College Application Essays

College Application Essays

While no essay will make an unqualified student acceptable, a good essay can help a qualified

applicant stand out from the competition. A good essay just might be what turns a “maybe” into a “yes.”

Martha C. Merrill,

Dean of Admission and Financial Aid of Connecticut College

The application essay is a snapshot of you as aperson as well as a crucial sample of yourpotential as a college student.

Reveals your personality (your interests, values,approach to problem solving)

A quick assessment of your writing ability &intellectual aptitude

STUDENTS: This is about You

The Common Application Essay1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they

believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Apply Texas EssayTopic A: Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.

Topic B: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

Topic C: Considering your lifetime goals, discuss how your current and future academic and extra-curricular activities might help you achieve your goals.

Stand Out by Being Yourself• Be interesting, not dramatic

• Be honest, not confessional

• Tell a story (“show” vs. “tell”)

• Share the details (anecdotes, thoughts, observations & dialogue)

• Know how to use a literary device, such as a metaphor/simile and avoid gimmicks

DON’T:

• Write about something already noted in your application

• Write about hot-button issues that may offend

• Mention your weaknesses

• Sound pathetic

Tackle the Question Make sure you understand

the prompt and answer the question as asked.

Stay focused on the topic and pursue it with depth versus breadth.

Consider a narrative style – this is your story.

Know that your audience will review the essay with a critical eye.

Their appraisal is crucial to the admissions process.

The Opening Paragraph MUST “hook” the reader:

Hunger for more details

Desire to know the end

Raise questions in the minds of the admissions officers that make them want to read on.

Do appeal to their emotions (doesn’t mean begging). Engage the reader in a conversation that has heart.

Avoid these “Openers”

The place-holder Intro

The restated question intro

The Webster’s dictionary intro

The “dawn of man” intro

The book report intro

Effective Strategies Take your reader straight to a moment in time by

describing an incident or event that relates to your main point. Use action (verbs) rather than static imagery (adjectives).

Use humor, wordplay, or a creative twist to grab the reader’s attention, such as beginning with the end, or offering a intriguing detail. Dialogue can also be very effective.

Try honesty. A simple, straightforward beginning is preferred to a failed attempt at creativity. Set the stage with information that is important to you and your reader will want to know more about you.

Style and Tone

Correct grammar & syntax are essential.

Voice is the personality that comes across when someone reads your essay – word choice & attitude impact the reader’s perception of you. Positivity and Optimism!

A sense of humor

Value diversity

Embrace learning

Can handle adversity

Passion!

Revise, Revise, ReviseBefore sending in your application, make sure you ask yourself these questions:

Did I follow all directions?

Did I write in the active voice?

Did I vary my sentences and use transitions?

Does my voice sound authentic or trying too hard to impress?

Does my tone/diction match the content of my essay?

Do I make any gross generalizations or exaggerations of the facts?

Are all references to history, literature, etc. accurate?

Does my conclusion recapture the main point of my essay?

Edit, Edit, EditBefore sending in your application, make sure you ask yourself these questions:

Is my essay too wordy? Did I over use the thesaurus?

Did I use any slang?

Did I use any clichés?

Did I leave out any words by mistake?

Do I have any typos?

Do seek multiple “reviewers” of your essay(s) before submitting it with your application to ensure it is a well-crafted, polished piece of writing.

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