The college application essay is your opportunity to showcase your personality, goals, and experiences to the admissions committee. It’s an important part of the application process, and a well-written essay can make a big difference in your chances of getting accepted. It will be reviewed and help you stand out, similar to your SAT score and GPA. Here are 10 tips to help you write an impressive college application essay for the Common Application:
- Start early: Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing your essay. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise.
- Choose a topic that showcases your unique qualities: The admissions committee wants to get to know you, so choose a topic that reflects your values, interests, and experiences.
- Use a strong opening: Your essay should grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning. Start with a strong opening that hooks the reader and sets the tone for the essay.
- Be specific: Vague or general statements don’t make a strong impression. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your points and make them more relatable.
- Use active voice: Passive voice can make your writing sound dull and weak. Use active voice to make your essay more engaging and dynamic. If you are unsure if you are using active voice or passive voice, paste your essay into a tool like Grammarly, which will give you feedback on rewriting sentences to eliminate passive voice.
- Proofread: Careless mistakes can make a negative impression on the reader. Take the time to proofread your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Again, a tool like Grammarly can help with a lot of these problems, but a second set of eyes is more helpful. Don’t always make changes that a software recommends.
- Follow the guidelines: Make sure you follow the guidelines for the essay, including word count and formatting. Don’t exceed the word limit or deviate from the required format.
- Seek feedback: Ask someone you trust, such as a teacher or mentor, to read your essay and give you feedback. Their perspective can help you identify areas for improvement.
- Revise, revise, revise: Your first draft is just a starting point. Take the time to revise and improve your essay until you’re satisfied with the final product.
