What makes a good college essay?

<p>I always see people post and say that they wrote a really good essay, and after writing mine, I think I have a pretty good one. But I am still confused as to how people classify "good." In other words, what types of characteristics and things are present in a "good" essay? How is one supposed to be able to tell if the essay is boring but usable vs. interesting and good?</p>

<p>Bump 10char</p>

<p>Bump 10cgar</p>

<p>1) Content. A lot of people say stuff that makes them appear as worse candidates, instead of better. A lot of people don’t answer the question. A lot of people’s essays are meh and you can’t really get to know them from it.</p>

<p>2) Writing style. Basically either you sound smart and it seems like you have put thought into your essay or you seem dumb / your essay seems like it was rushed together overnight.</p>

<p>Bump 10char</p>

<p>aside from the basic stuff, grammar style etc.</p>

<p>Be yourself (but your best version) and most importantly be UNIQUE.</p>

<p>i had no idea bout what to write a day before UC apps were due, was gonna write about some generic **** but then i came upon a really good idea which i’ll try to incoporate into my Commonapp/supplements in the next few weeks!</p>

<p>1) Writing style. Have a look at these :
[50</a> Quirks of writing - Weekly Fiction Park](<a href=“http://fictionparker.blogspot.com/p/50-quirks-of-writing.html]50”>50 Quirks of writing - Fiction Park)
[How</a> to write a good story? - Weekly Fiction Park](<a href=“http://fictionparker.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-good-story.html]How”>How to write a good story? - Fiction Park)</p>

<p>and, 2) Content :
It varies from people to people. You might check this to grab some inspiration.
[The</a> best college essay ever - Weekly Fiction Park](<a href=“http://fictionparker.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-college-essay-ever.html]The”>The best college essay ever - Fiction Park)</p>

<p>I wish that guy actually sent in an essay like that. It was like the dos equis commercials haha, but obviously he wrote the essay before those came out. That essay would have been so ballsy to send. Alas, the ballsiest essay and cockiest essay i have read to this day got a kid into Yale. Basically, the whole essay was about lying haha. It was literally about how bs’ed people every time he had the opportunity just because. The essay did not have much substance but it wooed the Yale admissions officers enough to get him in, so who am I to say that essay sucked.</p>

<p>Not to forget, this was back in the 90s. The essay is neat though it might not be so apt for today’s college essays. I loved when I read it first time.</p>