Tips for Writing Your College Admissions Essay

The admissions essay is one of the most essential parts of your college application. Some schools place little importance on the essay, and others use it as the final marker for whether or not you gain admittance to their school. Whether the admissions essay is more or less important for your particular school, you owe it to yourself to do the best job possible. Every bit helps on your college application, whether you're applying to Harvard or your local city college.

Remember: the admissions essay is the only element you've got complete control of in the admissions process. Keeping this in mind, its time to sit down and begin your essay. Here are some tips to help you get started:Be prepared. Research the college or university to which you're applying. Get to know your chosen schools. By researching them, you can get a better sense of who they are and what they want from you. Some schools even have criteria listed on their admissions pages, along with tips and advice for applying to their programs.

Learn about the admissions essay. Do some research; the more you know about writing the admissions essay, the easier it will be to write. Go online at home, at school or your local library, talk to your guidance counselor and teachers, and do everything you can to prepare yourself before you begin the writing process.

Be yourself. Above all, the essay is a chance for the school to get to know you and get inside your head. They can't meet you or talk to you, so they have to get a sense of you through your writing. For example, if you're a serious person, write a more serious essay; if you're humorous, write something a more lighthearted.

Pay attention to grammar and punctuation. Nothing says 'last minute essay' or 'I don't care' like bad grammar. After you write your first draft, edit it for grammar, spelling, and organization. When you're done, take it to someone who really knows grammar, such as your English teacher, and have them review it for you. They can pick out the bits you missed and help ensure that your final product is error-free.

Avoid overusing the passive voice. An active voice brings your writing alive and makes it more fun to read; a passive voice slows it down. For example, instead of ' volleyball is something I love (passive)' use' I love volleyball (active).'

Avoid redundant topics. If you've talked about your extracurricular hobbies in another section of the admission application, don't repeat them in your essay. Your essay should reveal something of yourself that the admissions council can't get in any other way.

Make your thesis clear. Your thesis should be evident to you and your reader. From the beginning, it should indicate where you're going and what you're trying to communicate to your audience.

Ultimately, write about what you know and what's important to you. Give the college an idea about who you are and how you think, because that's what they're looking for. Keep your topics simple, interesting and to the point. FOr example, focus on one activity, person, or event in your life rather than trying to cram too many experiences into your essay at once. Remember: the people reviewing your essay read hundreds, even thousands, of other essays each admissions season. If it seems boring or unfinished to you, imagine how it will look to them.