A great college application essay will present a vivid, personal, and compelling view of you to the admissions staff at the university of your choice. Your writing will round out the rest of your application and help you stand out from the other applicants. The essay is one of the only parts of your application over which you have complete control – it provides information about you that test scores, grades, and extracurricular pursuits just cannot, so take the time to do a good job on it. The essay may be only 500 words, but this portion of your application can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. So how do you write a college application essay? Writing the college application essay can be one of the most daunting parts of applying to college. Luckily, the Nerd is here with some general “Dos” and “Don’ts” to help you wow the admissions staff with an essay to remember.
Dos
Keep Your Focus Narrow and Personal
Your essay must prove a single point or thesis. The reader must be able to find your main idea and follow it from beginning to end. Try having someone read just your introduction to see what he thinks your essay is about.
Essays that try to be too comprehensive end up sounding watered-down. Remember, it’s not about telling the committee what you’ve done – they can pick that up from your list of activities. Instead, it’s about showing them who you are.
Prove It
Develop your main idea with vivid and specific facts, events, quotations, examples, and reasons. There’s a big difference between simply stating a point of view and letting an idea unfold in the details:
Okay: “I like to be surrounded by people with a variety of backgrounds and interests.”
Better: “During that night, I sang the theme song from Full House with a baseball coach who thinks he’s Uncle Jesse, discussed Marxism with a little old lady, and heard more than I ever wanted to know about some woman’s gall bladder operation.”
Be Specific
Avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing by using vivid and specific details.
Okay: “I want to help people. I have gotten so much out of life through the love and guidance of my family, I feel that many individuals have not been as fortunate; therefore, I would like to expand the lives of others.”
Better: “My Mom and Dad stood on plenty of sidelines ’til their shoes filled with water or their fingers turned white. I think that kind of commitment is what I’d like to bring to into the classroom as I begin to pursuing a career in education.”
Don’ts
Don’t Tell Them What You Think They Want to Hear
Most admissions officers read plenty of essays about the charms of their university, the evils of terrorism, and the personal commitment involved in being a doctor. Bring something new to the table, not just what you think they want to hear.
Don’t Write a Resume
Don’t include information that is found elsewhere in the application. Your essay will end up sounding like an autobiography, travelogue, or laundry list. Yawn.
“During my junior year, I played first singles on the tennis team, served on the student council, maintained a B+ average, traveled to France, and worked at a cheese factory.”
Don’t Use 50 Words When Five Will Do
Eliminate unnecessary words.
Okay: “Over the years it has been pointed out to me by my parents, friends, and teachers—and I have even noticed this about myself, as well—that I am not the neatest person in the world.”
Better: “I’m a slob.”
Don’t Forget to Proofread
Typos and spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check. It can miss spelling errors like the ones below.
“After I graduate form high school, I plan to work for a nonprofit organization during the summer.”
“From that day on, Daniel was my best fried.”
Keep in mind that you will have plenty of resources to assist you in your essay. Look to friends, family members, teachers, and guidance counselors to proofread your work and offer suggestions for improvement. The best admissions essays will have been edited and revised three or more times before they are in their most effective, final form. Stay tuned for next week’s Nerd Word on how to aim high and make Dean’s List in your freshman year.
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