5 Tips for Writing a College Application Essay
Common app deadlines are coming up soon and the essay is on everyone’s mind. The essay is arguably the most important part of your application because it’s the only part unique to you. It is even more important now that the fate of standardized tests is up in the air. These five tips will help you craft your perfect essay.
Tell a story. Even though it’s called an essay, it’s not really an essay. Nobody wants to read a five paragraph essay with a thesis statement and an introduction paragraph. The admissions officers want to read a story. Make it interesting and give it a beginning, middle, and end. You should show some sort of character development - what did you learn? How are you a better candidate because of it?
Make it about YOU. “I” should be the subject of the story. College admissions officers don’t want to know about what happened to you, they want to know about what you experienced and what you learned. Instead of saying, “In my summer program before freshman year, the professors taught me invaluable knowledge about embryonic development”, say, “In the summer before freshman year, I developed an invaluable knowledge base on embryonic development that I would later use to make my discovery.”
Be professional. While you should be sure to include personality, keep it professional. Avoid swear words and txt speak. Include the name of the Disney movie that inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, but don’t write the entire essay in Disney font. Stick to Arial or Times New Roman, 11- or 12-pt font.
Proofread. Reread it. Read it again. Read it backwards. Read it upside down. Have your uncle read it. Have your dog read it. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Make sure there are no stylistic decisions that could be misinterpreted by a grumpy admissions officer as errors.
Be authentic. This is practically your only opportunity to let you shine through what is otherwise a whole bunch of numbers and course names. Write about something that is important to you, not what you think they want to read. They can tell the difference.