How to Write Essays for a College Applications

Learn how to utilize college essays to their maximum potential. In most cases, prospective college students do not get the chance to interview with an admissions officer, so they should use their essays as an informal interview. A great college essay can mean the difference between being admitted or declined from a particular college.

Instructions

1. Be original and unique. Imagine having over 40,000 college applications and over a million essays come across your desk. About three-fourths of those applicants think they know what their college of choice wants to hear, therefore sounding all the same. Create engaging, thought-provoking essays that engage the reader but are a personal account of you. Make your writing interesting and make sure your personality shines through.

2. Use correct English. You’re going to college; make sure you use correct grammar in your college essays. This makes your essays easy to read and doesn’t make the admissions officers second-guess your credentials. Taking the time to run a spelling and grammar check can prevent small, avoidable mistakes.

3. Make sure you give your essays to someone else to proofread and edit before you send them to your school of choice. You’ve probably heard this before but when you read your essays to yourself, you are reading it as you intended to write it, not as it is written. When someone else reads your essay, they read it as it is written and can critique your work from an outsider’s perception.

4. Highlight and spin off any negative aspects of your actual college application. Let’s say during your junior year you received less than OK grades in all or most of your classes due to a very difficult divorce between your parents. Usually, one or more college essays will ask you to write about something personal to you, so utilize this essay to talk about your family troubles. However, make them relevant to a larger cause, showing that you are now a better person or are becoming a better person. Explain to your admissions officer how you will be able to help others and how you will prevent yourself from getting poor grades again. Tie up any loose ends that should be explained in your application but cannot.

5. Take your time. Work on your college admissions essays far, far in advance so that you are not rushing to turn them in, thus sending off poor writing.

Tips & Warnings

• Get to know the college admissions officer assigned to your high school. That way you can have a voice speaking on behalf of your application as well.