee shoots a basket. Therefore, Y is defined as the number of shots required before Dom shoots a basket. I will be attempting to see if X and Y have geometric distributions by taking samples of X and Y. The populations are the infinite range of shots capable from the two throwers taken in a discrete time period under varied conditions at the same level of skill. This is impossible to create so the coursework will have to involve sampling, therefore not producing results representative of the whole population. For this coursework I can not take random samples because it will not be possible to recreate due to the infinite choices of shot which could occur e.g. fatigue levels, mood type, improvement of skill level throughout the sampling etc. all could differ. I will record a sample of X by asking Lee to shoot a number of baskets and hence work out the relative frequency of success p. This result will allow me to model X as X~G ( p ) . Next I will record a sample for Y by asking Dom to shoot a number of baskets so that another value for the relative frequency of success p can be calculated. I can use the result to model Y as Y~G ( p ) . The conditions I will have to use are going to be as similar as possible to gain independent and identical shots. This will involve: * Five practice shots beforehand so that the feel of shooting is apparent a warm up before starting. * The shots being taken from the same free-throw position which is fifteen feet away from the base of the net and perpendicular to the back line. * The same type of shot being used using one hand to steady the ball and one to project the ball through the air. Same arms used each time. * The weather conditions being similar. In the sports hall there should be no significant alteration of the environment. * Each shot being taken one after the other to gain results, which will be under the most similar conditions. * When the shot is taken; a score implies one basket, a no score implies try again until you succeed. * Continue until the sample of eighty is reached and record all results If the data is successful I may be able to produce a reliable geometric model of the population from the sample enabling me to predict population parameters with greater confidence. Using the parameters I should be able to compare the populations by considering sample parameters. I have chosen a geometric model because it is an infinite distribution requiring discrete random variables and is able to accommodate the infinite range of shots that may be required to score a basket. The sum of all the probabilities will equal one (a probability density function). If X and Y have a geometric distribution, the distribution should look like this: The sample size shall be 80 as a large sample size makes the geometric distribution as accurate as possible for testing purposes. It also allows me to use the chi squared test on the model to check if there is any evidence to suggest that one thrower is better than the other at various critical levels. Assumptions that I am making to allow the model to work are that the trials are: * Identical: The factors are exactly the same. This provides a fair test and is a property of the geometric distribution. * Independent: The trials are not affected by the previous trial. The geometric model states that the events must be independent. No distribution could possibly account for the infinite amount of variables/influences that could occur e.g. improving skill as more shots are scored, fatigue etc. The variable would be different in each case. The five practice shots will make the distribution more geometric as it will warm up the performer beforehand so that they get used to the feel of shooting. * Have two outcomes score a basket or no score. * Repeated to gain the sample size Modelling the situation with a geometric distribution Let X be the number of attempts before a basket is scored for Lee: Probability of scoring a basket: P(score) = sample size/total number of shots = 80/269 = 0.2973977695 This implies X~G( 0.297 ) X can be modelled as a geometric distribution with a probability of scoring first time equal to 29.7% (1 d.p.) Finding Prob(X=r) Therefore P (no score) = 1 P (score) = 1- 0.2973977695 = 0.7026022305 Using the formula: P(X = r) = qr-1p where r = 1, 2, 3: q = probability of not scoring p = probability of scoring P( X = 2) = 0.7026022305 x 0.2939776957 = 0.2065493847 P( X = 3) = 0.7026022305(3-1) x 0.2939776957 = 0.14512205844 Finding Expected Frequency Expected Frequency for (X = r) = Prob (X=r) x sample size Therefore Expected Frequency for (X = 1) = 0.2973977695 x 80 = 23.791821 Expected Frequency for (X = 2) = 0.2065493847 x 80 = 16.7161869 Let Y be the number of attempts taken before a basket is scored for Dom: Probability of scoring a basket: P(score) = sample size/total number of shots = 80/345 = 0.231884058 This implies Y~G ( 0.232 ) Y is geometric with a probability of scoring first time equal to 0.232 (3 d.p.). This result states also that there is a 23.2% chance of scoring on the first attempt and I aim to model these results by a geometric distribution. Therefore P(no score) = 1 0.231884058 = 0.768115942 Therefore for Dom: P (Y = 2) = 0.768115942 x 0.231884058 = 0.1781138416 P (Y = 3) = 0.768115942(3-1) x 0.231884058 = 0.1368120813 Expected Frequencies will be: (Y = 1) = 0.231884058 x 80 = 18.55072464 (Y = 2) = 0.1781138416 x 80 = 14.24910733 Chi Squared Distribution The chi-squared distribution can be applied to measure the goodness of fit for the geometric models. It will examine the goodness of the model by considering the number of possible outcomes of the events and will analyse the validity of the assumptions. Thevalue will be expected to be small to suggest that the model fits the real distribution. A large value would suggest that the model is unlikely to be correct so I will use a 10% critical region to test it. * If thevalue lies within the critical region then, assuming the model is correct, it would mean that there is less then 10% chance of a result as high as this occurring. We reject the model as a consequence and conclude insufficient sampling etc. * Alternatively, if the value lies outside the critical region, the result is valid and there is a larger possibility of the value being what it is. The model is assumed to be correct and the model is accepted. Conclusion would be to state that the statistical model is appropriate to the situation and the assumptions are correct. In the tables, the expected and observed frequencies were calculated but how close together are the values? The closer the observed value to the expected value the more accurate the geometric model will be. The goodness of fit statistic is: where O = Observed Frequency E = Expected Frequency To find the best measure of goodness of fit, add up all values for each statistic and compare with the 2 probability distribution tables. The chi squared test should only be used if the expected frequency of a cell is more than five which means some of the groups are going to have to be combined. This enables the chi-squared distribution to be better approximated. The total frequency of expected frequencies should also be over 50. This makes the chi squared test work at a more accurate level. Lees chi squared test Using the equation : As we can see by the result = 7 To analyse the result with the chi squared test the number of degrees of freedom have to be established following this procedure: Degrees of Freedom = Number of Cells Number of Constraints In Lees table there are seven cells. The number of constraints is two because: o A sample size of eighty is one constraint: The sample has to be eighty. o The probability is another constraint: The mean of the model has to equal the mean of the data so we used the data to work this value out. * Therefore: Degrees of Freedom = 7 2 = 5 * at 10% critical level i.e. prob ( ) = 0.9 * but observed value of = 7.478504913 * 7.478 is less than 9.236 * therefore, the value is not in the critical region (result taken from probability distribution table) The value is not in the critical region implying the model is significant enough to use. Lees results fit into the geometric distribution model and therefore it is a good model for Lees data. There is evidence to suggest that the assumptions are true and therefore we accept the assumptions as part of the geometric model. See graph above for explanation of what the results show. Doms Chi Squared Test Using the equation : As we can see by the result = 5.694287179 * Degrees of Freedom = 8 2 = 6 * at 10% critical level i.e. prob ( ) = 0.9 * but observed value of = 5.694287179 * 5.694 is less than 10.645 * therefore, the value is not in the critical region (result taken from probability distribution table) Doms results fit into the geometric model, as the value is not in the critical region of 10%. We can assume that the geometric model was a good model to use for his results. We can again accept the assumptions as there is no evidence to suggest they do not fit into the geometric distribution. See graph above for an explanation of what the results shows. Both results are comfortably in the geometric distribution proving that they are reliable results/models and the assumptions made are valid. We can adapt Doms model so that five degrees of freedom can be used giving the same accuracy as Lees result. I am predicting that it wouldnt affect the results because there would need to be a dramatic increase in the value for it to be of any significance. Both performers have had their results analysed at the same number of degrees of freedom and there was no significant difference. It shows no alteration for the final conclusion and still no evidence is available to reject the models. Both results have shown X and Y can be modelled by the geometric distribution. By knowing this I could produce confidence intervals for any parameters I estimate from the distributions. However at this stage I will calculate the relevant parameter for this piece of coursework. I will estimate the expected number of shots required by Lee and Dom to score a basket. Expected Mean Values To find out the expected mean value for a geometric distribution it is defined as the sum to infinity of: all the probabilities, which are multiplied by the value of X (in Lees case), Y (in Doms case). This can be simplified conveniently to 1/p where p is the probability of scoring when X = 1 For Lee the expected mean value would be E[X] = = 3.3625 (4 d.p.) For Dom the expected mean value would be E[Y] = (4 d.p.) These results demonstrate the average amount of shots it takes until the performer scores. Lee, having a lower expected mean value than Dom, is shown to be the better free-thrower as he takes an average of approximately three shots to score, unlike four shown in Doms case. The total number of shots can be a very rough indicator of who seems to be the better free thrower. Lee took 269 shots and Dom accomplished 345 shots to score 80 baskets. Does this imply that Lee is more accurate? According to the expected mean values and the probabilities of scoring for each model it reinforces Lees success where all three tests are in his favour. There is a much higher chance now of Lee being picked for the game on Saturday. A factor of the investigation was whether taking constant shots at the basket improved performance. This may happen because training has occurred and the brain is learning from past mistakes. The question being asked is, were the five practice shots enough practice to enable an independent model to be produced or should it not have occurred? Raw data results were recorded in two stages; first 40 and second 40 and it suggests small decreases in many of the cells for 2nd 40 especially in Doms case. Lower values of X or Y become more frequent in the 2nd 40. This complicates results and so is a factor to consider if the coursework is completed again. The decreases in the higher X or Y values and the increases in the smaller X or Y values suggest evidence of fatigue, boredom, frustration etc. I can say now that skill level did not increase during the collection of the sample size but what is more likely to have occurred is the opposite. The explanation for Dom being more tired, bored or frustrated is probably because he shot a total of 345 baskets whereas Lee completed his in 269 shots. Two parent populations (X and Y) have been tested against geometric probability models and it so happens that they fit very snugly into them. Therefore, we can apply the knowledge that counting the amount of times before a basket is scored is modelled very well using a geometric distribution. There may be only two populations but they both show noticeable differences in their results and remain well within the statistical model. I will assume that it is highly probable for most other populations to fit into the geometric distribution on the basis that my models are very appropriate for the investigation. I have modelled the basketball situation in a real life atmosphere and the model was successful. Even though the situation is based on a theoretical distribution it was modelled appropriately. The club should now prepare for Lee having the role of free-thrower in this Saturdays cup final and accepting the fact that Dom is on the subs bench for the start of the game The data sampling was very organised and strict but not random. To have taken a random sample would mean: * Watching a random sample of club games throughout the season * Watching a sample of free-throws made by the performers from the game * Calculate who is most accurate A problem with this is time, as it would take a year to go through just one season, therefore it is impractical and illogical. The physical form of the player should also alter throughout the season so a random sample of more than one season would have to be made. A much better way is to watch all training sessions and take a general overview of who supplies the most points in miniature matches from free throws. This gives more of a view of consistency than on the day performance but during game situations the performer will be thinking more logically. A sample of eighty straight baskets is tedious and will affect performance. Modifications * Use a longer time period. The performers were rushed to collect their sample size within two hours as a result of school timetabling and so one of them had to rush his last twenty shots. * Use the same time period i.e. one performer did it one day and the other completed it the next day. Conditions may have been different and morale, energy etc may be variated for both Dom and Lee * Use foot-mats on the floor so that it indicates an exact position for the feet to stand instead of just using the line. This may be an insignificant difference but to improve the coursework it is better than no difference at all. * Using the same basketball. Half way through the sample collection the basketball was lost leaving us the trouble of having to use another basketball maybe of different weight, age etc and possibly affecting the results Improvements * I would like to calculate confidence intervals for both expected values (X and Y) to determine my degree of confidence in Lee being a better freethrower. * I would also like to be able to see if my result E[X] = E[Y] was statistically significant

5 Tips to Write an Excellent UCF Application Essay

5 Tips to Write an Excellent UCF Application Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The University of Central Florida, commonly known as UCF, is one of the largest colleges in the United States. Over 50,000 students are enrolled at UCF, but that doesn’t mean it’s super easy to get in- UCF has an acceptance rate of 49.9 percent, meaning they accept just under half of students who apply. To set yourself apart from the crowd, you’ll want to write a stellar UCF application essay. Don’t think that the fact that these essays are optional means they’re not important; they’re an additional opportunity to show why you’ll be a great addition to the student body! In this guide, we’ll cover all the details of the UCF essay prompts, including how to answer them, what UCF is looking for, and a step-by-step guide to make your essay as strong as it can be. All roads lead to choosing to write the UCF application essay. What Should You Know About the UCF Application Essay? Unlike many schools, only freshman students can use the Common Application to apply to UCF. Otherwise, students must use UCF’s own application, which is also available to freshman students. However, there are some differences between the two. UCF's website includes a recommendation, but not a requirement, for a supplemental essay based on two of four prompts, outlined below.However, the instructions for the essay include the phrase, "The personal statements are a very important part of your application," so while they may not actually be required, you should write them as if they are. The Common Application includes two questions that do not appear on the UCF application, and reports from students suggest that UCF sends a follow-up email with instructions for how to complete the supplemental essays. The essays on the Common Application are flagged as optional, but, as with the UCF application, you should answer them as if they're required to be on the safe side. If staring wistfully out the window helps your writing process, do it! What Are the UCF Application Essay Prompts? Though the UCF essays aren’t technically required according to the college's website, it’s strongly suggested that you complete them. They’re an opportunity to flesh out your application with a more complete picture of yourself, which is valuable to both UCF and you. UCF has four essay prompts to choose from and instructs students to respond to two. According to previous applicants, UCF accepts those responses in one combined essay or in two separate statements. The responses, whether in one single essay or in two essays, should total no more than 500 words or 7,000 characters combined. Be sure that your essay or essays fall below both the word and character count. UCF has four essay prompts for you to choose from, though you only need to answer two of the prompts. The questions can either be answered in one essay or two, depending on which you prefer. If there has been some obstacle or bump in the road in your academic or personal life, please explain the circumstances. With this prompt, UCF is giving you an opportunity to explain any parts of your application that may not be as impressive as you’d like them to be. Many students aren’t able to commit to extracurriculars as deeply as they’d like because of financial problems or because they need to work or otherwise help out their family. Other times, students may not be able to keep their grades up as well as they’d like due to family illness or other obstacles that can make staying on top of homework difficult. Circumstances like these are out of your control but can cause hiccups in your education, which might not look good to colleges. This prompt gives you space to explain that, giving UCF a better picture of who you are as a student. So if you’ve encountered any hardship that’s had an impact on your education, it’s smart to take advantage of this essay question and explain it. If your grades dipped in junior year because you had to pick up an after-school job to help your parents out, let UCF know! Not only does that explain changes to your grades, but it also demonstrates responsibility. If you can explain your GPA based on outside circumstances, take advantage of the opportunity and do so. Be honest about challenges you’ve faced, and accept responsibility for things that you could have done better. Your answer to this question should demonstrate anything you’ve learned from the experience and how you’ve grown rather than just shifting blame to outside circumstances. Don’t stop at writing about what happened- continue on to answer what you did about it. However, be sure that what you write about is an actual hardship. Being bored with your classes or being more invested in something else, such as an extracurricular activity, doesn’t qualify- this question is asking for obstacles outside of your control. How has your family history, culture or environment influenced who you are? This is a fairly standard background essay, which asks you to think about your upbringing and how that’s shaped the person you’ve become. Because UCF has a fairly short word limit, be sure to pick one particular element and hone in on it rather than spending time painting a complete portrait of your family history. Information like this helps a college like UCF better understand what you’ll be bringing to the student body. Our upbringings often give us unique perspectives and abilities, which contribute to a thriving campus culture. In a school of over 50,000 students, it might feel like there’s nothing particularly unique about you, but there is- this essay prompt helps you discuss it. Don’t get too hung up on picking something dramatic to set your family or culture apart from everybody else’s. If you grew up in a family that really loves fishing and it’s made you a more patient, hands-on person, write about that! On the other hand, if you grew up as part of a traveling circus and that’s made you long for a place to put down roots, write about that! The most important thing with this question is to be honest, thoughtful, and specific. Pick something that really matters to you, and think deeply on what it means. Provided you are honest, thoughtful, and specific, there aren’t a lot of topics you should avoid on this one, though always be aware that, if you choose to write about something potentially inflammatory, the admissions office may not feel the same way about things that you do. Your audience is made up of strangers, so choose something you’re comfortable sharing with people who don’t know you and deciding whether or not you’ll get into college based in part on what you write. Why did you choose to apply to UCF? â€Å"Why This School?† essays are common in college applications because they require you to think beyond a school’s reputation and get specific about why you want to go there. Colleges want to know that your interest goes beyond ticking another box on your college list- you should have a reason to attend beyond that you think you can get in! To answer this question, try to get specific. What is it about UCF that appeals to you? You can look through their mission statement, course catalog, and clubs to find things that appeal to you, or refer to experiences at a campus visit or college fair. Connect your interest in UCF to something concrete. For example, UCF has part of its mission statement dedicated to creativity, which should â€Å"enrich the human experience.† Why does that matter to you? When you attend UCF, how do you hope to use creativity to enrich the human experience, too? If you can, make connections to real-life classes or clubs that you want to belong to, such as the Cypress Dome Society or Elements of Hip Hop. What interests do you have? What are your goals? How will these clubs help connect you to your student body? The most important things to avoid in this essay response are the things everybody else is already saying- that UCF has a good reputation and that it has a nice campus. Assume that both of those things go without saying. What else does UCF have to offer? What qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that will allow you to contribute to the UCF community? This prompt is the flip side of the â€Å"Why This College?† prompt- instead of asking why you want to attend UCF, UCF is asking why they should want you. Think beyond everything UCF already knows about you, like your grades and test scores. Assume that every student applying has exactly the same grades and scores as you do, and then decide what it is about you that’s different. What else do you have to offer? Choose something you haven’t discussed already, and be sure that you embrace that UCF is asking for what makes you unique. UCF wants to know about you as an individual, which could be anything from how you have the patience to make the perfect tamale to how your time leading a guild in World of Warcraft taught you about leading by example and connecting with people. UCF has lots of people with good GPAs and test scores- does it have enough tamale makers and guild leaders? Aim to fill the unique gaps only you can fill! Attending college isn’t just about attending classes, getting good grades, and moving on with a degree to show it. You’ll be part of a thriving campus culture, and UCF wants to know that you’ll be participating and enriching it. Beyond not focusing on things UCF already knows, always be sure that you’re presenting your best self. The people reading your essays are strangers, and may not get your sense of humor if you try to be tongue-in-cheek in this section. Be honest and thoughtful in a way that others will understand, especially because this essay will likely be their first impression of you. A good notebook isn't required for writing your UCF essays, but it sure does feel nice. What Are the UCF Common Application Essay Prompts? If you're applying to UCF using the Common Application, the requirements are a little different. The Common Application includes two additional questions that do not appear on the UCF application, which are flagged as optional. Still, there's no reasonnot to answer them- the wordcounts are short, they provide extra context for your application, and they're valuable questions for both you and UCF to reflect on. According to students who've applied to UCF, after finishing the Common Application, UCF will follow up with you with additional requirements, including responding to the additional essay prompts covered above. Though these essays are optional, it's still a good idea to answer them. Be sure that you don't answer the same prompt twice, as one of the Common Application prompts is almost the same as the one in the UCF application.You only have 250 words each, so be brief and clear rather than spending a lot of time painting a vivid picture. Why are you interested in UCF? As in the UCF application essay prompts, this question is asking why you want to attend UCF. Think beyond widely applicable answers like citing their reputation, campus, or weather- assume the admissions office already knows all that. Why UCF over any other good, beautiful, warm-weather school? What specifically draws you there? UCF wants to know that you're committed to attending not just as somebody who wants a good name on their diploma, but as somebody who's dedicated to UCF's mission and programs. Showing that UCF, not just their credibility or campus, matters to you is a great way to set yourself apart from other applicants. To do this, you need to get specific. Drill deep into what makes you want to attend UCF, and connect it to specifics. Campus visits are a great way to make these specific connections, but if you can't visit, you can also comb through the course catalog, club list, or mission statement. Show UCF that you don't just see yourself proudly holding a diploma with their seal- show them you see yourself learning, growing, and participating in campus culture along the way. Discuss your reasons for pursuing the academic program (major) selected above. Like the first question, this prompt wants to know more about you as an individual student. Think about what draws you to your major beyond prestige or salary. What should UCF know about you and your connection to your program beyond your GPA and extracurriculars? Questions like this show your dedication, which can be an important factor in admissions. Schools want to know that you're committed to your studies, and an essay that shows a deeper connection to your field is more likely to impress them. Take some time to craft a response that's insightful and honest- this essay will show UCF that you're truly passionate about what you study. You don't have a lot of space to answer this question- just 250 words- so be sure to focus on one specific thing rather than being comprehensive. Did trying and failing to grow strawberries lead you down the path to becoming a botanist? Did you decide to put your reputation for bossiness as a kid to work as a business major? Due to the short wordcount, you're going to want to be brief. Don't pick a topic that's too big, and stay away from using answers that other people might use. It's great if you want to be a doctor because you want to help people, but why a doctor as opposed to a social worker? Your essay should clearly demonstrate why the field you've chosen is the perfect one for you. Believe it or not, relaxation is part of a good essay. Key Tips for the UCF Essay No matter what school you’re applying to, there are some strategies you can always follow to be sure that you have a good, strong essay. Follow these steps as you’re writing your UCF essay and you’ll have a much easier time wrangling your thoughts and shaping them into something that’ll impress the admissions office! #1: Brainstorm It’d be nice if you could just sit down and write a perfect draft on your first try, but that’s not how most of us work. Instead, start with a little brainstorming. Set a five-minute timer and give yourself free rein to come up with as many possible answers to the prompts as possible, even if the answers are silly or weird or absolutely not in a million years going to work. Don’t worry about it! Get everything you can think of down on paper now so you’re not trying to herd your thoughts back into shape later on. #2: Write a Draft The benefit of getting all your ideas down on paper is that now you can pick and choose the ones that sound the best without getting midway through an essay before deciding the topic isn’t working for you. Cross out the choices that aren’t strong enough to support a whole essay, even one as short as UCF’s, to get those out of the way. Spend a little more time brainstorming some different points to hit on with the remaining topics and pick the one that feels strongest. Using your brief outline, flesh the topic out into a full essay. Don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time- that’s what editing is for! #3: Edit Editing is tough; it means re-reading your work and dealing with all the flaws that creep in. But editing is what separates the good essays from the bad. Take a day or so away from your essay before diving back in to read it with fresher eyes, and try not to get frustrated as you go. Read your work aloud to help you find sentences that are too long or lacking in punctuation. Cut out extra words- those â€Å"really†s and â€Å"very†s aren’t doing any work for you- and rephrase to get as much of the essay into passive voice as you can. Read it aloud again, give it another pass, and keep going until you feel like your work is in as good of shape as you can possibly get it. #4: Get Feedback Now that you’ve put in some time in editing, it’s time for the next scary step: showing your work to others. Choose a few people who you trust to give you honest, useful feedback- people who know what a good essay looks like, not just people who are going to tell you it’s great- and ask them to take a look at it. Leave them with a copy to make notes on so that you can refer to them later. When you read their feedback, don’t take it too hard. Everything they have to say is a suggestion, and it’s ultimately up to you whether you want to use it or not. Your essay should always, always, always be your work; don’t rephrase things exactly as a teacher or counselor suggests if it isn’t how you would say it. Besides, readers aren’t always right about the best way to fix errors. If the people reading your essay are confused about something, take that seriously! But don’t feel like their suggestion to fix it is inherently the best way, especially if it contradicts your meaning. It’s okay to disagree- it is your essay, after all. #5: Revise and Submit Take another break from your essay. Always try to edit with fresh eyes, if you can- trying to make changes when you’ve already spent a lot of time editing can either mean you miss mistakes or that you get so frustrated you give up. Spend some time away, working on an essay for a different school or doing something else entirely before you come back to it. Now that you’ve had a break, take all that feedback you received and use it to spin your essay into gold. Smooth out places where readers were confused, and clean up any lingering grammar errors. Read it for clarity and flow, and tidy everything up. When you’ve reached a point where you’re satisfied, take one last break. Give yourself a little time away from it, then read it one more time. Are you happy with it? Great! It’s time to submit! Send it off to UCF and anxiously wait for your acceptance letter to arrive. What’s Next? As you're applying to UCF, it's good to be aware of their admission requirements. This guide will walk you through the average GPA and test scores at UCF to help you maximize your chances of getting in! College essays should always be targeted to the school you're applying to, but there are some essay-writing strategies that work no matter what school you're applying to. If you're applying to college, it's a good idea to be aware of how to apply for financial aid.Make a plan and stick to it to ensure you get the maximum money available to you! Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: