How to Write a College Essay

Advice from the National Association of College Admissions Counselors

(and your Lit teacher)

What do they want? “What are we looking for? We are asked this

question frequently by students that might be stressing out about the short answer questions and essays. There are no right or wrong answers; basically, we are looking for students to answer the question, to organize their thoughts and to share what they think. Obviously, students should take their answer seriously, but not dwell on them so much they never get around to completing the application.”

~ Julie Schultz, OSU Admissions

Could I plagiarize one?

In a word, no.

“I got an essay from a kid who lives in San Diego, word for word matching the essay of a kid who lives in the Ukraine.

To high school counselors, do let your kids know that we do read closely and have good memories!”

Bruce Poch, Dean of Admissions at Pomona

College

How do I start? Think.

What do you care about deeply?

How have experiences and/or people shaped you as a person?

What are your aspirations?

What kind of “voice” do you have? (light-hearted, serious, quirky)

Quick first impressions

College admissions counselors are busy. On average, the essay portion of the college application packet is allotted just under a minute’s time for reading.

You have that small window to catch the counselor’s attention. Brand yourself by including memorable details.

When later reviewing a stack of likely acceptances, a counselor can think, “Oh, yes, that’s the _______ one.” (Fill in the blank: yodeling, young woman who works with rescued tigers, young man who enters pie eating contests.)

Tips Answer the question.

Captivate your audience.

Write using specifics. The “snapshot” will come from the details you provide.

Be positive. Describe how this experience (in the essay, not the application process) has changed you for the better.

Be yourself. Be able to say, “this sounds like me.”

More Tips Write in the active voice. It’s all about you (first

person).

Use an appropriate register of words.

Proofread for spelling and usage. Have at least one other person proofread your essay before you submit.

Be organized and remain on topic. If you start a story, finish it. Perhaps try the intro-anecdote-conclusion style.

Show rather than tell.

Avoid Exceeding the length requirement.

Using a flowery or pretentious style.

Selecting a topic that bores (the social problem of the year that has been thoroughly addressed by the media), inflames (a political hot button), or suggesting you are so comfortable in high school, you can’t see beyond it.

Repeating what is in your resume.

Taking on too big a topic.

Top 10 Tips from NACAC

1. Start early.

2. Be yourself.

3. Be honest.

4. Take a risk

5. Keep in focus.

6. Write and rewrite.

7. Get a second opinion.

8. Proofread

9. Don’t confuse applying online with sending e-mail.

10.Don’t expect too much from an essay.

Sample prompt University of Virginia, 2011: “Discuss something

you secretly like but pretend not to, or vice versa.”

I walked into the aging building with limited expectations. My mother had signedme up for this class, and after a brief back-and-forth over the wisdom of a mom picking extracurricular activities for her fourteen-year-old daughter, I had agreed to go. Little did I know that I was on the verge of discovering what I would only ever confide to a chosen few: I am a darn good yodeler.

It was a small group of individuals who gathered that day in the Sertoma Center atShelly Lake in my hometown of Raleigh, NC. Later, I would come to know everyoneby name and style. Susan, a software engineer at a biotech firm, favored dramaticcountry music pitch modulations, called “hikes.” Ray, a sometimes barbecue cookat a local restaurant was all about the repeated trilling, and, boy, was he good at it.In a few months’ time, I would establish myself amongst this group with my ownpeculiar style, a combination of trilling and hikes, earning the nickname Ramblin’ Rose. Yes, like the song…