college admission essay tips

college admission essay tips

College Admission Essay Tips

1. Introduction

Step 4: The good, the bad, the ugly. Though I may have taken a title from the latest movie, it is quite true when we look back at the last steps. We’ve emphasized the good but we can’t forget to throw in some bad and a little bit of ugly. Laying down a few flaws and simple problems you have faced can show that you are down to earth and not an egotistical maniac. The ugly, of course, is looking at past troubles such as low grades which may or may not reflect the true content of your character.

Step 3: Rock the college with what you got. You are no standard student and that is no lie. There are many qualities which you possess and that are unique to you. These are the traits that will rock the college into wanting you over all other students. The admission essay grants you a chance to show who you are, what you think, and what you plan to do in life.

Step 2: Emphasize your struggle. Typically, the admission essay stands as an obstacle leaving students blank. This is your opportunity to show the college who you are. An opportunity to set yourself apart from other students. If you are still having trouble, consider what you will be doing a year or two after college. Life after college and the difficulty in achieving what we aspiring college students want to achieve is often a great source of motivation. Share your plans and aspirations. Let them know what you intend to do after achieving your degree. You have been faced with many struggles and it is your dreams which will pull you through them.

Step 1: Share what you love about the college. If you are applying to a college where you are intending to major in something you are passionate about, it is especially recommended that you write this essay. Let them know why you want to attend the college. Share any school or major specific to the college.

There is no one required approach when writing your admission essay, but following these steps might make it just a bit easier.

2. Choosing a Topic

When deciding on a topic for your admission essay, you should choose a topic that is important to you and that will allow you to share your unique personality and perspective. Often, the institutions will give you a selection of topics to choose from. In some cases, you may be able to choose your own topic. The topic you choose should produce an obviously well-organized essay to the reader. Regardless if you are in college or not, you can improve your essay if you produce an effective, well-organized essay. This means only selecting a topic that is very in-depth or broad enough to write a quality long essay about. You should avoid topics that are generic in nature. For example, if you are a great academic performer and are currently struggling to get your grades up, people would assume that your topic would be the obvious grade change. This is quite a common topic and can turn into the generic essay that is being sent around to all of the colleges. You want every single essay that you produce to be unique and different for the right reasons. Always ask someone for advice to see if they think what the topic is about you is truly what you are trying to convey about yourself.

3. Writing Techniques

Following these writing techniques will give you a better opportunity to develop a good flow to your essay, increase explicitness and can make the reader relate to your personal ideas and experiences. The first tip involves creating a plan. Create a plan before you actually start writing, organise your essay into three parts (paragraphs). This will give you a clear sense of direction in an essay. The second step is breaking the question down. Highlight the key words and if you are still unsure, get a dictionary and look up their meanings. This can give you a clearer understanding of what is being asked of you. Step three involves avoiding repetition. Now that you have planned, you can use the other two paragraphs to support the position you have taken. Avoid repeating yourself and don’t include irrelevant information. The fourth step is to summarise your position at the end of each major point. This will keep you on track to staying relevant to the topic and make sure you don’t go off on any tangents. The final step is to proofread. If you can make it through a reading without stumbling on your words, then it is a clear indication that you have constructed a good flowing piece. Proofreading can ensure there are no grammatical errors and the essay is making complete sense. All of these steps, if followed correctly, should cause a great improvement in your essay writing.

4. Showcasing Your Achievements

When it comes to your achievements, CV and grades only offer part of the story. Show you are well rounded by letting the admissions team know of other examples where you have achieved. This could be in a sporting context or through a borders club, or perhaps in playing a musical instrument or excelling in drama or dance. It would be most beneficial to draw up a list of attributes that each achievement highlighted and then ensure that you are able to vocalize these on your personal statement. For example, excelling in the school tennis team may show that you are a team player and can work well with others. High grades in your music exams may demonstrate a commitment to excellence and an ability to self-motivate. By ‘decoding’ your achievements and addressing the messages behind them, you can assist the admissions team in getting a clearer picture of your strengths and personality.

5. Conclusion

Finally, it should be stated that there is no “recipe” for an amazing college essay, but there are some definite dos and don’ts. The college essay is a personal statement, and it is your reason to prove to the admissions officers who you are, and why they should accept you into the college that they wish to see you attend. With new insight presented here, you have an aiding tool that is sure to produce results, and put you one step ahead throughout the college admissions process. Good luck!

Your college essay writing experiences are an opportunity to learn more about who you really are. The essays are not a guesswork or a checklist endeavor. By this I mean, the process of college admissions is not a pure meritocracy. On account of today’s technology you can be better equipped to find an ideal college for you by using tools like the college match, and perhaps save some time and money. But, even a perfect match still involves some random element of chance. Colleges are always looking to accept students who are more than just book smart, and standardized test oriented. Students who are responsible, have respect for others, are comfortable and confident in who they are, and reach a higher level of understanding with the subjects of their interest are the kind of students colleges are looking to accept. A strong and insightful college essay is a key component to getting a chance to know the admissions officers better. The hours of preparing, studying, and taking tests are at a minimum, so the next greatest chance to show off your personality is the college essay.

By now, you have learned some practical tips and strategies to help you effectively answer the essay prompts, develop a strong topic and thesis, and organize your essay. In addition, you have received some ideas of what colleges are looking for, and what the admissions officers value. These are all good pieces of advice, but they can vary from year to year, and school to school. The most important advice is to always choose the best prompt for you, and the one you can best write.