How to Write a Good Essay

When you write an admission essay, it’s a great way to express yourself and showcase your personality. You can personalize your college application by writing an essay.

How to write a college essay? Here are a few tips for writing.

Essay writing tips

The typical personal statement for college applications, or an essay used to apply to colleges, contains between 400-600 sentences. Writing about yourself is not easy, despite the fact that it seems short. Do not rush this or wait until the last possible moment. Consider it a crucial part of your application. These tips will help you write an effective essay.

1. Early Start

Few people can produce quality work under pressure. Your first draft should be completed at least a couple of weeks before it is due. Many advisors recommend that you begin as early on as the summer of your senior year. This will give you plenty of time for reflection and to craft the perfect personal statement.

It is not necessary to write your essay each day. However, you will want to allow yourself enough time to edit and revise. It may be that you decide to change topics or rethink the way your essay is framed. In either case, it is better to start early.

2. Understanding the prompt and instructions

It is important to know what your college requires before you begin. It is not a good idea to skim the instructions, and then submit an essay which does not meet even the minimum requirements. Examine the prompt. Check the word limit and any other specifics each school requires.

3. Create a Strong Opening

Students often struggle to start their essays. Writing is a difficult process. The most challenging part is to find the right words.

Always spend extra time on the opener. The opening sentence is the foundation for your entire piece. The introduction paragraph can make your essay stand out from the rest.

4. Keep on topic

Keep your essay on topic. You can easily get lost in the application essays when you apply to more than ten colleges.

It is a common mistake for students to try to adapt their essays from one college into another. It may seem like an easy way to save time, but this can backfire. The final product is often generic, unclear, or unfocused. Never use the same essay for more than one application.

5. Think About Your Response

Do not try to guess the type of essay that admissions officers are looking for. If you are passionate about the subject, it will make your essay easier to write and more interesting to read. You might want to steer clear of the topic if all your friends have been writing about it. Unless you experienced something life-changing during that pandemic, you may not be interested in sharing. No matter what you decide to write about, don’t use canned answers. Be original.

6. Focus on you

You are usually given a wide range of options when it comes to the essay prompts, but you should focus on something that is specific to you and personal (but not intimate). Admissions counselors report that the most effective essays provide them with information about the candidate which they would not otherwise have obtained from their application.

7. Keep Your Voice True

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid using fancy words that you would not use in everyday life. Imagine reading your essay to a class of strangers. Be confident. Avoid words or phrases that undermine this tone.

8. Be specific and factual

Profit from real-life experience. You can use the space in your essay to describe why you are so proud of a certain accomplishment. Resist the temptation to embellish and exaggerate. Admissions advisors read thousands essays every year. They are able to spot fakes easily.

9. Editing and Proofreading

Once you’ve completed the final draft, check it with the spell-checker of your computer. Don’t read the essay again for a couple of days. Rereading your essay will help you to catch typos or awkward grammar.

Ask a parent, teacher or student of a college (preferably with a major in English or communication) to quickly read it. Double-check your wordcount while you are at it.

You don't need to be intimidated by writing college essays. An essay that is well written could make the difference between you and your competition. These tips will help you create memorable pieces that are suitable for any application.