How to Write a College Application Essay
So much emphasis and pressure revolve around the college application essay that most students approach it with an overwhelming sense of dread. What is often forgotten, however, is that this essay is your chance to shine, to show what a unique and special individual you are. Follow our easy 5-step method to quickly and easily write an application essay that will get you noticed.
1) Pick a topic. Some colleges will give you a list of
topics, and some will simply tell you to “write a personal statement.” The
latter can often be the most difficult because when you are allowed to choose
any subject, it can be hard to settle on just one. Start by brainstorming. Make
a list of all the possible ideas that occur to you, and then decide which one
is most interesting to you. Writing about what actually interests you will make
your writing more interesting to others.
2) Address the question. Now that you have your topic, decide
what you want to prove. The biggest pitfall that college applicants fall into
is not addressing the question. Remember that the question is just a means by
which the college is trying to get to know you better. What should they most
know about you? What is your biggest selling point? Jot the answer to this down
in one sentence, and let that be your thesis. Then consider how the topic you
have chosen can best develop your thesis. If you want to prove that you are a
dedicated student, and your topic is “My Biggest Influence,” then explain how a
person in your life helped you to become such a dedicated student.
3) Hook your reader. You have heard this a thousand times from
your teachers already...but that’s because it is important. Hooking your reader
is essential in all writing. You might want to start with a personal narrative
or with the description of someone or someplace. Be creative, and be sure to
“show” your reader what you are thinking. Don’t tell the reader what to think:
create a picture with your language that the reader can see.
4) Remember your audience. The goal here is to convince the
college admissions officer that you deserve a spot at his or her school. Never
forget that as you write. Even if your topic is “My Biggest Influence,” you
don’t want to spend the entirety of your essay telling your reader about
someone else. Recount the details that are important and relevant to you, and
then expand on your accomplishments and your potential. Try to include
information that is not in your transcript. Provide examples that someone could
only know by hearing stories of your life.
5) Proofreading. This is essential, and it should not be
done by you alone. Get many different people to read your essay and share their
thoughts. To make sure that you are expressing the most important points, ask
each reader for his or her impression about what you were trying to prove.
Listen carefully to everyone’s opinions—but trust yourself in the
end.
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