2 answers
Chloe
Student
Sussex, Wisconsin
1
Question
Asked
609 views
How to write a successful college essay?
Hi! I’m a high school junior hoping to get the most information about college tips! Right now I’m drafting my main college essay, and this question would help a lot. Thanks to all!
Login to comment
2 answers
Niha D
Physical Therapist
60
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Niha’s Answer
There are a few things you need to be able to answer to write a successful college essay.
1) Does this essay have a prompt? If so, the first thing you need to do is answer the prompt. Forget you're writing an essay, and just answer the question in the simplest terms. This becomes your starting point.
2) Choose a focus. Your answer to the essay should have one major, clear focus. It should follow from the beginning of the essay to the end.
3) Create subsections. Your focus should be able to have threads that lead in different directions. Those smaller areas become different paragraphs. Remember, even when writing each separate idea, you need to relate it back to your focus and the prompt.
4) Create a good hook and a good close. Your essay needs to stand out against many others. Make your first one or two sentences pop WITHIN REASON (this is a professional essay, not a story, unless you're applying for a writing program). Your last paragraph needs to sum up your entire essay and return to the prompt. It needs to tie everything together.
5) Tailor the essay to the situation. I would recommend writing an outline for a base essay. That way, you don't have to rewrite an entire one for every place you apply to. Using the outline, you can match it to the prompt or the college as needed.
Notes: For college, there are usually two types of prompts: personal, and logical. The personal prompts want to know about you as a person. Your focus needs to be something you put in your resume, but needs to be important enough to you that it can lead to other aspects of your life (ie, you are a dancer who took lessons for 14 years, and that has led you to wanting to be an educator, and you learned the skills needed from your time in classes and shows). The logic prompts are trying to figure out if you are able to think efficiently, logically, and creatively. Those essays will require less about you, and more about how and WHY you are solving the scenario that way. The 5 steps still apply in these essays, but the focus needs to be about the question.
TIP: Ask a teacher/counselor to read your essay. If you know people who are already in college, especially those in your college of choice, ask them to read your essay as well! People who understand the process of writing the essay can really help you determine if you're on the right track.
1) Does this essay have a prompt? If so, the first thing you need to do is answer the prompt. Forget you're writing an essay, and just answer the question in the simplest terms. This becomes your starting point.
2) Choose a focus. Your answer to the essay should have one major, clear focus. It should follow from the beginning of the essay to the end.
3) Create subsections. Your focus should be able to have threads that lead in different directions. Those smaller areas become different paragraphs. Remember, even when writing each separate idea, you need to relate it back to your focus and the prompt.
4) Create a good hook and a good close. Your essay needs to stand out against many others. Make your first one or two sentences pop WITHIN REASON (this is a professional essay, not a story, unless you're applying for a writing program). Your last paragraph needs to sum up your entire essay and return to the prompt. It needs to tie everything together.
5) Tailor the essay to the situation. I would recommend writing an outline for a base essay. That way, you don't have to rewrite an entire one for every place you apply to. Using the outline, you can match it to the prompt or the college as needed.
Notes: For college, there are usually two types of prompts: personal, and logical. The personal prompts want to know about you as a person. Your focus needs to be something you put in your resume, but needs to be important enough to you that it can lead to other aspects of your life (ie, you are a dancer who took lessons for 14 years, and that has led you to wanting to be an educator, and you learned the skills needed from your time in classes and shows). The logic prompts are trying to figure out if you are able to think efficiently, logically, and creatively. Those essays will require less about you, and more about how and WHY you are solving the scenario that way. The 5 steps still apply in these essays, but the focus needs to be about the question.
TIP: Ask a teacher/counselor to read your essay. If you know people who are already in college, especially those in your college of choice, ask them to read your essay as well! People who understand the process of writing the essay can really help you determine if you're on the right track.
Jason Flint
Crisis Response and Workplace Experience
54
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hi Chole, I think your essay needs to be a reflection of you and your interests. Application readers have a lot of essays to read through so make yours standout by finding a unique theme in your academic and career goals, and write your essay so it leaves the reader wanting to know how your story ends after you've graduated from their university/college. Think about why you're applying to that specific school and how your interests outside of school connect to your larger goals. If you can do all of that in an essay, it's likely to be read carefully and stand out from the crowd.