I'm a junior, and I need to start my college essay soon. What steps should I take to smoothly go through the process of writing and refining it? Should I have a specific structure in mind, or let it develop organically?
When writing your college essay, it's advisable to break the process down into manageable steps to keep it organized and ensure it's well-crafted. Here's a roadmap.
1. Brainstorm: Gradually generate ideas. Write down anything that you think could be a possible topic, focusing on experiences, values or characteristics that resonate with you. Don't rush. Take your time reviewing and refining your list. This is also an ideal stage to consider the prompt you will be addressing.
2. Choose Your Topic: Once you've identified a variety of potential ideas, choose one that you feel strongly about, and can establish a personal connection with. You're looking for a story that captures something significant about your experiences, values, or aspirations.
3. Develop Your Story: Start developing your story around the chosen topic. Make sure it delivers something meaningful about you. Include details, and think about the emotions you felt in the moment to help the reader connect with your experience.
4. Write a First Draft: Write without worrying about achieving perfection in the first go. Focus on getting your ideas out of your head and onto the page.
5. Review & Revise: Initially focus on the content more than the grammar or spelling. Is your point clear? Are there any inconsistencies or confusion? After that, begin to look for language improvements, such as enhancing word choice, eliminating redundant words, and rectifying grammar and spelling errors.
6. Get Feedback: Once you're satisfied with your revised draft, get feedback. A teacher, college counselor, parent, or even a friend, can review your essay and offer constructive feedback. Make sure to clarify that you don’t want them to edit it for you, but to help you pinpoint any necessary changes you can make yourself, as it should remain in your voice.
7. Final Draft & Proofread: Incorporate the feedback that aligns with your vision of your essay. Then, proofread your essay several times. Looking for any remaining typographical or grammatical errors.
Structure-wise, while your essay doesn’t need to conform strictly to an academic essay format, it should have a clear flow to it. This usually involves some kind of introduction or context at the beginning, building on your story/details in the main body, and then some kind of conclusion or reflection at the end. But don't feel overly constrained. Your essay should feel personal and authentic, so if a more creative structure helps to achieve that, feel free to use it.
For more comprehensive guidance on how to tackle your main personal statement, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/
Remember, your essay is a way for colleges to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores, so make sure it represents you. Happy writing!
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