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.