5 Tips From a College Essay Coach

college essay tips | college essay coach | Compass College Advisors

 

By now, high school seniors should be starting their college essays. A growing number of colleges use the Common Application, which opened on August 1. The CommonApp offers a choice of prompts for its main essay, which gives students a range of topics to write about. 

Because the main CommonApp essay is sent to all colleges that the student selects, it is very important that students do not say anything specific to any college in their CommonApp essay. (The supplemental essays, however, should be very specific to the college.)

Admissions officers are reading hundreds (sometimes even 1000+) essays of prospective applicants so students need to write compelling essays. If you want your essay to stand out, it absolutely cannot be a run-of-the-mill, boring essay. I constantly remind my students that the college application essay comes from the heart!

To write an essay that stands out among thousands, here are my top 5 tips:

The Ohio State University Oval
The Ohio State University Oval is the heart of the Columbus campus.

 

Get Started with These Tips from Our College Essay Coach

 

Brainstorm before writing

Most students will look at the choice of prompts and start responding with a first draft for the prompt that’s “easiest” to write. If you want to think and write at a deeper level, brainstorm ideas for each essay first. This exercise will help with recalling experiences that may go unnoticed but offer a more vivid example of who you are.

Take breaks in between drafts

Rather than cranking out drafts in one sitting, you can improve your essay by writing a draft, then returning to the essay after several days to continue on the next draft. This, of course, implies working on the essay well in advance of the deadline! 

When working on the main CommonApp essay, I even suggest drafting 1-2 supplemental essays prior to finalizing the main essay. The time in-between drafts allows your thoughts to refresh and re-read the draft with a new perspective.

Read aloud

Reading your essay aloud helps you to hear what the essay sounds like to the reader. It may feel awkward or uncomfortable but makes a difference, and it’s not the same as silent reading. Remember, if you don’t want to read your own essay . . . don’t expect the admissions officer to want to read your essay!

Revise off-line

The best way to spot errors and make edits to your essay is on a printed version. Yes, it may save paper and time to revise on your computer screen. Seeing the printed essay, however, gives you a different feel for the flow of the essay. Try it and please let me know if it works for you!

Avoid too many readers

1-2 reviewers for your essay is plenty. When you have too many people reviewing your essay, you will more likely get contradictory feedback. Also, incorporating other people’s edits can change your voice. It will be obvious to admissions officers if your essay comes across as over-edited or too polished, which may hurt your admissions chances.

The net benefit of each of these tips is that it leaves the voice and control of the essay in the hands of the student. The most important quality of the college essay that stands out among the thousands of others is authenticity. The essay has to be real and that’s easy to do when it comes from the heart.

What has helped your college essay stand out? 

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3 Easy Tips To Write Your Personal Statement And Get Admitted

3 Easy Tips to Write Your Personal Statement & Get Admitted

Does your dream college require a personal statement for their admissions process?

Many of my seniors who are applying to state universities will complete a personal statement for their application, rather than respond to an essay prompt. Prompts on the Common Application are typical for college admissions essays. Although the personal statement is also used to determine college admissions, it’s quite different.

What is a personal statement?

Think of the personal statement as a brief bio, about 1 to 1-1/2 pages. It should be just as interesting and creative as an essay. When I say “bio”, the first response from you may be to start with “I was born…” That’s boring and too far back.

Here are three tips I share with my seniors so that they write a compelling personal statement to get admitted:

1. Brainstorm about 3-4 highlights of your life story.

You can start by listing experiences, activities, or people that are important to you. Taking this first step will help you think more broadly about who you are and what matters to you.

2. Focus on an important experience that you think speaks to who you are.

Nothing is more boring to read than a laundry list of your accomplishments. This won’t help you stand out. Focusing on one experience will be more interesting to your reader because it will:

  1. a) have more depth
  2. b) grab the reader’s attention, and
  3. c) keep you from rambling.

Yes, it will take more time for you to write. But it will also have more impact.

3. Use your own writings but not the writing of others.

Your personal voice is critical in a personal statement.

Reviewing personal statements that others have written to get into college will get in the way of telling your own story. If you need more inspiration, you can incorporate what you’ve written in your other college admissions essays.

Remember that the personal statement, like the college admissions essay, is written from the heart (not the head). In short, that means it should not be treated as something you write for school, i.e. no five-paragraph essay allowed.

If you are applying to schools that require admission essays rather than personal statements, here are some tips for making your college essay to stand out among thousands of others. And what if you come across a college application with questions noted as “optional?” Should you still answer them? Click here to find out.

Whether you need to write a personal statement or a classic college essay to get admitted, it just takes a little planning to ensure your chances of admission success.

Which colleges are you applying to that require a personal statement?

If you’re looking for one-on-one guidance to help you get into (or pay for) college, click here to learn more. 

Want to see more posts like this? Don’t miss these: 

What to expect at freshman orientation

Top 10 must-dos for college-bounds juniors

7 ways to support your child during the college application process

This article was originally published on July 26th, 2016, and has since been updated. 

Get the college application essay guidebook that takes you from "I'm stuck" to standing out

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How To Get Big Scholarships?

Big college scholarships: Do they exist as readily as you might have heard or are they unattainable for the “average” student? I often hear from prospective students and their families who are convinced there aren’t as many scholarships out there as they’ve been told, or they just have no idea how to find them. 

As college-bound high school students finalize their lists and begin the application process, their parents may be left wondering: “Where’s the money for college?” 

One of the places that parents start their search for extra money for college is on websites that provide a list of scholarships, including niche scholarships for things like athletics or particular areas of study.

There are several websites to choose from, and I especially like collegexpress.com for its variety of options. As parents are looking through these options, they may end up thinking, “Wow, we could have been applying for these scholarships a long time ago.” And yes, that’s true! In fact, many there are many scholarship applications available for students as young as 13 years old. 

So parents shouldn’t wait until junior or senior year to start asking “Where’s the money for college scholarships?”

Lottery scholarships.

When I’m counseling students each year, I don’t want families to leave any money on the table. 

Some students apply to these “lottery” scholarships (I refer to them with this term because of the low chances of “winning” the scholarships.) 

When you look at the fine print text of the instructions, you’ll learn that the chances of winning are often based on the number of submissions. These scholarships are indeed quite competitive. Even for a prestigious scholarship like the Coca-Cola Scholarship, there are thousands of students with strong ACT/SAT scores and perfect GPAs.

Instead of putting all your eggs in the outside scholarship basket, students should consider scholarships directly from colleges. That’s where the real big money for college is found. 

Don’t believe me? My students have received scholarship awards ranging from $40,000 to $300,000. These scholarships came directly from their colleges.

Now, let’s go over how they did it. 

How my students earned big scholarships.

Colleges are recruiting students who will contribute to their campus community in a myriad of ways. 

Here are five real-world examples of merit scholarships that my students have received and what they did to earn these awards:

CASE STUDY 1: Scholarship for fine and visual arts. 

To obtain these awards, students submitted a portfolio as part of the application process. Much of their portfolio preparation was completed during the summer before senior year. 

I also encouraged them to attend a National Portfolio Day as a way to get feedback on their portfolios before they submitted it to colleges. Students also took advantage of the National Portfolio Day to learn about potential colleges they wanted to visit. 

The subsequent campus visit reinforced their interest in some colleges and further helped with securing scholarship awards.

By the way, campus visits don’t have to be agonizing for students or their parents. Here are 5 tips for a stress-free campus visit.

CASE STUDY 2: Scholarships to travel abroad. 

There are a number of college scholarships that are posted on a college’s website and listed in my firm’s online portal. 

My students have applied for a number of these scholarships. Several of them have been for travel funds to study abroad. Students submit an essay discussing how they would benefit from traveling abroad as part of the application process. In most cases, these were short essays, which I think are harder to write!
claremont colleges

CASE STUDY 3: Scholarships to do research with faculty mentors. 

There are several colleges that seek students who are interested in research. (One of the colleges that I found particularly advanced in its research scholarship offerings is Clark University.)

My students who received these college scholarships had all demonstrated their interest in research through summer experiences. The summer experiences included working in a laboratory, conducting research through a formal summer program offered at a university, or continuing a project with a high school teacher.

CASE STUDY 4: $100K+ scholarships.  

These awards went to students who expressed interest in a specific department or program featured at that college. 

Students wrote about their interests in supplemental essays and had also demonstrated interest in that particular area through a summer experience. Their interests ranged from departments of business to natural sciences to engineering. 

Several colleges required essays for a particular named niche scholarship and a few offered invitation-only interviews. Colleges are seeking different types of students and will offer niche scholarships to attract THAT student.

Want to learn more about writing essays for college? Don’t miss this podcast where I break down the best practices. 

CASE STUDY 5: Scholarships for being MALE.  

I don’t know how else to say this, but there’s been a trend over the years where my male students get awarded more money. 

This is the only common attribute that I’ve found…some of them didn’t even have the strongest GPA or high school resume. (Go figure, right?) A college admissions officer from a well-known Florida university even stated at a professional conference that:

“We gather all the applications from males first, review their credentials, award scholarships, send their offers and wait on their response. Then we look at the female application pool…Frankly, we need more males on our campuses.”

Yes—I was shocked to hear this too! But the fact that more women are enrolling in college means that a number of campuses have more women. Colleges that seek to reach a 50/50 gender balance will continue to award these scholarships.

Okay, now tell me what you’re thinking. What have you been doing to find more money for college?

Are you looking for one-on-one guidance for how to get into (or pay for) college? Click here for help. 

If you enjoyed this post, don’t miss these either: 

Living Off-Campus: Pros and Cons

College Application Checklist

Colleges with Free Laundry: A Time and Money Saving Consideration 

This article was updated from the original post from 19th September 2016

3 Tips for Dealing with Rejection Letters from Colleges

Rejection hurts.

Let’s face it, any kind of rejection can be difficult to navigate. It can be especially painful when your application to a college you had high hopes of attending is rejected.

Here’s the good news…

As much as it might feel like your rejection letter is the end of the world – it most certainly isn’t! You’ve still got plenty of options for forging a path forward that will lead you to a successful and exciting college experience.

This article will help you to navigate the muddy waters of rejection and move into a more positive and productive mindset.

Here are three tips for dealing with rejection letters from colleges and creating a path for moving forward.

1. Allow Yourself to Feel the Loss

Pretending it didn’t happen won’t help. You’ve just experienced one of life’s setbacks – that’s the reality. And that’s all it is.

Allow yourself time to process and even grieve the loss of what you had hoped for.

Grieving a loss is natural—it’s also an important part of moving forward. And after a period of grieving, it’s time to move on.

Quick Tip: To help make the experience of being rejected from a college a little bit easier on you, remember to manage your expectations BEFORE you hear back. Remind yourself the college application process is incredibly competitive. If you don’t get in, it isn’t because you’re a failure, in other words . . . . It’s NOT about YOU!

2. Don’t Miss Out on Other Great Schools

Just because your top college choice might not be in the cards, doesn’t mean there aren’t other incredible colleges out there that you could attend!

Consider the things that made you the most excited about your top choice school and look for other schools with those same qualities that could still be a great fit for you. Don’t allow the disappointment of not getting into your top choice to overshadow the potential of other colleges being an excellent choice for you.

Likewise, you can check out the list of colleges that still have openings at the National Association of College Admission Counseling. Should you decide to any of these colleges, please also do everything you can to make your essay and application stand out so you’ll know you’ve done whatever you could to get accepted

3. Consider Your Options

When your application is rejected from a college, you’ve got a few options when it comes to moving forward.

But you know what isn’t an option?

Giving up!

Here are some of the things you can do instead:

  1. Consider taking a gap year to improve your application and try again next year.
  2. Remember there is the possibility of transferring down the road. You could attend another great school in the meantime and get some credits there. Eventually, you could transfer to your top-choice (of course this isn’t guaranteed).
  3. Channel your disappointment into motivation and excitement about another great school. Getting a new, stronger focus is going to be key to your success moving forward.

They say when a door closes a window opens. When it comes to your college experience, a window may be opening that leads to the best experience of your life!

Looking for one-on-one support and other resources to help you or your child get into (or pay) for college? Click here!

Common Application: 5 Good College Essay Topics

good college essay topics | best college essay topics | Compass College Advisors

In our recent post, we listed a few good common essay topics on college applications. We’ll tackle each question to provide you with insights on how best to respond. Here’s a few common app essay questions that can give some students a place to start:

1. Write About a Book You’ve Read

If you’re a student who doesn’t “like reading” or doesn’t “have time to read outside of class,” it’s imperative to plan ahead for this question. I advise my students to read a book during breaks or over the summer before senior year.

Get a recommendation from a close friend or local librarian. Many librarians publish a list of popular teen books. Once you’ve chosen a book, ensure it’s at an appropriate grade level and that you finish it.

Remember, the essay response should not be a book report. College application essays come from the heart, so this is a great opportunity to move away from the five-paragraph essay model. The emphasis should be on YOU!

Focus on how the book impacted you. Here are two ways to do that:

  1. Detail how this particular book changed your thinking on a topic or challenged a belief.
  2. Explain what this book meant to you.

Focusing on these aspects keeps the emphasis on YOU.

2. Who Is Someone You Admire?

A Common App essay prompt, a similar question is worded as, “Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.” Even if your college application simply asks, “Who is someone you admire?” go further into detail by describing that influence on your identity, interest or talent.

It should only take you about 5-10 words to tell who you admire. Then, the other 150+ words should show why you admire that person. Avoid the low-hanging fruit like historical figures or your parents, and instead, dig deeper.

Consider these questions:

  • What is a meaningful experience I can describe well?
  • What happened in that meaningful experience?
  • Who was there with me?
  • What characteristic of a specific person was most memorable?

These responses will help you write a strong essay that stands out.

3. Why Do You Want to Attend This College?

The third most common question is best answered after a formal campus visit. Schedule a visit through the admissions office and participate in a tour or informational session. Driving by the campus or hanging out with a high school friend who attends does not count!

When responding to this question, here are some quick tips:

  • Gather your notes from your campus visit and review them.
  • Think about the features of the campus that stood out the most.
  • Consider what qualities about yourself match those features.
  • Keep the college features very specific to that college.

These tips will help you communicate effectively to admissions readers, allowing them to picture you at their institution.

4. Tell Me About a Meaningful Activity for You

This question can be challenging because it’s easy to fall into clichés. The key is to think about what makes you unique. Start by free-writing your initial response for about 10 minutes. Ignore grammar and just write.

Does your response sound like you or every other applicant? Avoid common leadership roles and think about what activity uniquely represents you. Once you state the activity in about 25 words or less, the remainder of your essay should focus on why it is meaningful to you.

5. What Do You Want to Do 10 Years from Now?

The emphasis here is on “you.” Be creative and reflect your uniqueness. You don’t have to link the college with your future career.

Avoid being too “over-the-top” or silly. Write a thoughtful response that shows your interests, focusing on being imaginative and honest.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We will respond with feedback to help you and other visitors to our site. So, what do you want to do 10 years from now?

For further reading and examples of more of the best college essay topics, check out these links:

College Fit Finder: What does “College Fit” mean?

santa clara campus

During a recent talk to high schools, Peter V. Johnson, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Columbia University stated elegantly:

columbia-main-gate
Columbia University, where I almost attended!

“We do not admit statistics to an institution. We admit people to an educational community.”

His statement defines college fit which we have been hearing more and more about these days. Using a college fit finder can help students identify the best schools for their needs.

Student perspective on College Fit

There are 2 sides to this “college fit” coin. Dean Johnson intimates the importance of fit from the college’s side. On the other side of this coin, the student can select colleges based on fit. While I don’t have a pithy quote like Dean Johnson, I will share three aspects of college fit from the student’s side.

Three aspects of college fit that students can consider when developing their list of colleges are

  • Academic fit
  • Social/cultural fit
  • Financial fit

Questions to ask about these components may include:

  • Academic – Does this college have my major interest?
    What are the required courses for graduation?
    How long will it take me to graduate based on the course offerings and schedule?
  • Social/cultural – Will I fit in?
    Can I get the type of support I need within this campus community?
    What will I do on the weekends?
  • Financial – What available scholarships will make this college affordable for my family?
    What financial sacrifices must I make to graduate from this college?
    Am I OK with those financial sacrifices?

Students have the best chance of graduating on time when these areas of fit are considered up-front.

In the same way, colleges have the best chance of admitting students who will contribute to the quality of their communities when they ask the right questions about students upfront. If you want to see the questions that matter to a college, check out their essay questions. Those questions say a lot about the type of people they want to join their educational community!

Should I Do Optional College Essays? Here’s Why You Should Consider It

High school seniors in the midst of college application season often find themselves grappling with a crucial question: “Should I do optional college essays?” It’s tempting to skip over these “optional” sections, especially when your plate is already full with mandatory essays, schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and the looming stress of graduation. However, understanding when and why you should tackle these optional essays can significantly impact your college admission prospects.

The Temptation to Skip: Is It Ever Okay?

Let’s face it—senior year is busy. Between maintaining your GPA, preparing for standardized tests, and managing other college application requirements, finding extra time to write an optional essay can feel overwhelming. Some college applications, such as those from Emory University, include optional questions like:

“Please write exactly five sentences that best describe you.”

On the surface, skipping this question seems like a reasonable time-saving decision. After all, Emory even states that “if you choose not to submit this essay, it will not affect your admission decision.” So, why not take them at their word and save yourself the trouble?

Why Skipping Might Not Be the Best Choice

While it’s true that not submitting the optional essay won’t automatically count against you, opting out may also mean missing a golden opportunity to stand out. When you see the word “optional,” think “opportunity” instead.

College admissions are more competitive than ever, and optional essays offer you an additional platform to showcase what makes you unique. In a sea of applicants with similar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, these essays allow you to present new, insightful, and non-redundant information that might not be evident from other parts of your application.

For example, Emory’s optional essay prompt about describing yourself in five sentences isn’t just about completing another task. It’s an opportunity for you to highlight aspects of your personality, character, or experiences that haven’t been discussed elsewhere. It’s a chance to confirm to the admissions committee why you should be admitted.

The Rule of Thumb: When to Write the Optional Essay

The general rule of thumb is that if responding to the optional essay provides an opportunity to complement your application with new information, then you should absolutely take the time to write it. Here’s why:

  1. Provides Additional Context: The optional essay allows you to add context to your application. Perhaps there’s a unique aspect of your background, a challenge you’ve overcome, or a passion that drives you—things that are not fully captured in the rest of your application.
  2. Showcases Your Writing Skills: Even if the essay is short, it’s another opportunity to demonstrate your writing ability. Strong writing skills are crucial in college, and an optional essay lets you show the admissions committee that you can communicate effectively.
  3. Demonstrates Your Interest: Completing the optional essay shows that you’re genuinely interested in the school. It indicates that you’re willing to go the extra mile, which can be particularly important at competitive institutions where demonstrating interest can be a deciding factor.
  4. Sets You Apart: Optional essays can set you apart from other applicants who chose not to complete them. In a competitive admissions process, every little bit helps, and your optional essay might just be the extra nudge that sways the decision in your favor.

When It Might Be Okay to Skip

There are situations where it might be reasonable to skip the optional essay:

  • Redundant Information: If your response to the optional essay would simply reiterate information already covered in your main essay or other parts of your application, it might not be worth writing. The key is to provide new, valuable insights.
  • Quality Concerns: If you find yourself stretched too thin, resulting in an essay that isn’t well-written or thoughtful, it might be better not to submit it. Admissions committees can tell when an essay is rushed, and a poorly executed optional essay could do more harm than good.

Final Thoughts: The Optional Essay is Not Really Optional

So, should I do optional college essays? The answer is yes—if you can use it as an opportunity to enrich your application with additional insights, showcase your writing ability, and demonstrate your genuine interest in the school. Remember, in the highly competitive landscape of college admissions, every chance to stand out should be taken seriously.

In conclusion, while the term “optional” might suggest that it’s okay to skip the essay, viewing it as an “opportunity” can make a significant difference in your college application process. Use this chance to further highlight what makes you unique, and you might just find that it plays a pivotal role in your acceptance to the college of your dreams. Happy writing!

Changes to the Common Application coming in August 2013

I love the Common Application for the convenience it offers to students. However, it can be a bit quirky at times. Beginning in August 2013, there will be some changes to the CommonApp that will make it more user-friendly for students:

The essay length will remain the same—250 to 500 words—but for the first time the application will enforce the minimum and the maximum word limits. Students who write essays that are too long or too short will receive an error message prompting them to make adjustments.

Among other changes, students will see fewer questions per screen. Applicants will not have to answer questions that don’t apply to them, based on their answers to previous questions.

A sidebar will offer on-screen help, and a new interface will feature “at a glance” progress checks that show students what parts of the application they have and have not completed. (Think green check marks.)

via Meet the New Common Application – Head Count – The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The change that is most exciting . . . drumroll please . . . .

Removal of the “Topic of your choice” essay. I’ve never liked this option because it seemed redundant and misleading. The other 5 topics were already so broad that it was difficult to write about something that didn’t fit with one of the other topics. In effect, when students choose the “topic of your choice,” it was more evident that they had overlooked the other choices.

Did you select the “topic of your choice”? What did you write about?

 

The Reason Behind Low Acceptance Rates

Top-tier colleges may get record applications, but why are college acceptance rates so low? The increasing difficulty of gaining admission into the most selective universities is a trend that continues to challenge college-bound students.

If you’re planning to apply to one of these highly selective colleges in the next year or two, it’s important to understand the reasons behind these low acceptance rates and remember that there are hundreds of other great colleges out there. The national admissions rate is about 65%, but this number drastically drops when you look at elite institutions.

The Intimidating Low Acceptance Rates

Harvard College, for example, has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the country. For every 100 students that applied to America’s most prestigious school, 94 were rejected. This year, Harvard had the country’s lowest acceptance rate reported so far—just 5.9%, offering admission to only 2,032 students out of the 34,302 who applied.

Last year, the rate was 6.2%. Despite the tough odds, Harvard ramped up financial aid, offering help to 60% of the students admitted, making the average cost for families around $12,000 per year for tuition, room, board, and fees.

Princeton University also saw a record low acceptance rate at 7.86%, down from 8.5% the previous year. With 26,664 applications, Princeton offered admission to just 2,095 students. Similarly, Yale University, which had a record-high applicant pool of 28,975, admitted only 1,975 students, resulting in a 6.8% acceptance rate, down from 7.4% last year.

Other prestigious institutions, like Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University, reported lower acceptance rates as well. Cornell’s rate dropped to 16.2% from 18%, while Johns Hopkins admitted only 17.7% of applicants, down from 18.3%.

Why Are College Acceptance Rates So Low?

One of the primary reasons why college acceptance rates are so low at top-tier institutions is the sheer volume of applications. More students are applying to more colleges, often through the Common Application, which makes it easier to apply to multiple schools with just a few clicks. However, this convenience has led to a surge in applications, including many from students who are not necessarily a good fit for the schools they’re applying to.

Another factor contributing to low acceptance rates is that many applicants disqualify themselves before they even submit their applications. Here are some common ways students inadvertently lower their chances of being accepted:

  1. Not Meeting Minimum Criteria: Some students apply without meeting the required tests, such as SAT Subject Tests, or without completing necessary coursework. These applications are often automatically disqualified.
  2. Poorly Written Essays: Submitting a poorly written essay or one that lacks authenticity can severely damage an applicant’s chances. Admissions officers are looking for essays that reflect the student’s true voice and potential.
  3. Weak Recommendations: Asking a recommender who doesn’t know the student well or who doesn’t write compellingly can be detrimental to the application.
  4. Lack of Demonstrated Interest: Not visiting the campus, contacting the college, or showing any interest can hurt a student’s chances, especially at schools where “demonstrated interest” is considered.
  5. Inadequate Course Load: Dropping essential courses in the senior year can disqualify a student from meeting the admissions requirements.

The Impact of Low Acceptance Rates

The result of these factors is that a significant number of applicants are easily denied, leading to an increasingly competitive environment. This heightened competition not only affects the students applying but also skews the perceived selectivity of these institutions. When acceptance rates plummet, it can create an aura of exclusivity that may discourage some students from even applying.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that while top-tier schools are becoming more selective, there are many other excellent colleges with higher acceptance rates that provide quality education and opportunities. College-bound students should focus on finding the right fit for their academic, social, and financial needs, rather than solely aiming for the schools with the lowest acceptance rates.

Conclusion

So, why are college acceptance rates so low? The combination of increasing application numbers, the ease of submitting applications, and the disqualification of non-competitive applicants all contribute to this trend. While it can be daunting, students should not be discouraged. Instead, they should focus on strengthening their applications, meeting all requirements, and exploring a range of colleges that can offer them a fulfilling college experience.

5 Common App College Essay Example Questions

The college application essay is a chance for students to stand out among other applicants. In fact, the essay is one part of the application that the student has complete control. Students have complete control over the essay because they can show the admissions readers what makes them unique.

Here are the 5 most common college application essay questions:

  • Write about a book you‘ve read
  • Who is someone you admire?
  • Why do you want to attend this college?
  • Tell about a meaningful activity for you.
  • What do you want to do 10 years from now?

Each question emphasizes “you.” Admissions readers want to hear from you, in your authentic voice. Writing in your voice is what makes the essay response unique and only a story that you can tell.

In writing the college application essay, you can be creative, use dialogue, or focus on a single moment. Keep in mind though that the college application essay is not an academic exercise. Your essay should come from the heart.

In blog postings over the next 5 weeks (on Monday), we will post tips for crafting a strong response for each of these different question types.