<p>I'm a senior this year and this past summer something took over my common sense and resulted in me spending 4 hours of a random evening writing my Common App essay. I've sent my essay to quite a few people for advice, very few of whom have given me legitimately helpful advice on how to write a stellar essay. I'm a good writer (taking AP English and excelling this year) but I've been told a few too many times that writing a good paper is very different from writing an amazing college essay.</p>
<p>This is where I look to the people who have already undergone the torture of applying to various colleges and universities. I'd like any advice in general about what to do, what not to do, etc. Also, if you are a current high school student like me, and would like to share some advice as well, feel free!</p>
<p>Lastly, if you are willing to, please private message me if you'd like to read my essay. Or leave a comment saying that it would be okay for me to private message you with my essay.</p>
<p>I’m a senior this year. My advice is to use down-to-earth writing that showcases your personality. Simple, fresh writing will almost always trump big words and complicated structuring. I think of my college essays as intelligent one-sided conversations to a stranger, where the person you’re telling your story to can understand your essay and get to know you better through your words.</p>
<p>I like reading my essay out loud and asking myself a few key questions. Does this essay sound like it came from me? What does it say about me? Is it interesting, or does it bore? What’s the theme of the essay? I read my essay out loud to my dad and asked him to repeat the points he remembered from my essay. He said a few things that I had wanted to hear, but then also a few that I didn’t expect. Edit and revise, over and over.</p>
<p>Hope I helped, and hope I made sense… It works for me! I’d be willing to read your essay by the way, but FYI my strengths are overarching ideas, not nit-picky grammatical things.</p>
<p>Edit: Also, details are everything. The small stuff counts. Adjectives, strong verbs, and interesting nouns can make or break an essay.</p>
<p>Great advice! I love when people share fresh advice that I haven’t heard over and over. Also, I’d like to take you up on your offer to read my essay. Likewise, if you’d ever like someone to read yours, feel free to let me know!</p>
<p>I completely agree with WeIsCool. I think simple but meaningful and reflective writing makes for the best essays. Especially for my Common App essay, I’ve followed the advice of Columbia’s (I think it was Columbia’s) dean of admissions: if your essay had no name and fell out of your backpack, could anyone pick it up and know it was yours? If you want more advice I would recommend visiting The New York Times website, they really have a fabulous college section and a lot of interviews about essays with various schools’ deans of admission. I found it really helpful.</p>
<p>It is supposed to tell a story, but it is also supposed to give the college a sample of your level as a writer, and the common app prompts suck.</p>
<p>Hi! Im planning on applying to Ohio State U, Kenyon College, U. Of Cincinnati, U. Of Michigan ann arbor, purdue university, UIUC, Barnard College, Wellesley College, Bryn Mawr college, Denison University, Georgia Tech (maybe), Case Western Reserve University. I know that im applying to quite a few school, but better safe than sorry in my opinion:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Hi CatchingMyStars! That’s kind of you to say, and I’ve just sent you a PM with my essay! Feel free to send me yours, if you’d like. Although I wrote my essay before i read Columbia’s suggestion, I re-read my essay and I thought it fit quite well with what the advice said! Wellesley sounds amazing, right? It’s definitely a reach for me, but there’s no way that I’m not applying I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what happens!</p>
<p>WeIsCool, 17 schools was my original number I managed to cut out 2-3. Despite my guidance counselor telling me to apply to 3-5 (which sounds ridiculous to me), I think sometimes it’s better to go with your gut feeling. And if that means I’ll be applying to 15-ish schools, than so be it! :)</p>
<p>IvyLeagueGrad11, impressive username! If you dont mind me asking, where did you graduate from and how was your experience? Also, what do you recommend for students that haven’t had many hardships in life? I hope that doesn’t come off as shallow and arrogant, but not every student has had a significant hardship that they can use for essays.</p>
<p>Hi Vee, I’m also a senior this year. I was struggling to write my essay, but I found this book called Write your College Essay in a Day. It uses the old CA prompts,but it helps you think of great ideas for your essays.</p>
<p>Just a thought…hardship could be something like “OMG, why did I sign up this AP class? What did I get myself into?!” Then end up with an A in class. You can talk about endurance, perseverance, and triumph!</p>
<p>realchk,
Wow! That’s a great idea. Students could easily find a way to incorporate some humor and personality into their essay, which is almost always looked favorably upon. Thanks!</p>
<p>Enjoyed going through this thread.I myself am undergoing that trauma right now.What I really loved was Columbia’s dean of admission’s line.That does speak a lot.Anyway,PM me over your essay.Will be glad to read it.</p>
<p>I’m sure you know the basics of good writing. It is true that a college essay is much different than a term paper, but great writers can excel at both. Humor/personality is always a plus, probably essential to any good paper. Also, as I’m sure you know, this subject doesn’t doesn’t have to be life-changing. You don’t have to win a championship or cure cancer. And, perhaps most importantly, avoid cliches. “Even though I lost, I feel like I really succeeded more than if I had actually won” is crap and they know it. Write about something you truly CARE about. What is really important in your life? This isn’t the time to write about being class president if you only did it to put it on your app. Write about your true passions, and you’re off to a great start.</p>
And well, my teachers have told me my essay is too cliche… So I’ve been off searching for inspiration.</p>