What type of essay do colleges like better?

<p>What style of writing do colleges prefer for college essays.</p>

<p>essay written with very good vocab and flows nicely, and sounds more sophisticated, and very well crafted. Gives the sense that the writer spent a lot of time revising and getting the wording right</p>

<p>essay written more casually with more colloquial language, but still good vocab here and there. Sounds less forced, and more like the applicant is talking and using his/her own voice</p>

<p>I'm not sure... I've read both types and both styles can potentially be good I think. Your thoughts?</p>

<p>Yeah, I am curious about this too. Anyone have any thoughts on this?</p>

<p>Hmm, I don't think that a more sophisticated essay will necessarily sound less forced or unnatural if a person's natural style is such. </p>

<p>I'd be cautious about being too colloquial or too formulaic. The broken syntax of a colloquial essay might work, but if too many conventions are disregarded, a poor impression may be created. Likewise, a 5 paragraph/5 sentences per paragraph construction might not be the best way to tell about a personal experience. If we assume that the purpose of the essay is to convey something that is not otherwise apparant about the applicant, it is possible that either an academic or a colloquial essay could convey that information. It is always possible that a particular adcom member might be narrow-minded and favor strict grammar interpretations, but I would think such a person would be an exception, not the rule.</p>