Essays

ESSAYS

Most colleges view the essay as the student's voice. It is a personal statement, an opportunity for you to bring your application to life. You can use the essay to make yourself known to the reader in ways that do not already appear in the application. The admissions officer will be evaluating your ability to use the English Language and your ability to follow directions. Perhaps not so obvious, but still true is that whatever you write becomes a reflection about your attitudes, values, interests, etc. The work you submit becomes the "real" you.

The essay should be the best piece of writing you are capable of producing. Avoid writing about you think admission officers want to hear. You should write about what is important to you. Applicants often try to sound overly intellectual and use big SAT words when simpler, more age-appropriate word choices will do. Avoid writing about anything that is already mentioned in your application. The purpose is for the reader to learn something he or she did not already know.

If the essay is require by the college, you must understand what the college is looking for. If the essay is a response to a specific question, all students are writing on the same topic and the answers may be compared as to quality of response. These questions usually seek to learn about your dept of knowledge, your ability to think and problem-solve, and your ability to write and organize a response. If the essay is general, then breadth or clarifications is more likely what is expected. Your purpose in choosing what to write about may be as important as what you write.

Once you have identified the topic you would like to write about, the essay can usually be adapted to fit the majority of assigned topics. Dr. Gary Ripple, retired Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Lafayette College and author of "Do it Write: How to Prepare a Great College Application" states,

"I have never seen a college application essay question, no matter how it was worded, that did not ask the same basic thing - who are you, and what makes you different from all those other qualified applicants we must consider? In other words, the essay gives you the opportunity to demonstrate why you are special".