The College Essay

Fact vs. Fiction

The essay portion of the college application is an opportunity for the student to reveal to the college admissions committee a glimpse into what makes the student “tick.” Standardized test scores and transcripts are an important piece of the application process, but do not provide the college admissions committee with insight into the applicant’s personality. Colleges require an essay to evaluate a student’s skill as a writer, to get a sense of the strengths and contributions that a student might bring to the college community, and to gauge an interest the student has in the school. Two common application essay questions used are: “What is it about XYZ college that made you want to apply?” and, “What can you contribute to the XYZ college community?”

The essay is an opportunity to “sell yourself” to the admissions committee. It is a time to flaunt your accomplishments, display your writing style, and to make the reader want to know you. The essay should tell a story and speak directly to the college admissions committee, so that they can get a sense of who you are, what is important about you, and what makes you unique.

The essay should not be viewed as an obstacle, but rather as an opportunity.

An essay will be judged on a combination of a student’s communication skills, writing style, values, opinions, imagination, creativity, wit, and insights. It is imperative that the essay should be the student’s own work; however, a student should consult with parents, teachers, and a college counselor regarding topic, organization, and effectiveness of the writing. If a college admissions committee suspects that a student received inappropriate assistance in the writing of the essay, an acceptance could be jeopardized. This is especially true with the new writing section of the SAT, where college admission consultants have access to a student’s writing style.

Too often, students procrastinate writing the college essay because it can be a daunting task. Some students can find it difficult to brag about their accomplishments without sounding pompous or too confident. The essay should reveal something about the student not already stated on the application. Whatever the topic, this essay should be the student’s best piece of written work.

Students should think about daily life, what they like to do, what’s important to them and what they can write about passionately.

Remember, sometimes the smallest detail about a person’s life can make the best essay topic. Think about a childhood memory, a lesson learned, or a local event, stressing the impact of these things more than the things themselves. Ask the question, “How have these made me who I am?”

At the same time a student should avoid platitudes and clichés or essays that may end with “and through this experience, I learned the values of hard work, determination, and giving 110%.” Another common mistake is to answer an essay question about “My grandmother, my hero” in which only the grandmother is spoken about and no sense of the student is given. It is also very important to follow directions when writing the essay. A student should be very careful to answer the prompts given and to stay within the required word limit.

If a student is having difficulty choosing an essay topic, sometimes it can help to talk things through with a teacher, parent, or college counselor. They might be able to offer an angle for the essay not yet considered. Most importantly, when the essay is finished, review the writing for obvious errors in grammar, usage, and style. Ask for feedback as to the overall tone and effectiveness of the essay. But remember, the college admissions committee wants to hear the student’s voice.