Search results
- One effective method for improving your college essay is to read example essays. Here are three sample essays, each with a bad and good version to help you improve your own essay. For each essay, we’ve included annotations to help you understand common mistakes and specific techniques.
www.scribbr.com › college-essay › college-essay-examples
People also ask
Why should you read college application essay examples?
How to write good college essays?
How many college essay examples are there?
Where can I find examples of college essays?
Jul 16, 2020 · One of the best ways to write a successful college essay for your college application is by learning from real college essay examples that worked. I've compiled a few of my favorite essay examples here that cover a variety of college essay topics.
- How to Write a College Essay
A montage is, simply put, a series of moments or story...
- Common App Essay
Hundreds of schools use the Common App, so it’s likely that...
- The Great College Essay Test
How might you use these criteria? Read your essay aloud, or...
- How to Write a College Essay
- This is a college essay that worked for Harvard University. (Note: Learn about how to get into Harvard undergrad) This past summer, I had the privilege of participating in the University of Notre Dame’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program .
- This student was admitted to Harvard University. I believe that humans will always have the ability to rise above any situation, because life is what you make of it.
- This is a college essay that worked for Duke University. (Note: Learn about how to get into Duke) As soon as the patient room door opened, the worst stench I have ever encountered hit me square in the face.
- This student was admitted to Stanford University. (Note: Learn about how to get into Stanford undergrad) (Note: This is a supplemental essay example)
Writing a college essay? Using real sample college essays that worked will give you a great idea of what colleges look for. Learn from great examples here.
- Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you...
- Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these (pl...
- I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay...
- How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.
- Prompt #1, Example #1
- Prompt #1, Example #2
- Prompt #1, Example #4
- Prompt #2, Example #3
- Prompt #3, Example #2
- Prompt #7, Example #2
- Prompt #7, Example #3
- Prompt #7, Example #4
- Prompt #7, Example #5
Analysis: This student draws readers in with a strong introduction. The essay starts ambiguous—“I led with a spade”—then intrigues readers by gradually revealing more information and details. This makes the reader want to keep reading (which is super important!) As the writer continues, there is a rather abrupt tone shift from suspenseful to explan...
Analysis: The primary strength of this essay is the honesty and authenticity of the student’s writing. It is purposefully reflective. Intentional language creates a clear character arc that begins with an eager young ballerina and ends with the student reflecting on their past. Readers are easily able to picture the passion and intensity of the you...
Analysis: This essay is distinct from others due to its melodic, lyrical form. This is primarily achieved because the student’s form follows the movements of the paintbrush that they use to scaffold their essay. As readers, we simply flow through the essay, occasionally picking up bits of information about its creator. Without even realizing it, by...
Analysis: This essay truly feels like a story—almost making you forget you are reading a college essay. The student’s voice is strong throughout the entire essay and they are able to give us insight into their thoughts, feelings, and motivations at every step of the story. Letting the reader into personal challenges like financial struggles can be ...
Analysis: Right off the bat, this essay starts extremely strong. The description of attendance in a class with ample quotes, awkward pauses, and the student’s internal dialogue immediately puts us in the middle of the action and establishes a lot of sympathy for this student before we’ve learned anything else. The strength of this essay continues i...
Analysis: This essay is outstanding because the student seems likable and authentic. With the first image of the student’s little sister vigorously nodding and holding up “five stubby fingers,” we find ourselves intrigued by the student’s daily life. They additionally show the importance of family, culture, and creativity in their life—these are gr...
Analysis: A major strength of this essay comes in its narrative organization. When reading this first paragraph, we feel for the young skaters and understand their fear—skating sounds scary! Then, because the writer sets us up to feel this empathy, the transition to the second paragraph where the student describes their empathy for the young skater...
Analysis: The structuring of this essay makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The student effectively organizes their various life experiences around their tower of journals, which centers the reader and makes the different stories easy to follow. Additionally, the student engages quotes from their journals—and unique formatting of the quotes—to sig...
Analysis: This essay is an Overcoming Challengesstory that centers around a single anecdote. The structure works nicely as the student describes what they were like before their road trip, what happened on the road trip, and what they were like after. The most major improvement that this essay needs is better-communicated authenticity. At the begin...
Nov 8, 2021 · One effective method for improving your college essay is to read example essays. Here are three sample essays, each with a bad and good version to help you improve your own essay. For each essay, we’ve included annotations to help you understand common mistakes and specific techniques.
- A standout college essay has several key ingredients: A unique, personally meaningful topic A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an...
- There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work: A montage structure, a se...
- Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will...
- Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflecti...
- When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminat...
Nov 19, 2021 · Knowledge Base. College essay. Common App Essays | 7 Strong Examples with Commentary. Published on November 19, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023. If you’re applying for college via the Common App, you’ll have to write an essay in response to one of seven prompts.
This collection of college essays that worked will include short essay examples, including a why this college essay example and a why this major essay example. Before we break down these sample college essays, let’s look at what exactly makes the best college essays the best.
