Top Colleges, The essays..

Applying to College
1

I was just wondering what the top Colleges in the USA are looking for in the essay… if anything at all?.. how important is it…

What suggestions do you have…?

Right now I’m still wondering what I’ll put on mine(s) next year.

2

<p>there's some old threads regarding this that are very good.<br>
But basically:
-don't sound like everyone else. speak in your own voice.
-don't be afraid to be a little casual/conversational
-don't talk about climbing the mountains or going to europe or your cool grandmother or the perfect game UNLESS it's a really good story
-think about what it makes you unique; personality...they already know your academics/ecs
-edit
-write as early as you can or you'll be having many many many late nights/early mornings during your winter break
-don't let someone else dictate what you write</p>

3

<p>And after you've written your essays, be sure to review the suggestions in this thread for editing and sharpening what you've written:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=25018%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=25018&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>Thanks I will consider.. any more tips will be appriciated..</p>

5

<p>write about someting that is totally personal and is something that only you could write. Don't make it so general that you don't stand out from everyone else.</p>

6

<p>I personally thought my essays were horrible... didnt spend enough time on them, but I was still accepted ED to my first choice college. I think if your scores/gpa/ecs are solid, the essays dont play a huge role. They may, however, bump a borderline applicant from the reject to the admit pile.</p>

7

<p>Don't write about how the death/suicide of some young person you knew taught you how to never take life for granted.</p>

8

<p>The very best advice I can give is to read this book:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0064637220/qid=1111091886/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-5855811-3584949?v=glance&s=books&n=507846%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0064637220/qid=1111091886/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-5855811-3584949?v=glance&s=books&n=507846&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It is very helpful without writing the essay for you. It was written by a former Ivy adcom member. I highly recommend it. If you are looking to Ivy and other highly selective schools I also recommend:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446674060/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-5855811-3584949?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446674060/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-5855811-3584949?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I know they probably don't sound that great, but these books are very good for anyone looking to get into selective schools.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
I think if your scores/gpa/ecs are solid, the essays dont play a huge role. They may, however, bump a borderline applicant from the reject to the admit pile.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wouldn't that depend on the particular policies of the school? It's certainly not the case if you're applying to very competitive schools, since everyone who applies there will have solid scores, GPA, and probably ECs, too.</p>

10

<p>The essays are veeery important</p>

11

<p>Because the essays are indeed important at highly selective colleges, you need to write about something that is not trite or a cliche. A lot of colleges get essays from people about ending world hunger, making world peace, ending poverty, etc., yet nothing in their application suggests that they have been practicing what they preach. So, basically, you have to be original, and you should write about your passion, and what you love to do.</p>