| As college admissions become more and more | | | | you'll discuss. Be vivid, clear and original; |
| difficult and applicants become more and more | | | | try piquing their interest with an anecdote |
| qualified, the college essay gains clout as a | | | | or poignant question. Give your intro an |
| vital part of the application process. An | | | | element of mystery and intrigue -- really |
| outstanding personal essay, no matter how | | | | make the reader want to read more. This could |
| long, is sometimes the deciding factor for a | | | | be the most important paragraph in the essay, |
| prospective student. But it's not enough to | | | | so devote plenty of time to crafting this |
| show proficiency with the written word -- at | | | | well. |
| least not anymore. Today's personal essays | | | | |
| revolve around the sense of personality and | | | | REVEAL YOUR PERSONALITY |
| style gleaned from each sentence, and it's | | | | |
| your responsibility to harness those | | | | Sure, admissions officials aren't your best |
| elements. The following tips will get you on | | | | friends and you shouldn't write as if they |
| your way to the acceptance pile. | | | | are. But if you get mired in formality, |
| | | | paralyzed by grammar, you might exclude the |
| BRAINSTORM EARLY | | | | most crucial element of your essay -- you. |
| | | | Colleges want to know who you are and what |
| The most important part of a college essay is | | | | traits make you shine, so don't be afraid to |
| the actual topic, so you need plenty of time | | | | let the real you shine through. But never |
| to mull over the choices. You'll want | | | | paint yourself into an image that isn't |
| something interesting, but not cliché, | | | | really you; if you have to alter your |
| significant but not trite. Consider the | | | | personality drastically to gain acceptance to |
| following questions during your brainstorming | | | | a school, chances are good that it's not the |
| process: | | | | right school for you. |
| | | | |
| 1. What distinguishes you from others in your | | | | FORGET THE BIG WORDS...SOMETIMES |
| age group? Any special skills, talents, | | | | |
| interests or attributes? | | | | Showing off your massive vocabulary may seem |
| | | | like an instant ticket to acceptance. But if |
| 2. Have you engaged yourself in a fierce | | | | you're using a thesaurus for every word or |
| struggle for something? Did you succeed or | | | | phrase, you're probably draining the essay of |
| fail? What have you learned? | | | | both personality and readability. Use only |
| | | | words you'd actually use in conversation (or, |
| 3. What are your most concrete goals for the | | | | at least, words of which you know the |
| future? Where do want to be in 20 years and | | | | meaning) and be sparing; big words are fine, |
| how will you get there? | | | | of course, but they need to make sense in |
| | | | context. Wordiness for the sake of wordiness |
| 4. What or who has been influential in your | | | | doesn't make you seem smarter; it just seems |
| life? How or why? | | | | moderately uncreative. To write in Plain |
| | | | English, use a software program like |
| NARROW THE TOPIC | | | | WhiteSmoke Software ( ) or StyleWriter ( ). |
| | | | |
| Though it's tempting to ramble through your | | | | END WITH A BANG |
| whole life story in a college essay, be | | | | |
| careful to keep your topic narrowed. Write | | | | Since the college essay is usually short to |
| one sentence (a thesis, in a sentence) that | | | | begin with, concluding with a summary |
| sums up the point of your entire essay, and | | | | paragraph is fairly redundant. Instead, use |
| make each paragraph support that one | | | | this paragraph to create a stunning last |
| sentence. Try not to get too lofty with your | | | | impression. How does your topic fit into a |
| concept; find the point and stick to it. | | | | larger issue? What have you learned from the |
| | | | experience about which you've written? Are |
| FINE-TUNE THE OPENING | | | | there any poignant quotes that illuminate |
| | | | your ideas? You don't need to create a tidy, |
| The opening paragraph is your first (and | | | | television-style wrap-up, but you do need to |
| sometimes only) chance to grab firmly the | | | | end strongly; this is your last chance to |
| attention of admission officials, so don't | | | | make a vivid impression. |
| create a lazy intro that simply sums up what | | | | |