For most traditional colleges and universities, you will need to write an application as a part of the admissions process. This is very intimidating for a lot of prospective students, since its probably the vaguest part of the application. Who knows what the person reading the application is looking for? What should I write about? The uncertainty can be overwhelming.
However, there is another way of looking at the essay. While it is certainly the least well defined portion of the application, this is precisely why you should be excited about it. The rest of the application attempts to define your entire person in a series of check boxes and short blanks. The essay is your chance for you to show the admissions people who you really are, outside the narrow bounds of the rest of the application. With this in mind, lets look at my top five tips for writing a great application essay:
5. Think Outside the Box
In high school, you were probably trained to write a certain way. You were taught to create a thesis statement, develop it through the paper, and summarize it in the conclusion. All this is still valid, but the structure you learned probably makes for well constructed, but highly boring essays.To really stand out from the crowd, you need to take a different approach. If the essay topic allows it, try telling a story. Or make it funny. Focus less on formal structure, and more on letting your personality shine through. Don’t take the most obvious route to addressing the topic. In fact, try to consider how other students might approach the question, and make sure that your essay is completely different from the straightforward approach. You can save the formal writing for when you get excepted (or not!).
4. Keep it Focused
Most likely, your essay will have a fairly short word limit. Those 700 words are all you have to let the admissions folks learn how awesome/witty/savvy you really are, so don’t blow it be taking on too much at once. Consider the topic, and laser focus on the facet you want to cover. You should be able to describe your main point fairly well in a short sentence. If you’re going much longer, you risk sending in an unfocused, ineffective essay. Short, focused, and snappy essays create a much better impression than broad, sloppy ones.3. Write for the School You’re Applying To
This is where a little homework can go a long way. If the topic allows it, try to bring in some information about the school the essay. If the topic is “How do you see yourself contributing to the local community as a student at our school?”, and the school you’re applying to has a broad selection of service clubs available, be sure to mention them in your report. Little details like this will show that you have really researched the school, and are genuinely interested in going there.
2. Proofread
This may seem obvious, but I can’t overstate how important it is to make sure that your essay is technically flawless. You want to create the impression that you put serious time and effort into your essay, and even the slightest mistake can shatter that image. Find several knowledgeable people to help proofread your essay, and be sure to implement all their technical corrections.1. Be remarkable
This can really sum up all the points. I get this point from Seth Godin, who writes about being remarkable here. Basically, you need to to stand out in some special way, be useful, and be relevant. Communicate these ideas in your essay, and you will greatly increase your chances of getting in.
So, now you have it. It may seem like a lot of work, but a great essay can make all the difference when it comes to getting into your “reach” schools. Work hard, and you will be rewarded.
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