Okay, I'm officially freaking out. I'm sat staring at a blank page and it's just... blank. Can anyone offer their top tips when writing college essays? I want mine to stand out! What worked for you?
Absolutely, I understand how daunting the college application process can be, especially when it comes to essays. Here are some points that you may find helpful:
1. Start with Self-Reflection: This is so crucial for building a narrative. What are your strongest and most formative experiences? Which interests or academic aspects excite you the most? Reflecting upon these can lay a foundation for a unique essay.
2. Begin with a 'Hook': The opening lines of your essay need to be engaging. It can be a surprising fact, a rhetorical question, or an anecdote that pertains to the rest of your essay.
3. Craft a Unique Narrative: Rather than focusing only on achievements or times when everything went perfectly, you could highlight a challenge you faced or a failure you experienced and what you learned from it.
4. More Showing, Less Telling: Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. Instead of writing "I was thrilled when we won the championship", you could describe the moment - the cheers of the crowd, the sweat beading on your forehead, the ecstatic smiles of your teammates.
5. Exemplify, Don't List: Rather than listing your accomplishments, pick one or two of substantial meaning to you and discuss them in depth, illustrating how they have shaped you.
6. Stay Authentic: Your essay should reflect your voice and perspective. It's tempting to try and present yourself as the 'ideal' applicant, but in the end, real stories resonate more deeply than exaggerated tales.
7. Write, Rewrite, and Polish: Draft your essay, then set it aside for a while before you revise it. Always proofread several times. You could also have someone else review your essay - a fresh pair of eyes can often catch errors or awkward phrases.
8. Avoid Cliches: This includes cliché topics and cliché phrases. Common cliché topics, for example, include victories in sports, shifting to a new school, or an immigrant's story. You could still write on these, but they have to be distinctly personal and not generic.
9. Cut Redundancy and Fillers: Every sentence, in fact, every word counts in the essay. Make sure each contributes to your overall narrative and portrays your attributes effectively.
10. End Strong: Just as you hooked your readers in the beginning, it's important to leave them with a lasting impression. A strong conclusion ties up your thoughts concisely and circles back to your opening theme.
Remember, a stellar essay is just a component of your application. Although it is an opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee in your own voice, the admissions process involves a comprehensive review that also considers your academic achievements, recommendations, and extracurriculars.
Best of luck with your college essays! You've got this.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.