Tips for writing a college application essay
- What are schools looking for in application essays?
- How determined are you? What is the goal you are aiming for after school, and, how can this school help you get there (why us, in other words?)
- What do you see as a challenge in your past that you learned from?
- (3) What do you bring that will help you succeed at this school
- Allow plenty of time for your essay to take shape. Don't wait until the last minute. You need at least a week or two to let the essay develop. After you have completed a draft, put it aside for a few days and return to it. You will have a more objective eye for revisions. Always revise. Never let your first draft be the final version.
- Work on your opening. Try to grab your reader's attention with your opening sentence or paragraph. Make them want to finish reading your essay.
- Let your personality and what is important to you show. Write in your own voice and be yourself. Include your own thoughts and feelings. Do not assume your essay needs a formal tone. Wit and humor is OK when appropriate. But be careful not to use gimmicky writing styles or questionable jokes. Admissions committees do not appreciate it. Write in your own voice and be sure to have someone you trust critique your work.
- Stay focused. Maintain a single-topic focus. Check to make sure your essay answers the assigned question or addresses the topic given. Are you making the point you want to make? Use an outline. Come to a conclusion.
- Don't use your essay as a brag sheet. Don't oversell yourself. Never just list accomplishments. If you are a 4.0 GPA class president write about what you learned about people from your volunteer work, or about a difficult time in your life, or a time you failed at something and learned from the experience.
- Don't use excuses or overdramatic life stories. Don't write your account of a terrible or traumatic life situation to impress the committee. If you experienced a particularly difficult life situation write about that situation in light of its effect on your own personal characteristics. Focus on the positive aspects of the situation. If you have something in your academic record you would like to explain, make it quick and avoid making your essay one giant excuse. It is better to focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.
- Keep it concise. Try to stay within the length guidelines. One and a half pages doubled-spaced are good when no limit is given.
- Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. Revise. Revise. Revise. Flawless spelling and grammar are a must. Do not rely on a computer's spell check. Have another person, or two, proofread your essay. Tweak your sentences, style, voice, grammar, and tone. Ask counselors, teachers, and parents to proofread your essay.
Source: Peterson's Undergraduate and Graduate Databases, copyright © 2004. Peterson's, a part of The Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.