Five Rules For Writing Killer College Application Essays

Filling out your college application is stressful. This time in your life comes with a lot excitement and hesitation. You can reduce your feelings of anxiety if you prepare your college essays in advance. It does not matter if you are applying to online colleges or campus programs, most colleges require some writing component to their applications. It’s a good idea to plan early and start enough in advance so you have time to organize your thoughts in a cohesive story of who you are. Take a look at the rules of writing a killer essay below and you too can write a college application essay you can be proud of.

For some people writing can be challenging but remember this is your chance to start over and shine. The admissions counselors reading your essays have little to no information about how good your writing skills are so now is the time to do your best and impress them. Follow these rules and have your essay position you for future success.

1. Read the assignment over a couple of times and make a summary to ensure that you understand what the college is expecting of you. Conduct extensive research and jot down all the ideas before you start writing the essay. Organize the ideas and information according to categories and create a complete outline of the essay. This will help you structure the essay once you begin writing it. Make a rough draft and show it to people who have some expertise in the respective field and will be able to guide you to improve on your effort

2. Be yourself. Nowadays, colleges often ask for personal essays which will help them get an idea of the student and assess his/ her qualities. The essays also serve to examine the writing style and judge whether the student is ready for college-level work. Ready-made essays taken from the internet are to be avoided like a plague. Be honest and to the point. Answer the questions asked in a clear, concise and structured format. In the short time that admissions officers devote to each essay, originality and creativity go a long way in leaving a favorable impression. It is advisable to write about something you feel passionately about. It always shows through!

3. Don?t clutter the essay with heavy words. While going through the essays, colleges are more interested in finding out about your thoughts, feelings and experiences than about the length of your vocabulary. The essay needs to reflect your emotional and intellectual involvement. Use the dictionary and Thesaurus only as editing tools.

4. Keep away from drama. The last thing admissions officers want to know are the dramatic or traumatic events of your life. Avoid topics like injustice, war or politics as it is unlikely that you will be able to say anything personal or unique about them. Make your essays positive pieces, celebrations of different aspects of life. When well written, it is these essays that leave an indelible mark.

5. Make sure to edit your essay as well as show it to someone you trust to help review. You should read it several times and don’t be afraid to cut parts that don’t seem to fit or go on for too long about one topic. You want to be concise and to the point.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will be able to create an essay that not only makes for a compelling read, but also allows your true self to come through in the writing. This alone is enough to make your essay stand out from the crowd. So put your fears aside and get on to it!