How do I write my college admissions essay (Common App)?

Answer 1

I have worked in admissions at a university that uses Common App, and I can tell you that the most important part of your essay is proving that you understand the program for which you are applying (and that you are a good fit).

It can be easy to think that the essay is meant to demonstrate your writing skills to the university. Don't get me wrong, it is essential to have crisp, clean work (edit, edit, edit), but rarely are the people reading an application looking at the quality of your writing. Your grades and test scores will show the readers that you are a worthy applicant, but your essay shows that you belong in their university.

Rather than focusing on the mechanics of the essay, it is much more important to articulate that you know the courses that you will be taking. Feel free to show which professor you would be interested in taking. The point of your essay is to demonstrate that you have done your homework and are ready to engage in the rigors of your degree.

Best wishes with the process! It should be fun, and hopefully, it will teach you about yourself. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Answer 2

Hello,

If you would like to have a tutoring session, I would be happy to help you write and polish it one piece at a time. Feel free to let me know your thoughts. Good luck in the meantime!

Answer 3

There are a few ways to get started writing your college admissions essay. Writing your Personal Essay can actually be fun - and it doesn't have to be stressful!

First, start with brainstorming. Your college essay should touch on pivotal, important moment(s) in your life which you can describe to Admissions Officers. Your essay should also demonstrate the character traits that Admissions Officers see as important. These include: open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, diversity awareness, and persistence.

To brainstorm, make a list of all the pivotal moments in your life. For example, was there a moment when you were intensely proud of yourself? Was there a moment that changed the trajectory of your life forever? Was there a moment when an obstacle appeared in your life, which you were able to overcome? Write down as many details as possible.

You can brainstorm about a few other things as well. Do you have a special talent which you would like to describe in your essay? Is there a particular book, painting, or other artistic work which has been meaningful in your life? Write down all your ideas. Also, write down all your leadership experiences in high school and outside of school.

Now it's time to start writing. Which of the above ideas do you think is the most compelling? Write a rough draft without worrying about word count, grammar or syntax. Then, give your college admissions coach a call! I can help you to structure and organize your essay to maximize your chance of admission to the college of your choice.