Search results
Jul 24, 2024 · Step 0: choose a structure. Section 1—How to draft your montage college application essay. Section 2—How to draft your narrative college application essay. 7 Tips for writing your college application essay. Final thoughts and key takeaways for your college application essay.
- College Essay Tips
Learn how to tell a story that is personal, unique, and...
- Personal Statement
Learn how to find an essay topic, structure your college...
- College Essay Tips
People also ask
What makes a good college essay?
Why are college essays important?
How to write a college essay?
Why should you write an essay for college admission?
- Analysis of The Scrapbook Essay (OR) Five Things We Can Steal from This Essay
- Use Objects and Images Instead of Adjectives
- Engage The Reader’s Imagination Using All Five Senses
- The Set-Up Should Be Super Clear
- Show Then Tell
- Provide Insight
- Trim The Fat.
- Split Long Sentences with Complex Ideas Into Two.
A great thinker once said “Good artists borrow; great artists steal.” I’m not even going to tell you who said it; I’m stealing it.
Check out the opening paragraph of the Scrapbook essay again. It reads like the opening to a movie. Can you visualize what’s happening? That’s good. Take a look at the particular objects the writer chose: Let’s zoom in on the “faded Levi’s.” What does "faded" suggest? (She keeps clothes for a long time; she likes to be comfortable.) What does "Levi...
This writer did. Did you notice? 1. Fireplace (feel) 2. Brother’s hot cocoa (taste, smell) 3. Pitter patter of rain (sound) 4. Biggest photograph (sight) And there’s something else she did that’s really smart. Did you notice how clearly she set up the idea of the scrapbook at the beginning of the essay? Look at the last sentence of the second parag...
Even a personal statementcan have a thesis. It’s important to remember that, though your ending can be somewhat ambiguous—something we’ll discuss more later—your set-up should give the reader a clear sense of where we’re headed. It doesn’t have to be obvious, and you can delay the thesis for a paragraph or two (as this writer does), but at some poi...
Has your English teacher ever told you “Show, don’t tell?” That’s good advice, but for a college essayI believe it’s actually better to show THEN tell. Why? Two reasons: 1.) Showing before telling gives your reader a chance to interpret the meaning of your images before you do. Why is this good? It provides a little suspense. Also, it engages the r...
What is insight? In simple terms, it’s a deeper intuitive understanding of a person or thing. But here’s a more useful definition for your college essay: Insight is something that you’ve noticed about the world that others may have missed. Insight answers the question: So what? It's proof that you’re a close observer of the world. That you’re sens...
Here’s a 40-word sentence. Can you cut it in half without changing the meaning? Wait, actually try cutting this (in your mind) before scrolling down. See how concise you can get it. (No, really.) Okay, here’s one way to revise it: There. Half the words and retains the meaning.
This may sound contrary to the first point but it ain’t. Why? Sometimes we’re just trying to pack too much into the same sentence. Check this one out: That’s a lot for one sentence, eh? This sentence is what I’d call “top heavy.” It has a lot of important information in the first half–so much, in fact, that I need a break before I can take in the b...
Mar 17, 2020 · Learn how to find an essay topic, structure your college essay, and how to write and revise a college essay all in our best essay writing guide.
College essays are an important part of your college application and give you the chance to show colleges and universities your personality. This guide will give you tips on how to write an effective college essay.
A standout essay has a few key ingredients: A unique, personal topic. A compelling, well-structured narrative. A clear, creative writing style. Evidence of self-reflection and insight. To achieve this, it’s crucial to give yourself enough time for brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.
- Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to under...
- Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for co...
- A standout college essay has several key ingredients: A unique, personally meaningful topic A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intri...
- While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college...
- Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed...
Writing an essay is a critical part of the application process. Use these tips to write an essay for college admission that could earn you an acceptance letter.
1. Open Strong. Knowing how to start a college essay can create a strong opening paragraph that immediately captures the reader’s interest. You want to make the admissions officer reading your essay curious about what you say next. 2. Show You Can Write.