How to Write a College Application Essay

You have already taken the tests, completed the application, requested the recommendations, and now the time has come to focus on the essay.

Whereas many students spent days working on their application essays, the admissions officers only spend some 3-5 minutes actually reading them. For this reason, enrollees have to do their best to summarize the last 17 years in 600 words and prove they really deserve being college students.

Here are several tips that can help you showcase your unique personality.

Start Writing an Essay with an Anecdote

As the admissions officers have only few minutes on reading every essay, it is pivotal that you have their attention and interest from the very beginning. The best way to involve them in your story is to share the moment. Select the moment that shows your character when you start writing an essay.

Show You Love to Learn

Colleges prefer accepting students who are going to graduate, who associate success with the college or university. It is important that you present yourself as the person who loves studying, has a passion for learning and has a critical thinking. While writing an essay, think how to demonstrate your intellect.

Do not Try too Hard

You should not try too hard to impress admissions officers with your personal statement. It is much more interesting to read about specific subjects than about the time when you won the state championship game. Be more creative!

Tell Something that Matters to You

Admissions officers recommend every student to start his/her personal statement by answering a question, “If you had 5 minutes to impress them in person, what would you say?” The colleges want creative students with authentic and logical thinking.

Read Some Successful Essays

Reading essays that have worked is a profitable idea. You will find out that all of those essays are ver personal, it seems they contain pieces of those who wrote them.

Find a topic that you like and write an essay on it. It should not take longer than an hour. Words come easily when you write sincerely. Then, put your writing aside and come back to it in a couple of days. But you should not do it more than once, as reading it over and over and making it perfect will just drive you mad.

 

Therefore, here are the main pieces of advice on writing an essay when applying for college:

• Catch readers’ attention from the very beginning.
• Show your passion for studying.
• Do not try too hard.
• Demonstrate your creativity and tell something that matters.
• Read successful essay examples.