Five Rules For Writing Killer College Application Essays
You are ready for college but are you ready to fill out your college application? One of the most challenging components of the entrance application is usually the essays for online colleges and campus universities. Some schools ask for as many as 5 essays. Stick to these five essay writing guidelines and soon you will be opening your letters of acceptance. The key is to start early and plan your attack, then you can be comfortable in knowing that you put your best foot forward and you will have essays you feel comfortably submitting.
Whether you are comfortable writing or it is one of your weaker areas you can put together a killer essay with just a little bit of help. These are the top five things to remember when writing the essay that will get you into college.
1. Make sure you read the instructions and questions over several times and put together notes in a bulleted list. You should make sure you understand what the questions are asking and what the admissions department is actually attempting to evaluate. Take the time to do research and get your facts organized on paper before you start writing. Create an outline of your ideas and facts so that you have an organized essay when you start writing. It is a good idea to write a rough draft for your self and edit it. Take this edited version and ask someone you know who is experienced with the subject matter to review it and suggest pointers.
2. Be yourself. Nowadays, colleges often ask for personal essays which will help them get an idea of the student and assess his/ her qualities. The essays also serve to examine the writing style and judge whether the student is ready for college-level work. Ready-made essays taken from the internet are to be avoided like a plague. Be honest and to the point. Answer the questions asked in a clear, concise and structured format. In the short time that admissions officers devote to each essay, originality and creativity go a long way in leaving a favorable impression. It is advisable to write about something you feel passionately about. It always shows through!
3. Keep the long impressive words to a minimum. The readers are not grading your vocabulary they are looking for a well organized thoughtful essay that gives them a better understanding of who you are. The person reviewing your essay will be looking for your ability to provide a good read about your background and qualifications, not whether you have a dictionary handy. Use your large works sparingly and as needed and you will be fine.
4. Keep away from drama. The last thing admissions officers want to know are the dramatic or traumatic events of your life. Avoid topics like injustice, war or politics as it is unlikely that you will be able to say anything personal or unique about them. Make your essays positive pieces, celebrations of different aspects of life. When well written, it is these essays that leave an indelible mark.
5. Review and edit your essay heavily. Don?t be afraid to remove sentences or paragraphs that are redundant or not on point. This is another opportunity to review the questions to make sure you answered all of them fully. It is also a good idea to have someone else read it and give you their opinion. You don’t need to agree with everything your editor tells you but keep in mind the first things they see may be the first things that standout to the admissions people as well. Make sure to take all this information in so that you can have clear sharp essay that is on point.
If you use these simple rules you will be able to write an essay that gets you noticed. The most important thing is to let your personality shine through. After all the schools want to know why you should be accepted and why you are a good fit for their school. Now that you have the blue print go ahead and write those killer application essays.
