College College Application EssayApplication Essay

Composition

What is it?

0A college application essay is an autobiographical essay, an essay that tells a true, personal story about something from an author’s life.

0This essay should reveal:0Your thoughts and feelings0Your insights about life or yourself0How a conflict, event, or person shaped you

Why do I have to do this?

0Colleges often require a brief autobiographical essay to accompany an application for admission.

0You can use this for your college applications!!!

0Each college differs in its essay requirement.0Some give a specific writing prompt.0Others leave the essay open-ended.

Length of the Essay

0250-500 words, roughly 1 to 1 ½ double-spaced pages.

0A specific college, however, may have a different length requirement.

What Colleges Want

0The person/board who reviews your essay will want to discover:0Your writing ability/ ability to communicate

effectively.0Your personality.0Your personal background.0Any interests that mesh with their college.0Any experiences that will be assets to the college.0Your goals.

What Colleges DON’T Want

0A list of all the reasons their college is great (you’re selling yourself, not the college).

0An essay that is generic (could be written by anyone).0An essay that shows no individuality or creativity.0A simple statement of your intended field of study.

A List of DO NOTS

0Do not try to give the impression that you are insincere – write naturally.

0Do not underestimate yourself – sell yourself! 0Do not be unnaturally solemn. Let your personality or

sense of humor SHINE through.0Do not use passive voice or refer to the college as

“you” or “you guys.”0Do not overuse the thesaurus. Write naturally and use

mature vocabulary that is not beyond your ability range.

A List of DO’S

0Do type your essay (if the college will allow you to attach it separately).

0Do have an introduction and a clear conclusion.

0Do give your draft to others to proofread and critique (parents, friends, teachers).

0Do REVISE, REVISE, REVISE! This is your one opportunity to impress them with your writing and communication abilities!

Getting Started

0Brainstorm possible topics.0Create a personal experience timeline of important

events in your life.0Look through photographs for inspiration.0Think about influential friends, family members, or

role models in your life.0Consider important achievements you’ve made.*Be sure to choose something or someone significant

and meaningful to you.

Tips1. Develop a plot line of the events related to your

incident.

2. Add vivid, descriptive sensory details to “explode the moment.”

3. Make a bridge to the present, if you wrote about a past experience. Provide an insight by considering how the event was significant and how it affected you.

4. Add dialogue to make the writing come to life.5. Vary sentence beginnings so that they don’t begin

with “I.”

Q’s for Sample EssaysRating Scale:

A B C D F

1.Does the author relate a specific event/person?

2.Are moments “exploded” with vivid detail?

3.Is the person’s voice/personality shining through?

4.Does the conclusion make a bridge to the present while revealing insight into the author and his or her goals/career choice?

5.Is the writing clear, sophisticated, polished?