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The College Essay

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What is the Purpose of the Essay?
From the College Perspective

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Writing Sample: At its most basic level, the essay is an example of your writing ability. In recent years, more and more colleges have implemented a writing requirement into their core curriculum, recognizing the value of strong writing skills for all students regardless of major. The ability to communicate, both verbally and in written form, is essential for success in any profession. Therefore, admission evaluators pay particular attention to grammar and language in the college essay. PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! 

 

Content: Much of your application has to do with numbers... test scores (if submitting), grade point averages, and so on. The essay is an opportunity to let the reader see the person behind all those statistics. Give life to your unique voice and personality through the essay.  Remember to be true to yourself in writing the essay, the voice that is heard should be yours not the voice of your parents or teachers.

From the Student’s Perspective

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Put your Best Foot Forward: If you are willing to put time and effort into writing your essay, it is a wonderful opportunity for you to stand out in the admissions process. You cannot magically go back and erase that D in Algebra II from your transcript, but you can control whether or not you submit a strong college essay.

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How to Pick a Topic?

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Some applications will allow students to choose their own topic, but the Common Application provides specific prompts. The most important piece of advice is to find a topic or choose a prompt that you care about. Impossible though it may sound, you should actually enjoy writing this essay. If you write honestly about something that is important to you, your readers will have an opportunity to see your world (or a piece of it) through your eyes.

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In order to get started, brainstorm ideas with people that you trust like a parent, sibling, friend or teacher. Then free-write (quick write) like mad on several topics or experiences. Focus on specific moments and recreate them on paper, using your sense memory. 

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Remember that your readers will be exhausted and bored; you need to appeal to their senses before you get to their minds. However, never forget that your reader is quite intelligent; don’t underestimate the power of subtlety. Being blatant, preachy, or begging insults your reader.  

If writer’s block is getting the best of you, try setting the clock for twenty minutes and just write… about anything that comes to mind. Or, take the three adjective approaches; name three adjectives and write anecdotes from your own life to illustrate each.

 

After churning out a large volume of freewriting, let it sit for a few days. Then, re-read it, looking for topics that represent you well. The essay should highlight your strengths and send the reader a message about you.

Essay Do's

  • Be sincere, clear, spirited and personal.

  • Write, rewrite, proofread.

  • Give yourself time, a good college essay is not written the night before.

  • Read directions thoroughly, understand the question and required length.

  • Write about something you know or care about.

  • Dialogue can work.

  • Think small. Don’t get hung up on the word ‘significant,’ often the best essays are on rather mundane topics.

  • Use specifics, anecdotes and details.

  • Accentuate the positive.

  • Read it aloud to yourself... does the essay make sense?

  • Grab the reader’s attention.

Essay Don'ts

  • Repeat information found elsewhere in the application.

  • Go crazy with a thesaurus.

  • Wander from topic to topic in your essay; try to be concise and logical.

  • Go too far....there is a limit as to what is appropriate and effective in terms of humor, creativity, and radical viewpoints.

Graded Writing Samples

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Some colleges will allow students to also submit a graded writing sample. It is essential that you read the guidelines carefully when selecting a sample. Typically, the college wants to see a critical, analytical essay NOT a creative piece. The 'graded' paper with the teacher’s comments must be submitted NOT a clean copy. Do not use a paper from an in-class writing exercise.

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Go through your papers from junior year and also think about upcoming assignments that you have for your current classes. Although it would seem safe to assume that a paper with an A grade is your best sample, this is not always the case. Once you have compiled a few choices, ask a teacher or parent to review them and give you feedback.

Why 'X' College?​

 

In addition to the essay many colleges will ask students to write a short answer response to a question such as: Why are you interested in attending X University? What do you hope to study in college? How do you envision your freshman year at X University?

Your response should typically be one to two paragraphs long. It is imperative that you use specifics in your answer. Dig out those college viewbooks and identify two to three specific aspects of the school to discuss in your response. Look back at your notes from your campus visit, what anecdotes can you recall? You should also attempt to make connections between yourself and the college.  For example, 'Having attended a small school my entire life, I place great value on close student-faculty relationships. The student: faculty ratio at X University is ideal....' If you are planning to end your response with a strong affirmative such as, 'X University is the perfect match for me,' be sure to use the correct school name.

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Need Help Getting Started On Your Essay?

Sample Prompts | Questions to ask yourself?

(Taken from Conquering the College Admissions Essay in Ten Steps)

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  • If I had to quickly replay my life, which two or three moments would jump out ahead of all the others?

  • What do I regard as my greatest victory?

  • What in the world utterly fascinates me?

  • Which of my relationships have I worked at the hardest?

  • Have I ever made a discovery that thrilled me?

  • What is the funniest thing that ever happened to me?

  • What fills me with pride?

  • When did my mind and body feel in perfect harmony?

  • What have I done that “they” said couldn’t be done?

  • What object or possession holds the most meaning for me?

  • If I can’t sleep at night, what’s keeping me up?

Starting Your Essay

“All of this parading on the high road has nothing to do with the real possibility of the personal essay, which is to catch oneself being human. That means a willingness to surrender for a time our pose of unshakeable rectitude, and to admit that we are, despite our best intentions, subject to all matter of doubt and weakness and foolish wanting. It requires self- awareness without self-importance, moral rigor without priggishness, and courage to hang it all on the line. It’s a hard thing to do.”

- Tobias Wolff

BRAINSTORM IDEAS

Steps to Take: 

  • Keep a running list. Write all ideas down—good or bad, silly or serious.

  • Ask for suggestions from friends & family.

  • Read other students’ college essays to get ideas (but don’t be intimidated).

  • Read a specific essay prompt (see above), set a 5-10 minute time period. List every idea, image, and phrase that comes to mind in response.

 

Points to Consider:

  • Originality is a plus…. Find an original topic or take an original or unexpected approach to a standard topic.

  • Don’t overthink what “they” want to hear. Don’t get hung up on the idea of “unique” or “significant.”

  • Do not write about the “college essay,” SATs, or the college process.

  • Take time to reflect on who you are and what you want to say about yourself.

  • Spend as much time thinking about your topic as you do writing about it.

REVIEW THE LIST WITH A CRITICAL EYE

Steps to Take:

  • Read over the list and pick one idea or image that stands out to you.  Then set a 10-15 minute time period and free write on that specific idea. Don’t worry about grammar, just write.

 

Points to Consider:

  • What message(s) will the topic communicate about you?

  • What specific examples can you think of to illustrate/ draw out those ideas?

  • Will the topic allow your unique voice to come through?

DEVELOP THE

IDEA FURTHER

Steps to Take:

  • Read over the free write, circling ideas, images and words that stand out.  Identify one that really speaks to you and set another 10-15 minute time period to free write.

  • Once you have found a viable essay topic, outline the essay before you begin to write.

 

Points to Consider:

  • Brainstorm creative openings/ approaches to the topic.

  • Do not repeat the question in your opening sentence.

  • Show & Tell: Use specifics to support your major point. Elaborate.

  • Think small—anecdotes and rich details work.

  • Emphasize the positive in the end- even when discussing a negative or painful experience.

  • Do not be afraid or embarrassed about tooting your own horn (within reason); this is not the time to play down your successes or strengths.

REVISE, REVISE, REVISE

Steps to Take:

  • After writing the first draft, set it aside for a few days before revisiting.

  • Get feedback before revising extensively. Some topics just don’t work well in this forum.  

  • Plan to write several drafts before arriving at a final, polished piece.  

 

Points to Consider:

  • Have you followed the directions in terms of length, responding to a specific question, deadline, etc…?

  • Read the essay aloud to catch wordiness and other grammatical mistakes.

  • Does the introduction grab your reader?

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