Writing the College Essay
For years the written statement required by many colleges and universities across the country has kept prospective college students awake at night. Prospective students, parents, guidance counselors and independent educational consultants have long debated the content of the admission essay. Years of experience reviewing admission essays has led me to one conclusion, the essay serves as an opportunity.
Some institutions dictate the essay topic whereas others give the student the autonomy to write on whatever topic he or she chooses. Regardless of whether the student is determining the topic or whether the college or university has provided the student a prompt, the essay still serves as an enormous opportunity.
The admission essay should not be something that strikes fear in your heart, but rather as a tool by which you can communicate with the admission selextion committee. A student's application for admission is in essence a short book that gives colleges and universities an opportunity to learn who you are and where you're going. Sometimes, the educational story of your life may seem incomplete. An incomplete story makes admission officers nervous. When a college or university decides to admit a student, they want to know exactly what they are getting. If a combination of transcripts, letters of recommendations, and standardized test scores don't exactly tell the whole story, the admission essay can serve as a bridge to that gap.
First, let's assume that the student is going to be choosing the admission essay topic. Often times choosing the topic is the most difficult part of the writing process. The first question a prospective student should consider is:
An honest assessment of your application for admission will help you write a stronger admission essay. The student must determine whether there are holes in the application. For example, is there a semester or even year where your grades slipped? Is there a reason that an admission office should ignore or at least place less emphasis on that semester or year? Is a significant portion of your life not even mentioned on your application? For example, a great deal of emphasis is placed on extra-curricular activities but maybe the fact that you work 25 hours per week to support your family financially is being overlooked. The college essay can provide students with a forum to discuss and explain these issues.
- If I were reading my application for admission, would I have questions?