Writing College Admissions Essays @ Alvin Sherman Library: Writing Tips
Keep in Mind...
A great application essay presents a vivid, personal, and compelling view of you to the admissions committee. It rounds out the rest of your application and helps you stand out from other applicants. The essay is one of the only parts of the application over which you have complete control, so take the time to do a good job on it.
Advice from Admissions Professionals
Essay Writing Tips
Tips to help you as you write your essay:
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Write simply.
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Keep your focus narrow and personal.
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Provide specific evidence (facts, events, quotations, examples) to support your main idea.
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Use vivid, compelling details (show, don't tell).
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Address the topic squarely. For example, if an application asks you to explain any deficiencies in records (e.g., a low grade or bad semester), provide a straightforward, reasonable response.
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Don’t repeat information that is found elsewhere in the application, such as lists of courses or extracurricular activities.
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Write about something unique and different—not just what you think the admissions officer wants to hear (they read many essays about the charms of their university, for example).
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Apply principles of good composition (e.g., organize the essay with a beginning, middle, and end).
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Structure your writing in a way that allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions.
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Revise and proofread to make sure there are no typographical, spelling, or grammatical errors.
How Important is the Essay?
The National Association for College Admission Counseling’s 2011 State of College Admission report found that while grades, strength of curriculum and admission test scores are the top factors in the college admission decision, a majority of colleges and universities believe the essay to be of considerable or moderate importancein determining which academically qualified students they would choose.
In other words, when all else is equal between competing applicants, a compelling essay can make the difference. A powerful, well-written essay can also tip the balance for a marginal applicant.
Want More Tips?
Check out these online sources:
- 10 Tips for Writing the College Application Essay from US News
- Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay from BigFuture
- 9 Essay Writing Tips to 'Wow' College Admissions Officers from USA Today
- Application Essay Tips from Peterson's
Source
Tips adapted from the College Counseling Sourcebook (New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 2004) based on information from The College Application Essay, rev. ed., by Sarah Myers McGinty (New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 2004).