How To Write Better College Essays

As college admissions become more and more difficultpiquing their interest with an anecdote or poignant
and applicants become more and more qualified, thequestion. Give your intro an element of mystery and
college essay gains clout as a vital part of theintrigue -- really make the reader want to read more.
application process. An outstanding personal essay, noThis could be the most important paragraph in the
matter how long, is sometimes the deciding factor foressay, so devote plenty of time to crafting this well.
a prospective student. But it's not enough to showREVEAL YOUR PERSONALITY
proficiency with the written word -- at least notSure, admissions officials aren't your best friends and
anymore. Today's personal essays revolve around theyou shouldn't write as if they are. But if you get mired
sense of personality and style gleaned from eachin formality, paralyzed by grammar, you might exclude
sentence, and it's your responsibility to harness thosethe most crucial element of your essay -- you.
elements. The following tips will get you on your wayColleges want to know who you are and what traits
to the acceptance pile.make you shine, so don't be afraid to let the real you
BRAINSTORM EARLYshine through. But never paint yourself into an image
The most important part of a college essay is thethat isn't really you; if you have to alter your personality
actual topic, so you need plenty of time to mull overdrastically to gain acceptance to a school, chances are
the choices. You'll want something interesting, but notgood that it's not the right school for you.
cliché, significant but not trite. Consider theFORGET THE BIG WORDS...SOMETIMES
following questions during your brainstorming process:Showing off your massive vocabulary may seem like
1. What distinguishes you from others in your agean instant ticket to acceptance. But if you're using a
group? Any special skills, talents, interests or attributes?thesaurus for every word or phrase, you're probably
2. Have you engaged yourself in a fierce struggle fordraining the essay of both personality and readability.
something? Did you succeed or fail? What have youUse only words you'd actually use in conversation (or,
learned?at least, words of which you know the meaning) and
3. What are your most concrete goals for the future?be sparing; big words are fine, of course, but they
Where do want to be in 20 years and how will youneed to make sense in context. Wordiness for the
get there?sake of wordiness doesn't make you seem smarter; it
4. What or who has been influential in your life? Howjust seems moderately uncreative. To write in Plain
or why?English, use a software program like WhiteSmoke
NARROW THE TOPICSoftware ( ) or StyleWriter ( ).
Though it's tempting to ramble through your whole lifeEND WITH A BANG
story in a college essay, be careful to keep your topicSince the college essay is usually short to begin with,
narrowed. Write one sentence (a thesis, in a sentence)concluding with a summary paragraph is fairly
that sums up the point of your entire essay, and makeredundant. Instead, use this paragraph to create a
each paragraph support that one sentence. Try not tostunning last impression. How does your topic fit into a
get too lofty with your concept; find the point and sticklarger issue? What have you learned from the
to it.experience about which you've written? Are there any
FINE-TUNE THE OPENINGpoignant quotes that illuminate your ideas? You don't
The opening paragraph is your first (and sometimesneed to create a tidy, television-style wrap-up, but you
only) chance to grab firmly the attention of admissiondo need to end strongly; this is your last chance to
officials, so don't create a lazy intro that simply sumsmake a vivid impression.
up what you'll discuss. Be vivid, clear and original; try