How do I know my college essay will positively impact my application?

Question

First, be sure to absolutely answer the prompt. Students often go off on a tangent trying to provide positive information about themselves and it ends up not answering the question the admissions team wants to know. Secondly, as a senior admissions officer myself at a prestigious university, you want to have your writing to reflect your college preparedness. Proper syntax, alignment, grammar, spelling, transition, and keeping to the word count maximums are paramount. Finally, remember they already have your application. Don't repeat what they can already learn about you. Hire a professional to review your essay to increase your chances at admission to the school of your choice. I have been doing this for 11 years and 92% of my students get into their first choice in colleges and also 98% receive scholarships or financial aid that I help them secure.

Answer 1

The admissions essay is the perfect time to show who you are as a person. The admissions representatives are looking at thousands of applications and depending on the university, most students will be applying with the same GPA/test score credentials. What makes you different? How do you stand out from the rest of the applicants? This is why you will always hear how important it is to be well-rounded. What are your talents and what are you passionate about? Do you volunteer and truly care about helping your community? Have you gone through difficult times? The question that I keep hearing from college representatives is, "how are you going to make a difference in the world?" Colleges and universities want graduates who are going to make a positive difference in the future. Use your admissions essay to answer those types of questions and allow your story to show who you are beyond the words on the page.

Answer 2

It can be helpful to think of the essay like an interview; it's your chance to introduce yourself and your personality. Give them a feel for you are and make sure your voice comes through. Since admission committees use the personal statement to evaluate distinctions among applicants whose academic records are often very similar, your essay should provide them with information that may not be evident in other parts of the application. After admissions reps read your personal statement, they will ask the question, "What do we know about this individual?" If they have learned very little about you, your personal statement is not successful.