Writing your College Essay - 5 Tips to Success

A great college application essay paints a pictureWhile this is a good sentence: "I want to study
about who you really are so that the admissionsmedicine so that I can become a pediatrician."
officer gets to know more about you. Your essay isThis is a better sentence: "I want to study medicine
a way for you to elaborate on your application and itso that I can do medical research, which will help to
is your chance to set yourself apart from otheradvance our knowledge of childhood diseases and
applicants. Admission essays are also a way to showhow we may be able to prevent or cure them.
the reader that you can organize your thoughts toTip#4
write clearly and effectively.Don't be predictable: Remember that colleges read
Here are 5 tips for writing your college essay:thousand of these essays every year. Don't write
Tip #1about what you think they want to hear. Choose a
Stay Focused: Your goal in writing your essay is totopic that is unique and that sets you apart from the
prove a point -- that you are the best candidate for999 other essays they are going to read on the
this school. Make sure that you stay focused so thatsame day that they read yours. This is not the time
the reader will be able to stay focused. Someoneto try and blend in with the crowd.
else should easily be able to read and follow yourTip #5
essay from the beginning and all the way up until theIt's not a resume: Your application essay is not a
end. Remember the fastest way from point A tochance for you to reiterate everything that is already
pint B is by heading there in a straight line. By beinglisted on your admission application. It is also not a list
precise, clear and organized in your writing yourof your accomplishment, achievements and awards.
essay will reflect who you really are so that theYour essay is your chance to show the reader that
college will want to have you as part of theiryou have the ability to organize your thoughts clearly
freshmen class.into words, sentences, paragraphs and ultimately an
Tip #2essay. It is also your chance to differentiate yourself
Provide Evidence: Once you have stated the mainfrom your competition. It should highlight your most
idea for your essay, you will then need to provideprominent awards and achievements and how these
evidence that supports it. Give specific examples,shaped you as a person and affected your life.
quotes, and reasons that support your main idea.So while you are writing your college admission
Don't get carried away with providing too manyessay, use these 5 tips as your guide. By sticking to
supporting facts, but don't be in a position where youthem, you will be able to write a clear and precise
do not provide enough support to your main idea toessay that stands out from the crowd. Be sure to
prove it either.put some thought into what topic you are going to
Tip #3write your essay on before you just launch into it.
Be specific: Use specific examples to paint a vividDon't be nervous. Organize your thoughts, make a
picture of your supporting evidence and details. Tryplan and then start writing.
not to be too generic or use clichés.