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Admission Essays
Chances are that if you poll a thousand seniors and ask what is the most intimidating aspect of completing their college applications, a majority of them will respond, "The Essay!", perhaps in perfect unison. The majority of the application may be a collection of straightforward questions, which students typically breeze through, the essay, however, often brings forth a large pause, in which the student find themselves fretting on the perfect way to articulate why the should be admitted.
It's time to change the way students approach the essay. Instead of attempting to portray the "perfect student", view the essay as your opportunity to bring your authentic voice to you application. Colleges want to hear from you directly in order to get an sense of who you are via your own words. This is your chance to personalize you application outside of grades and test scores. Here are some tips to keep in mind and avoid when it comes to writing your essays:
DO create a strong opening paragraph that will capture your reader's interest. You want the admissions officer to be curious about the next thing you will say.
DO NOT copy and paste carelessly. One of the most common mistakes found to the question "Why are you interested in this college?" is the use of another college's name as a result of mindless copy/paste answer.
DO be direct in your answers. Now is not the time to break out that thesaurus in an attempt to weave together large words into even longer sentences. Answer the questions succinctly.
DO NOT write too little. While being direct is important, you also want to avoid being too short. This may result appear as if there is a lack of interest. Be sure that you are fully responding to to show that you truly care about being admitted into the college.
DO Proofread. Now is not the time for careless errors. There will be someone out there who will read and review this essay, so it is important that you read--and read and read--your essay for mistakes. There are also may resources out there to assist in finding grammatical errors--spellcheck, grammarly, and of course family/friends/teachers can lend a second eye.
DO NOT wait until the last minute. Waiting until the last minute will almost guarantee the likeliness for errors. By procrastinating on your essay, you may find your self in a situation in which you need to rush and this will come through in your writing. Take note of your deadlines--which can be found on the college website--and give yourself plenty of time to complete.
DO keep track of length. We discussed the importance of writing too short of an essay to avoid appearing nonchalant, but you will also need to be mindful of going too long. Remember, this is not a dissertation or your life's memoir. Take note of the recommended essay length an try to adhere to it; this will ensure that the person reading sticks around for your whole story.
DO be authentic. Again, this is your opportunity to add your unique voice to your application. Admissions want to hear about you, from you. Most of the stress regarding the essay portion stems from trying to portray a different version of yourself. While it's important to put your best foot forward, it is doubly vital to be authentic. No one is perfect, including the person reading your application.
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