Admissions departments ask you to write an essay because they want to get a better sense of who you are, not only as a student, but also as a person. They want to know about your passions and interests, the way you think, and how you respond to challenges. These are the things that will hook your readers in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSchools are really trying to gain insights into what the passions and interests of a student are,\u201d Rodney Morrison, the Associate Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook University, told The University Network (TUN).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before drafting your essay, self-reflect and consider what you care about. You shouldn\u2019t tell your entire life story. Instead, try to focus on one or two important aspects of your life that have helped shape you, and be sure to write in your natural voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c(T)he best essays we read are those where the genuine voice of a high school student (that\u2019s you) comes through loud and clear and we really get a sense of who you are,\u201d Hannah Mendlowitz, a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Recruitment at Yale University, wrote in a Yale blog<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do have favorite essays that I can remember, but they have no particular topic in common,\u201d she added. \u201cInstead, they are the ones where at the end I have a grasp on what it might be like to have a conversation with the writer, to be in the same room as them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, make sure you try to avoid using any outside quotes unless you are directly asked to. Admissions officers want to read your words, not other people\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On its website, Johns Hopkins University lists several examples of essays its admissions department found impressive during the last admissions cycle. Those essays are available here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This may seem obvious, but whichever essay prompt(s) you answer, you must answer in full. Don\u2019t get caught up in the intro or go off on a side-tangent. Make sure you entirely understand the question you are asked and continue to check back throughout the writing process to ensure that you\u2019re on track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Essay questions are carefully worded and intended to encourage students to explore and explain a specific thought or belief. So, incomplete answers would be detrimental to the way admissions officers perceive your response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take this Common App question for example: \u201cThe lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The meat of this question lies in the second half. If you spend the entire time giving background, you may get sidetracked and miss out on explaining what you learned \u2014 the most important part of the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t make the mistake of catering your writing to admissions officers instead of writing from the heart. Disingenuous writing is easy for admissions officers to see through. After all, they read thousands of essays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t write about what you think the admissions office wants to hear. Really write about the things that are important to you,\u201d Morrison told TUN. \u201cThat\u2019s really what (admissions officers) want to get out of it … the things that are important to the students, not what the student thinks the admissions officers want to hear.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, you\u2019ll be able to read essay prompts months before you have to submit an application. The Common App typically releases its prompts on August 1 each year. For the 2020-21 cycle, however, the Common App has already announced<\/a> that the essay prompts will be the same as in the 2019-20 cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing a draft or two and waiting a couple of days to proofread can help you put together a compelling essay. With a clear head, you\u2019ll be able to pick up on any grammatical mistakes and determine whether your essay is ready to submit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting early also gives you time to have teachers, peers, or family members proofread your essay. They can catch what you missed and tell you whether your essay is truly interesting from the perspective of an outside reader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, essays shouldn\u2019t exceed 650 words, which is the cap set by the Common App. And some colleges and universities that have their own essay prompts, like Yale<\/a>, ask applicants to answer questions in as few as 35 words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, essays need to be tight and have strong narrative flow. Don\u2019t use up too many words in the intro or wait too long to get to the meat of your essay. This can be done by acknowledging your most compelling point during the brainstorming period prior to writing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This may sound a bit harsh, but just because you heard somewhere that admissions officers like humor in the essays they read doesn\u2019t mean you should squeeze an awkward, cringe-worthy joke in your writing. Forced writing is easy to recognize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re not a humorous writer . . . now is probably not the best time to try it,\u201d Morrison told TUN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you feel that humor is your strong suit, you don\u2019t need to necessarily shy away from it, but don\u2019t overuse it. You never know how admissions officers will perceive a joke. They could perceive it as confusing or even offensive. Don\u2019t make someone wince while reviewing your entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want the words you include in your essay to sound organic. Even more so than failed humor, a forced vocabulary can kill an application essay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t try to use really big SAT words if you don\u2019t typically use them,\u201d Morrison told TUN. \u201cYou really want it to sound like it\u2019s coming from you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Synonyms aren\u2019t interchangeable, so don\u2019t simply plug and place from Thesaurus.com. Every word has a distinct nuance to its meaning, and there is a time and place for every word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Admissions officers have read enough essays to know when writing is organic and when it isn\u2019t. Big words don\u2019t impress admissions officers, but deep thoughts do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should always view your college essay as your opportunity to stand out from the crowd. So, while writing your essay, try to be unique, not generic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMost schools \u2014 particularly competitive schools \u2014 they are really trying to pick and choose between a lot of qualified applicants,\u201d Morrison told TUN. \u201cIf you\u2019re generic and (admissions officers) can\u2019t tell the difference between you, someone else, and the other thousands of applicants, it doesn\u2019t do you a good service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to have endured a traumatic or life-altering experience to draft a unique and memorable essay. You should consider your application essay as an opportunity to help the admissions officers evaluating your application develop an understanding of who you are and what makes you stand out — something that the numbers in your transcript can\u2019t describe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proofreaders are great. However, peers or teachers \u2014 or anyone else proofreading your drafts \u2014 should not alter or suggest any changes other than punctuation and grammar. It\u2019s your essay, and you should be the one writing it. You\u2019re the applicant, and admissions officers want to know about your <\/em>thoughts and experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRevise and edit, but be sure not to lose the sense of individuality that only you can put into words,\u201d Mendlowitz wrote. \u201cHave someone proofread, but don\u2019t get too much help. My colleagues and I can tell when an essay is written more by a parent or, dare I even say it, a college consultant than by a student \u2013 and I can promise you that those pieces are not very good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t draft a meaningless conclusion by simply regurgitating what you already stated. Instead, use the conclusion as an opportunity to round up your thoughts and put a bow on your essay. Eloquently and succinctly remind the admissions officers reading your essay of your thesis statement and leave them with a lasting impression.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”lNRP1b3Y” upload-date=”2023-10-04T12:22:55.000Z” name=”How to Write a College Essay” description=”TUN sits down with Eric Eng, the founder and CEO of AdmissionSight, to discuss tips on how to write a college essay to help you get into your dream school.” player-type=”static”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more college application advice, check here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of a college essay. If you\u2019re applying to selective institutions especially, the essay is what can set you apart from a crowded pool of other qualified applicants. Take the essay seriously, start early to give yourself time, and follow the tips in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n2. Answer the question<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Don\u2019t cater to the admissions officer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Start early and write multiple drafts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Use your space wisely<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Don\u2019t use humor if you aren\u2019t funny<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Don\u2019t fake a sophisticated vocabulary <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Try to stand out from the crowd<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Don\u2019t let proofreaders change your message<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Don\u2019t waste your conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/College-Essay-Writing-Tips-573x1024.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"