Colleges >> Browse Articles >> Essays

+15

Write a Great College Admissions Essay

Write a Great College Admissions Essay

Learn how to write a great college admissions essay.

By Mike Pugh

Don’t let the college admissions essay intimidate you. Remember, it’s the part of your application that is fully under your control. Make it work to your advantage!

Don’t recycle essays. Nothing will land your essay in the circular file faster than an obviously recycled or “near match” essay.

Be yourself. Choose a topic that is meaningful to you. Write in your own words. Write what you feel, not what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. “The essay is the candidate’s opportunity to explain to us who they are and why they are unique,” says Charlotte Lazor, associate director of admission information systems for Wesleyan University.

Don’t overextend. Don’t take on too big of a topic, and don’t adopt a preachy tone. College admission officers don’t want to be lectured on rainforest destruction. Instead, tell them how you became interested in environmentalism.

Be creative. Try to come up with something different. Remember that the people reviewing your essay have read hundreds — if not thousands — of essays. Don’t give them one more “The Teacher Who Influenced Me Most” or “Drinking and Driving is Bad” essay to wade through.

Captivate your audience. Your essay needs to be engaging and memorable. Try to draw the reader in with a quick, enticing introduction. You want to catch their interest and give them a reason to finish your essay.

Accentuate the positive. If you’re writing about a traumatic experience, describe the negatives but don’t dwell on them. Rather, explore how the experience changed you and what you took away from it.

Leave time for drafting. Write a first draft. Let it sit for a few days. Then review it carefully and look for weak or dull spots, as well as spelling and grammatical errors. Never let your first draft be your final draft.

Revise, rewrite, reword. Revision is the key to all good writing including college application essays. Hammer your draft into shape through various rewrites. Read each draft aloud. Your ears can pick up problems that your eyes may miss.

Ask for input. Teachers, counselors, friends, parents, siblings – ask people you respect for some candid feedback. “What do you think I’m trying to say?” “Does it sound confusing?” “Is it boring?” “Do I come across well?”

Pursue perfection. No essay needs to be error-free more than this one. Have your English teacher look it over. Quadruple-check the spelling. Type your essay carefully. Don’t let careless mistakes get between you and the school of your dreams.

Find scholarships now!


+15
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    WhitneyP212

    18 days ago

    This information is gold!

  • 064_max50

    PatriciaR246

    5 months ago

    To whom it may concern,

    ‘Always gives her best’, ‘Is a positive role model’ and ‘Is a pleasure to work with.’ These are just a few comments past teachers have used to describe me. Allow me to describe myself to you. I am a hard worker who is committed to succeed. I am loving and caring; always willing to help others. My strengths are my kindness and generosity. My weakness is my reading comprehension capability. This has become quite a struggle for me. However, I have accepted that struggles are a part of life and can provide valuable lessons.
    My family plays a large part in my achievements in high school and continues to be a source of motivation in my accomplishments. My family is not large; there are five of us: my father, my mother, my two sisters, and myself. I am the oldest in the family and have one more year of high school. My mother is a strong supporter of education and she urges us to work and study hard. She successfully graduated from St. Thomas University with a Masters degree in Public Management. Her achievements are yet another thing that motivates me to continue my education through college. I want be sure that my parents are very much proud to me.
    I entered Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) in the fall of 2002. I hit the floor with both feet by studying hard and focusing. At the end of the first semester, I earned a 3.0 GPA and was on the honor roll. I have consistently maintained my standing on the honor roll with my GPA increasing every quarter. Currently, my GPA is 3.6; however, my goal is to attain a 3.8 GPA by the time I graduate. To complement my GPA, I have earned awards and certifications for outstanding achievement, outstanding citizenship and the FSDB Honors Program and Top Hat Club.
    While we all know that maintaining a high GPA is not the only attribute to a well-rounded individual, I participated in numerous sports, social, and community activities. My athletic participation includes FSDB Outdoor Club and FSDB Dance Troupe. In addition, I have been a member of the FSDB basketball team and the cheerleading squad. I am a member of Jr. National Association of the Deaf (JrNAD) and FSDB Student Council. I participated in the 2009 FSD Pageant (3rd runner up), Writing Expo (2nd place), and the prom committee. I was involved in the Young Life Church in which I met with my peers in the church every twice a week. I participated in the Future Educators of America and volunteered with the City of Miami Police for which I was awarded the ‘You Have Done the Right Thing’ certificate by the City of Miami Police Chief.
    My parents also believe it is important to be socially accepted and contribute to society. I have strived to become accustomed with the public and become a vital contributing member of society. In high school, I was chosen to be a teacher’s assistant, worked as a stock clerk in J.C. Penney, and as a hospitality assistant at Debbie’s Day Spa. I have won awards for best personality, best sense of humor, best citizenship and best dressed.
    I love to help and work with children. In the past, I wanted to be a pediatric nurse, an elementary school teacher and a school counselor. However, my heart and passion is dancing. I have been dancing since I was 10 years old. I have been a member of FSDB’s dance troupe for the last three years. For me, dance is one way I can express myself in a manner that anyone can understand. It is my desire to pursue a formal education in dance. I plan to attend Gallaudet University and major in Deaf Education and Dance. My career plans is to become a dance professional followed by a choreographer/ instructor.
    I sincerely hope that by sharing this information about me, it gives you a general idea of the person I am. I will be truly grateful for any assistance you are willing to provide me. Thank you for your consideration.

    Yours Truly,

    Patricia Rodney