Essay Tips

Essay Tips If all else fails you can default to the last prompt, which is essentially topic of your choice. DON’T rehash information that is already in your application. The goal of your essay should not be something like “to show I’m co-captain of the soccer team.” They already know that; you need to tell them something new. This may be your only chance to address an admissions officer directly. We hope they will provide inspiration as you craft your stories. An essay that is presented in a few long paragraphs is not only hard to readâ€"the resulting word “blocks” can be overwhelming to tired eyesâ€"it effectively obscures the author’s key messages. And rememberâ€"a one line, one sentence paragraph can be more impactful than a 3-4 sentence paragraph. But instead, you should write something that you think will make someone be measurably more likely to admit you to college. Otherwise, what you are doing is the logical equivalent of handing in a watercolor for your math homework. The key is to write for a purpose beyond self-expression, much like how you do all of your homework with the objective of getting a good grade. What results is often a generic statement that lacks energy or personality. Write the story that you want to express and then choose the prompt with which it best aligns. You can have a good essay that has 2 or 10 paragraphs, or includes a good amount of dialogue. If you’re ever going to name drop, this is the place to do it. Mention specific names of people, buildings, societies, clubs, and more. As always, be as specific as possible, and pay attention to the writing itself, not just the content. This is a story about you and your connection to the school â€" not just a list of reasons. Let’s start with mistakes to avoid when writing your essay. Although they're phrased differently from college to college, certain essay question types appear routinely. We asked the admission staff to select some of their favorite essays. Ask them to read the essay and then respond with three adjectives that describe you and a sentence that captures what they learned. Does it reflect the message you hoped to convey? When you have finished a draft of your essay, read it over and ask yourself why you wrote it. If you cannot answer this question, you might not be going deep enough or painting a vivid picture of who you are and what is important to you. Most conformists will stifle their unique voice by attempting to respond to the specific prompts that the Common Application provides. Essays that become travelogues or resume narratives have little value to the reader and are wasted space. Admissions officers are seeking students who are purposeful in their pursuits when choosing among highly talented students. They see a ton of candidates who are drawn by the fame or prestige of their institutionsâ€"who are simply applying to see if they can get in. Such candidates, regardless of their credentials, are not very compelling and are easily dismissed. Don’t restate information that can be found elsewhere in your application. This is your opportunity to provide insight and interpretation. They’re going to turn down lots of highly qualified applicants, so your essay could be critical if the choice comes down to you and another, similarly qualified applicant. That said, your essay probably won’t actually hurt you as long as it’s reasonably literate . Students don’t need to stick to the 5-paragraph model that they’ve used so often in school. Not what your college consultant has to say, not what your mom wants you to write, and not what you think we want to hear. Be genuine to your own voice and to your own experiences. There’s only one you out there and that’s who we want to learn more about. Have you effectively communicated who you are and what you value? The best way to tell is to have your parents or a friend give a draft of your essay to a colleague or individual who has never met you.