One of the key components of any college application is the personal essay. It’s also the requirement that tends to create the most anxiety for applicants.
You might be wondering what you should talk about in your college application essay, how to structure your essay, or how to stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of the admissions committee.
The good news is, that by following a few tips and basic principles of writing essays, you can quickly get the hang of personal essays. Instead of being anxious about the essay, you can use it to round out a successful college application package.
Here’s what you need to know before starting your college application essay:
Why Do Colleges Request a Personal Essay?
The personal essay has long been a requirement for college application packages. Why have so many colleges and universities insisted for so long that applicants include an essay? In short, it’s the best way to get to know the person behind the numbers.
Colleges and universities receive thousands of applications. Elite schools receive ten of thousands of them. And a large number of these applicants will look equally qualified to attend. They all have impressive GPAs, high SAT or ACT scores, and a long list of extracurriculars.
In these situations, admissions officers use the college application essay to distinguish between competing applicants. It’s a way to get past the numbers and see the character and creativity of the applicant – important skills for college that aren’t visible in test scores alone.
What Should You Write About in a College Application Essay?
There are two principles you should follow when sitting down to write your college application essay: be yourself, and be honest.
Be yourself
College application essay prompts vary from school to school, but most of these prompts are ultimately asking the applicant to talk about themselves. They want to get to know the you behind the high GPA and long list of activities.
What are your goals or your values? What motivates you? Where do you come from and how did you get here? And, ultimately, what will you bring to the campus community?
Here’s an opportunity to let your personality and your unique life experiences shine – the opportunity to be yourself. Use it!
Be honest
And while writing your personal essay, don’t forget the second principle for this task: be honest. Unfortunately, fearing their personal story might not be what the college admissions officers are looking for, or thinking they have to exaggerate to stand out, some applicants are not truthful in their college application essays. This behavior puts you and your entire future at risk if it’s discovered. Just don’t do it.
Remember, schools want to know the real you. And the real you is more than enough to find the right college match. To truly catch the eyes of the admissions officers, focus on writing the essay in a compelling and well-structured manner while being truthful about the content.
The Best College Application Essay Ideas
So, you’ve seen the essay prompt, but aren’t quite sure how to answer it? Here are some topics you might consider when preparing to write your essay:
- A challenge you overcame
- A successful project you led
- Your family’s experience living abroad
- A meaningful life lesson you learned from someone close to you
- Your work as an activist
- Your experience leading a successful group
- How you overcome adversity
- The person in your life who has influenced you the most
- Your plans for what you will do with your college degree
These are just some of the best college application essay ideas. Ultimately, what you write will need to be tailored to the school’s prompt, so be sure to read those carefully before sitting down to write.
How to Structure an Essay
Now that you know what you’re going to write about, it’s time to think about how to structure your story. Admissions essays are usually short (250-500 words), so getting the structure right is key for making the story flow and be sure it includes the key information up front.
That’s why you should focus on the go-to formula for essay writing: the 3-part structure.
If you’ve ever taken a writing class, you’ve likely come across the concept of the 3-part essay. This rule says that all essays should have an introduction, thesis, and conclusion to make them readable, interesting, and impactful. Let’s take a closer look at each section:
- The Introduction (the “Hook”)
Use the introduction (the first 2-3 sentences) to catch the reader’s attention. Here’s where you tee up the rest of the story you’re going to tell in your college application essay. Hook the reader here and they’re more likely to remain focused on what you have to say later.
- The Thesis (the “Main Idea”)
A thesis statement outlines the main argument, point of view, or insight that the essay intends to deliver. It is the entire reason we write essays in the first place: to declare something to the world. Based on the prompt you’ve been given, this is the section where you answer the question or deliver the central message of your personal essay.
- The Conclusion (the part that makes them remember you!)
Now that you’ve caught the reader’s attention and presented them with your main argument, it’s time to wrap it all up with a memorable ending. A strong essay never ends abruptly. Instead, it often takes the reader back to the beginning, to remind them how they got to this point in the first place. The conclusion ties it all together, and ensures the reader won’t soon forget what they just read.
College admissions officers read hundreds of personal essays. It’s only human to start to go quickly through ones that don’t catch your attention, or forget ones that don’t end strongly. Using three 3-part structures gives you room to make impactful statements that will excite the reader and help your essay stand out.
Can You Submit the Same Essay to Multiple Colleges?
You have what you think is the best college application essay idea, but can you use it for multiple submissions? The short answer is yes, you can. The longer answer includes a few caveats.
First, you can send the same essay to multiple colleges. Your story is yours, and it is true to you no matter which school is on your application to-do list. However, if there is anything in your essay that is specific to the school itself, you’ll want to be sure to edit it before sending it to the next school.
For example, did you mention the name of the school in your essay? Forgetting to remove the name of College X before sending your essay to College Y is an easy way to have your application swiftly denied by College Y.
Yes, you can submit the same essay to multiple colleges. Just be sure to make any necessary edits before you do.
Tips for Writing Your College Application Essay
In summary, here is a list of tips to help you when you start writing your college application essay:
- Be yourself in your essay – let your personality shine
- Be honest – stick to your truth
- Find the best college application essay idea that highlights the story of you
- Use the 3-part essay structure for clarity and impact
- Edit before sending your essay to multiple colleges
Don’t let anxiety about completing the personal essay section of your college application package stop you from acing this task. By following a few tips and basic principles of writing essays, you’ll be able to use this requirement to your advantage, and ultimately snag acceptance letters from your top schools.
