TONE AND VOICE

• Do not feel like you need to use language you would normally not use in an essay. Use language that feels relaxed but formal enough to persuade the reader.

• Use authentic and genuine writing. Write in a “natural” voice that feels like you could be having a conversation. Admissions committees can always tell when a student is working too hard to impress them in their
  essay!

CONTENT

• What counts is the meaning the event or topic has for you. Essays can be extremely meaningful and powerful and come from “ordinary” or “mundane” topics if written with a genuine tone.

• Make sure you don’t just explain the event. Use your essay to show what the event means for you, how it changed your view, helped you work through a challenge, or whatever the essay prompt is asking

• Use descriptive anecdotes, vivid details and specificity when writing your essay. Do not be general

STRUCTURE

• Use key words from the prompt sprinkled throughout your essay
• The beginning of the introduction paragraph should be an attention grabber that pulls the reader in
• Make sure the introduction, content heavy paragraphs, and closing paragraph connect to one another.
• The Structure reinforces the content not the other way around

GENERAL ADVICE

• Start early! The longer you have to brainstorm and write, the more you will be able to connect your themes
• If you are applying to a selective school, supplemental or optional essays need to be completed for you to have a strong application

• This is your story – don’t try to change who you are for who you think the college wants you to be. Ask “Does this sound like me?” Stay true to yourself and your story. Be genuine and authentic to who you are!
  

EDITING AND REVIEWING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY

• Don’t have too many people review and give feedback. Aim for a maximum of three people.
• Read your essay out loud to yourself! You will hear awkward phrasing, forced wording, and run-on sentences that you might not see as you read it silently.