Writing The All-Important College Application Essay

The application essay is the most crucial piece oflose sight of the main objective - getting an
writing the student will submit to the colleges, and, ifadmission ticket!
not done impressively, it will also be their last. In mostMy all-time favorite essay question is the University
cases, it is the college's first actual exposure to theof Pennsylvania's, "You've just written your 300 page
student, and first impressions have a habit of lasting.autobiography. Tell us what's on page 217?" I advise
A memorable essay contains all the student's Kodakstudents who choose this essay to go back in time
moments interlaced with some less than blissfulfive or six years (about a third of their life), recall
adventures to create the necessary drama in thewhere they were and what they were doing in that
writing.time period, and then begin writing about it.
Students must begin by choosing the right topic,A most effective and creative approach is to begin
meaning the right topic for them, and one that will bethe page in the middle of a sentence, preferably
well received by the admissions committees. Theending the thought by leaving the reader in a
subject matter chosen and its degree of difficultyquandary, i.e. "...because that's the way it was
say volumes to the school about the character ofarranged." Remember that this is page 217 from your
the author. As the quality of the essay is dependentautobiography. Open any autobiography, or any book
on the student's ability to respond to the subjectfor that matter, to page 217. It probably won't start
matter, making the correct choice is absolutelywith a fresh sentence or a new paragraph. It is also
essential.important to leave the reader hanging at the end of
Students should select a most thought-provoking andthe page, i.e. "...As he ran into the street, the car
stimulating subject to write about, and it helps greatlycontinued to..."
to view the task as a "we dare you to compete forI often critique essays for students I counsel, but
the privilege of attending our school" challenge fromnever write the essay for them. I cannot advise
the college. In other words, if there's a literarystrongly enough against employing the services of a
masterpiece inside the student crying out to beprofessional essay service or writer! Not only is this
written and read, this would be a good time tofirst degree cheating, but the risk/reward ratio isn't
unleash it!worth it. The admissions committees and the
Students writing about their favorite anything shouldapplication readers are neither stupid nor naïve,
be passionate about it. It's not enough just to sayand they're on to that scam. Students should never
you love something or someone. It must betake the chance of throwing their futures away for
explained why in no uncertain terms. If writing aboutthe want of a better paper! If you're qualified to get
how a particular relative was admired by the studentinto college, than you're talented enough to write
above all others, then how that person influenced theyour own essay.
student's life, how the student apprenticed thatSome years ago, a wealthy family who chose not to
person or fashioned their lives in their light should betake my advice in this regard, did just that. They
factored in.apparently felt it would be the sure-fire way for their
Students often write about themselves as theson to get into an exclusive East Coast school. He
subject matter is well known to them and requireshad good grades, good SAT I scores and would
no research. However, as this is certainly not thehave otherwise been acceptable, but his writing skills
road less traveled, a necessary and serious effort iswere, at best, slightly below average. So, they hired
sorely needed to make the journey stand outa professional, and their son was accepted to his
amongst all the other students doing the same. Be itcollege of choice.
overcoming adversity or how the past summer wasAfter the third week in English Comp, his teacher
spent, the writing should be uniquely appealing to thecouldn't believe that someone with his limited writing
reader and not the same old, same old. However, theskills could have ever been accepted. The professor
essay should not be overwritten.went to the admissions office and reviewed the
One of my students wrote about being molestedstudent's application and essays. His suspicions were
when she was eight years old. She wisely chose notconfirmed after reading the three much too
to go into the horror in her accounting of it, butprofessionally written essays that were in his file. He
rather focused on how she overcame beingconcluded that none of them could have been
victimized. The essay was most compelling and wasauthored by the student.
well received. She is now pursuing a medical career atThe young man was summoned to the Dean's office
a very prestigious West Coast university.and confronted with the evidence. Left with no
Students should avoid writing too vividly about anychoice, he reluctantly confessed that his parents had
traumatizing experience. The essay can be grippinghired a professional to do his essay writing.
but not horrifying. Remember, the object here is toConsequently, he was given the option to
write an essay that captures the reader's imaginationimmediately withdraw from classes - or be expelled
and begs to be read in its entirety. Highlyfor the fraud he had perpetrated on the school.
controversial subjects such as abortion are bestStudents should also avoid the much too popular
avoided.topics that everyone else usually writes about such
One of my honor students wrote a "Pro Life" essayas, How the death of a loved one or a pet had a
and expressed her views with such intensity thatprofound affect on their life, or How growing up in an
reading it left me with the impression that she mightItalian neighborhood was difficult because they were
be viewed as a danger to others with strong "profrom a different ethnic background. Growing up in the
choice" convictions! At first, when I advised her toghetto or in a refugee camp is a far better topic,
rewrite it, she flat out refused. I explained that shebecause if you did, then you actually did overcome a
was losing site of her goal - to be accepted to thelife-challenging situation - and that will make a far
college and not to win points on her take of themore impressive essay.
anti-abortion issue. She finally realized the wisdom ofAlways be sure to adhere to the requirements of
my words when I reminded her that after she wasthe essay. If a 300 to 500 word essay is asked for,
accepted, she could protest and exercise herdon't write 501 words! Schools often do a word
freedom of speech in any way she chose, but first,count if they suspect an essay is over the limit, and
she had to get into the school.students should always (I said always) follow the
Students must keep their eye on the prize and neverinstructions!