Tips For Writing College Essays

Tips For Writing College Essays The essay portion of a college application is the prospective students best friend and worst enemy. It is simultaneously the  scariest and most exciting part of the application, because it gives students the chance to add some of their own personal voice into the application. And, yeah, thats overwhelming. But its  also awesome. When I was writing my college applications, I purposely avoided writing any essays for as long as possible, because I just did not know what I was supposed to say. I was sure that there must be a secret message hidden behind the essay prompts; that universities were actually giving me a test disguised by a question about my greatest achievements. I had to pass that test; I had to figure out exactly what they wanted me to say. Or else I would definitely be rejected. As it turns out, I was wrong. There is no secret test that universities are giving their applicants;  there is nothing hidden in between the lines of the essay prompts. In actuality, they are asking exactly what they want  students  to answer. They want to hear about your experiences and talents and likes and dislikes and what makes you you.  They really, genuinely care. Write about something you care about. That being said, there are some tips to keep in mind when writing your college essays. The people that are reading your essay are reading  a lot  of essays, so  you want to write something that makes you stand out. Dont list out your awards and extracurricularsâ€"theyve already seen that on your application. The essay is your chance to really wow the admissions committee. Write about something that matters. They dont want to read something written by your mom, or your counselor, or your English teacher. They want something that comes from you. They can tell when youre writing something fake; something that youre not passionate about. Write about something youre invested in. I wrote about my hair.  I couldnt think of anything particularly special about myself, and I worried that the colleges I was applying to wouldnt see anything special about me either. But, I realized that I didnt have to travel the world or overcome a life-changing injury or publish a book in order to be special, or to be accepted into college. Write about something that  makes  you special. Give your essay some serious thought. Sit down, clear your mind, and  think about how you want to present yourself. Dont think about how you  think  they  want you to present yourself, because youll inevitably write something inadequate. Write something important. You can do this. Emma Class of 2018 I’m majoring in English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a minor in Secondary Education. I’m from the northern suburbs of Chicago. I adore Shakespeare and Dickens and all things nerdy, but I also have a soft spot for Netflix, popcorn, and fuzzy blankets.