The thought that a one-page essay could change the course of your life is scary. When it comes to writing your college admission essays, also known as the personal essay or personal statement, this can be challenging for any soon to be college student.
The college admission essay is designed to give the admissions staff a way to quickly get to know you. After all, you’re more than just your GPA and SAT or ACT scores. The admission essay or personal statement also shows if you can write well. That means correct spelling, proper grammar, well-defined paragraphs, and interesting ideas. These essays are often screened by admissions officers who may read hundreds of essays each day. So, college admission essays are usually short. You may be asked to write 500 words, 600 words, or one page.
With that kind of space limit, you won’t have time to tell your life story. Plus, you don’t know what the college admissions specialist who will read your essay wants to see. There’s a loophole available that can help by letting you get around the college admission essay. You can skip ahead by taking classes at the college or university you want to attend. Then, you’ll know more about what the school staff consider a great applicant. Later, when you formally apply for a degree program, you’ll know what to say. This allows you to legally bypass the college admission process.
Now, if you’re wondering how to actually write those college admission essays, we can also help with that. We’ve found a great article by the Vice President of Admission and Financial Aid of DePauw University, Madeleine R. Eagon, that explains what college admissions employees generally enjoy reading.
Our 7 tips summarize her college admission essay advice:
1. Pick a subject that matters to you.
Many schools suggest two or three essay topics for your college admission essay. Here are the topics on the Common Application used by over 225 colleges nationwide:
- Evaluate a significant experience, achievement or risk that you have taken and its impact on you.
- Discuss some issue of personal, local or national concern and its importance to you.
- Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
- Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you.
If one of those topics appeals to you personally, that may be a good choice. When you write about something that interests you, your enthusiasm will attract the reader to your essay. The admissions officer reading your essay may have already read a big pile of essays that day. Sincere enthusiasm will help you grab and hold on to their attention.
Now, if your college lets you write about whatever you’d like, the above prompts may still be good starting points for your personal statement. Writing about your extracurricular activities also shows that you’re a balanced person.
Focus on what makes you different from all of the other students that are applying. It’s OK to pick controversial topics, but don’t pick tough topics just to show how edgy you can be. Your essay should be primarily about you, reflecting your own personality and values.
2. Avoid overused topics.
Yes, we just told you to write about a subject that matters to you, but some college or university admission essays have already been done to death. Family vacations and high school sporting events are extremely common topics. If you’re sure you can write a unique essay on one of these subjects, you’re welcome to try, but you’re probably better off brainstorming for new ideas.
3. Tell a story.
You might want to pick one or two themes to write about, then provide examples. For instance, rather than saying, “I tutor elementary school students,” give a narrative account of how you helped a child succeed in one of their classes. Provide interesting details that enrich the essay. Tasteful humor can also brighten up your college admission essays.
4. Don’t gloat.
When you’re being asked to talk about your experiences or accomplishments, it can be hard to sound modest. When describing a personal achievement, give credit to those who helped you. Please don’t start every sentence with “I.” It makes you seem self-centered and it’s just boring to read.
5. Give yourself several days to revise.
Don’t try to sit down and get your essay over with. Your college admission essay deserves more thought than that. Write a rough draft first, then read over it in a few days. Make sure it is informative, personal, flattering but modest, sincere, and engaging.
6. Ask friends, family, or teachers to critique your essay.
Try to get several different people to read your college admission essay. Ask them to be very honest! Once you have opinions from several people who know you well, you can go back to revising.
7. Proofread until your essay is error-free.
Your word processor’s spell check isn’t enough. Carefully look over your essay several times to make sure there are no errors. If you’re not sure how to spell something, look it up. Students frequently misspell the name of the degree programs or even colleges they’re applying to! Have a friend, family member, or teacher hunt for errors. Errors are distracting to admissions officers and suggest carelessness on your part.
As you can see, many of these tips also apply to other types of writing, including writing a college application letter (http://www.collegeadmissionsecretsexposed.com/how-to-write-a-college-application-essay). Just like with any other essay, there’s no foolproof formula for writing a great college admission essay or personal statement. Your essay will depend on your life experiences and personal writing style. The above tips are designed to help your college admission essays reflect you at your best, and that’s what admissions personnel will appreciate.
