college admission essay example

college admission essay example

The Importance of a Well-Written College Admission Essay

1. Introduction

Given recent overhauls to the SAT, the college application essay has become the most influential admission tool the student can use to showcase their personality on a scale never before seen. Often considered as a mere test of memory because there is no category for the SAT’s that tests critical thinking or application of knowledge, it is also not a satisfactory assessment of student potential as grades are often a consideration of effort and extra credit. Now changes to the test in 2016 have further floundered its standing. Since now, colleges have the option to not consider SAT scores during the admission process, for some schools the essay may be the most valid predictor of student success at a particular school.”

The college application essay allows students to speak directly to school officials. Over the years students have been able to change an essay up to six times before submitting the final copy. This is a thing of the past for two reasons. First, there are now many students applying to college that it significantly increases the competition. According to the Commerce Department, 56% of students in 1985 went on to college, and by 2007 that number has increased to 70%. Second, it is now much easier to apply to schools. With tools like the Common App, there is now little to no explanation needed as to how and when to submit an essay.

“It is time to write the college application essay. The two most stressful aspects of the college application for many students are the admission essay and application form. Often students believe that a large volume of extracurricular activities, or involvement in a wide array of social or political organizations will enhance their chances of admission at a particular school. Thus, students will schedule a time to produce a couple hundred words, and completely fill a page, because when it comes to writing a good college application essay, quantity is better than quality. This belief is flawed for the simple fact that colleges need to know who you really are, so the essay is the best opportunity you have to show them.

2. Highlighting Academic Achievements

There are three levels of academic achievement: 1) Course work…easy to list from your transcript, but which were your best classes and why? When you have taken ‘hard’ courses and succeeded, this is often a good sign that you can handle the rigors of graduate study. 2) Examinations or papers which revealed your mastery of a subject. These can be excellent items to talk about when you are conveying a love for your subject area or your desire to study further. 3) Accomplishments which have been recognized by others. This might be a scholarship, fellowship, award or membership in an honor society. While it is important to mention what the award was for, you should still focus on the why you got it, as this can reflect your abilities and character.

Highlighting academic achievements is the second stage of self-assessment. This stage helps you to sort out your most significant academic accomplishments and the personal traits and skills associated with those accomplishments. Your academic achievements can signal the admissions committee how well you will perform in graduate school. It corresponds well with Dan’s observation that the application essay should “advance the application” and that just a dull recitation of activities and accomplishments will not distinguish you. (Dan is brilliant and insightful, I am paraphrasing!)

3. Showcasing Extracurricular Involvement

It is most important that the student is honest and genuine in what they are writing. The goal of the essay is to show the admissions office something that they cannot capture from school records; it is to paint a picture of who the student is as a person.

A benefit of writing the essay oneself is that it allows the student to convey their thoughts in their own voice. Also, if they can write it well, it will help the admissions office understand the student’s character, personality, and aspirations much better than standardized test scores and grades can show. Any information that the student shares should be interesting, and linking it to the main focus of the essay would be ideal. This means that the student doesn’t necessarily have to write about an impressive experience, such as scoring the winning goal in a championship game, to get the attention of the reader. Often times, it is writing about something personal that has happened in their lives, and how they overcame an obstacle, that interests the admissions officer.

With a limited number of opportunities to express their creativity and insight, it is essential for college-bound students to invest time in brainstorming a topic that genuinely conveys their personality and passion. The most common pitfall students encounter is writing about a generic topic that is deemed acceptable. Rather, it is asking the right questions and applying the right strategies in writing that can reveal the self and provide a sense of identity to the essay.

4. Expressing Personal Growth and Goals

There are two things that a college admissions office loves to read. The first is the description of a new experience. Not only does it show the writer’s unique voice and character, but it also demonstrates initiative and leadership. The second thing is much more difficult to describe, but it is basically a confirmation of a good upbringing. The admissions office wants a student that is well-rounded, who can handle a challenge. Part of this is accomplished by illustrating to them the tough situations the writer has been in, and on the path taken to overcome them. At the end of all college admissions essays is the same three-part plan. Students are saying where they’ve been, where they are and where they’re going. This is especially important to the “where they’re going” part. Colleges want to know that the student has a direction, and that that direction is directly related to his intended area of study. If the student does not show he has a clear goal in mind, there is a chance that the admissions office will overlook him in fear that he will drop the studies once they become difficult and take an easier path. This often occurs with students applying to medical school, who possess the intelligence to be doctors, but lack the perseverance.

5. Conclusion

Another great point made by Gundersen is that by assigning these essays, the college exercises the use of more informed decision making. This is no surprise when the essay is not only viewed as a make or break in college acceptance, but also as a reflection of how well the student will perform in the college’s environment. With a more accurate prediction of the student’s potential for success, the college will be able to better allocate its financial aid by offering a better package to those more deserving. Last but not least, Gundersen stresses that the college essay is not only an assessment for the student, but also an assessment for the college about the student. This is a simple trade-off. If the student is willing to take the time to write the essay, the college can take the time to give the student a more detailed look. If the student is only willing to write a generic paper to get through, then maybe that student isn’t someone the college wants to admit.

In an effort to help students realize the benefits of the essay requirement, Petra Gundersen, Director of Admission at Williams College, MA, provides some of the following ideas. First and foremost, she says, “The exercise of putting thoughts down on paper is an essential activity for college students — good practice for exams, which are almost always essay exams.” And by assigning the essay, the college has a better idea of what the student will be like in a college setting. This means the student is now held responsible for maintaining a certain standard.

There’s a good chance that with less than six months to go before students hit the college campus, their parents are already starting to turn a little blue around the lips. One of the major sources of anxiety is the essay requirement. For many students, this is the single most agonizing step of the entire application process. Keep in mind, for some universities, the essay is the only thing that will set you apart from other applicants; at other universities, it at least provides a one to three percent increase in your acceptance probability.