When you apply to college, you will likely be expected to write an essay as part of your application. Your essay is your chance to introduce yourself to admission officers and to provide them with some information about yourself that you may have been unable to fit into other parts of your application. In addition, your college admission essay also showcases to the college what you can do when you have some time to think and work on a writing project. The main piece of advice to consider when writing your essay is to take your time and be yourself. And, start early. We’ve put together some top tips for you to keep in mind before you begin.
#1. Choose a Topic That Highlights You:
Avoid focusing on the great aspects of the particular college that you’re applying for, the amount of dedication that it takes to get into the field that you are pursuing, or the number of extracurricular activities that you took part in during your time at high school. Instead, focus on sharing your personal stories and thoughts, make sure that you take a creative approach to writing, and highlight any areas that aren’t covered in other aspects of your application, such as your high school records.
#2. Have a Narrow, Personal Focus:
Steer clear from covering too many topics as this will make the essay sound more like a resume that doesn’t actually provide any details about who you are as a person. Instead, pick one interesting aspect of yourself that the reader can use to learn more about who you are. Bear in mind that your readers should be able to find your main idea and follow it from start to finish. Ask somebody to read your essay and tell you truthfully what they think it is about.
#3. Show, Rather Than Tell:
Avoid stating facts in order to get an idea across. Instead, use specific examples, reasons and details to develop and showcase your ideas. For example, if you’re wanting to show how you are able to work well as a team with all different types of people, don’t just say this – think of an example when you have done this in the past that you can use to describe this skill.
#4. Be Yourself:
The most important part of the process is that you be yourself. Don’t rely on phrases or ideas that people will have covered thousands of times before. Avoid using unnecessary words, and steer clear from using language that is overly formal unless it’s absolutely necessary to your degree choice. Instead, make sure that you are writing in your own voice and using personal examples and stories to get your points across.
#5. Make Sure That You Proofread:
Last but not least, don’t skimp on the proofreading process. You can opt for professional essay writing help to ensure that your essay is read and edited by a professional proofreader, or simply ask a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher to help. It’s important that you don’t turn in your essay without proofreading it, and don’t rely on your computer’s spell check function to catch all the mistakes. In addition to finding any spelling and grammar mistakes that you or your computer may have missed during writing, getting somebody else to proofread your essay gives you the opportunity to ask them if they think that it sounds like you.
Writing your college application essay can be a very daunting process. By starting early, being yourself, and using personal examples to give admission officers a better idea of who you are as a person, you can make a great impression with yours.