Truth: Actually, your college admissions essay is your chance to write about anything you wish. What’s more, you don't even have to write an essay! You could submit a dramatic screenplay about your first summer job and how you saved the day when the ice cream shop you worked at ran out of ice. You could communicate your passion for student government through a poem. Subject and format aren’t set in stone (though you should make sure to stay within the word count). Most applications have very open-ended essay questions and as long as you answer them, feel free to get creative. In fact, you may get bonus points for presenting your essay in an interesting way.
How many times would you be able to read an essay about what someone learned in high school? Imagine reading about the same topics in the same format 300 times! That's the position most admissions officers are in. Make your essay stand out among the hundreds of others that sound the same. Here are some tips on how to write an essay that ‘wows’ the admissions committee:
Write from a different perspective. Some successful essays throw the personal narrative out the window. For example, instead of talking about how you helped an elderly person in their time of need, write your essay from the elderly person’s point-of-view.
Avoid listing. Many prospective college applicants think that making a list of all of their accomplishments will place their essay on the top of the pile. However, to create an essay that interests the admissions department, you should actually tell a story and have a clear, direct focus. Lists are boring and redundant since these achievements are likely listed elsewhere in your application.
Write with a hook. What’s a hook? It’s what makes your essay stand out in the crowd. What’s different about your essay? How will others remember you? If there is something that makes you unique, tap into that. Are you known at school for being great with people? Do you have a knack for baseball and help coach a little league team? What is it that makes you stand out and how will it make you stand out while you’re in college?
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