Unfortunately, you may experience the Common App essay as yet another burden in the college application rat race. Under pressure, you may “choke,” being unable to start, or continue, or to finish the essay: What a colossal nuisance to face near the deadline!
It’s helpful to remind yourself that your admissions reader really wants to know you: You are lucky to have a receptive audience.
What preoccupies your mind betrays who you are and how your mind works, which admissions evaluate as part of your holistic potential. It’s an opening unique to you because only you think exactly that way.
Try to imagine you are falling in love: You want to be understood and you are deeply invested in the other person’s response. You have someone who wants to know you better, and is open to hearing what’s on your mind–and perhaps, why you are interested in what they offer too.
–Surprisingly often you show best who you are by not talking about yourself. As at the dinner table, no one enjoys the bore whose self is the only subject: Write instead about your interaction with other subjects–astronomy, pancakes, rock-climbing, origami–no matter what, as long as you feel it genuinely or know it well. Use ample description, measure each aspect, make it real.
The richness of your enthusiasm for X reveals who you are, how smart you are, how true your engagement, and the quality of your insights.
Editing is little appreciated: Considered less glamorous than putting words on the page is taking them off. But for most writers, winnowing is fundamental to creative process.
Repetition is a more powerful devise used sparingly.
Extraneous verbiage to fill out word count is annoying to an overtaxed reader: Cut every unnecessary word!
Respect your unwillingness to stick with writing you don’t enjoy or that you think isn’t working:
It’s normal for writers to have false starts. A good writer may discard 10s, 100s, or perhaps 1,000s of drafts.
Try to enjoy your essay opportunity: In some countries, college admission is more cut-and-dried–an entrance exam to prove knowledge and interest, which limits the candidate’s range of personal and creative presence.
Consider yourself lucky: Try to have fun with your essay. Your enjoyment is contagious to your reader. Plumb your joy and passion. Consider no topic or stylistic flourish off limits. The essay is a stage for your singular talents.