The college essay is your opportunity to “talk” directly to the college’s admissions committee and speak for yourself about your life, your goals, passions, values, strengths, talents, and sometimes, about the obstacles you have faced. Admissions committee evaluates the effectiveness of your writing and gains insight into the real person behind the facts: you. All college application essay questions want you to reveal who are you and what makes you unique. It is highly recommended that you ask an English teacher and/or counselor proofread your essay before submitting it, but make sure you are not asking at the last minute.
Need someone to proofread your essay? DePaul University’s College Access office has a team of Peer Editors who are available to virtually edit high school student's essays for free. Having an extra set of eyes on a personal statement, a college essay, or a scholarship essay can be very helpful!
Supplemental essays are additional pieces of writing required by many highly-selective universities, and they can be just as revealing and important as your personal statement. Read this article for how-to guides with essay examples and analysis on tackling these essays for some of the most popular colleges and universities.