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Jan 2, 2024 · A grad school college essay, otherwise known as a statement of purpose, is a required part of the grad school admissions process that tells school officials who you are, your academic and...
- DON’T use the personal statement essay to repeat your resume. This can’t be stressed enough. The personal statement is your opportunity to reveal something about yourself that can’t be found anywhere else in your application – use it!
- DO show a slice of your life. When developing a topic that reveals something new, find a way to frame the story or idea that shows a slice of your life or the event.
- DON’T copy and paste. With upwards of 25 or more essays to write for a balanced college list of 10-12 schools, it’s tempting for students to repurpose essays across applications if the prompts are similar, especially when working down to the wire.
- DO show your knowledge of the college. When tailoring responses to individual college prompts, it’s important to use specific details you’ve learned through visiting and research.
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure.
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? This prompt is difficult to answer because most high schoolers haven’t participated in the types of iconoclastic protests against societal ills that lend themselves to an awe-inspiring response.
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.
- Formatting Your Essay
- Outlining The Essay
- Structures That Work: Two Example Outlines
- Other Interesting Articles
You should keep the formatting as simple as possible. Admissions officers need to work very quickly, so fancy formatting, unnecessary flourishes, and unique fonts will come off as more distracting than individual. Keep in mind that, if you’re pasting your essay into a text box, formatting like italics may not transfer. Your essay will be easier for...
Once you’ve finished brainstorming topics but before you start writing, think about your writing’s trajectory: how you’ll start the essay, develop it, and end it. Do you want to organize it chronologically? Would you prefer to make a “sandwich” structure by introducing a topic or idea, moving away from it, and then coming back to it at the end? The...
Vignettes with a common theme
The vignette structure discusses several experiences that may seem unrelated, but the author weaves them together and unites them with a common theme. For example, a student could write an essay exploring various instances of their ability to make the best of bad situations. A rough outline for that essay might look like this:
Single story that demonstrates traits
The narrative structure focuses on a single overarching story that shows many aspects of a student’s character. Some such essays focus on a relatively short event that the author details moment by moment, while others discuss the story of a longer journey, one that may cover months or years. For example, a student might discuss trying out for a sports team as a middle schooler, high school freshman, and high school senior, using each of those instances to describe an aspect of their personali...
If you want to know more about academic writing, effective communication, or parts of speech, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Jul 24, 2024 · 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
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Dec 14, 2021 · HBR Staff/Getty Images/Bulgakova Kristina. Summary. How can you write an essay that helps advance you in the eyes of the admissions officers and makes a real impression? Here are some tips...
