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The College Essay Guy
Here is a How-To article.
Grammarly - To help you with grammar.
Do these....
- BRAINSTORM...with family, friends, etc.
- Answer the prompt question...really
- Get help and feedback...with editing but be careful about keeping true to your own voice and personality. Use your English teacher and/or your school counselor.
- Draft and revisit often....revise and revise
- Be thoughtful and clear - especially in the shorter essays
- Be original and creative!! UNIQUE and even entertaining (if that's who you are.)
- Check for typos & grammar again and again.
- Remember...the solution is inside of you and can be something quite simple....Don't search too hard.
Avoid these....
- Avoid writing about common themes... (What my summer vacation taught me, The big game: loss, win, The death of my beloved __________). They have heard it all before so be unique.
- Be careful writing about something too personal...don't make the reader uncomfortable.
- Be CAREFUL if you are changing your essay to fit different colleges....cutting and pasting can lead to errors.
- Don't try to sell yourself - show them who you ARE and what you CARE ABOUT rather than try to persuade them that you are great.
- Avoid over-packaging/marketing yourself...you are presenting, not selling.
- Don't try to be too important...hot topics and firm beliefs and opinions should be written thoughtfully and respectfully.
- Don't have anyone write FOR you. They can spot an adult voice a mile away....or someone who doesn't match YOU.
- If writing about specific colleges, don't state the obvious...For example, don't talk about how much you love Boston in your Boston University essay. They will assume you do.
- Avoid being negative about your subject. Writing about how bad something is won't make the best impression.
- Avoid writing a conclusion statement or ending moral lesson. Make your essay fun and about YOU...not a teaching moment for the reader.