How To Write The College Essay

How To Write The College Essay A strongly written essay about a fight you had with your parent and how you solved the problem will be much better than a made-up story. All colleges take integrity and honesty very seriously. Any uncovered dishonesty would have serious consequences on your future. Remember that the college application is important, but not as important as your grades. Your essay may be your own ideas, words, and writing. Ask people to read your drafts to provide you corrections and advice on your essay. Your teachers, family, friends, school counselors, and community members are all people you might ask to help you create your essay. There are several tutoring services available across the nation; with a little research you should be able to locate an agency near you that may be able to assist you with writing. She will work with you to bring your unique story to life in a light that is presentable to admissions officers. She is a wonderful person and a true pleasure to work with. If you put in your share of work, she’ll get you into college. College essays can seem overwhelming, but you are sharing who you are as an individual. Do not get overwhelmed and stressed by the essay. Use this module as an opportunity to develop your essay step by step. Always ask for help and stay focused on your topic. You should also feel free to use any assistive technology that you are using in school to help write your essay. Trust that you are interesting and have powerful stories to tell. Do not make things up or use things that have happened to other people. Some teens think their college essay, or “personal statement,” will determine their entire future, and others bristle and balk when asked to finally write it, believing it will never be read. After perfecting the Common App essays, we started to work on the writing supplements. Margery helped me edit and cut down each essay to perfection. After all of this, we started to work on the Gates scholarship application which included eight essays that could not total more than 1,000 words. Margery helped me format and edit all eight essays. Don’t just write what you think the admissions office wants to hear. Very often they are inundated with essays that cater to “what they want to hear,” making such essays exactly what they don’t want to hear. Over the years, students who tell me they absolutely love to write have said they struggle with the application essay. So if you’ve been biting your nails or tearing your hair out even a little, you’re not alone. Free writing, ideally done with pen and paper instead of on the computer, is an exercise in opening the creative mind and letting ideas flow. Knowing this, you will be more relaxed and inspired as you write. Whether you’re prompted to write about a formative experience, why you think you’d be a good fit for the university or about a person who has influenced you greatly, answer the question honestly. Students will be accepted “if the student’s numbers fit the academic profile of the institution,” she says. In other words, an outstanding essay may tip the scales. In fact, more than one professional points out that students should not have already reached their writing potential before entering college. I know parents who believe kids who can’t sit down and write essays themselves aren’t ready for four-year college. Jager-Hyman said there are some who believe a 17-year-old need only “put one foot in front of the other” and apply himself to complete this task. But in reality, many otherwise-capable teens have no clue where to start. I am happy to report that I got into six out of seven schools and that I was also awarded the Gates Scholarship. I know without a doubt that without Margery, I would not have been as successful as I am today. To anyone who seriously desires to attend a top university, I strongly recommend Margery.