What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Major Essay Tips?

Hey everyone, I need to write a college essay about my intended major and why I'm passionate about it. Any tips on how to make it compelling and memorable? Feel free to share your experiences! Thank you!

8 months ago

Hey there! It's awesome that you're working on your major-specific essay. I've got a few tips to help you make it compelling and memorable:

1. Start with a hook: Begin your essay with a captivating opening that grabs the reader's attention. It could be an anecdote, a quote, or a thought-provoking question related to your intended major.

2. Share your personal connection: Explain why you're so passionate about your major. Try to show your genuine interest by sharing concrete examples of personal experiences or moments where you discovered or fueled your enthusiasm for the subject.

3. Demonstrate your knowledge: Highlight any relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, or internships that have helped you gain experience and knowledge in your field. This detail shows your commitment to the major and helps validate your passion.

4. Mention future goals: Briefly discuss how studying this major will help you achieve your long-term goals and contribute to your chosen field. This gives a sense of purpose and direction to your essay.

5. Be specific about the particular college: It's crucial that you explain not only why you want to study this major, but why you want to study it at this school over any other. Avoid general statements and focus on the unique aspects of this specific program that genuinely interest you. Elaborate on courses, professors, or research opportunities available at the college that excite you.

6. Be authentic: Avoid exaggerating your interest or accomplishments, or treating this as an opportunity to just rehash your resume - remember, admissions officers already have your transcript. Instead, be honest, sincere, and vulnerable in sharing your experiences and passion for your major.

7. Keep your tone and voice consistent: Use a conversational tone and maintain a consistent voice throughout the essay. This is a more general tip, but still a crucial one, as it helps make your essay more engaging and easier to read.

8. Edit and revise: Have someone else review your essay for clarity, grammar, and punctuation. Ensure that the essay flows smoothly and doesn't have any errors.

9. Take advantage of CollegeVine's resources: CollegeVine has a blog post dedicated to explaining how to write exactly this kind of essay (https://blog.collegevine.com/why-this-major-college-essay/), and also offers both a free peer essay review tool and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors. Either of those resources will allow you to get a set of eyes on your essay from someone who doesn't already know you, which is often the best way of determining whether your passion is coming across clearly.

Overall, a memorable and compelling major essay is one that tells a unique story of your passion, demonstrates your commitment to it, and evokes emotions in the reader. Good luck!

8 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

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.