Are you someone who is currently stuck in the race of preparing for college applications? Is the stress of writing your college essay getting to you? We understand that this whole experience can be nerve-wrecking and that is why we have composed a list of some of the most essential tips and techniques to help you learn how to write a college essay.
It is that time of the year again when the stress of college applications starts to weigh down students all across the globe. From shortlisting potential colleges, to selecting your major, every decision seems like a steep climb up a slippery hill. One wrong step and you could come falling down at any moment.
Nevertheless, no matter how overwhelming this experience may seem, you should never doubt your abilities. Think of all the hurdles you had to cross to be where you are at this moment. You have accomplished much more than you think and most importantly, your journey to success starts with you acknowledging your potential.
Start this new era of your life with a positive mindset, put aside any and all doubts you may have and take control of your life.
Now that you have been reminded about the art of focusing on the good in any situation,it is time to move on to the second ingredient of success: preparation. The prerequisite for succeeding in life is to have a game plan. Do your research, find out about all your options, shortlist the ones you think suit you best and lock in your potential targets.
Once that is done, it is time to put out all the stops and wait for your efforts to become fruitful and we promise you that success comes to those who wait. Once you have given it all that you have to offer, sit back, relax and let success chase you.
Does your college essay matter?
Your college essay acts as a medium to not only help showcase your writing skills but is also the primary part of the college application that differentiates you and allows you to stand out in a crowd of thousands of students. Hence, it is not to be taken lightly.
Through your essay, you can share your thoughts and experiences. You can demonstrate your adroitness and have a chance to prove that you are a student worthy of being given a chance. All students applying to colleges have outstanding grades and a commendable CV. So, what can help tip the scale to your advantage? Your college essay. Especially if you’re looking to get into a world class institution, this part of the application can make or break the deal for you.
This is your one chance to make a good impression, share your perspective and display your uniqueness. Thus, it is always recommended that you spend an ample amount of time brainstorming potential ideas before you start writing.
If you’re currently sitting, staring at a blank page confused where to start, you are definitely not the only one. However, to get things started, it is always suggested that you start with listing down things you would want to write about. Develop an outline, write down the points you want to include in your topic and hey, the best ideas come at the weirdest moments,so jotting down those ideas on your mobile phone isn’t a bad idea either.
When applying to a selective school, your college essay carries a lot of weightage. This is because there are more students who fit their academic criteria than they can admit. Hence, at that point they require another medium to assess which d-students deserve to join them.
To make things a bit easier for you, here is a list of a few questions you should ask yourself when choosing to write about a topic:
- Is your topic authentic and interesting?
- Are you making use of your own experiences?
- Does it tell a compelling story about you that reflects how you would fit into the college community?
- Are you writing about something cliche?
- Is this your best option?
The essay writing tips mentioned in this article will emphasize on being coherent, concise,honest and accurate.In addition,you will be taught how and when to flex your intellectual skills and include anecdotes and vivid details where necessary.
Getting started on your college essay
A good time to start or at least start thinking about your college essay is the summer before senior year. This is the time when usually your homework or extracurriculars are not taking up your space in your mind. Thus, you can dedicate this part of the year entirely to developing a mind map for your college essay.
Starting early will give you a head start and will allow you to work through multiple drafts.Start with reviewing the essay requirements of the college you wish to apply to and maybe read some sample essays to get an idea about how a college essay is written.
Moreover, it is also recommended that you at this point start asking for help from your teachers or siblings who may have gone through the same process. Ask them to help you brainstorm some ideas and read your drafts to point out any shortcomings. It is important that you take the criticism you receive constructively, and not personally.
If you fail to do so, it will become harder for others to give you their honest opinion and you do not want that. The best way to learn from your mistakes so, start from making up for the shortcomings in your essay.
Furthermore, sometimes colleges ask the applicant to write an additional sample that should answer questions such as: why are they interested in this particular college or field. While these supplemental essays are shorter than the actual essay, they are just as important.
Therefore, do not spend all your time on the long essay and divide your time between the two. Writing basic answers to the asked questions will not help secure your position in college. The admissions office is looking for unique answers and they’re probably tired of hearing how your skills match their requirements. Thus, we repeat,think outside the box, be original, do not copy answers and definitely include your perspective.
How long should your college essay be?
When it comes to a college essay, the requirements of each institution differ from one another. While some expect longer essays, others require you to be to the point and stick to a shorter word count. To be on the safer side, it is best if you get in touch with students currently studying in that college or the alumni to get an idea about their essay requirements in more detail.
In case an institution doesn’t provide you with an exact word count, it is best to keep your essay between 250 to 650 words. Going a little above that limit won’t be an issue,but you don’t want your essay to be too lengthy. Remember that the admissions office has to go through thousands of essays and although they don’t stop reading after the 650th word, their attention does slowly start to diminish and you definitely don’t want that. Once you have conveyed your point and answered necessary questions,that is where you stop.
Moreover, a shorter word limit allows you to stay on track without dwelling into unnecessary details or being repetitive. These two things can kill your essay. Thus,by writing less,you are likely to stick to the agenda without sounding dull and repetitious.
How to pick a college essay topic?
This is the part that takes the most time and effort.You will most likely remain confused about your topic for quite some time,but it’s your job to push yourself out of this phase and finally start writing.
The freedom to write about anything you want does indeed become daunting. It can be overwhelming to think about putting your entire life in one essay. However, it is important that you remember that this essay is not a complete autobiography. Experts suggest that rather than writing about everything,it is better to narrow down and streamline your thoughts. That being said, it is best if you write about a single life changing experience, something that reveals who you are and conveys your emotions.
Don’t pretend to be someone else when writing the essay. Be a little vulnerable and tell them how you think,what you value and what to you matters the most. Make a list of questions you think you would want to ask someone when you meet them for the first time. You can also choose to write about something that illustrates an aspect of your background.Even an essay on a common topic sounds compelling if done right.
A common misconception amongst the students is that they are supposed to discuss a major achievement in their essay. That is far from the truth. In fact, according to some admission offices, some of their most memorable essays were written on common topics such as a student’s journey from school to a family’s dining table or about fly fishing. As long as you’re thinking outside the box, and adding a personal touch of your experiences, your essay shall shine through.
What matters the most is that your essay is thoughtful and tells a story,an insight into who you are. The admission office expects you to write about yourselves no matter what the topic. According to Ethan Sawyer, founder of the College Essay Guy, “What we think of as a topic is just the frame or the lens that we’re using to get into other parts of you.”
Let’s say you’re still having trouble narrowing down to a single topic, you can always ask your friends and family. Sometimes, in these moments, others around us can give us a better perspective of who we are, and what is the most appealing thing about us.Ask them questions like “What are my quirks?” or “ What do you think differentiates me?”
Lastly, make sure you’re not writing about something that is already mentioned in your application. The admission’s office is looking to learn something new about you.And lets say you have chosen to write on a topic that you have already mentioned, you will need to expand greatly on the topic and be as creative as possible.
Writing a college essay
Before you start jumping into writing your essay, it is recommended that you make an outline. This outline will keep you on track and ensure that you’re not forgetting to include any important details. However, there is one correct way of doing this, everyone’s writing process is their own. In fact, rather than resorting to a whole new technique of writing,it is recommended that you stick with what you know best, use whatever method or process that has worked for you in the past while completing your English assignments. What matters is that you’re comfortable with how you’re writing and what you’re writing.
Furthermore, the first draft of the essay isn’t meant to be perfect. Just dump all your thoughts and experiences. Once you’re done, then start looking into the things you would want to keep or omit.
Remember, your opening sentence carries a lot of weightage. It creates the first image of you in the reader’s head. Don’t have a basic start, it should intrigue the reader into wanting to learn what happens next. For example : “ I first got into politics the day the cafeteria outlawed creamed corn”. This starting is witty and personal at the same time. You’re automatically thinking, who is this person?,what is their story? I would definitely want to learn more about them.
However, at the same time,don’t get so caught up in writing the perfect opening statement that you start neglecting the rest of your essay. Each and every part of your essay is equally important,be that the start,the body or the ending. Thus, spend equal amounts of time on all sections.
Your essay should not at any point sound like you’re just writing it just for the sake of completing your application.Here are a few tips you can follow to avoid making this mistake:
Employ the art of storytelling
When you tell a story, you are bound to keep the reader engaged. Everyone wants to know what happens next especially when personal experiences are involved. Thus, it is always a good idea to write your essay in the form of a compelling story. It allows you to be yourself to the fullest. You have a lot of chances to be creative and you are most likely to enjoy writing this type of college essay the most. Just make sure you have a clear idea about the story you’re going to tell and ensure that there is an intriguing climax in your story.
Try to be unique
Since the admissions office has to go through thousands of applications, it is refreshing for them to read something unusual. And out of all the essays they read, they will most certainly never forget about the unusual one. If you have a peculiar story or experience up your sleeve, be sure to use it to your advantage. Don’t be scared about being judged, if it is ethical and riveting, there’s no better topic for you to write about.
Make use of imagery
Have you ever read a book that so exquisitely describes the settings and the characters that you instantly start imaging it all? We bet you have and we also bet that no matter how many years pass by, you will always remember the name of that book and recommend it to your friends and family. That being said, the use of imagery is one of the best ways to captivate your audience. Your aim here is to build an unforgettable picture in the mind of your reader. In other words, appealing to the visual sense of the reader will keep him or her fully engaged till the very end.And that is exactly what you want to do in your college essay. Hence, make use of imagery where possible without overdoing it.
Express emotions
It is always a good idea to appeal to more than one senses of the reader. The most successful books and movies are those that engage our emotions. These emotions may take the reader to a point in their life where they felt the same. Thus, make your reader feel something, an emotional connection with them through words. If you do that, the reader will never forget your essay, it will be stuck in his head for a while. It is always a good idea to give your audience something they can relate to.
Appealing to someone’s emotion doesn’t necessarily mean that the story should be heartbreaking. It can be about love,friendship, kindness,something funny or even fearful.It all depends on your ability to be creative. Lastly, even the emotion of anticipation throughout the story sounds like a great strategy.
Keep your reader entertained
Put yourself in the position of those in the admissions office and think of what you would want to read about. Your job here is to not only write the essay but also to keep the reader engaged and entertained. Your essay needs to be good enough that one thinks that it was worth the time and effort they put into reading it. Moreover,entertaining doesn’t necessarily mean that you keep the reader laughing or sad at all times, just make sure it is interesting and something you yourself would consider reading.
Editing and submitting your college essay
While the admissions office is looking to learn about you through your essay, they are also using it to judge your writing skills. Hence, you have to make sure that your essay is up to the mark. There are three things that you should be absolutely sure about: Your sentence structure is correct, there are no grammatical errors and no spelling mistakes. Even if the essay itself was spectacular but it consisted of either of the aforementioned errors, it can put off the reader immediately. Hence proofreading is essential.
As they say, the best writing is rewriting, don’t depend on submitting your first draft. That would be a rookie mistake. Go through your draft again and again,scrutinize it extensively, be your worst critic at that moment and then make up for the shortcomings you have found.
Furthermore,when proofreading your essay, make sure that you are not just telling the writer about yourself but also showing them. In simple words, don’t simply jot down your traits one after another, give them examples as well. You have to prove to them that you are who you claim to be.
It is best to seek help from others when editing your essay. This is because a second pair of eyes help point out mistakes that you might have missed,they also give you a second perspective which is essential when writing a college essay.You can either make use of paid services from professional editors or you can seek the help of your teacher or guidance counselor.
Getting feedback on your essay before submitting is unquestionably essential. It is never recommended that you never submit your essay before getting a second opinion on it. Also,make sure you are taking any criticism you receive constructively and not personally. The mistakes that someone pointed out were not for their own but for your own benefit. Hence,use it to your advantage. However,at the same time, don’t let someone edit your essay. Allow them to make suggestions,but don’t let anyone edit your voice. The final choice should be yours to make.
Moreover, some colleges have a section dedicated to tips for writing a compelling college essay. They also share some examples of successful college essays, thus, make sure you go through them.
Look for information gaps in your essay when proofreading. Check if there’s anything that isn’t clear and could confuse the reader. Once you’re done doing all that,all there’s left to do is submit your essay and hope for the best.
Conclusion
A college essay is an essential part of your application. Rather than worrying about it, start thinking of ways in which you can make it unique and personalize it. Your essay is a short story about who you are and no one can tell it better than you. Hence, look at it as an advantage or a chance to truly express yourself. With a touch of creativity and a dash of individuality, you will get one step closer to getting into your dream college.
