How to Write Memorable College Essays
The majority of colleges expect prospective candidates to submit a personal essay or statement as a key component of the application process. While this is one type of important college essay, there are many other types.
To most students, college essay writing can seem like a tedious task and it definitely requires a lot of work. However, this is also an excellent chance for you to show that you matter when decision-making time comes. In the application process, most admission panels (or committees) attach the highest significance to the candidate’s grades and test results. Most colleges get countless applications from deserving students with similar grades and scores – too many indeed for them to accept. So they rely on application essays, together with recommendation letters and the candidate’s out-of-school interests, to figure out how you are different (and better) than other applicants.
How to Tell Your Unique Story
What is that marks you out from other candidates?
Undoubtedly, your personality, background and interests in life are different to others. This essay is your opportunity to tell the committee your unique story, or some of it at least. The most effective way to describe yourself is to do so through a well thought-out personal essay about some topic that is meaningful to you. Therefore, choosing college essay topics is important and you should be sincere and honest so that your special qualities are brought to the fore.
The members of an admissions committee are obliged to sift through a huge volume of essays, many of which are not memorable. Where college essays are concerned, a lot of students make the mistake of trying to sound clever instead of focusing on portraying their real self. Other students write about subject matter they do not particularly care about, but they think the admissions committee will be impressed by it.
It is not necessary to have set up a successful business or to have hiked the world’s most difficult trail. It has been shown that those college essays that worked were ones that were thoughtfully written and demonstrated the student’s motivation. What admissions panels are looking for is what you have to contribute if or when you join their institution.
The Features of a Winning Essay
- Choose a subject that means something to you and write about it. This could be a person, an experience or a favorite book, something that has had a strong impact on you.
- Reflect rather than merely recounting. Any student can write about a summer spent in Italy or a big competition they won. When calling these events to mind, you need to do more than give a minute-by-minute account of them. Instead, you should talk about what the experience taught you and whether it changed you in any way.
- It can be difficult to be amusing in an essay. Any student whose application essay is capable of drawing laughter from an admissions panel will be remembered. But this is one of our college essay tips you need to be careful about. What might seem funny to you might be seen differently by a reader. We advise against limericks, one-liners and anything that someone else might deem inappropriate.
- Begin your essay in good time and write a few drafts. Put it to one side for a couple of days, then re-read it. Try and take the place of the reader. Will they find it interesting? Is there a logical flow to your ideas? What does the piece say about you? Does your own voice come through?
- What is written in a personal statement or application essay should synchronize with the information presented in other parts of your application pack rather than repeat or contradict it. You should not use the essay to talk about your exam scores or grades or to describe any awards you won.
- Address the question you are asked. Do not copy an answer you used for another application, even if it is quite similar.
- Get your college essay edited by another person or perhaps two others. The best option is a tutor or college advisor. In addition, remember to check and double check to ensure there is no grammar or spelling errors before you submit it.