Master the College Application EssayU s i n g t h e A r t o f W r i t i n g a n d t h e S c i e n c e o f S u c c e s s

A white paper by Jaclyn Corley, Founder of

TheCollegeEssayCaptain.com

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary Introduction

How are new trends in college admissions impacting the college essay?                                                   4

How have these changes impacted students?                                                                                                   6

Where are students getting guidance?                                                                                                               7

What are the current requirements?                                                                                                                   8

Impact of Recent Admission Trends on College  Application Essays

New Findings: The Art of Writing to Admissions 

                                                                                                                                                                                               2                                                                                                                                                                                                3

New Findings: The Science Behind a Successful Essay

Conclusion                                                                                                                                                  

Picking the right topic                                                                                                                                            9

Methods                                                                                                                                                                   10

Effective strategies                                                                                                                                                11

Mindset and performance                                                                                                                                    14

Effectively coping with stress                                                                                                                              15

1

Works Cited

16

17

Executive Summary With frequent changes to college essay prompts, a rising number of application submissions, a student- to-counselor ratio at public schools nearly double the recommended ratio, and increasing selectivity at elite universities, it can be challenging for college applicants to navigate the complex world of writing to a college admissions audience. 

College applicants, teachers, guidance counselors, and advisors can benefit from understanding and implementing the strategies and principles of writing effective college application essays.

The findings for this paper indicate that the best approach for mastering a college application essay is one that combines the art of writing and the science of success. This conclusion is based off of the recommendations of admissions officers, writing experts, and on scientific research on the adolescent mind.

2

IntroductionAccording to recent data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the importance of the college application essay for admission consideration has increased in the past two decades. A well-received college application essay can make the difference between a rejection and an acceptance letter at selective universities.

The college application essay refers to the essays or series of essays requested by a university as a component of a student’s application for admission consideration. Although some universities may request creative pieces, this paper will focus on application essays written as personal narratives.  

This paper will review the recent trends in college application essay expectations and will detail common advice from admissions officers and writing experts. It will focus on the art of writing for a college admission audience, and it will demonstrate how recent findings on adolescent mindsets may be used to support applicants during the writing process. 

3

How are new trends in college admissions impacting the college essay? The number of college applications received by universities has risen exponentially, and this trend, along with increased enrollment, is projected to continue.

Several factors contribute to this rise including more students who plan to attend 4-year institutions, the widespread acceptance of The Common Application, and  increased selectivity from top universities with acceptance rates as low as 5%. Other factors may include increased availability of online information about universities and software platforms like Naviance that assist students with college and career readiness.

The prevalence of online application submission has made it easier for students to apply to multiple universities, and they have.

“According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling

(NACAC), in 1990 just 9 percent of students applied to seven or more colleges.

In the class of 2014, according to Naviance, 16.5 percent of seniors using the

system said they intended to apply to 11 to 20 colleges. (Naviance did not have

figures on how many applications were actually filed.)”

2

12

4

This increase in applications has changed the way applications are processed by admissions officers. While grades and standardized test scores are still considered the most important contributing factors for admission, there are now more students who meet the grades and scores for acceptance.

The increase in highly-qualified applicants has prompted admissions officers to place more weight on other parts of the application to make decisions. These include application essays and letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors.

According to data from NACAC’s Admissions Trend Survey, 61% of universities responded that application essays were of considerable (22.1%) or moderate importance (39.0%).  By  comparison, in 1994, only 14% of universities stated that essays were of considerable importance. 

Admissions officers use the college application essay to learn about a candidate’s personality, which can help determine whether a student will fit in with a school’s culture and how he or she compares with other potential applicants. 

2

2*Graph data based off surveys by the National Association for College Admission Counseling* 

1

5

How have these changes impacted students?The NACAC’s State of Admissions 2015 Report indicates that although the average acceptance rate across all ranked schools was 64.7% in 2014, admission rates have become more competitive.

Pressure to be accepted into selective colleges has contributed to higher levels of chronic stress in teens according to a multi-method study of teen stress at private school serving affluent students.  

In one of this study’s surveys, getting into college was the third leading source of teen stress behind grades (#1) and homework (#2).

The lead author noted that although her team chose to study private school students, there is “no doubt students in selective public high schools also experience high rates of chronic stress.”

Grades

Getting into

college

Homework

Reported sources of chronic stress in teens at private schools:

2

15

6

Where are students getting essay guidance?A study by the NACAC found that the average secondary school student-to-counselor ratio was 436:1. The national recommendation is 250:1.

In the NACAC’s most recent survey, there were clear distinctions between private and public school’s college counseling. The following figure shows that private schools were almost 2.5x more likely to have a counselor specific for college guidance and spent twice the amount of time on post-secondary counseling. While private school counselors spent 55% of their time on college counseling, public school counselors spent just 22%.

These figures correspond with a boom in the independent educational consultant industry. In 2012, families spent $400 million on college consultants. 

Percentage of time

guidance counselors

spent on college

guidance:

2

17

7

What are the current requirements?Once an essay without guidelines, bounds, or word limits, the application essay has seen a shift in requirements and expectations over the past few decades. Most schools now request responses to specific prompts and include a word limit.  

The Common Application is a platform that is currently used by over 700 universities. It has 7 prompts, which were revised in 2017 to reflect feedback from several thousand students, admissions officers, and guidance counselors.

The Universal College Application asks candidates to “write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.”

Both The Common Application and The Universal College Application impose a 650-word limit.

Other schools may require a response to an original prompt in lieu of or in addition to the “Common” or “Universal” application prompt, which may request a more creative or persuasive style. Certain universities also request supplemental essays, which are generally 100-300 word responses to specific questions. 

15

8

What makes a winning college application essay?

Critiques of a college essay are subjective; however, upon review of essays favored by admissions officers, there are recognizable patterns and strategies that may be considered and modeled by college applicants. 

Candidates should research the schools to which they are applying and the type of essay(s) they will need. There is widely accepted advice from writing experts and admissions officers regarding topic choice. 

 

Picking the right topic

Although the same essay may be used to apply to multiple schools, research suggests that submittingthe same essay may not be an effective strategy when applying to highly selective schools.

According to a recent study, Harvard preferred essays about challenges, whereas Stanford preferred stories that were creative or passionate.

The art of writing to admissions

14

8

9

MethodsThe most common college application essay response is a personal narrative, which is a form of prose that details a personal experience and is told in first person. It includes both storytelling elements and personal reflection.

According to research by neuroeconomist Paul J. Zak, there is scientific explanation for why telling a story is a more effective method for writing a college application essay than stating facts or listing accomplishments. His research found that compelling stories activate more parts of our brains than facts and cause us to release oxytocin, the hormone responsible for empathy and connection.

Psychology professor and researcher Dan. P. McAdams discovered that people remember information longer and more completely when told as part of story. Additionally, people are persuaded more quickly and effectively when information is communicated through story.

This research indicates that a well-told story provides an opportunity for the applicant to make the admissions officers feel connected to him or her, which can be a persuasive tool during the decision- process.

19

11

10

Effective Strategies

Paul J. Zak’s research references a specific element an effective story: capturing the audience’s attention. The literary term for this is “hook.”

Andrew Stanton, the award-winning writer and director for Pixar, is responsible for creating some of the most well-received animated stories. He argues that storytellers should construct anticipation so the audience wants to find out what happens next. 

Upon review, nearly all the authors of Johns Hopkins University’s “Essays That Worked” samples employ the use of a hook in the opening line of their essays.    In interviews with Barron’s, an educational test preparation company, admissions officers from competitive universities frequently listed lengthy, non- engaging introductions as a style that negatively impacted their perception of essays.

Hook

Show Don't Tell

Paul J. Zak’s research suggests it’s equally important to maintain the audience’s attention throughout a story for the story to be effective.

In order to execute this idea, Pixar film writers employ a storytelling device referred to as the “unifying theory of two plus two.” This refers to the concept that the storyteller should provide enough detail to allow the audience to come to a conclusion instead of providing the conclusion for them. Room for interpretation keeps the audience engaged in the story.

18

6

1

16

19

18

11

In writing, this technique is referred to as “show don’t tell.” Writers using this technique use action, dialogue, strong verbs, and imagery over adjectives, exposition, and/or summary.

For example, instead of writer stating "I am compassionate, motivated, and thoughtful," she would develop a scene in which she displays those qualities in order to keep the reader's attention. 

In addition to telling a personal story, the college application essay prompts are designed for personal reflection.

In an interview, Liz Cheron, Associate Director for Admissions at Northeastern University, stated:

Self-reflection is a crucial aspect of a well-crafted application essay. It provides admissions officers insight into how an applicant interprets events.

Of the 16 sample “Essays That Worked” for Connecticut College, all included self-reflection in addition to story.  

Reflection

“Most applicants can tell a story with their essay, but

many will miss the part of the question that asks them to

relate that topic back to themselves. The story gives us

context, but the second part is the most vital. It is an

opportunity for the student to demonstrate an awareness

of their ability to learn from and be shaped by personal

experiences.”

5

14

12

Aside from initially hooking the reader, there is no agreed upon structure for the application essay.

In reviews of submitted essays, college application essay advisors and admissions officers argue for essays that are thematic and clearly organized. The writer should be intentional with pacing and flow.

Research from AdmitSee, an educational technology company, indicates that students who took risks with their essay’s structure tended to be more successful provided it was well-executed and purposeful.

In comments on submitted essays, admission officers at Ivy Leagues and other competitive universities alluded to flaws in writing style as a common problem.

Essay reviewers frequently pointed to diction and tone as main culprits.

In a study to assess essays submitted to top schools, five admissions officers were asked to grade a series of essays and explain their reasoning. The admissions officers indicated that top essays used an authentic voice and conversational tone. Students who added in large or complex words in an attempt to impress admissions officers often ended up having the opposite effect.

The use of positive and negative words also affect tone. AdmitSee’s research discovered that highly selective universities often differ in their preference with Harvard preferring essays that relied more heavily on negative words and Stanford preferring essays that used more positive words.

Structure

Style 

8

13

13

8

13

What's the science behind a successful essay?As a parallel to learning the art of writing for a college admissions team, applicants can benefit from learning to appropriately navigate the stress related to completing their college application essays. 

Mindset and performance

Applicants’ beliefs about their intelligence may affect their ability to craft compelling college application essays.

Stanford University psychology professor Carol Dweck and her team researched the non-cognitive factors of academic tenacity, or a student’s ability to “look beyond short-term concerns to longer-term or higher-order goals, and withstand challenges and setbacks to persevere toward these goals.” Theirresearch discovered that students with “growth mindsets,” or those who believed that intelligence is malleable and can be improved had more academic tenacity than students with “fixed mindsets,” or those who believed that intelligence was something you either possessed or didn’t possess.

Growth mindsetFixed mindset

Thoughts

Feelings

Actions

"I'm stupid"

Humiliated

Give up

"I should try a different approach"

Excited for a challenge

Persist

1

14

The study found that students with growth mindsets used constructive responses to handle challenges or setbacks such as as trying a different approach. Students with fixed mindsets had destructive responses, which included giving up.

Students praised for effort outperformed those praised for ability and had more post-failure task enjoyment.

In another study, college students who learned about growth mindset strategies had higher GPAs than a control group. Additionally, growth mindsets can be developed by focusing praise on effort rather than ability.

College applicants with a fixed belief about their writing ability may benefit from a shift to a growth mindset. 

Effectively coping with stress

With “getting into college” as one of the top three stressors for competitive high school students, researchers say it is important for students to find balance and to develop healthy coping strategies for stress. Although some stress is good, too much may have a negative effect on one's mental health. 

Psychologists say students can benefit from mature coping strategies. These include “goal directed behaviors, such as careful planning and organization, as well as seeking out support from parents and friends, and to a lesser extent, teachers, advisors, and counselors.”

Applicants may consider scheduling time to write their essays and plan to meet with teachers or advisors for guidance to combat stress. 

4

14

15

ConclusionAlthough writing college application essays may be a source of stress for college applicants, these essaysprovide an opportunity for applicants to share personal stories with admissions officers that may contribute to their application being accepted. 

The past few decades have seen a number of changes to the admission process, so it's important for applicants and those in the field of guiding applicants to understand the impact of these changes and the solutions for addressing them.

Writing for a college admission audience is both an art and a science. Applicants and advisors can benefit from creating a blue print for action, which involves implementing the most effective writing strategies and maintaining mindfulness throughout the writing process.

16

1. Clinedinst, M., Hurley, S., & Hawkins, D. (2015). 2011 State of College Admission (pp. 1-36, Rep.). National Association for College Admission              Counseling. doi:http://www.thecollegesolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/NACAC-report.pdf  2. Clinedinst, M., Koranteng, A., & Nicola, T. (2015). 2015 State of College Admission (pp. 1-41, Rep.). National  Association for College Admission              Counseling. doi:https://indd.adobe.com/view/c555ca95-5bef-44f6-9a9b-6325942ff7cb 3. Dweck, C., Walton, G., & Cohen, G. (2014). Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning. Bill & Melinda Gates                       Foundation 4. Essay writing for high school students: a step-by-step guide. (2006). New York, NY: Kaplan Pub. 5. Essays that Worked. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2017, from https://www.conncoll.edu/admission/apply/essays-that-worked/ 6. Essays That Worked-Undergraduate Admissions-Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.). Retrieved September 04, 2017, from              https://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/essays-that-worked/ 7. Gelb, A. (2013). Conquering the college admissions essay in 10 steps: crafting a winning personal statement. New York: Ten Speed Press. 8. Giotto, L. (2015, August 11). Using these words in your admission essay may secure you a spot at Harvard. Retrieved  September 01, 2017, from                  http://college.usatoday.com/2015/08/11/admitsee-essay-words-harvard-stanford/ 9. Gutkind, L. (2012). You Cant Make This Stuff Up. New York, USA: Basic Books. 10. Hopkins, K. (2011, October 20). Study: More Students Apply to More Colleges. Retrieved September 03, 2017, from             https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/10/20/study-more-students-apply-to-more-colleges 11. How Stories Change the Brain. (2013, December 13). Retrieved September 08, 2017, from               https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_stories_change_brain 12. Kaminer, A. (2014, November 15). Applications by the Dozen, as Anxious Seniors Hedge College Bets. Retrieved            September 07, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/nyregion/applications-by-the-dozen-as-anxious-students-hedge-college-                bets.html 13. Kaufman, D., Dowhan, C., Dowhan, A., & Burnham, A. (2003). Essays that will get you into college. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons. 14. Kirby, D. (2013, September 30). The College Entry Essay: Tips from Admissions Officers at Leading Schools. Retrieved             September 08, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/the-colllege-entry-essay-_b_4013010.html 15. Leonard, N. R., Gwadz, M. V., Ritchie, A., Linnick, J. L., Cleland, C. M., Elliot, L., & Grethel, M. (2015). A multi-method exploratory study of             stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools (Rep.). Frontiers in Psychology.             doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028 16. Lenmark-Ellis, B., & Lenmark-Ellis, B. (2005). How to write successfully in high school and college. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons. 17. Perry, G. (2015, December 09). Silicon Valley's College-Consultant Industry. Retrieved August 30, 2017, from             https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/silicon-valley-college-consultants/419538/ 18. Stanton, A. (2012). The clues to a great story. Speech presented at TED. 19. Zak, P. J. (2013, December 13). How Stories Change the Brain. Retrieved September 08, 2017, from                 https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_stories_change_brain

17