Can you write in first person on college essays?

Applying to College
1

<p>In English class we were banned from writing in first person, so that caused me to wonder if college admissions boards look poorly upon people use write their essays in first person or if it matters? I kind of feel like you have to because you're writing about yourself, but I wanted to double check. I'm so afraid of messing up.</p>

2

<p>Yeah, most of them ask how YOU feel, so you can respond in the first person.</p>

3

<p>Even with essays that ask for your opinions on societal issues, I think it’s okay to write in the first person. College essays are held to a different standard than are standard English essays, because adcoms are looking for different things than teachers are.</p>

4

<p>First person college essays submittted all the time. it really depends on how the question is worded.</p>

5

<p>Well it just says to write about an interest or a life changing experience or something along those lines.</p>

6

<p>Yes, unlike much of high school writing, college admissions essays should be written in the first person. A great book on essay writing is Harry Bauld’s On Writing the College Application Essay.</p>

7

<p>^I agree, you should read Harry Bauld’s book! I was really lost about the college essay process and that book helped me a ton :)</p>

8

<p>A friend’s daughter wrote a love letter to Penn (against parental guidance); she graduated from Penn last year</p>

9

<p>^hah, that sounds so interesting</p>

10

<p>Another vote for Harry Bauld’s book!</p>

11

<p>Using first person is a must as it allows the readers to feel a more personal connection w you and get to know you on a deeper level.</p>

12

<p>^If it’s a “must,” it stands to reason that most students will be doing it. Not doing it - opting for a more detached and objective outlook - may be more interesting to the adcoms. Or maybe the 1st- vs. non-1st-person essays are in a state of equilibrium.</p>

13

<p>you can and you should.</p>

14

<p>Thank you all so much! I’ll definetely check out that book! I think I’m definetely going to write in the first person just to be on a more personal level, but thank you all for your feedback :)</p>