| Arguably the most difficult part of writing an essay is | | | | examples from your entire life that demonstrate that |
| getting started. And getting started involves... | | | | quality chances are you don't really possess it. |
| The best answers to college essay questions make | | | | Colleges and universities are interested in applicants |
| meaningful connections between personal | | | | you can demonstrate personal growth. With that in |
| experiences and personal qualities. In other words, | | | | mind, it's time to examine your personal experiences |
| they provide proof that you are the type of | | | | and qualities looking for examples the demonstrate |
| applicant you claim to be. | | | | how you have grown as a person over time. |
| The first step is to perform a self-examination to | | | | There are two possible tacts to take here. One is |
| find patterns that will help in writing your college | | | | starting in your childhood and demonstrating how you |
| essays. Look at a list of personal qualities college | | | | have grown and developed the personal qualities |
| admissions officers look for in applicants. Things such | | | | college admissions officer look for. Or the other tactic |
| as academic achievement, creativity, responsibility, | | | | is to project yourself into the future either when you |
| maturity, integrity, initiative, leadership, confidence, | | | | are in college or after graduation and project or |
| etc. The list is longer than this but you get the idea. | | | | hypothesize how you will grow and how the college |
| Think of all the qualities that colleges would look for | | | | or university will play a role in that development. The |
| in the ideal candidate. | | | | first tactic is best because it demonstrate by |
| Don't worry about which ones you possess at this | | | | concrete example what you've accomplished versus |
| point just write down everything that comes to mind. | | | | the second option which is what you hope to |
| Of course no candidate is perfect and no candidate | | | | accomplish. |
| will possess all of these qualities. That's fine. The next | | | | At this point, you should be realizing that you really |
| step is to go through your list and put a checkmark | | | | do have a lot of personal experience that would |
| by each of the ideal qualities that you possess in | | | | make for a good college essay. That's not unusual. |
| your estimation. | | | | Most students do have it in them to write a good |
| The next step is to go back to the qualities that you | | | | college essay. Sometimes it just takes a little thinking |
| checked and jot down two concrete examples from | | | | and planning to stir the creative juices. It's really just |
| your personal experiences that proves you possess | | | | a matter of organizing your thoughts and planning |
| that particular quality. If you can't think of two | | | | how to best put your experiences in writing in the |
| examples the prove you have that quality then move | | | | way that will most likely impress the college |
| on to the next one. You can either come back to | | | | admissions officers. |
| that quality later or if you can't think of two | | | | |