More than any other essay you have to write, admissions essays are always tough, even though they seem overly simplistic in their prompts. Take a look at these prompts:
“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”
“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”
“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”
These prompts, or variations thereof, seem to always induce tons of anxiety in my students. Of course, it’s not the prompts themselves that cause anxiety, but the stakes involved. A lot of my students start thinking, “If I don’t write a good essay, I won’t get admitted into the school of my choice.” While this isn’t necessarily true in its entirety, writing a good essay on your applications can increase your chances of getting into your target schools.
I’m sharing a few tips and some general advice based on my experience with the students I’ve worked with on their essays. Hopefully, this helps you craft a much better admissions essay!
1. Write an outline.
Any student who works with me on essay writing knows that I insistently drill one and only one idea in their head: write an outline! Before you even start writing your paper, you must have a sense of direction. Know your beginning AND your end. Know the arc of your paper: its themes, arguments, counterarguments, and points.
The outline doesn’t have to be sophisticated, it just has to force you to put your ideas on paper so you can see how organized (or disorganized) they are so you can edit them appropriately. It takes far less time to edit an outline than to start writing a paper and realizing halfway through that you need to completely rewrite what you have written so far. And with that being said, you can always edit your outline later and adjust it as you get more ideas writing your essay.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t get in the car and drive to an unknown place without first getting directions or having a navigator, would you? Same concept with essay writing. Know where you’re going before you start the car.
2. Be authentic and honest.
Every student gets the temptation to drum up a fake story just so they tell the admissions officers what they think the officers want to hear. Do not do this! If they have any experience (and they most likely will), admissions officers know when you’re not being truthful. It doesn’t matter if it something that’s readily verifiable – do not lie about your background, credentials, interests, or experiences. Embellishments and omissions are natural in the writing process – you do have a word limit, after all – but resist the temptation to lie about who you are. Trust me, the officers can and will tell that you are lying. Do not tell a story you think they want to hear, tell a story that they should want to hear.
3. Tell a story that no one else can.
Every person is unique. I guarantee you that, no matter how mundane or humdrum you think your life is, you have something unique to say. Everyone thinks they have to write a sob story or a story that showcases their hardships, but this is not true. Any story can be a good story – it just depends on how you tell it.
What really matters is that you present your authentic self in your essay. Tell a story that means something personal to you. Tell a story that is unique.
4. Write until you feel finished, then condense.
Students always stress about word counts. I get it. But don’t let it dictate the quality of your essay. In your first draft, you should completely ignore the word minimum and maximum. Once you do this, it will be easier to write. You can always cut down or add more material later. Focus first on writing a good essay, then edit to fit the guidelines.
If you absolutely cannot get past word count and need a solid number to hit, then take the median number of the word count range as your word minimum. For example, if the prompt calls for an essay between 500 and 750 words, shoot for 625 words.
At the end of the day, it’s not the length of the essay that matters, but the quality.
5. Don’t forget the basics.
While you’re probably going to avoid writing a 5-paragraph essay, some of the basics you learned in English class are still relevant. Don’t forget to put an introduction, conclusion, and appropriate transitions. Make sure grammar and spelling is perfect! No one wants to read a half-polished essay.
6. Revise!
Your first draft will be terrible, I guarantee it. Brilliance never flows from anybody’s fingers on the first round of writing. The greatest writers in history sometimes took hours just to write a few hundred words. Writing is a process, one that’s painstakingly perfected through meticulous edits and careful planning.
Remember, you are not taking a “blind” exam where you walk in a classroom and write an essay response to a prompt you’ve never seen before. Admissions officers want to see you put your best foot forward, and if that happens to be on your 20th draft, that’s okay!
7. Find a common thread in your essay.
Your essay must make logical sense. Just like grammatical and spelling mistakes will turn off admissions officers, so will organization and flow issues. Figure out what the point of your story (the “why”) is and make sure it connects the entire essay. Highlight the theme at critical points in your essay, particularly in the conclusion.
8. Consider your reader’s point of view.
Your reader most likely doesn’t know you or your back story. Make sure to adequately explain any anecdotes you rely on for your essay, organizing the details in chronological order. Don’t forget to add transitions to help with the overall flow of the essay.
9. Take your time.
Unless your essay is due tomorrow and you’re writing it last minute (which you shouldn’t), do not rush your essay. Avoid writing an entire draft in one sitting. Take breaks. Do something you enjoy. Come back when you feel refreshed.
Studies have shown that physical activity can help stimulate the brain and help relieve writer’s block. If you’re struggling with ideas for your outline or essay, it’s probably best to take a break.
10. Get another pair of eyes.
We can’t always see our own flaws, and it’s always a good idea to get someone else to review your essay and offer you advice.
Atlas Tutoring offers high school and college counseling services to students interested in furthering their applications, including their essays. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you get into your dream school!
