How do you make a college essay stand out?

How can I be unique in my college essay?

Stand out with a Unique Narrative or Story

A unique narrative or story in your college essay can captivate the reader's attention and make your application memorable. Instead of approaching a common topic from a conventional perspective, try to find a unique angle or lens through which to tell your story.

What makes you stand out from other applicants college essay?

Use Your Personal Statement to Tell Your Story

College admissions committees want to know what makes you tick, how you evolved as a person in high school, and what you hope to achieve in the future. Telling the story of who you are in relation to why you want to go to college looks excellent on college applications.

How do you make a college essay not cringe?

How do you write a college essay more about you?

Use specific examples

Real, concrete stories and examples will help your essay come to life. They'll add color to your narrative and make it more compelling for the reader. The goal, after all, is to engage your audience—the admissions committee.

This Essay Strategy Got Me Into Harvard, Stanford, MIT

What is a good college essay look like?

You have a unique background, interests and personality. This is your chance to tell your story (or at least part of it). The best way to tell your story is to write a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you. Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through.

How many pages is 650 words?

650 words is 1.3 pages single-spaced or 2.6 pages double-spaced. Documents that typically contain 650 words are high school and college essays, short blog posts, and news articles.

What do colleges hate in essays?

Most colleges provide students with an essay topic, but others may allow you to write about anything that speaks to you. However, it's a good idea to stay away from “off putting” or extremely personal topics. It's also a good idea to avoid extreme rants on political and religious topics.

What shouldn't you write about in a college essay?

While drug addiction, alcohol use, arrests, jail stints, and similar activities may seem intriguing, they are usually college essay topics to avoid. There is a chance the admissions committee won't view those actions favorably, regardless of the lessons they learned along the way.

Can a bad essay ruin your college application?

A bad essay will prompt an admission officer to assume one of two things: 1) either you don't care enough about your future at their school to take the time to write a good essay or 2) you aren't academically up to attending their college or university. Neither of those assumptions will help you get admitted.

What looks best on college applications?

A good college application should showcase strong grades, high test scores, volunteer or relevant work experience, compelling letters of recommendation and an honest and thoughtful personal essay. It's also good to show improvement and a willingness to challenge yourself.

How do I beef up my college application?

What do colleges look at when you apply?

What are 2 ways you can begin a college essay?

A great way to start a college essay is by capturing the readers attention with an engaging and thoughtful introduction. You can begin with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a bold statement that relates to the topic of your essay.

How do you show vulnerability in a college essay?

Being vulnerable in your essay means sharing aspects of yourself that you may not usually discuss openly. These could be challenges you've faced, mistakes you've made, or even weaknesses you've identified and are working on. Vulnerability provides a window into your ability to overcome challenges and grow from them.

What makes you the perfect candidate for the college essay?

Morgenstern advises her students to highlight “7Cs” in their essays and applications: collaboration, commitment, character, curiosity, cultural intelligence, challenge, and creativity. Colleges may look for a different set of character qualities or define these traits in different ways.

Is it OK to write a sad college essay?

While there's no definitive answer to whether or not sad college essays will work for every student, it's important to focus on presenting a well-written, genuine, and impactful story. If your "sad" topic is truly significant to your life and has shaped your character or values, then it might be a strong choice.

What is the most common college essay topic?

Can I cuss in my college essay?

Avoid swearing in a college essay, since admissions officers' opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it's safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

Is name dropping bad in college essays?

It will only significantly increase the likelihood of rejection. Name dropping in college essays is one of the items on our checklist of things that will make rejection exceedingly likely. People don't like braggarts. People don't like people who are trying so hard to impress.

Is one typo in a college essay bad?

You double and triple-checked each essay, and you were positive that everything was perfecto. But then, you reviewed your submitted materials and — gasp — you noticed a mistake! Don't panic. One mistake is not going to jeopardize your admission.

How do you make a college essay less cliche?

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience. How do I write about my achievements and qualities? Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn't seem like you're bragging from a resume.

What format should a college essay be in?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space.

Can I use contractions in my college essay?

Contractions and Informal Language

You may have heard that contractions are a no-no in formal writing, but we beg to differ. The whole point of the personal statement is for you to speak to admissions in your own voice. We say, use contractions where they feel natural. If you'd rather say “I'm” than “I am,” go for it.

Does word count matter for college essays?

High school essays tend to require a page limit, but college essays tend to require a word count. When it comes to college application essays, many colleges and universities specify a word count. Some expect one longer essay, while others expect responses to multiple prompts using a shorter word count for each answer.