It’s time to come to reality and face a simple truth: your college essay won’t write itself. You might be a smidge freaked out by the fact that you now have to use your brain (since, let’s face it, demographic info doesn’t require too many brain cells), but relax. You’ll be fine. Here are some things to consider.
The big question: “Why do I have to do this??”
Even if the essay or personal statement is optional, it is still a good idea to write one. For one thing, admissions officers like to see that you can write well. The work load in college typically involves a lot of writing, and schools want to admit students who will be able to keep pace. Secondly, the essay allows you to inject your personality into your application. Think about it: The majority of your application consists of demographic information, impersonal numbers, and laundry lists of activities and (hopefully) accomplishments. While these entities provide a glimpse of what you are, there is very little indication of who you are. Writing an essay gives you the chance to actually speak to admissions officers about the person that you are on the inside.
Other things to consider…
Be unique. Admissions officers read 50-100 essays per day, so it is key to make yours stand out… in a good way! Be creative with essay prompts and think outside of the box while answering questions. Use non-academic examples of accomplishments and failures so that the reader(s) can get to know the you outside of school.
Reuse and recycle. If at all possible, use the same one or two essays for every school you apply to. This shouldn’t be too difficult, given that most prompts ask similar questions just in different ways. Reusing entire essays or recycling bits of a few are great ways to save time and reduce stress. When you attach the essay to a specific application, be sure to tweak it enough so that it seems school-specific and that the information is accurate. DO NOT PUT THE WRONG SCHOOL NAME ON THE ESSAY!! This is a sure-fire way to get rejected.
Show, don’t tell. While it is a good idea to tell admissions officers how awesome you are, it is an even better idea to show them. Use specific examples to illustrate whatever point you are trying to make. If you say that you are determined to succeed, write about the steps you took to achieve a major success. It is one thing to talk about it, it is quite another to be about it.
Be honest. Don’t use the essay to just tell the admissions officers what you think they want to hear, because they will be able to see right through it. Stay true to yourself, because that is the person that they want to admit. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should tell a school that they are your safety or that you are only applying because your parents are making you. If you have nothing nice to say about the school, it might be wise to keep the focus of the essay on yourself.
Quality, not quantity. You typically will have about 500 words to work with, so use them wisely. Stay right around the word limit: a lengthy essay may make the reader tune out upon sight, while a too-short essay makes it look like you just don’t care. Also, make sure you use the proper words to accurately convey your message.
Remember your audience. Local colloquialisms, txt msgs abbreviations, and other informal or generational slang are not appropriate to use. The reader most likely will not grasp your meaning, which will hurt your chances of admission. At the same time, however, don’t be too formal or pretentious with your language. (In this instance, a thesaurus may not always be your friend.) Just be yourself and write in your own style.
Three Step Process
Step 1: Brainstorm. Some schools let you write whatever you want. The prompt is usually something like ‘Tell us about yourself.’ If this is the case, you might be stuck on what exactly to say. Below are some ideas to get you started. Pick one of the following, or modify one to create your own! Be sure to pick something that you will be able to write confidently about. • Think about some major non-academic accomplishments and why they are important to you. • Was there ever a difficult time in your life? How did it change your perspective? • How would your friends describe you? • What are your dreams for the future? If nothing stopped you, what would you do? • Why are you interested in this university?
Step 2: Plan. So you’ve got some ideas… what next? After brainstorming, you should have a rough idea of the elements you wish to include in your essay. For the most part, keep it positive and optimistic. If you write about a time where you were less than successful, be sure to include what you learned from the experience and how you grew. Everyone falls, it’s how you get up that makes you special. The key to this essay is to have the reader come away knowing more information about you then when they began. Don’t include information (like your name, high school, GPA, etc.) that the reader can get elsewhere in your application. Use this space for something new and exciting!
Step 3: Write. Writing is a personal process that should be done according to your own specific style. You should leave yourself enough time to work at a comfortable pace. Once you’ve finished a draft, let it marinate. Leave it for a day or two, then come back to it with fresh eyes and change what needs to be changed. Check for key elements such as introduction and conclusion, as well as grammar and spelling errors. It is important to make sure you are both on topic and within the word limit. When you are satisfied, get a second opinion from a trusted source. Listen to their constructive criticism and edit accordingly. Remember: NEVER SUBMIT AN ESSAY WITHOUT LETTING SOMEONE ELSE READ IT!
Good Luck!!
