Writing a College Admissions Essay

Writing a college application essay is like answering the question "Tell me about yourself" at a job interview. Your college, like an employer, wants to know whether you're a good fit. Test scores, GPA, and class rank-while important-don't reveal much about your personality. This is where your essay comes in. Your essay reveals what's unique about you, how interested you really are in the college, and how well you write. The next four tips will help you craft your college essay.

Choosing a topic for your college admissions essay

Feeling overwhelmed? What can you possibly write about that showcases your personality and writing skills? And with a limit of only a couple of pages, if that?

Think about your passions, or think about what has shaped you into who you are today. Does any one particular experience characterizing it stand out? Describe it. Let's say you're a painter who wants to major in the fine arts. You might want to describe the moment when you first realized you wanted to be a painter. Or your greatest accomplishment. Or your mentor. Or, if no one eureka moment comes to mind, explain why. Perhaps you didn't realize your passion or your talent right away. Describe that.

Communicating goals in your college admissions essay

Remember when the college was trying to impress you on your campus tours? Now you have to impress your college. What are you going to do for the college?

You should also think about what admission to this college would mean to you. Discuss your aspirations and how this college will help you achieve them. If you achieve them, how will that help society?

Highlighting achievement in your college admissions essay

Highlight your achievements that haven't been covered by your other submitted material. Don't mention your GPA, test scores, or class rank. The admission officers already know those numbers. You also shouldn't simply list your extracurricular activities or community service either. Focus on a few achievements that you're most proud of and relate to what you want to do at college.

You could also explain any of your mistakes or failures in your essay. This is especially important if you have a low GPA or test score. Explain why, and how you've changed. Be brief. You don't want to spend too much time concentrating on the negative.

Proofreading your college admissions essay

Read your finished essay out loud. Read it again. And yes, read it again. Have others read your essay-family, friends, teachers, or whoever you can get. Be on the lookout for common errors such as subject-verb agreement, passive voice, contractions, and possessives.

You should also consider tone. Don't overwrite your essay by using complex sentences or vocabulary (unless you're comfortable writing like that). Remember, it's not a research paper. It's a way for admission officers to get to know who you are as a person. While you absolutely must conform to standard grammatical conventions, write naturally.

Conclusion

While your college admissions essay may seem like a pain, think of this essay as an opportunity. Many people complain about how test scores are a poor way to judge a student's potential, or that grades aren't everything. Here's your chance for your passion and intellect to shine.