A college essay is an opportunity for you to show your writing skills. It’s an essential part of the admissions process because you can directly speak to the admissions office. As a potential college student, you want to boost your chances of acceptance into your preferred college or university.
You also want to create an excellent first impression in a few hundred words. If you worry about writing it, you can check this article for some tips and techniques.
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Pressure in College Essay Writing
However, writing a college essay can be frightening. Most applicants will look at their blank paper and wonder what to write and how to start. Moreover, many schools no longer consider the ACT and SAT scores for admission. Therefore, the essay may be a top consideration. However, the application process is unique, depending on your preferred college or university.
Many admissions experts highlight the significance of coherence, conciseness, honesty, deference, and accuracy. Therefore, if you’re a college admissions applicant, the college essay is an opportunity to show your intelligence and even include vivid anecdotes or details.
Preparing to Write the College Essay
It helps if you begin thinking about the college essay in the summer before your senior year because you don’t have extracurricular activities and homework. Then, you can use your mental energy and time to prepare for the college admissions essay. In addition, you have the time to write several drafts before the deadline.
You may check the college website for the essay requirements. Moreover, some colleges and universities may require more writing samples. Therefore, you should spend more time on the supplemental essays.
The Length of a College Essay
Although there are no word limits, experts recommend a 650-word cap because the admissions staff may not have time to read a wordy essay. You can limit them to 250 words for supplemental essays but check with your college as it may have a required word count.
Choosing a College Essay Topic
A college application may have several suggested topics, so check it first. Remember that a college essay is not an autobiography. Don’t try to narrate your life in a short essay. Writing about a specific hobby, experience, or quirk would be best.
Memorable essays are those that talk about ordinary topics. A college essay gives the admissions staff an insight into who you are. If you’re having difficulty deciding on an issue, you may ask a family member or friend.
How to Write a College Essay
Create an Outline
Admissions experts suggest that you create an outline before doing the actual writing. However, you have your writing process, so it’s challenging to say the right way to write your essay. Just write the words and leave the editing later.
Write the Hook or Opening Sentence
If you don’t know how to start your essay, you may think of an opening sentence that will quickly grab your reader’s attention. In addition, it must be something that will push the reader to continue reading. However, don’t focus only on the perfect opening and forget about the rest of your essay.
Sometimes, you may even ponder the words, “Can I pay someone to write my essay?” But, of course, you don’t have to. Just have faith that you can do it.
Show How You Learned from a Past Experience
A college essay is an opportunity for you to share your growth and introspection. Therefore, it should talk about your learning as a person. You don’t have to describe or brag, but it should be a moment of revelation. Most admissions officers like to read about you and how you can connect your experience to your present and future. Therefore, your college essay must show how a previous event will affect you as you move forward.
Edit and Submit Your Essay
It would help if you wrote a prolific college essay because admissions officers want to learn about you and your writing skills. Therefore, you should edit your work before submitting it. Your article should show examples and not just tell what your beliefs or traits are.
You may ask other people to read your essay. For example, you can hire a professional coursework writing service to proofread it. Your family or friends can be your editor if you can’t afford to pay a professional. Moreover, you should check with your college or university if they offer one-on-one essay consultations.
Feedback is necessary when you write. You should also check community organizations, public libraries, or your high school if they offer free essay workshops. Some education platforms also provide guides to help you with the writing process. In addition, you may also ask your high school teacher or counselor to help edit your work.
Editing is a two-stage process. First, the focus should be on the content. If you’re asking other people to help, they should search for information gaps. After checking the content, your proofreader should check the grammar, spelling, and punctuation. However, they can’t change the essay’s tone because it’s your voice.
After finalizing your essay, you should submit it with the other admissions requirements. Please don’t worry about the paper because the admissions staff must consider other documents to screen applicants.
Final Thoughts
A college essay doesn’t have to be a daunting task. You have enough time to edit and rewrite your work if you prepare early. Moreover, you shouldn’t worry too much about it because admissions officers also consider the other requirements when screening college applicants. Just do your best!
