Application essays are one of the cornerstones of college or scholarship applications, giving applicants an opportunity to share a piece of themselves that distinguishes themselves from competitors and stands out amongst the competition.
An effective application essay must weave an engaging narrative that fits with the overall philosophy of your application.
1. Choose a Topic You Are Passionate About
MSSF: What should students keep in mind when writing an essay? Amy: To ensure you write authentically about yourself and avoid making statements that could appear dishonest to admissions officers. Avoid writing about topics which do not reflect who you really are; admissions officers can detect these easily enough!
Focus instead on those things that interest and excite you; ones that leave a sense of expansion when thinking about them. Make sure your topic can naturally connect to either the position or college you're applying to; otherwise it might be useful to discuss how your interests and future career goals can intersect in some indirect way in an interview setting.
2. Be Specific
Nontraditional college applicants need to use the essay as an opportunity to showcase their unique life experiences when applying to colleges, as college admissions officers want to see well-rounded students beyond transcripts and test scores.
Students should strive to be honest and authentic when writing about themselves and their lives. Don't try to gloss over past hardships or embellish events just so readers will be more engaged - readers can easily spot falsehoods or overstatements quickly!
Keep these tips in mind to create an engaging and memorable application essay that will set them apart among their competition for their dream school. Spending the time to carefully plan, draft and rewrite will ensure it is strong and persuasive - good luck! And check out Scholly for tips on locating and winning scholarships to pay for school expenses!
3. Make a Thesis
If you're applying to a college that doesn't require standardized tests, your essay is your chance to stand out among thousands of applicants. Avoid canned responses such as discussing obstacles or accomplishments and show how your personality has grown over time by sharing an activity or interest that exemplifies who you are as an individual and showcases growth within it.
Start off your essay right by crafting a captivating and clear thesis statement. A strong thesis statement should include only one sentence which defines your essay's goal and purpose.
As an example, a student might write that they will oppose the popular view that consanguineal marriage harms nuclear families - this would be an impressive and compelling thesis statement, since it takes on such an opinion and provides a counter view that supports alternative ideas.
4. Write a Draft
Experts often advise students to begin working on their essays during the summer before senior year, when their coursework and extracurriculars are less demanding. This allows for multiple drafts and feedback before their college application deadlines come due.
First impressions count in writing any essay; make yours memorable from page one by opening with an eye-catching statement or paragraph that grabs an admission officer's interest and compels them to read further.
Honesty about your strengths and weaknesses is also of vital importance in writing a successful personal statement. While highlighting flaws or weaknesses is acceptable, doing it in such a way that shows efforts made to overcome or learn from them will make a much greater impression with readers than simply repeating cliched material.
5. Rewrite
Essays provide you with an opportunity to showcase your individual personality that may not come through elsewhere in your application. A carefully written essay could make or break your application.
Don't be intimidated to change the essay if it will increase your chances of admissions, just make sure that any modifications fit with how well it represents who you are as a person and your experiences to an admissions committee.
Doing your research will enable you to write an essay that accurately represents you and reflects the voice and vision that inspires it. Consider hiring a professional proofreader to review it for any grammatical errors and ensure the essay flows naturally - whether using free tools designed specifically for academic writing, or premium services trained by native English editors.
