A chance to show your dream university more about you than dull grades and test scores? Sounds great but the application essay, intended to allow such broader expression, is for many applicants the hardest part of the admissions process.
Don’t be intimidated. Put in a little thought and creativity, and you may find this is your favorite part of the application after all. Here are some steps and tips to ease you through:
- Don’t wait until the last minute. Start playing with ideas weeks ahead, or even further, for less stress and better results.
- Read instructions carefully. Understand the question(s) being asked. Be aware of word count limits and any other requirements.
- Look for an essay subject that truly interests you rather than one chosen with the hope of impressing admissions officers. If your essay interests you, there’s a strong chance it will interest others.
- Avoid general, vague statements and lists of accomplishments. Instead you might describe what an accomplishment meant to you, details of an experience, what is special about and attracted you to one school or field of study rather than others.
- To begin, write freely, Put down notes on the topic as they occur to you. Perhaps even write a rough draft of the essay very quickly.
- Organize your thoughts. Make an outline; see that you can define the main theme of your essay in a single sentence. Eliminate repetitions and make sure each sentence and idea connect to the next.
- Write several drafts of the essay, working to make your writing easy to follow and interesting (remember admissions officers are human and have to read many, many essays during application season). See that the length and structure of sentences are varied and that the language is clear and fresh.
- Have someone else (perhaps several people) read your essay and give their impressions and suggestions. Close friends or relatives may not be the best choice because they know you well and so may not notice missing information or unclearness in your essay,
- Proof the essay carefully yourself and if possible have someone else with strong English skills do a final check of your grammar, punctuation, and spelling before you submit.
- It may be tempting to write a single essay for multiple applications, but that will not always work. At minimum you will need to review and adapt your masterpiece before you “recycle.”
Our expert advisers at Newton Educational Services are happy to help with reviewing your application essay. Contact us.
Next on the blog, additional tips for graduate applicants writing a personal statement.