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Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College) Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head.
- Don’T: Try to Impress
- Don’T: Speak in Clichés
- Don’T: Turn It Into A Cover Letter
- Don’T: Use A Thesaurus to Sound Like Someone Else
Every single year, multiple students ask me what kind of topic would impress a college admissions office. And, every single year, my answer is the same: what will impress them is whatever story you’re most excited to tell. Entering the college essay-writing processby choosing a topic you think will look impressive is not necessarily going to make i...
You may have heard about common college essay clichés. Whether it’s how sports taught you about the importance of teamwork or how traveling to another country broadened your horizons, admissions counselors have seen them all, multiple times over. During peak application season, application readers can view as many as 50 applications per day. If you...
As I said before, there aren’t many places in a college application to showcase your personality. Outside of the essay, the only other opportunities are the descriptions of your extracurricular activities, and if a school asks for it, additional essay questions or writing supplements. With so few places to show off who you are, it’s important to ta...
A lot of the stress behind college essays for my students comes from the fact that it’s an unfamiliar assignment. Over the years, they’ve been told that their English papers need to have one introduction paragraph and one conclusion paragraph, to write formally (which can include avoiding contractions), and to stay away from using first-person lang...
- Matt Musico
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- 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)
Jul 9, 2021 · This sample essay's writer got into UPenn, BU, and UC-Berkeley. The following example got this student into Penn, Boston University, and UC Berkeley, among other schools: “The participatory budgeting process, allocating resources individually, intrigued me. I was excited to be doing something tangible for my community.
Jun 28, 2021 · 6 Effective Techniques for Starting Your College Essay 1. The Scriptwriter “No! Make it stop! Get me out!” My 5-year-old self waved my arms frantically in front of my face in the darkened movie theater. Starting your essay with dialogue instantly transports the reader into the story, while also introducing your personal voice.
Aug 1, 2023 · 3) Clear up a misconception about you. Although college essays are brief, you’ll want to squeeze in as much depth and breadth as you can. Starting by addressing an assumption or stereotype you’ve faced can be an efficient and engaging way to move past the superficial. Example: Blonde.
Oct 7, 2023 · ChatGPT poses a challenge. S eventeen-year-old senior Ethan Rivera is finding the college application season at his Livingston, New Jersey high school stressful—and competitive. “It’s very ...
