Finding College Admission Essays That Worked
Essays are often required as part of the college admissions process and the key to a great college essay is standing out from the crowd. The essay is your chance to show your personality and individuality, and to sell yourself and convince the college that you would fit in and be a welcome addition. Although it is most definitely not the only consideration, it does provide a controlled chance to shine. In the same way that you want your resume to stand out from the rest of the pile, you want your college essay to grab the reader’s attention and make an impact.
Many students choose to write about a particular struggle they overcame, an interesting event in their family history, an observation or opinion about the world, or something that has shaped them into the person they are. Be careful to avoid being either too dramatic or too generic – the key is to be interesting and unique while being relatable and thought-provoking.
Below are some tips to follow to make your essay work:
-
Be concise – There is often no upper limit placed on word count, but longer doesn’t mean better. You don’t want the reader to lose interest or patience with your essay. Make an impact by being detailed and descriptive in a concise way, and remember that the college will be receiving a huge amount of essays to sift through.
-
Showcase your strengths – Illustrate the inner workings of your mind and let them know your strengths and strong points. Show them though, don’t tell them.
-
Be careful with language – Don’t use big words just to use them, express yourself in a simple and clear way, and make sure that you avoid spelling and grammar errors.
-
Be cautious with humor – Humor is a very subjective thing and because you don’t know your reader, it’s usually best to avoid humor that may be overly controversial, offensive, or simply not funny.
-
Focus and concentrate – Don’t waffle and try to fit your whole life story into the essay. Focus on one event, one struggle, one set of accomplishments, one observation, or one story.
-
Don’t lie – Stick to the truth; don’t lie, embellish, or oversell yourself. They will appreciate honesty and integrity a lot more and you will appear more likeable.
-
Be yourself – Don’t write in an inauthentic style or voice, and don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Be confident in yourself, without acting arrogant, aloof, or simply listing all of your accolades and accomplishments. Be sincere and genuine.
Academic writing tips
Found a great educational resource for college students? Contact us
About our educational resource
We are a group of academic enthusiasts working on an all-in-one resource for high school, college, university and graduate students across the world. We strive to enhance your English writing skills, as well as your ability to construct quality, well-researched essays, term and research projects. If you have a problematic assignment, just do not fall into despair. Read our writing tips and get your A+