College Essay Mistakes

College Essay Mistakes A great college essay is an essay that is interesting, pithy and well written. You want both to keep the reader’s attention and to make the reader want you to be a member of the next freshman class at the reader’s college. Feel free to start out by painting a vibrant picture of yourself too! Many college admissions counselors have said that the more unique your essay â€" the content and writing style â€" the more captivating it is to read. To the college essay admissions process I bring skills honed as a television writer, a screenwriter, and a journalist. Entering my ninth year, I have worked with nearly 400 bright, motivated, and exceptional applicants who each year are accepted to T10 colleges and universities. If you seem genuinely passionate about the college, then they can assume you’re more likely to matriculate if offered a spot in the freshman class. College admissions committees are looking to build a student body that will contribute to and sustain the community. They want to attract students and eventual alumni who are innovators and creators, and they want to have a hand in shaping those minds. A good college essay is one that stays with the reader after he or she finishes reading it, maybe even thinking about it later that day, or the next day. When possible, select a topic that engages you and is one you are interested in addressing. It is important that your voice comes through and that the reader feels he or she has had an opportunity to experience a more personal facet of your character and your unique perspective. Avoid cliches at all cost and never write what you think someone wants to hear. When you are finished with the essay, read it out loud and carefully listen to the content, grammar, and pay attention to spelling or word glitches. I love what I do and am immeasurably proud of every applicant I work with and their results. A more concrete reason for this prompt is that colleges want to have a high yield, the ratio of accepted students who end up attending. Yield factors into rankings in sources like U.S. News and World Report and contribute to the overall reputation of the school. This essay is one way for them to gauge how likely you are to attend and help them attain a high yield. Jager-Hyman said there are some who believe a 17-year-old need only “put one foot in front of the other” and apply himself to complete this task. But in reality, many otherwise-capable teens have no clue where to start. The B+ Grades A+ College Application author says, however, that some essays are afforded 20 minutes, and others just a perfunctory glance. Knowing this, you will be more relaxed and inspired as you write. Whether you’re prompted to write about a formative experience, why you think you’d be a good fit for the university or about a person who has influenced you greatly, answer the question honestly. Don’t just write what you think the admissions office wants to hear. Very often they are inundated with essays that cater to “what they want to hear,” making such essays exactly what they don’t want to hear. See how the first relays information in apassivevoice, while the second paints anactivepicture? In fact, few practiced writers are able to do it on demand. That said, if you can pull it offâ€"if you can produce essays that complement your other credentialsâ€"you will be able to introduce an effective “hook” into your applications. Let’s take a look, then, at why colleges require essays in the first place. Applicants should realize that most admissions counselors are young and have a sense of what a teenage voice sounds like, Jager-Hyman says. If a college suspects an essay is not the student’s work, they don’t automatically throw him out of the applicant pool, says Krahnke, but a negative vibe is placed in the counselor’s head. Heathman believes the job of the essay coach is to help students themselves find the right way to tell their story. No one would expect a student to dash off a perfect essay. In fact, more than one professional points out that students should not have already reached their writing potential before entering college. I know parents who believe kids who can’t sit down and write essays themselves aren’t ready for four-year college. Students will be accepted “if the student’s numbers fit the academic profile of the institution,” she says. In other words, an outstanding essay may tip the scales. Some teens think their college essay, or “personal statement,” will determine their entire future, and others bristle and balk when asked to finally write it, believing it will never be read. Free writing, ideally done with pen and paper instead of on the computer, is an exercise in opening the creative mind and letting ideas flow. When you’re responding to the “Why Us” prompt, you’re telling them exactly how an education there will shape your intellectual and professional journey. This essay isn’t just about the college; it’s about you, too.

11 Tips To Writing Your College Admissions Essay In One Day

11 Tips To Writing Your College Admissions Essay In One Day Thus vindicated, my desire to further formalize my love of science brings me to State University. Thanks to this experience, I know now better than ever that State University is my future, because through it I seek another, permanent, opportunity to follow my passion for science and engineering. Please submit a one-page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen State University and your particular major, department or program. Adding any of these things in your essay will make it less professional and formal. Our experience and your belief in us let us provide you with the quality in your work that you deserve. They know exactly what should be written in your essay. Similarly, the committee always wants to hear what life taught you and what significant changes you made in yourself in order to cope with the problems around you. Therefore, to make an impression, you can always mention life experiences that have shaped you and your reasoning. However, the foremost element is to choose an appropriate essay topic. It is preferable to choose a wide topic that reflects your personality clearly. They, like me, are there because State University respects the value of diversity. I know from personal experience that in order to achieve the trust, honesty, and success that State University values, new people are needed to create a respectful environment for these values. I feel that my background as an American Sikh will provide an innovative perspective in the university’s search for knowledge while helping it to develop a basis for future success. And that, truly, is the greatest success I can imagine. Long-mesmerized by hobbies like my work with the FIRST Robotics team, I believe State University would be the best choice to continue to nurture my love for electrical and computer engineering. I have only scratched the surface in this ever evolving field but know that the technological potential is limitless. Likewise, I feel that my time at State University would make my potential similarly limitless. In addition to just science, I am drawn to State University for other reasons. I strive to work with the diverse group of people that State University wholeheartedly accommodates â€" and who also share my mindset. Within two weeks, I received a great paper that blew me away. Everyone at CollegeEssay.org was easy to work with and made my life a lot easier. What are the personality traits you are going to represent in your essay? Discuss how they have helped you and will continue to help you being part of the institute. After you have picked your topic, decide what will go in your essay and how will you present it. Plan and choose the best structure to present all the relevant information. Putting yourself on a piece of paper is actually very tricky because it is difficult to accurately describe your personality. It will be easier if you are using the Common App, and if not then get the details and all the information from the college or their website. People dream and save for getting into prestigious and reputable colleges and universities. My deadline was approaching and I didn’t even have a topic picked out for my research paper. I, like State University, constantly work to explore the limits of nature by exceeding expectations. Long an amateur scientist, it was this drive that brought me to the University of Texas for its Student Science Training Program in 2013. Up to that point science had been my private past time, one I had yet to explore on anyone else’s terms. Participating for the first time in a full-length research experiment at that level, I felt more alive, more engaged, than I ever had before. Learning the complex dynamics between electromagnetic induction and optics in an attempt to solve one of the holy grails of physics, gravitational-waves, I could not have been more pleased. It is checked and rechecked until it is perfectly clean and ready for submission. Our team of highly professional and skilled editors and proofreaders revise your essay and make your essay flawless and exceptionally good. These experts guarantee 100% original content and zero plagiarism. Moreover, your essay will fulfill all the admission needs. Also, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and citation are thoroughly checked to ensure quality. At the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at State University, I will be able to do just that. In a department where education and research are intermixed, I can continue to follow the path that towards scientific excellence.

How To Cite An Essay Online In Mla

How To Cite An Essay Online In Mla I find the research of Dr.’s Hein Goemans and Gretchen Helmke intriguing and would like the opportunity to learn more about it through the Graduate Visitation program. In college, as I became more politically engaged, my interest began to gravitate more towards political science. The interest in serving and understanding people has never changed, yet I realized I could make a greater difference doing something for which I have a deeper passion, political science. As I got older, I realized that there are more worry lines than laugh lines. Deep trenches of lineaments cross her forehead, revealing the hardships of a childhood spent in poverty. The most recent are the lines chiseled around her thin mouth, as if out of marble. They are from pursing her lips in an attempt to suppress the pain after my Papou was taken by the same merciless hands that took her daughter away, but this time, those hands looked like cancer. These applications are due Nov. 30th but try to get them submitted a week or two early. At the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at State University, I will be able to do just that. In a department where education and research are intermixed, I can continue to follow the path that towards scientific excellence. Long-mesmerized by hobbies like my work with the FIRST Robotics team, I believe State University would be the best choice to continue to nurture my love for electrical and computer engineering. I have only scratched the surface in this ever evolving field but know that the technological potential is limitless. Meet with Alex one-on-one via video chat to talk about your son/daughter’s admissions plan. Afterwards, receive a no-obligation Customized College Roadmap with advice on courses, extracurricular activities, standardized tests, and Admissions Angle strategy. My statistical training in psychology orientates me toward a more quantitative graduate experience. The 4 years I spent in the Army cultivated a deep-seated passion for serving society. While in the Army, I had the great honor to serve with several men and women who, like me, fought to make a difference in the world. During my tour of duty, I witnessed several shipmates suffer from various mental aliments. Driven by a commitment to serve and a desire to understand the foundations of psychological illness, I decided to return to school to study psychology. The winter of my seventh grade year, my alcoholic mother entered a psychiatric unit for an attempted suicide. Mom survived, but I would never forget visiting her at the ward or the complete confusion I felt about her attempt to end her life. Today I realize that this experience greatly influenced my professional ambition as well as my personal identity. While early on my professional ambitions were aimed towards the mental health field, later experiences have redirected me towards a career in academia. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of science. Due to the University of Rochester’s reputation for an extensive use of statistics in political science research, I would make a good addition to your fall class. While attending the University of Rochester, I would like to study international relations or comparative politics while in graduate school. Participating in the Student Science Training Program and working in their lab made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Just the thought of participating in a project at this level of scientific rigor made me forget that this was supposed to be my summer break and I spent the first day eagerly examining every piece of equipment. Where others see the engineering, experimentation, and presentation of science as a chore, I only see excitement. Even as a child I constantly sought it out, first on television with Bill Nye and The Mythbusters, then later in person in every museum exhibit I could find. Science in all its forms fascinated me, but science projects in particular were a category all to themselves. To me, science projects were a special joy that only grew with time. In fact, it was this continued fascination for hands-on science that brought me years later to the sauna that is the University of Alabama in mid-June. Remember, the UC applications are a separate system than the Common Application. Reach out to professors/administrators at the school and department of your early schools with questions about the program you expect to apply to. Like mentioned above, you should fully complete your essay idea before getting feedback.

Essays That Worked

Essays That Worked The writer has sophisticated control of a wide range of advanced vocabulary. The writer presents some irrelevant detail along with under-developed main ideas. The writer presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus. Typos and missing morphology invade the hastily composed emails of even expert writers. Furthermore, English spelling is wildly irregular for some words making it easy to forget the spelling of low-frequency words. Any spell checker and even the simplest of grammar checkers can catch some errors that are common to all writers. For highly advanced second language learners of English and native speakers attending a university, an English grammar checker that focuses on style and punctuation errors is probably your best choice. The problems you face include the overuse of the passive voice, run-on sentences, comma-splices, and dangling participles--among others. These transcripts may be emailed to or faxed to . Official transcripts are prepared by a college bearing their official seal and provided in a sealed envelope. If the envelope is opened by anyone other than an official at the receiving college, it is no longer considered official. Spelling and word formation errors make it difficult to read in multiple places. Spelling and word formation errors make it difficult to read in places. The writer attempts to use intermediate vocabulary but with some inaccuracy. The writer uses a wide range of intermediate vocabulary fluently and flexibly. The writer uses a wide range of intermediate or advanced vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings. You must provide evidence of English proficiency to be successful in university studies at UCI. There is no pre-approved course list for schools outside of California. Find out about our comprehensive review process and prove your English proficiency as an international student. Unofficial college transcripts may be submitted to waive placement testing and prerequisite requirements. Contact the respective college to request your transcript. An essay at this level merely copies words from the topic, rejects the topic, or is otherwise not connected to the topic, is written in a foreign language, consists of keystroke characters, or is blank. There are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors, causing some difficulty for the reader. The writer uses a limited range of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer uses a wide range of advanced sentence structures with some difficulty using advanced structures. The writer uses a wide range of complex structures with full flexibility and accuracy. The writer presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas. The writer presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas. A short sentence at the beginning of your paragraph using one of the elements of the thesis statement to tell your reader what the paragraph is about. An effective body paragraph should begin with a transition word or phrase to help your reader see the connections between your ideas. Words can be ambiguous, so it is important to let your reader know what precisely you are referring to with a short definition. Look at the beginning of your introductory paragraph and ask yourself how you might grab the reader’s interest more effectively. Select an essay type from the list and click check for a score and feedback. You can change the translation language at any time in your profile page. NVCC offers over 100+ degrees, certificates and work-force ready programs. Whether you're interested in an affordable pathway to a Bachelor's degree, want a career-ready degree or certificate, or are looking for work-force training, we've got you covered. With an open admissions policy, affordable tuition rates, convenient locationsand a wide variety of programs and courses, TCC offers the dream of a higher education for everyone. See Remote Service Options for Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid for hours and contact options, and read our frequently asked questions for Admissions and Registrar. However, doing so can support their statewide UC eligibility, application for certain scholarships, and help them fulfill some University graduation requirements. All that is not to say that grammar checkers suited for one group cannot help writers of the other profiles. There are errors that members of all three groups make. When we focus on our message, we tend to give less attention to form.

What Is A Personal Statement? Everything You Need To Know About The College Essay

What Is A Personal Statement? Everything You Need To Know About The College Essay In the rare case that we cannot find a writer with the expertise for your particular project, you get your money back. In the case that you accidentally submit two identical order, you get your money back. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback. Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing.” Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing. For example, if your paper examines the Greensboro sit-ins or another event in the Civil Rights Movement, you could point out its impact on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. A paper about the style of writer Virginia Woolf could point to her influence on other writers or on later feminists. Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper. We follow strict anti-plagiarism policy and write everything from scratch. Before sending it to you, we scan your paper for originality using licensed software to ensure its 100% originality and proper citation. It's finals week and I have to finish my essay immediately. We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find the latest publications on this topic. We do this by ensuring that each of our staff plays to their strengths. Our writers are highly trained and can work quickly, which means that each project is done efficiently and costs can be minimized. Our affordable services are backed by our money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the quality of the paper you receive and your writer is not able to fix it? School can be a tough gig, even for those people that are supposedly “good at it”. There’s not only a massive amount of work to do, but also a ton of non-school related things that eat up our time and cause stress. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note. Such a conclusion will help them see why all your analysis and information should matter to them after they put the paper down. This handout will explain the functions of conclusions, offer strategies for writing effective ones, help you evaluate conclusions you’ve drafted, and suggest approaches to avoid. To apply for a BFA or BMus degree, simply select your preferred program on your application. You can request a specific writer for your order, such as one you have already worked with, or you can hire one of our top performers as an additional feature. To satisfy the demands of our clients, we can offer paper writers from top U.S. and U.K. universities, as well as ESL writers with perfect command of written and spoken English. We provide custom writing services from start to finish. Unlike other writing companies, we let you select all the additional order features by yourself. If there is something you don’t need, you don’t have to pay for it. Relationship changes, family issues, health issuesâ€"the majority of people face at least one of these during their degree. We offer nameless communication between clients and writers.

How To Write An Effective College Essay

How To Write An Effective College Essay Give custom writing a try and you’ll never want to go back to doing papers on your own. Check out some of the major perks of using our service. Pay For Essay is a premium service that offers you reasonable prices. Order the best custom essay the money can buy and turn the work in safely, knowing that it’s been written by a professional. Paying for your essay is always safe and confidential. In addition, you can use an online service such as Discover to pay for your paper. Check out our FAQs below for answers before giving the Office of Admissions a call. Visit the Applicant Portal to make sure we are not missing any of your documents. Our writers are professionals in the respective disciplines. Every writer takes on those tasks that match their educational background and knowledge. Only expert academic authors, each holding a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a subject field that you need. You don’t have to worry that you can miss a deadline and turn a paper in late. Unlimited revisions are free for up to a month if a paper is long and complex. If it’s an essay, then you can enjoy free unlimited revisions within 2 weeks. Every well-written custom paper contains a quality and unique thesis statement. Our writers draw up a thesis statement after research has been made. Lehigh has two rounds of binding Early Decision, as well as Regular Decision and Transfer application opportunities. 1Only in exceptional cases, and for otherwise well-qualified candidates, will the Committee on Admissions waive the Foreign Language requirement for admission to any one of the three undergraduate colleges. As with any process, you might find you have some questions along the way. Receiving a new order, we first and foremost instruct a writer to carry out original topic research that is always based on requested sources. Depending on the difficulty of your paper, deadline, and available budget, you can choose between the writer types and meet your educational goals in the cheapest yet most effective fashion. 2000 Master degree-holders could write you a paper in any of these subjects. Pay for your paper using any of the available methods, Visa, and MasterCard. Note that nearly 60% of assignments are done before the deadline. Make a difference, meet new friends, and learn new skillsâ€"on campus, in local communities, and around the world. With more than 273 student-run organizations, you have plenty of options to stay engaged. We’re educating men and women who shape the world with vision, justice, and charity. Be part of a new generation of independent thinkers and change-makers addressing the challenges of contemporary life. View the stats on our first-year class, including application and admittance numbers, average SATs and ACTs and more. Learn more about admission requirements, important dates, and other information to get you ready to apply. Explore our magnificent campus, noted for its Collegiate Gothic architecture, award-winning Stokes Hall, and Bapst Library, consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful college libraries in the country. Information about Penn State's use of a Self-Reported Academic Record as part of the application. Compare your high school record with the academic credentials of our incoming first-year class and get a look at the University’s enrollment statistics.

Writing Tips And Techniques For Your College Essay

Writing Tips And Techniques For Your College Essay My College Options ® is an online college planning program that connects millions of high school students with colleges and universities. Like it or not, schools use your essay to gauge your personality and character. Therefore, you must carefully consider the language you use. It’s okay to be colorful but you want to make sure it doesn’t come across as inappropriate or immature. Additionally, some essays ask you to discuss a personal accomplishment. When writing your admissions essay, be careful to avoid overusing flowery language . Too many adjectives and adverbs can ruin the reading experience. Digression isn't always wrong in a college admissions essay. Sometimes a colorful aside or anecdote can help engage the reader and enhance the reading experience. Stick to your chosen topic or theme and be concise. After all â€" a good writer knows when to edit him/herself. Your transcript already alerts people to the fact that you excelled in American history or that you nailed your SAT scores. While it’s okay to show pride, you don’t want appear cocky or a braggart. Conversely, you also don’t want to come across as a whiner or entitled. That’s not the kind of individual students, alums or administrators want representing their schools. Even if a school does not assign a maximum word count, that doesn’t mean you should write with wild abandon. Admissions officers have to slog through thousands of essays. As a guide for every draft of every essay, I create a process that is manageable, calm, and even fun. Emily guided me through the revision process of my writing and helped clarify my drafts for a supplemental college essay. She provided thoughtful feedback and kept prompt communication to meet my deadline. I highly recommend Emily if you need assistance for your college essay. Keith Berman is the President of Options for College (), which he founded in Harvard Square right after working in the Harvard Admissions Office. He has appeared on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, PBS, Fox Business and Lifetime. in Exeter offers both group classes and one-on-one writing coaching sessions to help students through this process. Meeting times will vary, depending on each individual. You and I and your teenager will come up with a schedule that works best for everyone. The Word Barn is a great space for writing and sharing ideas. You may have a beautifully crafted essay or a wonderful story to tell, but if you don’t take the time to proofread, your essay may be overlooked and end up in the rejection pile. Careful proofreading shows the reader you care and you aren’t sloppy. Before you send your essay to colleges, have someone you trust read it and provide feedback. Usually, your English teacher will be happy to take a look. one-on-one meetings, I help students explore their personal values, identify meaningful themes, and compelling essays. There’s no need to mention either again; it won’t make the achievement seem more impressive if you elaborate. Beyond successful students, colleges are looking to create an incoming class that will complement their campuses. They don’t have time to devote an hour to your 30 page masterpiece. Remember, these essays are simply meant to be a snapshot of you. You should not attempt to include your entire biography.

The College Essay Timeline

The College Essay Timeline The Happiness Spreadsheet doesn’t only reflect my own thoughts and emotions; it is an illustration of the fulfillment I get from gifting happiness to others. My transformation began with my mom’s cancer diagnosis. My mom went on a 100% whole food plant-based diet. I fully embraced this new eating philosophy to show my support. Eager to figure out the whole “vegan” thing, the two of us started binge-watching health documentaries such as “What the Health” and “Forks Over Knives”. On the outside, I look like any smart phone, but when you open my settings and explore my abilities, you will find I have many unique features. Learning how to wake up without my mom every morning became routine. Nothing felt right, a constant numbness to everything, and fog brain was my kryptonite. I paid attention in class, I did the work, but nothing stuck. Finally, after an additional seventy-two hours, the time comes to try it. I crack the seal on the bottle, leaning over to smell what I assume will be a tangy, fruity, delicious pomegranate solution. The insufferable stench fills my nostrils and crushes my confidence. I'm momentarily taken aback, unable to understand how I went wrong when I followed the recipe perfectly. Our family’s ethnic diversity has meant that virtually each person adheres to a different position on the political spectrum. I felt so stupid, I knew I was capable, I could solve a Rubik’s cube in 25 seconds and write poetry, but I felt broken. I was lost, I couldn’t see myself, so stuck on my mother that I fell into an ‘It will never get better’ mindset. The most important factor in my transition was my mom’s support. She scheduled me an appointment with a gender therapist, let me donate my female clothes, and helped build a masculine wardrobe. With her help, I went on hormones five months after coming out and got surgery a year later. I finally found myself, and my mom fought for me, her love was endless. Even though I had friends, writing, and therapy, my strongest support was my mother. A “14” etched on November 15, 2018, marked the first Lakeside Cooking on the Stove Club meeting. What had started as a farcical proposition of mine transformed into a playground where high school classmates and I convene every two weeks to prepare a savory afternoon snack for ourselves. A few months later, a “16” scribbled on February 27, 2019, marked the completion of a fence my Spanish class and I constructed for the dusty soccer field at a small Colombian village. Hard-fought days of mixing cement and transporting supplies had paid off for the affectionate community we had immediately come to love. This has naturally triggered many discussions, ranging from the merits of European single-payer healthcare to those of America’s gun laws, that have often animated our meals. These exact conversations drove me to learn more about what my parents, grandparents, and other relatives were debating with a polite and considerate passion. I was taught that one’s paramount accomplishment should be specialization. I sit, cradled by the two largest branches of the Newton Pippin Tree, watching the ether. The Green Mountains of Vermont stretch out indefinitely, and from my elevated vantage point, I feel as though we are peers, motionless in solidarity. But a few months ago, I would have considered this an utter waste of time. This ongoing discourse on current events not only initiated my interests in politics and history, but also prepared me greatly for my time as a state-champion debater for Regis’s Public Forum team. However, thinking on my own wasn’t enough; I needed more perspectives. Prior to attending Mountain School, my paradigm was substantially limited; opinions, prejudices, and ideas shaped by the testosterone-rich environment of Landon School. I was herded by result-oriented, fast-paced, technologically-reliant parameters towards psychology and neuroscience (the NIH, a mere 2.11 mile run from my school, is like a beacon on a hill).

How To Write A College Essay Step

How To Write A College Essay Step Do you think reporting her 33 ACT with the poor writing score will hurt her at UNC or Michigan, even though they say it is not required, and UNC says it is discouraged? OR should we send her 1450 SAT without a writing score? They are so different that they can’t really be compared. Having at least one essay score is helpful in case a student decides to apply to a Required college, but it is unlikely to play a role at Optional colleges. My daughter is trying to get in as an out of state student to University of North Carolina and University of Michigan as her top 2 choices. The college cares how you write not how your parent writes unless they are also applying to the same college as you. Join thousands of students and parents getting exclusive high school, test prep, and college admissions information. Factoring in your particular interests, talents, and intended major makes the importance of the essay even more nuanced. Therefore, they can devote more time and resources to each individual application. Rest assured that admissions officers do, in fact, read your essays. Also, admissions officers view them as an important part of your application. If colleges see that your focus is writing and receive a poorly-written or uninspired essay, they will be confused â€" and may wonder how well you understand your own strengths. Under no circumstances should you ever “blow off” your college essay. Even if the rest of your profile makes you a top candidate for competitive colleges, your essay always matters. In fact, your essay could end up hurting an application for an otherwise strong candidate if it appears hastily written or not well thought-out. In contrast, smaller colleges, especially liberal arts schools, tend to take a more holistic approach to evaluating candidates, since these colleges tend to be more self-selective and receive fewer applications. Not what anyone else writes including your parent. But, if they start writing the essay know that the college may very well determine that the work was not yours. Is your parent going to write your essays that are assigned by professors while you are in college? She scored a 33 on ACT with a 6 writing, which she took because Michigan said it was required. She clearly wasn’t prepared for the writing section, so she just took it again and scored a bit lower on her composite but the same on the essay. Then we went to a college fair and spoke to a Michigan Admissions Officer who said Michigan has decided NOT to require writing. She wants to apply to both as Early Action, but doesn’t have time to retake ACT without writing for that deadline. No matter how qualified you are, you can kill your chances with a bad essay. On the other hand, if you are minimally qualified or even if something fall bellows the minimum, like your test scores, the essay can be your chance for redemption. Keep in mind that every college is different and individual admission officers may be influenced by different factors. Many admission officers would view it as a “plus factor.” It’s wonderful that your daughter did so well. Son is sophomore who will be taking the September ACT. He is not a great writer, does not like writing, and does not want to take the writing portion. He likely will score in the range and apply to a variety of schools (a couple top [sub-10% acceptance rate] privates and top publics, as well as some less competitive universities and colleges). With that said, the Essay is dying a quick death. Most schools fall in the “just don’t care” box at this point. Also, we know that the 25th-75th percentiles scores at the most competitive colleges are 8-10, so your essay score should not be a concern. As much as I rail against the essay, I still recommend that students take it â€" at least once. Your daughter didn’t waste her time, she created some options. Policies on viewing essay results are all over the place at essay optional schools.

Where Can I Find A List Of College Admissions Essay Questions?

Where Can I Find A List Of College Admissions Essay Questions? Prompt connects students with a team of professional playwrights, authors, journalists, and educators who are only available through our network. Students applying to highly competitive universities (Ivy and Ivy-equivalent) face tough competition. Compelling essays will help you distinguish yourself. Students sign up with Prompt and start with a strategy session to figure out what they can still do to improve their experiences for their essays. Although they're phrased differently from college to college, certain essay question types appear routinely. Since 2016, I have worked as a high school English tutor, theatre educator, and freelance journalist. I graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University's theatre and creative writing programs. I'm a playwright, editor, and writing teacher with a focus on arts education. I got my MFA at UT Austin as a Michener Fellow, a program for young writers that accepts less than one percent of applicants. Over 220,000 awesome students are learning how to dominate their classes, get more done, and land the jobs they want â€" and you should too. With all the knowledge you have of a topic, it can seem that a few simple sentences are enough to do it justice â€" but that’s rarely the case. You have to remember that the person reading your essay knows nothing about you, save for a few basic statistics. They’ll get you started, but simply writing about these things alone isn’t enough. In general, it’s much easier to stand out on the basis of how you approach your topic than what you say. Whatever application process you’re going through, you’ll likely have a choice of several questions. Don’t get overwhelmed trying to pick the right one. My suggestion is to just read through them and narrow down to one or two that really speak to you. The introduction needs to set up the whole essay. It should establish for the reader a sense of expectation for what’s to come without giving it all away. Relate to the reader the full scope of an experience â€" sights, sounds, and maybe even smells. Be careful, however, not to overuse imagery; otherwise the essay may sound forced, unnatural and give the reader the impression you are trying too hard to be creative. The fewer words you can use to relay your message, the better. We asked the admission staff to select some of their favorite essays. We hope they will provide inspiration as you craft your stories. While there is no perfect length for an essay, we recommend that you aim for 500 to 550 words. For more information on specific application requirements, please consult the website for each institution to which you are applying, as requirements often vary. Once you’ve hooked the reader, switch gears a little to set up the essay in a way appropriate for an introduction. More work needs to be done in order to craft an essay that makes you trulystand out. When free writing about a topic, you may stumble onto an idea even better than your original. If you’ve never done it before, free writing is just taking a topic and writing anything that comes into your head. Just take a blank document or sheet of paper, set a timer for minutes, and start writing. Really, the success of your essay will come down not to what you write about, but how. Which topics best help you answer the essay question. Learn what it's like, how you can get started when your in college, and if a nonprofit career is right for your personality. Such writing asks the writer to be more creative about the way phrases and sentences are worded. 2.Narrow the list of possible topics.Which topics best reflect who you are and how you want to portray yourself to the colleges?

How To Write The Best College Essay

How To Write The Best College Essay Each essay is different and require more or less paragraphs depending on the information you need to provide in the writing. Ultimately, your essay will be evaluated on the information you present, not on the number of paragraphs in the essay. Early in your academic life, teachers and lecturers may give you both a structure for your essay and a guideline on how long each part of the essay should be. After all, if the teacher is allocating 80 marks for content in total and you can see 50% of the mark relates to a certain part of the essay, then 50% of your essay’s words should be devoted to that section. This is a college essay that worked for University of Pennsylvania . I attended the SPK Program, a five-week enrichment program with New Jersey’s best and brightest students. I lived on a college campus with 200 students and studied a topic. On the first day of class, our teacher set a box on the table and poured water into the top, and nothing came out. We worked together to discover in the box was a siphon, similar to what is used to pump gas. We spent the next weeks building solar ovens, studying the dynamic of paper planes, diving into the content of the speed of light and space vacuums, among other things. We did this with no textbooks, flashcards, or information to memorize. This is a college essay that worked for Duke University. This is a college essay that worked for Harvard University. I’ve done tons, and I can finally say I’m proud of that. Unfortunately, mental health challenges have become so common these days that many students write personal statements about them and so it can be difficult to stand out. And most students aren't posing the question hypothetically. They're asking because they're considering telling the lie. Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, has been helping students tell their stories for more than ten years. I became president of the California Scholarship Federation, providing students with information to prepare them for college, while creating opportunities for my peers to play a bigger part in our community. I began tutoring kids, teens, and adults on a variety of subjects ranging from basic English to home improvement and even Calculus. As the captain of the water polo and swim team I’ve led practices crafted to individually push my comrades to their limits, and I’ve counseled friends through circumstances similar to mine. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, received an MFA from UC Irvine, and received two counseling certifications, one from UC Irvine and another from the Interchange Counseling Institute. I was taught essays should be 7 paragraphs long, not 5. My teacher said 3 central paragraphs never gives enough detail to the topic, so we should write 5. It makes sense to me and that is how I’ve always done it. I think five paragraphs is a good number to shoot for when writing, but it isn’t a hard-fast rule you need to hit every time. If you are feeling compelled to write about a mental health challenge, consider brainstorming some uncommon connections. “If a student has an adult write it, the admissions committee can tell,” Michigan State University’s Director of Admissions Jim Cotter. We’ve explained that the topic does not need to be impressive, and that the essay should not sound like your favorite writer or college professor. It will become very clear to the reader if you've not researched your topic enough. The essay will be vague and will need more depth. If you've made mistakes, be mature enough to own up to them. The problem with that question isn't that the answer should be obvious. It's a stupid question because lying to your colleges is a stupid thing to do. Then, he poured more water in, and everything slowly came out. We were told to figure out what had happened with no phones or textbooks, just our brains. Try to make sure you allow yourself a good amount of time to research your essay properly, and include the findings in your essay, as well as your own thoughts and ideas. The pressure from other class assignments and projects may be so time-consuming that the student has little time to dedicate to completing their essay. Nice, confident kids who've worked hard don't ask us this question. So don't let the pressure of college admissions influence you to lie on your college application. You don't need an admission to Princeton or NYU or UCLA badly enough to lie.

College Essay Dos & Donts

College Essay Dos & Don’ts If that does not offer, then the application is passed on to another reader. The Paper Experts has written custom essays for college and university students for over 20 years. Others divide them up, and then only share files that require further discussion. There is not one way that all colleges work, so I always tell students to assume everyone in the admissions office could their essays so that they cannot write anything that anyone and everyone cannot read. Our office is open 7 days a week to help you with any college assignment. During this time our professional essay writers have written research papers, essay outlines, argumentative essays, pro-con essays, theses and dissertations and much more. How can students stand out from the thousands of other applicants? One time-tested method is writing a strong admissions essay. Taking a semester or a year before diving into college life can help students go into their freshman year with confidence, maturity, and some real-world perspective. For students thinking about taking a gap year, I would encourage them to apply to colleges during their senior year. Most essay editing companies employ professional admissions editors who are well qualified to edit admissions essays. Such services are surprisingly affordable and can take an essay to the next level. Students should make sure to choose a company that’s reputable and employs highly qualified editors. Every selective school receives countless applications from highly qualified students. With the current de-prioritization of transcripts, test scores, and extracurriculars, even more applicants meet the basic criteria for consideration. Also I believe that students should believe that the more people who read an essay the better as these essays should really captivate and engage readers and help them see why you belong on their campus. It really depends on the schools to which you are applying. These tend to be smaller liberal arts schools or small selective programs within a larger university. Other schools may only read an essay if there is some question/s about the other parts of the application or there is a scholarship component and the answer to the essay has influence over that decision. It is always best however, to ask each school this very question and to understand exactly what they are looking for from the applicant in their answer. I always tell students that they should be writing and essay that is to be published in the New York Times. If you would not want to see the work you are submitting published there in such a public way, then it is probably not in an acceptable form to submit for your application. It also depends on the school as to how many people will read an application essay. I know of a school where the complete application is read and the passed to another counselor who must agree with the decision of the first counselor. CollegeEssay.org writes a great college essay at a very affordable price. Our extremely skilled writing specialists and experts can write all types of essays for middle school, high school, college, and university. Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of college essays, most of which are forgettable. Many students try to sound smart rather than sounding like themselves. Teenagers change a lot from August to May, and while you might feel sure in the fall that you want to take time off, seeing all your friends making college plans might make you feel differently in the spring. One of the things that helps students feel in control of this process is having options. Being able to consciously choose to take a gap year feels a lot better than having to take one by default. We are available to answer your questions and walk you through our process. Starting the essay draft early is crucial, not only because of the time needed to outline and draft the essay, but also because authors need plenty of time to make revisions. Admissions officers recommend that students give their essay drafts to several people to read, edit, and offer input on their writing. However, many ESL authors may not personally know a native English speaker, while many others simply wish to elevate their essay and make it as strong as possible. For these students, an online admissions essay editing service is one solution. Others write about a subject that they don't care about, but that they think will impress admissions officers. College admissions officers are very busy and only want to read essays that help them make admissions decisions. Some colleges have a team of people read each file.

Dos And Donts Of A Great College Essay

Dos And Don’ts Of A Great College Essay Never copy an essay from the internet or have someone else write it for you. The risks are greater than any benefit you might get by plagiarizing an essay. Do not assume that if someone else writes the essay for you that it will produce a high quality essay. Nearly all colleges and universities require students to write an essay to supplement their application to attend the institution. Applicants are usually given an essay prompt and a word limit within which to express themselves. The essays usually cover topics relating to the student’s experiences and opinions. The goal of the essay is to provide admission professionals an opportunity to see you, beyond your GPA and test scores, as an individual person with your own unique experiences. One hurdle that you must surmount when planning to go to college is the application process. They will go on and on about the time they did this illegal thing and broke the law, but it’s OK, because they learned from their mistake. The application process is competitive, and there are plenty of good applicants out there who have never broken the law. You are not required to incriminate yourself in your application essay, nor should you. You don’t want all that hard work to go to waste. Similarly, a lot of students feel like they have to write about a major life event or their most impressive achievement. “In 10th grade, I became a hooker.” Yes, this is the actual first line of an application essay we received a few years ago and something I never imagined I would see while reading an admissions essay. Immediately I was stunned trying to think of the events that must have lead up to this moment and how this student was going to swing this into a positive light. What I didn’t know at the time was that a “hooker” was actually the name of a position on a rugby team. The student went on about how he developed the strength and technique needed to be successful in the position and how that experience shaped him into the man he had become. Whether or not it was intentional, this student started his essay in a way that certainly caught the attention of the admissions committee, and that’s what your first sentences absolutely need to do. The majority of stress and work in the admissions process stems from the essay writing. These essays are a critical component of a student’s application, as it’s one of the only opportunities to inject personality into an application. Students should spend a lot of time crafting their essays and as as result, need to manage their time to be successful. Far too many students don’t have anything worthwhile to say in their conclusions to application essays about why they want to attend a particular college or university. If you are completely out of ideas, it’s always a good idea to express appreciation at the end of your college-specific essays. Writing the college essay takes time and effort, and you should feel accomplished. When you submit your essay, remember to include your name, contact information, and ID number if your college provided one, especially if you send it to a general admission email account. Nothing is worse than trying to match an application essay with no name (or, worse, an email address such as ) to a file. Even for Common App schools, you may need to write a supplemental essay or provide short answers to questions. Each of member of our professional writing team is a U.S.-based native English speaking professional. Make sure to keep copies of what you sent to which schools and whenâ€"and follow up on them! Be certain the college or university you're applying to received your essay. But the purpose of a personal statement isn't to serve as a resume or a brag sheetâ€"there are plenty of other places in the application for you to list that information. Many of the best essays are about something small because your approach to a common experience generally reveals a lot about your perspective on the world. The first step in how to write a college essay is figuring out what you actually need to do. Although many schools are now on the Common App, some very popular colleges, including University of Texas and University of California, still have their own applications and writing requirements. It can be laborious, time intensive, confusing, and overwhelming. The college essay can feel like the worst part of the application process. Whether writing comes easy or is a struggle for you, writing an essay can be a significant challenge and it can feel like your whole application is riding on that one essay. This module can help you to sort through what you need to do to write the best essay you can write. In my experience, students love to write about how they have learned from their mistakes.

11 Tips To Writing Your College Admissions Essay In One Day

11 Tips To Writing Your College Admissions Essay In One Day That will allow her to focus on academics and enjoy the holidays. University of Mary Washington (EA Nov. 15) CA main essay. However, in many cases digression adds little to an essay other than extraneous words. Whenever you deviate from your main point, make sure the deviation serves a legitimate purpose in your essay. In this case, the revision actually adds words to the essay, but the additional length is needed to clarify the point the applicant is trying to convey. DON’T use the personal statement essay to repeat your resume. No; probably every teenager in the world will write about that this season. The sorrow of being far away when her grandmother died? She feels sad even thinking about it, making her reluctant to write; and even stateside kids have lost faraway grandparents. If there is a sample essay in the assignment, check it and try to complete the essay of approximately the same length. Although the word limit might be not mentioned directly, read the instructions attentively. There might be specified the number of paragraphs or pages. The two “unique” essay prompts are already fairly well defined, so Rachel doesn’t need further brainstorming on them at this stage. My sister’s illness threw me off balance and changed my life forever. When, once again, I was thrown off balance, Act Three changed forever. In that moment, during rehearsal, my defenses fell and I was able to reconnect to the sadness I had felt. I discovered that I could go there again safely and grow from this experience. She learns that the people around her did not really see what was important in life. Her idealized recollection of her life is shattered. She is deeply disappointed and saddened by her discovery. The only way to perform this last act is with great emotion. She decides against the “getting lost” story, as it happened when she was 8; although if she could find a metaphoric connection with feeling lost and found when moving to different countries, it could work. Likewise, she was 10 years old when Maroon Five came to the Dominican Republic, where her dad was the cultural attaché. The story’s tone feels too “privileged,” with no real lesson learned; and colleges prefer more recent experiences anyway. “Favorite work of literature” essay (UVA, ; George Mason, up to 750). Main essay for the Common App of up to 650 words. Follow the directions of the college you're applying to. Check the tips to make sure you complete an essay that is neither too short nor too long. In case you have not found any information on the word count, try to contact the college and find out the word limits required. From that moment on, each rehearsal and each performance was done with great emotion. I was Emily, I had a breakthrough, and that was my Act Three. At the end of this act, Emily, my character, dies but has the chance to relive a day with her family. Rachel will write 150 words for Michigan about her love of basketball and her growing leadership experience (she’s now team co-captain), focusing on engendering a sense of mission and camaraderie. Rachel now realizes she should do more research on her colleges. She will need to find specific classes to cite, professors she’s familiar with, and extracurriculars she will take part in. She will try to fit this research in while traveling. To her surprise, it takes Rachel more than a week to obtain all the data and organize these lists, and now she wishes she had started working on this during the last week of school. Notice that Rachel will be applying Early Action where it’s offered. (She cannot afford to apply Early Decision because her family needs to compare financial aid offers.) She intends to submit all applications by Oct. 15, even those that aren’t due until January.

Can You Really Write All Of Your College Application Essays Over The Summer?

Can You Really Write All Of Your College Application Essays Over The Summer? As you move through the essay, transition words will be paramount. Transition words are the glue that connects every paragraph together and prevents the essay from sounding disjointed. Support your thesis adequately with the information in your paragraphs. Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence. It could run into several paragraphs rather than just one or two. When you are planning your essay, you will think of or research the main elements that are needed in the body text. It would be safe to assume you need at least one paragraph for each of these. Of course, if there is a lot of information to cover in order to explore each area, you may need more. This is a rule of thumb, which means it won’t always work quite that way, but it’s handy all the same. In academic work, your paragraphs are likely to be a bit longer than most of the ones you see in this blog post. Quoting is reserved for lines of text that are identical to an original piece of writing. Paraphrasing is reserved for large sections of someone else's writing that you want to convey in your own words. Summarizing puts the main points from someone else's text into your own words. It is rare, but it does happen, which is why we suggest that you apply to a mix of reach, good chance, and safety schools. Here is the problem I know someone who is filling out applications to get aid, they live with their mother and step dad. Because mom never did marry him but they live under his roof. To avoid getting tangled up in one aspect of the discussion, you’ll have to decide how long it should be. If it’s the most important aspect informing your conclusion, you can spend a little more time on that particular point. We have one narrative essay template in EssayJack, Short Narrative, which you can use to practice getting the flow of a good story. You might also want to consider the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Here's more on When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize. Now the essay is written, but you're not quite done. Reread what you've written, looking out for mistakes and typos. On average, there are usually 100 to 200 words in a paragraph. So if you’d like a guesstimate, you can assume that a 1,000-word essay will have between five and ten paragraphs. then it is clear that a balanced essay is required. That is to say you should present both sides of an argument, without necessarily committing yourself to any points of view, which should always be based on evidence, until the final paragraph. There are two main methods of presenting an argument, and in general the one you choose will depend on exactly how the essay title is worded. See Writing a list of references for more information on the reference list. THESE ARE BY FAR THE MOST COMMON ESSAYS YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ASKED TO WRITE. They may be long; they may be short, but they all try to persuade the reader about the soundness of your argument about a given topic. or secondary sources) to back up the points you want to present. In most cases, an essay like this will also require you to address main points which may oppose your stand on an issue or topic. When we are asked to describe or explain causes, factors, functions or results, the examiner wants us to group our facts. Similar causes are put together, for instance the economic causes of a situation. There are basically two main ways to organise this type of essay. At the end of the essay, there should be a list of references. This should give full information about the materials that you have used in the assignment. If you don't get accepted anywhere, talk to your high school counselor about other options that are available to you. You can decide to take a year off and work, travel, or volunteer before going to college. You can apply to a college that offers rolling admissionâ€"sometimes as late as the summer after your senior year. You can go to a community college and then transferâ€"sometimes after a semester, but usually after a year.

Where Can I Find A List Of College Admissions Essay Questions?

Where Can I Find A List Of College Admissions Essay Questions? We would encourage fall 2020 applicants to continue to check their email and campus portals regularly. With 23 campuses and thousands of degree choices, the CSU is a great place to start your journey. Here's what you need to know, starting as soon as s​ixth grade. Compare all 23 schools by size, location, activities and other criteria to find the campus that's the perfect fit for you. Please be assured that all CSU campuses are prepared to be as flexible as possible when working with fall 2020 applicants on meeting admission requirements and selection. This flexibility will vary by campus and potentially by major applied due to impaction. Although there has been disruption, as campuses transition to some or all staff working remotely, processing of applications and communications is still taking place. They must also have at least a SAT total of 1070 or an ACT composite score of 21. The sub-scores of each test must be above the minimum admission requirements. No single piece of documentation will be considered conclusive. Additionally, there must be an absence of information that contradicts the applicant's claim of residency. Admissions decisions will be released as indicated on the application deadline page. You must provide evidence of high school graduation or in the process of graduating from high school or completing GED certificate. Applicants with a GED must submit official GED test scores. Spelling and word formation errors make it difficult to read in places. The writer attempts to use intermediate vocabulary but with some inaccuracy. The writer uses a wide range of intermediate vocabulary fluently and flexibly. The writer uses a wide range of intermediate or advanced vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings. There is no pre-approved course list for schools outside of California. Find out about our comprehensive review process and prove your English proficiency as an international student. An essay at this level merely copies words from the topic, rejects the topic, or is otherwise not connected to the topic, is written in a foreign language, consists of keystroke characters, or is blank. There are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors, causing some difficulty for the reader. Automotive technology student; planning to earn his A.A.S. in '16. While enrolled at CLC, you could be admitted to one of our local, regional or international partner institutions by meeting program requirements. Learn more about guaranteed transfer admission and our partner colleges and universities. The writer uses a limited range of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer uses a wide range of advanced sentence structures with some difficulty using advanced structures. The writer uses a wide range of complex structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Spelling and word formation errors make it difficult to read in multiple places. To begin the process, you must submit an application andnon-refundable $30.00 application fee. This website stores cookies on your computer to improve your browsing experience. The university does not collect personal information as you browse. Mechatronics technology student; planning to earn a certificate in 2016. Transcripts must include courses completed from 9th through 11th grade. A final high school transcript, which contains a graduation date and completed courses, will be required prior to the start of your first semester at FGCU. You will have to submit payment if you do not qualify for a fee waiver. The fee must be received to complete your application. Send the application fee waiver form to Undergraduate Admissions. Explore your options below, and start your application today. However, doing so can support their statewide UC eligibility, application for certain scholarships, and help them fulfill some University graduation requirements. You must provide evidence of English proficiency to be successful in university studies at UCI.

The Perfectionists Guide To The College Essay

The Perfectionist's Guide To The College Essay While the precise topic of my thesis is undecided, I am particularly interested in Mexico and its development towards a more democratic government. Minoring in Spanish, I have read various pieces of literature from Mexico and have come to respect Mexico and Latin American culture and society. I look forward to conducting this research as it will have a more qualitative tilt than my thesis in psychology, therefore granting an additional understanding of research methodology. As an undergraduate, I was privileged to gain extensive research experience working in a research lab with Dr. Carol. As I touched on above, the narrower your focus, the easier it will be to write a unique, engaging personal statement. The simplest way to restrict the scope of your essay is to recount an anecdote, i.e. a short personal story that illustrates your larger point. The effort paid off as I earned not only an ‘A’ in the course, but also won the T.O.P.S. award in statistics. This award is given to the top undergraduate student with a demonstrated history of success in statistics. Professor Mitchell obtained a grant to take a class of students to Belgium in order to study the EU. This course revealed a direct correlation between what I had studied in the classroom with the real world. After spending several weeks studying the EU, its history and present movement towards integration, the class flew to Brussels where we met with officials and proceeded to learn firsthand how the EU functioned. This fall I will embark on writing an additional honors thesis in political science. Possible topics include hobbies, extracurriculars, intellectual interests, jobs, significant one-time events, pieces of family history, or anything else that has shaped your perspective on life. One way to find possible topics is to think deeply about the college's essay prompt. I would also recommend starting with a longer personal statement before moving on to shorter supplementary essays, since the word essays tend to take quite a bit longer than word short responses. Our vision is to be the company that best recognizes and serves the needs of international students around the world. Additionally, my attendance would allow the Political Science department to make a more accurate determination on how well I would fit in to the program than from solely my graduate school application. My interest in attending the University of Rochester in particular, relates to my first semester at OU and the opportunity to take an introductory course in statistics with the now retired Dr. Larry Miller. I continued my statistical training by completing the second graduate statistics course on model comparisons with Dr. Roger Johnson, a Professor in the Psychology Department. The model comparison course was not only the most challenging course I have taken as an undergraduate, but the most important. As the sole undergraduate in the course and only college algebra under my belt, I felt quite intimidated. Yet, the rigors of the class compelled me to expand my thinking and learn to overcome any insecurities and deficits in my education. Once you've gone through the questions above, you should have good sense of what you want to write about. Hopefully, it's also gotten you started thinking about how you can best approach that topic, but we'll cover how to plan your essay more fully in the next step. Your essay should add something to your application that isn't obvious elsewhere. The brainstorming you do for the long essay may help you come up with ideas you like for the shorter ones as well. If you have one essay that's due earlier than the others, start there. Otherwise, start with the essay for your top choice school. That way you'll be able to see exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it by. Again, there are sections for all of your extracurriculars and awards; the point of the essay is to reveal something more personal that isn't clear just from numbers and lists. What experience, talent, interest or other quirk do you have that you might want to share with colleges? Contrary to what you may have learned in elementary school, sweeping statements don't make very strong hooks. If you want to start your essay with a more overall description of what you'll be discussing, you still need to make it specific and unique enough to stand out. Also keep in mind that, at this point in the process, the goal is just to get your ideas down. Wonky phrasings and misplaced commas can easily be fixed when you edit, so don't worry about them as you write. Instead, focus on including lots of specific details and emphasizing how your topic has affected you, since these aspects are vital to a compelling essay.