Writing an essay for college applications can be intimidating for even the most talented writers, but instead of seeing the college essay as an obstacle, see it as an opportunity. It is an opportunity for you to show your dream college why you are, who you are, and why they should choose you. It is an opportunity for you to show them, what the facts on your college application cannot, and it is an opportunity for you to shine and stand out from the rest of the applications in the pile.
I always advise starting as early as possible, but the most important part is writing something that moves the reader in one way or another. If you can get the reader to feel, you will have greater success in standing out and becoming memorable.
The hardest college application essays to write are usually those with the broadest scope, and this is because it is up to you to find your focus.
How to Write an Essay for College Applications:
- Once you have decided which colleges to apply to, write down the college application essay topics so you have time to think and brainstorm.
- If you get a thought or a sentence in your head, write it down immediately.
- Choose a topic that moves people.
- If the topic is broad, find your focus.
- Try to write about something that shows your growth or a change in you.
- Make sure your essay is revealing.
- Be original.
- Show, don't tell.
- Stick to the word limit.
- Reread the instructions several times.
- Proofread, proofread, proofread. (Use free grammar programs like Grammarly)
- Print out your essay, then proofread it again.
- Look for input, feedback, and proofreaders among your family, friends, and school.
- When you feel you are done, take the essay to your guidance counselor, language art teacher, and/or mentor to look over.
Choosing Your College Application Essay Topic:
Depending on the college application essay topic, you usually have some say in what to write about, so make sure to choose a topic that will help showcase who you are and your character in a way that the rest of your application cannot.
If you are using the Common App, you will likely have seven different college essay topics to choose between.
If at all possible, try to write about something that has challenged you, and make sure to include how you grew or changed because of it. Think back to experiences that have made you feel strongly, moments where you felt so hard that you can still taste that feeling.
No matter how simple the essay topic on your college application seems to be, showing growth, showing how you have overcome it, or showing a change in you is essential.
If your topic is something like "the most influential person in your life," remember that the essay still has to be about you, it needs to reveal something about you, and it needs to show, who you are to the admissions officer reading it.
Err on the side of caution, when it comes to controversial topics, but do not eliminate an experience just because it is controversial. It is all about your audience. Know your audience. Are you applying to a religious institution or a liberal college? Where is your college located? If in doubt, ask your guidance counselor.
Making Your Good College Application Essay Great:
Originality is key when it comes to writing a college essay. Make sure you stand out, and that it is clear that not just anyone could have written the essay.
Show what happened, do not tell what happened. For example, if you are writing about an injustice that happened to you such as being racially profiled, being overlooked because of the color of your skin, or being left to feel inferior because of your gender, etc., make sure you describe how it felt in that moment in a way that the reader can feel it too. If you are writing about a parent going to jail, or about someone you know passing away, how did you feel at the moment when you were told? How did you grow from it? How did it change you? What good has come from the experience?
Think of your five senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch). How can you use these senses to make the reader feel what you felt in that moment?
Example of showing versus telling:
Tell: The police car pulled over, and I got scared.
Show: I held my breath as I could see the police car pull over in the rearview mirror, my heart beat faster, and my knuckles turned white from holding on to the steering wheel so tightly.
Which one made you feel as if you were right there in the car?
You want the admissions officer to feel what you felt, because if they feel your story, then they will remember you. Colleges do not want to read sob stories, but if you can turn your bad experience into something good if you can show how the experience made you who you are, and if you carry that experience into what you want to do with your life, then your essay will stand out.
These days we are all attached to our phones 24/7, so create a document on your phone, where you can jot down any thought you may have, no matter where you are at or what time it is. Brainstorming is key, and while you do not have to use all of the ideas you come up with, it is so important to get the ideas out of your head and onto paper or a screen.
I highly recommend the post 99 Most Common Grammar Mistakes in Writing, because some of the mistakes mentioned are those that will stare right at you and seem correct, and I especially appreciate the fact that it will help catch those writing mistakes that spellcheck overlooks.
No matter what you write, it is always helpful to read it out loud. So, the more times you read it out loud, the better.
Stay organized throughout your essay. It sometimes helps to print it out and cut out each paragraph to make sure each one is placed, where it is supposed to be.
When it comes to word count, college application essays are more often brief than not, and as a general rule, whether it is a novel or an essay for college applications, look at each word in your writing, and see if it deserves to be there, if it moves the writing forward and if it is relevant. You do not want to fill a college essay with fluff if you only have 500 words to give a college admissions officer a true look at who you are.
Whether you are a writer, a reader, or not, make sure to keep your language art teachers close throughout high school, because these teachers are worth gold, when it comes to helping with your college essays. It is not easy to have someone read and critique your college essay but remember that the feedback is not a critique of you, it is only meant to help you improve your essay. Teachers are not the only editors though, because if you cannot hold your grandmother's attention to the end of the essay, you may need to think about how you can spice it up a little to keep a college admissions officer interested in the end.
Essay for College Application Checklist:
- Does my introduction spark curiosity?
- Is my college application essay original? Could someone else have written this essay the way I did?
- Does my college essay show personal growth?
- Does my application essay show how I rose above a challenge?
- Does my college application essay reveal something about myself?
- Did I show, not tell in the essay?
- Does my essay make me stand out from the crowd?
- Does my college essay have a red thread running through it, and is it making a point?
- Do I have a strong conclusion?
- Is every sentence and word necessary?
- Did I check for common errors?
- Did I read it out loud?
- Did I print out the essay and proofread it?
- Did I have at least 3 people read my essay, who gave me tips and found errors for me to correct?
Writing essays for college applications is challenging, and if you need help, RESET St. Augustine offers college essay writing assistance to those who need it. RESET is an incredible resource in our community, and the RESET team is there for you, whether you need help with your college application, tutoring for a class, SAT/ACT practice, and more.
For more college tips, check out the College Help link in the sidebar or click the banners below.
* This piece was originally posted on the West Augustine News Connection on September 30, 2021.
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