College Essay

Take time for some reflection. It is not always easy to write about yourself. Take a step back and think about who you are and what makes you distinct.

• What was your most valuable academic learning experience and why?
• Discuss three goals you have in life and why. (If you have a big dream, explain how you plan to accomplish it, not just what it is.)
• What has been your most pivotal life learning experience and why?
• What is your one-sentence philosophy of life and why do you believe it?
• What are your values and why?
• Discuss a failure and what it taught you. How did it change your life? (Be sure the topic is genuine.)
• List three virtues that you admire and respect and why. How do you practice them?
• Respond to three quotes that hold meaning for you and explain why they are meaningful. (These can open up and explain a special side of your intellect and character.)
• Discuss your definition of happiness and how you discovered it. (This is a good way to find out what you really want in life.)
• Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

• Narrow your topic choices.
• Tell a story only you can tell.
• Choose a topic that shows a willingness to experience life and to learn from mistakes.
• Choose the topic that most interests you, one for which you have the most to say. Make it the most specific topic you can devise.

When you have decided what you want the admissions committee to know about you, you are ready to begin your first draft.

Preparation

• Read all directions carefully. When answering the question(s), be sure you understand the purpose of the essay.
• Keep your audience in mind.
• The main focus of the first draft should be content.
• You do not have to get it right the first time! This is a first try.

Content & Style

• Tell your story in your own voice, making your essay personal and real. Write so that the reader will care what you have to say.
• Give thought to your essay’s content:
  • Reflect on the meaning of your story. Be self-searching and genuine.
  • Consider approaching the topic from an unexpected angle.
  • Be positive and upbeat, avoiding the negative and cynical.
  • Be honest: fight the temptation to “enhance” the truth. Do not manufacture hardships.
  • Handle sensitive subjects appropriately. There is a fine line between moving the reader and making them uncomfortable or embarrassed.
  • Avoid controversy, anything sexual, and anything illegal.
  • Do not write on general or impersonal topics (e.g. global warming or the importance of good management in business). The college wants to know about you.
• Some things to avoid:
  • Do not repeat information that appears elsewhere in the application. Expound upon it, explain it, draw lessons from it, but do not repeat it.
  • Do not go to extremes with wit, opinions, or an intellectual subject, and do not be “preachy.”
  • Do not use the personal statement to excuse your shortcomings. It brings attention to them. (Find a different place in the application to explain a problem such as a failing grade, a suspension, or aberrations in your record. These may be topics that a counselor can help explain.)
• Give thought to your choice of words:
  • Be concise, avoiding unnecessary words or cluttered imagery.
  • Be precise. Do not make the reader guess your meaning.
  • Use vivid, energized language to make your essay come alive, but avoid pretentious language.
  • Do not use clichés or trite statements (e.g. “I want to help people.”).
  • Make sure the pacing of your sentences is energetic and dynamic.
  • Be humorous if it is your natural style, but do not force it.

Structure

• Write about the specific rather than the general, the concrete rather than the abstract. Show, rather than tell.
• Consider the unique features of the institution and connect yourself to it by matching aspects of your record with the college’s focus.
• Do not use unconventional fonts or formats; make it easy to read. A standard font, such as Times New Roman, is crisp and easily read.
• Write in the active voice, and avoid the second person (the use of “you”).
• A well-placed quote can add a point of interest to the essay.
• Finish strong.
• Do not plagiarize.

Format

There are four basic types to choose from when deciding how best to tell your story:

• Narrative: tells a story; explains the how and why.
• Descriptive: tells about a person, place, condition, situation or feeling; uses language that appeals to the senses.
• Definition: reveals your insight about something of significance to you.
• Example: anecdotes are used to bring out the ideas of the essay.

• Let it sit for a few days before rereading it. How does it sound? Does it flow easily? Does every sentence in every paragraph relate to the topic through details and examples?
• NOW would be a good time to meet with Ms. Garofalo to have her review your essay!  Make sure to make an appointment.

You may want to read some sample essays to see how others have presented themselves, but if you do so, do not model your essay to be like one you have read.

• Examine both the good and bad aspects, along with their critiques.

Re-write until you are satisfied. Everything you have ever learned about good writing applies here.

• Revision is key. Revise until it concisely represents you. Keep the spark of your unique personality in the writing.
• Check that the main idea is effectively developed throughout the essay.
• If an essay question has more than one part, be sure that you answer every part.
• Polish your grammar and word choice.
• When you are finished, ask one or two knowledgeable people to read your essay and give you honest feedback.
• Be sure the person(s) who critiqued the essay didn’t inject his or her vocabulary into it. Experienced admissions officers can detect when an essay has been partially or totally written by another.

• The essay should be typed using standard fonts and formats.
• Be sure you have the correct college name on your submission.
• Do not exceed the suggested length.
• Proofread! Check for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors. Do not rely on Spell Check or Grammarly exclusively.
• If you are filing an online application, proof read it very carefully before sending it off.
• Make copies of everything, just in case.