College Application Essay

College Application Essay Even if the rest of your profile makes you a top candidate for competitive colleges, your essay always matters. In fact, your essay could end up hurting an application for an otherwise strong candidate if it appears hastily written or not well thought-out. Therefore, they can devote more time and resources to each individual application. You might be surprised to learn that essays are that important, but keep in mind that at top schools, there are at least 4 academically-qualified candidates for every open spot. To truly assess an applicant’s fit with the school, admissions officers need the essays. And read about other grave mistakes like plagiarizing your college essay. As expressed in an article of “The Daily Beast,” don’t use profanities in your college essays. So conserve your efforts and work smarter, not harder. Find the topic that you can use at all or almost all the schools on your list and write as few essays as possible. Essays are your one opportunity to share your voice, your unique experiences, and your perspective. At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. The essay needs to be a reflection of the student’s creativity, writing ability and personality; not the parent. While it is okay to have a parent proof an essay, they are not always the best option. Asking someone who is slightly more removed from the application process may be the wisest route to go. While parents mean well, any constructive feedback may be misinterpreted, creating conflict at what can already be a stressful time. Parents are also a great second pair of eyes for grammar and spelling errors. I would still suggest that a English professional still read over the essay for expert editing purposes. However, parents should not try to change the voice of the student, which can be difficult to refrain from. Teachers, guidance counselors, even friends are viable candidates when looking for a second opinion on your writing. Essays are an extremely important part of the college admissions process. While certain factors may impact the relative influence of essays, you should always put in your best effort. Factoring in your particular interests, talents, and intended major makes the importance of the essay even more nuanced. If colleges see that your focus is writing and receive a poorly-written or uninspired essay, they will be confused â€" and may wonder how well you understand your own strengths. Under no circumstances should you ever “blow off” your college essay. It will also, in some instances, add a stimulus to further thought. Since no two essays are the same, no single formula will automatically generate an introduction and conclusion for you. But the following guidelines will help you to construct a suitable beginning and end for your essay. Since the admissions committee is reading hundreds of essays, it’s your job to move them, make them laugh, and force them to realize that they need you at their institution. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews. Introductions and conclusions play a special role in the academic essay, and they frequently demand much of your attention as a writer. A good introduction should identify your topic, provide essential context, and indicate your particular focus in the essay. A strong conclusion will provide a sense of closure to the essay while again placing your concepts in a somewhat wider context. Your essay should exemplify the manner in which you think. Instead of basing your character off of grades and standardized test scores, the essay provides the reader with a sense of your personality and views from your perspective. of students who completed applications with Ivy Coach earned admission to their first college choice.