| 500 words. I feel it is a bit unfair to measure a | | | | weave an image around your experiences, if you can |
| person's worth in so many words. A well written 500 | | | | illustrate your thoughts as vibrantly as Van Gogh |
| words can radically alter your career and your life. | | | | used colors, your essay will certainly appeal to the |
| Yes, I am talking about the dreaded college admission | | | | basic senses of the evaluator. |
| essays. It may sound simplistic but these 500 words | | | | 5. Introduce smartly: Typically 2-3 minutes are all |
| are the dividing line between acceptance and | | | | Admissions officers spend on an essay. Hence you |
| rejection to your dream course. Even excellent test | | | | would do well to make a great first impression. Spin a |
| scores count for nothing if you are not able to | | | | yarn in the introduction which induces curiosity in the |
| express your individuality in an essay. The topic is | | | | reader to read the entire essay. Don't try to write a |
| irrelevant until you are able to display remarkable skills | | | | summary of your essay in the introduction- you |
| to paint a perfect picture in the reader's thoughts. | | | | would not want the officer to skip reading your |
| Thought there is no guaranteed way to write a | | | | entire essay! |
| breathtaking piece, below, I am enumerating a few | | | | 6. Conclude convincingly: Consider your conclusion as |
| tips that will prove valuable when you write college | | | | a logical flow to the introduction. Avoid a summary of |
| admission essays: | | | | your essay- that is the admissions officer's job. If |
| | | | you can present your subject matter as one with |
| 1. Solve the problem: Whatever your topic, look for | | | | universal appeal, you have a winner at hand. |
| the underlying question, problem or issue and present | | | | 7. Change for the better: Revise your essay after |
| a solution. | | | | writing it down. Not once, but as many times as |
| 2. Invent a prose: Forget all about what you ever | | | | possible. Ask a few experts, if possible. Change |
| read about good writing. Chances are your evaluator | | | | sentences, use more simple words, and bring out the |
| knows it. Go with your own style, get inventive with | | | | points that seemed trivial initially but now demand |
| words. | | | | more importance. Make separate sheets for each of |
| 3. Feel the words: Every competition has many | | | | these changes and then compare all your essays for |
| winners but for each one of them, winning means a | | | | one final piece of brilliance that evokes intense |
| different feeling, a different high. Choose your topic | | | | emotions. |
| carefully so you can share your experience in your | | | | College admissions essays are typically used to |
| own words, with your personal feelings. A whole new | | | | measure a person's outlook, his way of thinking and |
| perspective to even a mundane happening is | | | | probable point of view in times of crucial judgments. |
| appreciated by the admissions officers. | | | | These 500 words are more decisive than many |
| 4. Put the Thesaurus away: Life is beautiful when it is | | | | arguments you may have had or will have in your life. |
| simple. Throw the idea that big words are beautiful | | | | A judicious selection of words will take you a long |
| out of your head and use simple language. If you can | | | | way ahead in your career. 500 words. |