Sitting down to write a college essay may seem to be an overwhelming task. Using tips and advice from both educators and college students will help you write your best essay.
For those unsure where to start or what to write about, there will be no better excerpt on yourself than you. If you don't have a passion or any special moment that stands out, think rather about what makes you, you. Think about yourself now and where you want to be; how can you use your own life to express this? Once you have an idea, start writing down your essay. There will be many drafts and revisions, so know that the first draft will inherently be somewhat messy.
Admission Officers look for students with a grasp on the basics of good writing, who give a strong introduction paragraph and make their answer to the essay question clear. College Covered makes for a great online source full of essay tips. To help your essay stand out to the admission officers, College Covered advises choosing a thoughtful title and jumping right in, just how “people...judge whether to read a book by its first sentence or two…the college essay is no different.” They emphasize the importance of being vulnerable and authentic, but don't be afraid to include some humor. Make connections in your essay to the world, because “what often elevates an essay is that the writer is able to place their own story and insights in a larger historical, cultural, philosophical or intellectual context,” says Calderelli in College Covered. If you have already written your essay, go back. There will always be a place to add in connections, humor, and examples to level up your writing.
When doing editing and revisions, know the downfall for many students continues to be what words they use to prove their point. The use of empty words like good or bad don't help prove a point; they can be meaningless and should be exchanged with more specific language. In addition, EdSource provides insight, stating, “If a student writes ‘I was the only dancer in the group who was skilled and motivated,’ then I might ask, ‘How do you know that?’” This is an example of extreme language—for example: always, only, never, all—which should be avoided. When revising, make sure you stated your points clearly. If someone were to read your essay would they ask, “ What exactly are they trying to say?”
If you truly want to get the most out of editing and revising, have someone else also go over the paper. For those who don't have someone who can edit, many online services will, though many options do require payment. Another surprising place you can find dozens of people willing to edit your essay would be TikTok. Here many college students and/or graduates allow you to email them your essay as well as uploading videos giving tips and advice on writing the essay.
Some of the best advice/tips comes from students in college with first hand experience and knowledge. UNC-Chapel Hill Sophomore and AFHS 2019 graduate, Loryn Boorstein, says to “make a list of your accomplishments and use that to tell a story. Make sure to talk about yourself in a desirable way as if marketing yourself; who you are as a person should shine through so they can tell you apart from other applicants and try no to be too philosophical.” Because even though philosophical conversations work well in other situations, a college essay should be focused on you, not on depicting unanswered questions. Writing your best essay may be important but try not to stress over it. Not only does the internet provide a plethora of resources and tips, but a college essay does not make or break an application. Use this as an opportunity to show you’d be a good fit for the college and set yourself apart from the other candidates.
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