Want
to learn how to write a college application essay? Writing a college admissions
essay is one of the more challenging aspects of the college application
process. Unfortunately, writing a great college essay is not like writing a
term paper. If you want to submit an effective essay, you need to make an
effort to breathe life and personality into your writing. Below are 6 steps you
can take to ensure that your college essay is the best it can be.
1.) Pick a Topic
and understand it
Most
college application essays are written based on a topic. Colleges typically
provide essay questions that suggest one or two topics to focus on. One of the
most important aspects of writing a college application essay is to make sure
that you truly understand the topic and properly address it in your essay. Once
you are done brainstorming, comb through all of your ideas and narrow them down
to three options that you think are the best fit for the essay prompt. Pick an option
that demonstrates your abilities, perseverance, beliefs, and other redeeming
qualities.
2.) Think Ideas
Brainstorm
all of your ideas, so you know exactly what you are going to be writing about.
There are many experiences and events in your life that you can draw from when
writing. Reflect on those experiences and jot down any and every idea that
comes up. It is important to take good notes when brainstorming, so you can
come back to thoughts that you would forget about otherwise.
3.) Write an Essay
Outline and Start Writing
The
next step to writing your essay is to create an outline. A college essay should
have an introduction, body, and conclusion, so it progresses naturally and is
easy to read. An outline will help to give your essay structure and allow you
to determine where each idea should be placed.After you have created an
outline, start writing your essay. At this point, you should already know what
you are going to write and how you are going to write it. Write in your own
voice and keep the focus of your essay personal. Be specific and avoid cliches.
You should strive to maintain focus on the main idea of your essay by
supporting it with vivid details, facts, quotes, and events.
4.) Proofread Your
Work
The
last thing you want is to submit an essay riddled with typos and grammatical
errors. You should let your writing sit for a while before proofreading it in
order to approach it with a fresh perspective. It is best to read your essay
out loud, because it increases your chances of finding errors.
5.) Get a Second
Opinion
Once
you have finished editing your essay, you should ask another person, such as a
parent, teacher or essay editing service to read over your essay. This second
party will be able to ensure that your writing is clear to an outsider. He or
she might be able to provide suggestions on how you can make certain parts
better, and they may pick up on grammar mistakes that you originally
overlooked.
6.) Make Revisions
After
you have gotten feedback, go back to your essay and apply all of the
corrections that you received. Give it another review to make sure that you are
satisfied with your work. You might also want to pass it back to your parent or
a friend for a second once-over just to make sure that your changes are on
point before you go on to submit it.
If
you want to learn how to write a good college essay that sets you apart from
the crowd, follow the above steps. Writing a college application essay requires
significant time and effort, but when you are done, you will feel extremely
accomplished. Good luck and good writing!