Target reading level for Common App essay?Answered
Hi,
Like everyone else on this site (haha) I'm working on my personal statement right now, and I was wondering if anyone had advice for a target reading level? I want to find a balance between demonstrating my ability to express complex thoughts and making the essay easily readable by an AO who has to move quickly. Any thoughts? According to Slick Write my essay is at a college level right now, and I know early high school is usually the target for non-academic writing but I'm not sure where the personal statement should fall. Any ideas are much appreciated!
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3 answers
Your target reading level should be yourself, and only yourself. If you write at a 10th-grade level don't try to write at a college level because that is not using your voice and skillset to communicate your narrative. If you write at a college level do not write at a 10th-grade level because then AOs will think something is off with your application.
Your essay is not some trick question you have to pass. Your essay will not be judged on some admissions formula.
What it is however is one of the only opportunities for you to explain how all the other data in your application is connected to you as a whole person. They want to learn something new, something interesting and inspiring about you, words and thoughts not presented in the rest of your application. So your essay is an "A-Game" opportunity.
Assume nothing.
If you apply to an Ivy, you might have a 25-year-old Ivy Grad reading your essay. Or a 40-year old Ph.D., or someone that's been in the admissions office for 27 years who has read no less than 10000 essays.
If you write something safe, simple, and precise, that might be perfectly okay if the rest of your narrative is mechanical. However, if you write something bold, complex, and poetic, that might be better if you are a risk-taking, independent thinker. So it's best to be you. Write as you would your best paper to your favorite English teacher and feel good about putting your effort into the universe and hoping that others see you as you see yourself.
The worst thing you can do is to cook by recipe if you've never done that in your life before and love to cook by eye. (if that makes any sense).
Good Luck.
I don't see the issue - include in your essay both features. However, I am giving advice, but I am going to apply this summer to university, and my stress level also goes up, haha (it's a panic laugh). I will have to write essay examples with a poetry analysis (I will apply to a faculty of literature); and I realize that I can forget everything when in the situation because emotions again take me up. Fortunately, https://studyhippo.com/essay-examples/poetry-analysis/ is the source that provides me with literary comparisons of any masterpieces I ask for, and that enabled me to have successful high school graduation and now helps me prepare for the future student writing challenges.
I don't have the best advice, but what I do know (and might help you) is that some admissions officers are from a universities English department. I took advantage of that and included some references to some works of literature for metaphors and allusions.
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