Essay ExamplesA great way to see if what you are doing is working is to look at some of the most successful essays and see if yours fits in. Below is a list of links to some of these essays.
SparkCollege Teen Ink College Confidential Johns Hopkins Examples College Board 1 College Board 2 SUPPLEMENTAL EssaysWhile there is one main essay that is used for all common applications there are also some other essay questions that colleges may ask. While these questions may seem unimportant or just a little side note that you should quickly fill out before you hit send, they are not. The truth is that supplemental essays can sometimes be just as important as the main essay. They therefore require equal thought, writing, and revisions. Since these questions can be so varied in subject it is hard to offer advice for a singular question but there are still some common threads in most of the questions posed. This thread basically asks "Why college X?" While anyone can answer this question saying the college offers a great education, a great applicant would answer the question with a personal nature. This could include an anecdote about a personal visit, a small interesting fact showing your thorough research of the school, or just a heartwarming description of how one component of the college is uniquely important to you. Basically try to answer the question in a way that no one else would be able to. If you can do this the essay should turn out great.
Advice WebsitesFinding a topicPicking a single topic is one of the hardest parts of writing a college essay. While is there is no clear process in order to find the winning topic there are certain characteristics that all good topics have. These characteristics include being unique, telling a story, and making yourself look good. The last one is simple and telling a story simple involves a fine exposition and a compelling plot line. Being unique is a tougher characteristic to nail down, but to help here is a list of topics that are considered bad or overused:
The big game, friendship problems, religious or philosophical epiphanies, simple solutions to world problems, parent bashing, drug use, sex life, jail time, political lectures, travel journal, comedy routine, excuses, or a list of accomplishments. If you steer clear from these ideas any other well written topic should work fine. |
overview of the essayThe college essay is commonly seen as one of the most important pieces of writing you will ever do, and with this description comes a great deal of stress. While this is somewhat true if you approach this essay the same as you do any other it will turn out wonderful. First of all read the prompt carefully. Some essays will have a specific and interesting question while others may let you write anything. In the end just make sure what you put down on paper is both interesting and conveys the sense that you are a great person who would be a great addition to the college. After you have a rough draft down on paper the work has just begun. Go through every sentence and make sure that it gets its point across without any grammar mistakes. If you could change the sentence to make it more meaningful or interesting than do it. If after ten minutes of this you begin to change every sentence you might want to consider restarting from square one. After thorough revision it is time to share the essay. Let your mom, dad, friend, and dog read this essay and listen closely to any criticism they might have. After working it out again read it over and if any minute change makes the essay worse than you know you have written a great essay. Congratulate yourself and send it away to your prospective schools.
tips from admissions officersAny topic can work, but the goal should be to treat that topic in a manner that reveals distinctive style and personal character. Admission officers are far more interested in essays that show personal voice than they are in reading something that’s persuasive.Keep in mind that 500 words is a very short form. Especially in subsequent drafts, it’s often helpful to narrow the essay’s focus.
-William and Mary Admissions
Beginning your essays before classes start will help immensely in the long run. Not only will you have more time to ponder topics and to edit your essays, but also your stress level will be reduced and you will be able to enjoy your senior year.Don’t forget that colleges will consider your writing mechanics as well as the content when reviewing your essays. Make sure that your essays tell your story but don’t neglect spell checking and proofreading. -Stanford Admissions
When you write your college essay, use concrete details. Bring the reader into the story by describing location, tone, colors, smells. Try to keep to a topic that reflects well on you and one that is not so sad that it will make the reader cry. Plan to complete three drafts and find an outside reader (teacher, counselor) to offer feedback.If a candidate wants to send additional writing, I recommend keeping it short — not longer than five pages. The typical admissions reader has 10, perhaps 15 minutes to read your application. Do not weigh that time down with your novel or your lengthy submission to a science competition. -Union College Admissions |