College Application Essays and Personal Statement

General Comments

Regarding your essay's content, a school's application might ask some very specific questions. If so, by all means answer them, and never stray from the topic. But if the question is more open-ended, do not waste your essay opportunity by rehashing or explaining your academic record or entrance-exam scores, or by boasting about your extracurricular activities. All of this information should appear elsewhere in your application.

Instead, reveal something far more personal, even intimate, about yourself. In doing so, your goal should be to afford the reader some insight into your persona. Consider focusing on a life experience that was truly unique to you; or explain to the reader how a particular book or person (other than a family member) influenced your world view or life course in a surprising way; or share with the reader a personal goal that has nothing to do with your academic or career aspirations. These are just a few possible approaches, of course.

Ten Do's and Don'ts for Your College Admissions Essay

The Do's1. Unite your essay and give it direction with a theme or thesis. The thesis is the main point you want

to communicate. 2. Before you begin writing, choose what you want to discuss and the order in which you want to

discuss it. 3. Use concrete examples from your life experience to support your thesis and distinguish yourself

from other applicants. 4. Write about what interests you, excites you. That's what the admissions staff wants to read. 5. Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead--an anecdote, quote, question, or engaging

description of a scene. 6. End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis. 7. Revise your essay at least three times. 8. In addition to your editing, ask someone else to critique your essay for you. 9. Proofread your essay by reading it out loud or reading it into a tape recorder and playing back the

tape. 10. Write clearly, succinctly.

The Don'ts1. Don't include information that doesn't support your thesis. 2. Don't start your essay with "I was born in...," or "My parents came from..." 3. Don't write an autobiography, itinerary, or resume in prose. 4. Don't try to be a clown (but gentle humor is OK). 5. Don't be afraid to start over if the essay just isn't working or doesn't answer the essay question. 6. Don't try to impress your reader with your vocabulary. 7. Don't rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling. 8. Don't provide a collection of generic statements and platitudes. 9. Don't give mealy-mouthed, weak excuses for your GPA or SAT scores. 10. Don't make things up.

By Linda Abraham, Founder and President of Accepted.com

Top Ten Most Common Mistakes from My Essay.com1. Careless Mistakes:

There is absolutely no excuse for spelling or grammar mistakes.2. Rehashing:

Do not reiterate accomplishments or activities that are already mentioned elsewhere in your application. A good essay should introduce a facet of your personality, something your test scores, GPA and activities don't reveal.

3. Too Personal:While you do want risk something and share a piece of yourself, you don't want to embarrass the reader.

4. Waiting until the last minute:Don't expect or even attempt to write the perfect essay in one sitting. Write something, edit it, put it aside, and go back to it later. Good writing is the product of good, constant rewriting.

5. The Thesaurus Syndrome:Don't over utilize ostentatiously pretentious language to delineate subject matter you are attempting to address. Big words aren't impressive; a clear, direct style is.

6. Life Histories:Make sure your essay has a point. An endless stream of phrases like "then I did this, and then I did this..." is boring and meaningless.

7. Hackneyed Phrases:Admission officers are sick of applicants "who want to help people." Think of something that's unique to you.

8. Too Gimmicky:Writing your essay in purple crayon is pointless. Being creative and being nonsensical are not the same.

9. Cynicism:Schools want bright, active people-not Mr. Gloom. A positive approach to life-and to the essay will score points.

10. Too Long:More is not better. Schools want a concise, well-reasoned essay. Try not to exceed the word or space limit.