If you read your essay back to yourself and some of the descriptions sound trite or typical, these are spots that are ripe for improvement.įor example, if you describe a trip abroad to help build homes in a developing country with words like “life-changing” and “eye-opening,” you may run the risk of boring your reader. Remember, it’s not necessarily about what you say, but how you say it. Putting yourself in your reader’s shoes can help strengthen your writing. This contributes to the difficulty in standing out in your essays since almost anything you write about will likely have been encountered by your reader before. College admissions officers read hundreds of essays from hopeful applicants with each one thinking their personal experiences and reasons for applying to a particular school are unique. With some editing, a single essay could answer multiple prompts - and cut down on your stress! Many schools ask the same questions with slightly different wording, like the commonly used “diversity essay” which essentially asks how you contribute and benefit from diversity. There’s no reason to write completely new essays for every school you’re applying to. Setting the stage for your experiences, including anecdotes to drive home a point, or carrying a thematic element throughout your essay will help keep the reader interested and will show off your creativity. Just like with any story or news article, you want to start your essays with a good hook. While it's important not to overburden your essay with small details, peppering in a few specifics will highlight what's important to you both academically and personally.Ĭreate a narrative. Make sure to mention the specific volunteer program you worked at or the name of your favorite instructor from your summer STEM camp. Be sure to include the answer to any questions and don't get distracted while providing context or other extra information. Many essay prompts will ask you to write about extracurricular experiences in your life or to list interests such as your favorite movies or music. However, there are some standard practices that will help elevate your essay:ĭirectly address any questions the prompt asks.

With a wide variety of prompts used by each school, alongside the Common App essays, it can be overwhelming to write strong, memorable essays.

The combined challenge of addressing a question in an interesting way while staying focused and making yourself stand out, all within a limited number of words, is something that students struggle with every year. Responding effectively to college essay prompts is quite different from other essay writing.

College essay rough draft examples