The College application essay is one of the most dreaded part of High school! The fact that those 500 to 600 words can determine your future is scary. Students often worry about what to write and how to make their essay stand out amongst thousands of applicants from around the World; but by putting in some effort and thought, and getting proper guidance you can ace this difficult task.
The Common App is the single platform for more than 700 Colleges in the US. So it is important that the essay is well thought out and carefully worded. The essay should reflect aspects of your personality that are not evident in the CV. It should show them who you are and what you aspire to become….easier said than done!
In a recent workshop conducted in BMI-A during summer break, some of the essential guidelines were shared with the students. While there are no hard and fast rules, there are some tips given by experts that you need to keep in mind:
Open Strong!
Make a strong statement in the start to grab the attention of the admission officer and present your case in a unique way.
Be Direct
Stick to the point and give a logical conclusion at the end. Your essay should not be vague or inconclusive.
Stick to your own writing style:
You can read sample essays for guidance but write your own essay in your own style. If you try to copy someone else, your essay might become inconsistent.
Proofread:
Nothing reflects carelessness and laziness more than a college application essay that has not been proofread. Spelling and grammatical errors are simply unacceptable so proofread very carefully.
There are also many things that need to be avoided while writing your essay:
Being ‘too’ personal!
While the personal statement needs to tell the admission officer about who you are as a person, but avoid personal details that you would not be sharing with your friends or family in real life.
Avoid political, religious or controversial issues
It is best to avoid such things as you have no idea about the inclinations of the person who is reading your essay.
Too much humor
While light comments make your essay interesting, too much humor reflects a non-serious attitude.
Being over creative!
Remember, anything overdone can be counterproductive!
Verbosity
While it is good to show off your ‘Angraizi’ but if the admission officer has to keep referring to a dictionary to be able to understand what you are trying to say, then your essay will lose its effectiveness. Use good vocabulary and figurative language but don’t overdo it.
Pleading your case:
Even though it is your lifelong dream to get into Ivy leagues, but do not sound desperate as this will reflect badly!
One of the best advice is to start working on it a few weeks in advance and keep editing it and improving it. Do ask your respective career advisor to guide you and help you along the way.