How to Write a College Admissions Essay: 7 Easy Tips
While grades and test scores are the all-important part of a college application, your college admissions essay is where your personality shines. Along with an excellent letter of recommendation, your essay can set you apart from other talented candidates.
So how do you write a strong college admissions essay?
Most applicants think they need to impress admissions officers by trying to sound smarter or seem more impressive. But in reality, the best way to stand out is by writing a personal essay that is true to your unique qualities. Colleges know when an application isn’t authentic so make sure your essay is personal, thoughtful and truthful.
Read on for seven easy to follow tips that will ensure you submit a strong college admissions essay.
7 tips for writing a stellar college admissions essay
1. Make sure you answer the prompt
The most important factor of a successful college admissions essay is answering the question or provided prompt. This not only makes it easier for admissions officers to compare submissions - it shows you can listen and follow instructions.
Take time to read (and re-read) the prompt and to think about what is being asked of you. While you brainstorm ideas you can then check their suitability by asking yourself, ‘does this relate to the prompt?’
Continue to question yourself at each point during the writing process to make sure you stay on topic and that the final version directly answers the instructions.
And remember - while it’s tempting to reuse essays from previous submissions, this is an easy way to miss the mark.
2. Follow an essay outline
Writing a college admissions essay can feel daunting. Rather than working with a blank page, start by crafting a simple outline. This will keep you on track and help you to manage your word count.
Decide on the main ideas you want to cover in an enticing introduction, the essay body, and a compelling summary. This will shape your essay into a digestible story that is easy to read and consistently written in the same tone of voice.
3. Be yourself and not a cliche
Admission officers read hundreds of college application essays and therefore know when someone has taken a bit too much inspiration from another submission.
Instead of writing what you think your college wants to hear, have confidence in being yourself. You can even include a bit of humor (Although make sure to strongly consider one-liners and limericks that might not land with a professional adult.)
Avoid cliche phrases and predictable ideas by getting to the heart of your essay’s focus. Try to express experiences with a unique angle that will make your essay unforgettable.
4. Back up your ideas with strong examples
Your essay is a chance to share your ideas - but don’t leave the details to the reader's imagination.
Facts and statistics are an easy way to support a statement. But expressing examples from your personal experiences demonstrates what truly motivates you.
When recalling events, describe what you learned and how it changed your beliefs. Giving detail shares a deeper glimpse into what you believe and who you are as a person.
5. Don’t forget to spell check
By now you should be well on your way to submitting a stellar college admissions essay - so don’t fall at the last hurdle! Typos and grammatical errors can represent carelessness to admission offers. Forgetting to spell check is definitely not a reason to undo all your hard work.
Allow yourself plenty of time to proofread your essay from a fresh perspective. Take a walk and come back with a clear mind before reading your words exactly as they are printed. Try voicing your essay out loud - this can help you to spot punctuation mistakes and avoid mixing different tenses.
While computer spell check is helpful, don’t solely rely on it. Make sure to review the context of the words and avoid abbreviations or acronyms. And don’t forget to look out for commonly used words such as ‘very’ and ‘also’.
6. Get your college admissions essay proofread
Although it’s good to proofread your essay yourself, don’t forget to ask a parent, teacher, or trusted friend to help too. In fact, the more the better!
Chances are you’ll have read your college admissions essay over and over again - so mistakes may be harder to spot. A fresh pair of eyes can ensure your words are clear, concise, and directly answer your prompt.
7. Ask for help if you need it
Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your college admissions essay. College essay advisors are experts at writing strong submissions and can share successful college admissions essay examples to get you started - as well as plenty more tips and tricks to make your writing process easier and more enjoyable.
At Bound4College, we will assist you with writing two primary essays and up to six supplement essays. Plus you’ll receive three hours of remote meetings and up to two edits to make sure your essay is unforgettable.
Get college admissions essay help today.