Writing A Strong College Admissions Essay

Writing A Strong College Admissions Essay But resist the urge to rewrite everything in the way you might express it. My preference (and admissions officers’) would be that parents are minimally involved in the essay. The danger there is that the essay starts sounding more like a forty something adult, instead of a high school senior. There is a certain “voice” that defines a young person about to start college and if it is lacking in an essay, Admissions Directors will quickly pick it up. Students should elaborate on campus organizations or programs that fit certain goals, and specific aspects of the campus community that make it a good social and academic fit. Be as detailed as possible, but be sure to relate these details to specific goals and interests. As a child, Caroline always rode her bike just a little bit farther than her parents allowed her to. Eventually she ended up riding all the way into the forest and exploring nature, where she developed her passion for saving the environment. By writing about how her interests, tendencies, and passions came from her childhood, Caroline was able to give admission officers a more complete picture of who she is. “Swings are everywhere,” she says, so it was a relatable topic while still being unique to her own personality. Additionally, using swings as her favorite place gave her a lot of imagery to work with in her essay, because she could describe what being on the swings felt like. For instance, if church was a major part of your upbringing and is very meaningful to you, you could mention this aspect of your identity in a college application essay. However, it’s important to do so without implying that your religion is better than others or attacking people who don’t practice your religion. College application essays are often the most challenging part of the application process. And while they may not be the most important part of your application, they can differentiate you from similarly qualified applicants. When I do this, I write down every single word and thought that comes to mind for an hour straight, and before I know it, I am writing entire lines of text. However, you do want the essays to sound like you; it should be your voice. There should be some consistency between the essays and interviews. The emphasis must be on “help” and not, “take over.” Parents, with only the best intentions, will often offer lots of input and comments, which their child will gratefully accept. Believe me, those admissions officers are experienced and they can definitely spot the difference between a 50 year-old businessperson’s phraseology and a 17-year-old senior’s own voice and manner of expression. When answering this essay question, use specific details. Don’t just rattle off some course names and expect to wow the admissions committee. Carolineâ€"who was accepted to schools such as George Mason University, Wittenberg University, and Seattle Universityâ€"wrote about how her interest in exploration started as a child. And read about other grave mistakes like plagiarizing your college essay. As expressed in an article of “The Daily Beast,” don’t use profanities in your college essays. In most cases, your essay isn’t the factor that determines your admission to college. However, an offensive, off-putting, or forgettable essay can hurt your chances. By avoiding the topics listed above, you’ll ensure that your essay helps â€" instead of hurts â€" your chances of admission. The important lesson to take away here is that if you are truthful and genuine in your essay, it will be easy to write about. Show them a time in your life where maybe everything didn’t go so perfectly. Make sure that your essay is more than a recitation of the accomplishments, activities, and experiences already hashed out in the application. If your essay doesn’t present any new information, it will be dull and forgettable. If you really want to make an impression, let your personality shine through. In some cases, it depends how you frame the topic.