Qualities of a Successful College Essay

Introduction-

College essays are meant for admissions officers to get insights about the applicant beyond their academic record and test scores. It gives students a chance to articulate their passions, perspectives, and personality traits, and it allows the students to set themselves apart from other deserving applicants. The following key points can help you frame a stellar college essay-

What colleges want to know from your essay:

1. Are you a good fit for their college?- Your college essay should reflect your interest in their institution. You can show this by maintaining excellent grades and performing well in standardized tests, thoroughly researching the college, its professors, and clubs, and showing how your skillset and interests align with what the college offers and values.
2. How evolved are your problem-solvingand critical-thinking skills?-Colleges look for students who can analyze and interpret information, and use it effectively to derive conclusions. Apart from critical thinking skills, a student’s innovative approach to challenges is also something the admission officers look for.
3. Do you have college-level writing skills? – Your college essay allows you to showcase your writing skills. Colleges prefer essays that express your ideas clearly and effectively and are engaging over those that are complicated and verbose.
4. Do you show resilience and growth? –College is a time of transition and you will inevitably face obstacles as you fare in your journey. Thus, resilience is another important quality that colleges are seeking in their students as it demonstrates their ability to overcome challenges and adversity and grow in the process.

Things to remember while writing a college essay-

1. Be a storyteller- Students are encouraged to share their personal experiences and unique stories. This will give them an edge over other candidates and give the admission officers a peek into their personalities. Students should consider using personal examples to make their essays more engaging and persuasive. By helping the readers connect with their experiences and perspectives, they can add depth and nuance to the essay.
2. Use a creative hook- A successful college essay efficiently captures the reader’s attention. It is important to make the introduction catchy. You can start with a surprising fact or a thought-provoking question to make it stand out. Since admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, creativity and originality are highly valued during the selection process.
3. Give specific examples- Add specific examples to add depth and complexity to the essay such as preparing a questionnaire on Google doc to scrutinize the behavioral aspects like- comfort and confidence of the female respondents in the age group 25 to 40 years, in dealing with decisions related to financial products. This will allow the admission officers to connect with the students’ experiences better.
4. Show! Don’t just tell- Paint a vivid picture of how you dealt with a challenge or developed a love for your desired major. Rather than telling the admission officers how the experience felt, show them through actions and dialogue. Instead of saying that your family business became a source of motivation for you to pursue a business major, talk about how as a child, you got inspired to launch your start-up, which gave you insights into real-world business problems, something that inspired you to pursue a business major.

If this article answers your queries, check our website –www.collegecore.com. For assistance related to Undergraduate College Applications and Admissions, please book an appointment with Ms. Urvashi Malik, Founder – CollegeCoreEducation.