“Describe a moment of personal growth in your life.” “Recall a setback you faced and how you overcame it.” “Discuss an interest that is meaningful to you.”…these are some of the most common prompts for college essays. Although the question may vary across different applications, the purpose of the essay remains the same: to allow the admissions board of the college to get to know you, the applicant.
While you may spend days or weeks editing your essay to the point of perfection, remember that college admissions officers are likely only going to spend about 10 minutes reading it. Your essay is one in a sea of thousands, so ensuring that it will stand out from the others before sending it in is essential.
The way to do this is to know your story and most importantly, know how to tell it.
First impressions are important. Since college admissions officers read hundreds of college essays every week, it is important that your essay has a great start. It might be tempting to begin with a classic introductory paragraph before getting into the plot of your story, but remember that this is a format that the admissions officers have likely seen over and over. Instead, jump right into your story, working backward and giving context later on. Stories are interesting and engaging, so starting off with one will likely have the reader interested to hear more details.
Another great tip on writing your story for a college essay is to show, and not tell. Instead of simply stating in the essay that you are dedicated, hard-working, and responsible, tell the story of how for the past two years you’ve been volunteering every weekend within your community. Again, remember your audience. You are writing to college admissions officers who have never met you. By hearing your story, they will get a better idea of who you are. Of the thousands of essays they have to read, they’ll remember the ones where they felt like they got to know the applicant.
