College Application Essay – A Guide With Examples

What do colleges look for?

College admissions officials often read personal statements included with applications and search for the following qualities and characteristics:

• Original thought and expressive style.
• Writer’s clarity and efficiency.
• Awareness and insight gained through reflection.
• Be acceptable to the educational institution.

An outline and brainstorming session are good for preparing your college application essay. The earlier you start, the more time you will have for review and correction.
The best way to write a college essay application is to familiarize yourself with the institution’s guiding principles and draw connections with your own experiences.

Essay tracker sheet

The purpose of an essay tracker sheet is to keep you on top of all your essay due dates and tasks. Keeping an essay planner allows you to do the following:

• Always remember when things need to be turned in or submitted.
• Sort your tasks in order of priority or due date.
• Note how far along you are in completing each task.
• How to better manage your time.
• Help relieve the burden of a college application essay writing and the accompanying tension.

Qualities of a good topic

The best topic for a college application essay is the one that;

• Show the applicant has thought about themselves and grown as a person.
• Highlights the applicant’s talents and their alignment with the school’s ethos.
• Demonstrate your writing skills and ability to reflect and self-analyse.

Identifying your topic

Brainstorming, freewriting and mind maps are just a few methods for settling down on a focus. While deciding on a subject, it’s a good idea to consider your strengths, weaknesses, audience and objectives.

Questions for brainstorming

• What experiences have shaped your identity and values?
• What challenges have you overcome and how have they influenced your growth?
• What are your long-term goals and how has your past prepared you for them?
• What is a defining moment in your life and how has it impacted you?
• How have you contributed to your community and what have you learned from those experiences?
• What are your academic and personal passions and how have you pursued them?
• What do you want the admissions committee to know about you that is not reflected in your application?

Approach 1: Vignettes structure

The montage (or vignette) framework integrates related storylines into a whole. Each narrative should serve as evidence that you possess a certain value or quality and should end with a conclusion or view on the future.

Approach 2: Single-story structure

The narrative approach presents a student’s growth through the lens of a single tale. Although some narrative essays focus on a series of key events within a shorter event, others chart a more extensive journey that spans many months or years.

Creative insights or story arcs

Writing on a familiar subject might make it difficult to stand out, so it’s important to focus on creating an unexpected narrative arc or fresh insights regardless of the essay’s format. Never make anything up about yourself to make it seem more fascinating.

Method 1: Intriguing hook

Start your college application essay with a bold remark that will make the reader stop and take notice.

Method 2: Vivid imagery

Create a vivid, specific picture to immerse the reader in your recollection.

Show, don’t tell

You may experiment with voice and style in a college application essay. Use vivid language to bring life to your tale and set yourself apart when you create your essay. First, recollect the most memorable details of a scene or picture.

• Which pictures dominate?
• Can you remember any noises, scents or tastes?
• How did you feel?

Vulnerability & emotional responses

To create an emotional reaction, share your honest ideas, emotions and experiences. Vulnerability shows maturity.

Appropriate tone & style

Use these principles to ensure you promote your college application essay style and tone:

• Adopt a courteous, conversational tone that is less official than academic writing but more formal than texting pals.
• Emphasize your viewpoint using “I” expressions.
• Write in your language to seem natural.
• Write quickly in the active voice.
• Grammar standards

A strong conclusion in your college application essay

Finish your college essay with a profound or original thought to create a lasting impression. Your college applications essay should avoid the following:

• Summarising your writing.
• Expressing your desire to attend the school.
• “I am a hard worker” should have been in the essay.

Strategy 1: Sandwich structure

The sandwich structure form finishes the college application essay with a picture, concept or tale from the start. The reader feels closure with this method.

Strategy 2: Revealing the insights

The conclusion of a college application essay may demonstrate what you learned from your experiences. Presenting your primary point at the end builds suspense and reinforces the takeaway.

Word count

Most universities have a maximum word count for college application essay; aim to be within 10% of that. Please keep your response within the word limit provided to demonstrate your ability to be brief and adhere to instructions.

Content grammar & style

• Examine the message, flow and clarity.
• Assess tone and style.
• Eliminate grammatical and punctuation mistakes last.

Receiving feedback

Receive input from 2–3 individuals who know you, write well and understand college application essay.

• Teachers and counsellors may review your material, language and tone.
• Family and friends can verify.
• College applications essay coaches and editors may provide an impartial critique.