College Application Essay Examples

College Application Essay Examples Sooooooo…do you think this person just might enjoy ballet? That much is clear from the startâ€"but it could have been demonstrated by including details that showthis passion rather than simplytellingabout it. And even if the author were to evidence this passion through actions and details, the repetition of one theme without expansion could still weaken the essay. If you choose to write this kind of story about overcoming failure or a profound difficulty (financial, emotional, physical, etc.), don’t forget to focus significantly on the “lesson” part. This article is a guide on how to write a good admission essay, with a number of tips on how to make it even better. Our elite team of editing experts has helped thousands of academics, researchers, students, and business professionals improve their writing and achieve their goals. Wordvice provides high-quality English proofreading and editing services.We have helped thousands of researchers, students, writers, and businesses maximize the impact of their writing. You will find that this often translates into a more compelling story as well since passion and interest are hallmarks of any good story told to a friend or included on the page of an adventure or romance novel. Think about an experience in your life that changed you, changed your mind about something, or even set you off on a particular path that was unexpected. Admissions officers want students who are thoughtful, motivated, even somewhat imaginativeâ€"students who will likely make a fantastic contribution to their school in their first year. Seek professional helpâ€"the problem with spending so much time on what can be a relatively short essay is that you look at it so much it starts to lose its meaning for you. So for the same reason you should read your work out loud or backwards, you have to get another pair of eyes and ears working on it, as well. A fresh perspective can make all the difference and keep you from settling for something terrible. The final grammar and tense check for your college admission essay is done by you reading it out loud. Also, while reading it out loud, check if the paragraphs have a consistency and flow. Since your college admission essay determines whether you get accepted or not, it should be written masterfully and carefully. Eliminate any generalizations or platitudes (“I’m a people person”, “Doctors save lives”, or “Mr. Calleson’s classes changed my life”), or anything that could be cut and pasted into anyone else’s application. Find what is specific to you about the ideas that generated those platitudes and express them more directly. You can also have another person read through the essay and give you an opinion on whether there are any mistakes that you have missed. A good friend, parent, or better yet, a teacher can read what you’ve written and give you a reality check. Encourage them to be constructiveâ€"it’s okay if they tell you what you’ve come up with is no good, as long as they can offer some feedback to help make it better. Ask them to judge whether the writing really sounds like you are talking. And don’t let them get away with saying your essay is just “good,” either. Don’t leave them alone until they’ve told you at least one thing you can improve, or at least specific aspects they liked. Try very hard not to dump your entire life story or all your finer points into the essay. Focus on singular moments or activitiesâ€"pick the ones that stand out. It’s no jokeâ€"you’d be right to think that after working their way through a big pile of essays, the people reading yours could use a good laugh. You know next to nothing about who will read it, let alone their senses of humor. You don’t want a college to think you are too focused on education and that you can’t have fun. But they also need to know you will be taking your education seriously. One simple joke at the start or end of your essay is more than enough. Answer the questionâ€"this sounds obvious, but it can be easy to forget. Because personal essays are about you, you may find yourself on a roll re-living your memories. Speaking of narrative structure, when you include the basic plot elements of setting, introduction, conflict, and resolution, not only will your essay be more fun to read, it will be easier to write. And when writing is easier, you are usually having more fun and pouring more of yourself into your writing. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our handout on getting feedback. Find the most relevant, memorable, concrete statements and focus in on them.