Your Real College Essay

Your Real College Essay These two students may seem outwardly similar but their motivations and personalities are very different. Some essay examples below are by students who chose to write about a challenge, while other examples may be helpful if you’re looking to write about yourself more generally. We're looking for your insatiable curiosity and drive to build a better world. Many of our transfer students come from community colleges across California. However, it's not enough to just explain how much you loved SpongeBobâ€"you must also explain why and how watching the show every day after school affected your life. For example, maybe it was a ritual you shared with your brother, which showed you how even seemingly silly pieces of pop culture can bring people together. Dig beneath the surface to show who you are and how you see the world. You need plenty of time to experiment and rewrite, so I would recommend starting your essays at least two months before the application deadline. For most students, that means starting around Halloween, but if you're applying early you'll need to get going closer to Labor Day. Give the admissions office additional reasons to admit you. It also allows them to evaluate your writing and critical thinking abilities. While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font. Many students get excellent grades and test scores but may lack great writing skills as well as compelling ways to tell their story. Your essay is your calling card, and it’s the most important part of the application in many ways, once you’ve been screened by test scores as someone who might receive an acceptance. Capitalize on the opportunity, and don’t fear it. Many colleges ask you to write an essay or paragraph about why you're applying to their school specifically. In asking these questions, admissions officers are trying to determine if you're genuinely excited about the school and whether you're likely to attend if accepted. As similar as Jane and Tim seem on paper, in reality they're actually quite different, and their unique perspectives come through in their essays. Tim, on the other hand, recounts a story about how a kind doctor helped him overcome his fear of needles, an interaction that reminded him of the value of empathy and inspired him to become a family practitioner. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Because that is the only way students have to “tell their story.” The essay reveals a great deal about you as a student. It may show what is important to you, how you react to events in life, how you solve problems, how you relate to others, and it might reveal something about your personality. In addition, it gives the admission office a great writing sample. That’s why you should spend a fair amount of time getting the essay right. It’s your only chance to both tell people about yourself in the application, and to show admissions officers how you express yourself in written language. Put a great deal of thought and effort into your essay. Use those 500 words to share things about yourself that colleges can’t learn from other parts of your application. It is not looked at as heavy as GPA, Course Rigor or test scores, but for some colleges it is looked at. It may be the differentiating factor between two students. I would look at the student profile at a college that is essay optional. If your test scores and GPA fall on the lower half of the student profile of that institution, then I would send the essay. You never knowâ€"it could be your essay that gets you in. The personal statement is arguably one of the most important components of a student’s college application. This is especially true if you are applying to a smaller school which has the resources to view your application “holistically”. This is your chance to lend your application a third dimension, to transcend your grades and test scores, and figuratively speak to the admissions officers.