Ask any high school senior, “What do you have left to finish on your college application?” Most likely you will get the response, “THE ESSAY!” For many students the essay has become an obstacle when applying to colleges. Instead, it can be an opportunity for students to distinguish themselves. The ultimate goal students should have in writing the essay is to persuade the readers that s/he would be an asset to the college. Remember, as an Ivy league college admissions counselor pointed out, the student has about 9 minutes to make a lasting, positive impression on the reader because they read about 40 essays a day.
The essay should be a reflection of the student’s interests and values. The student should ponder, “What do you want an admission committee to know about you?” “What attribute, skill, quality or defining aspect of your personality do you want them to know about you?” For them to know you, you have to know yourself and be able to get it out on a sheet of paper. For some students, this self-analysis may be the most difficult part about writing the college application essay. Benjamin Franklin wrote in his 1750 Poor Richard's Almanac, "There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."
Once the attribute has been selected, the student will need to provide experience(s) or topic(s) that support(s) this quality. There must be a connection between the topic and what the student wants the committee to know about them. When considering possible topics, remember that the admission office already has SAT and/or ACT scores, transcripts (grades and courses) and recommendation letters. Students struggling to find a topic may consider writing on the things they know about, such as their family, friends, teachers, a job, an extracurricular activity, a success or an obstacle they have overcome. Students still searching for a topic can find a handout on our website at Questions to ask yourself that may be helpful.
Once a topic has been selected, the next challenge is bringing it to life. The more passionate the student is about what s/he is writing then the easier it will be to write the essay and the more passionate the reader will be about wanting this candidate to be a student at their college. An opening paragraph that really grabs the readers attention and draws them in may help keep them interested in learning more about the student. Here are some things to keep in mind:
• Follow all of the parameters outlined in the directions; answer the question; type your essay.
• Be creative in topic and style. This may mean taking a risk so have a counselor or teacher read your essay.
• Proofread!!! Check spelling, grammar, sentence structure and organization. This may require many revisions. Plan to start the process long before the deadline.
• Be sure to connect the topic to the attribute. This is not the time to simply describe a story. The reader wants to know what the topic means to YOU, the student. The reader wants to learn about YOU.
• Approach controversial topics cautiously, considering the possibility the reader may have a different perspective
• Don’t write about anything violent. The same Ivy League school admission representative warned students that violence is depressing, especially graphic descriptions; the goal is not to depress, but to impress the reader.
Is it finished? Only the writer can decide for sure, but if the reader concludes by thinking, "We would be very fortunate to have this student on our campus," then the answer is "yes."