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)

What's the best way to approach college essays?

Hey everyone! I'm starting to think about the college application process and I'm wondering how to approach college essays. What are some tips for brainstorming and writing a strong essay? Thanks for the help!

11 months ago

Hello! It's great that you're starting to think about the college application process early. College essays can be a bit intimidating, but they're a fantastic opportunity for you to showcase your personality and experiences. Here are a few tips that I found helpful when my child was going through the process:

1. Start by brainstorming: Write down some personal experiences, accomplishments, or challenges you've faced that you think would make interesting topics. Don't censor yourself at this stage; just let the ideas flow.

2. Choose a story that showcases your growth or something unique about you: After brainstorming, pick one or two topics that you feel strongly about and believe will help you stand out.

3. Be authentic: Write in your own voice, and don't worry about trying to impress the admissions officers with big words or complex sentences. They want to get to know you, not an idealized version of yourself.

4. Edit, edit, edit: Once you have a solid draft, ask a teacher, counselor, or parent to review it and give you feedback. This will help you polish your essay and make it the best it can be.

Best of luck with your essays and the college application process!

11 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.