Writing A Standout College Admissions Essay
There’s an old saying when it comes to giving a presentation that will stick in the minds of an audience: “Tell them what you’re about to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you just told them”. It’s a reminder that repetition and clarity are the best way to get your point across. This model can also be applied to the admissions essay, one of the oddest parts of the college application process.
With an admissions essay you’re essentially trying to turn something fairly personal (the Princeton Review claims one of the most common admissions essay prompts is “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others”) into a point in your favor towards getting into the college of your choice. Something of that nature might not be easy to talk about to the strangers who’ll end up reading your essay. Even still, you might not even know what’s happened in your life that would count for that prompt in the eyes of the readers. But fear not! We have some recommendations for writing the best version of a college admissions essay specific to you!
Write About Something Important to You
Though the experiences in your life might be personal to you, your essay will be the best version of itself if your passion for the subject can shine through. If there is an experience in your life you think might be too sensitive to use if the above prompt is given to you, consider being vulnerable and using it if it won’t cause you too much stress. If there’s something that has happened in your life that doesn’t seem remarkable in your opinion, if you think it fits the prompt, then it probably does.
Show Your Growth
Recounting your experience accurately is important but making it fit the prompt is just as important if you want to maximize your essay’s effectiveness. Don’t just tell your story, tell the reader how your story helped make you into the person you are today. After all, that’s the person you want the admissions board to think is deserving of a spot at their college. You want to put your best foot forward and prove that you’ve matured in some way before you begin your collegiate life.
Be Clear & Concise
This is still schoolwork at the end of the day, after all. Practice the same steps you would if it were a run-of-the-mill history paper so that there are no unnecessary spelling or grammatical mistakes. Reread your essay a few times, print it out, reread it with a fresh perspective, and have someone peer review it to get a second or third set of eyes on it. Your admissions essay should reflect the kind of student you intend to be once accepted.
Besides all of this technical and emotional advice, the most important piece of advice we can give you is: don’t stress over it. You are likely going to have to write a bunch of these admissions essays during your application process, so it won’t do you or anyone any favors to waste time and sting over anyone. If you think you’ve done a good job with one, you probably have!
