1) PASSION
If you have a passion, express your passion in your essay. Then your enthusiasm will naturally shine through.
If you have interests which could grow into a passion and career, express those interests.
2) PLAN
Have a single theme:
Twice I attended a Christian writer’s conference in the early 2000’s in Colorado. My core seminar speaker stated that an author should be able to state the theme of his or her book in one sentence, or even one word.
That is wise for an essay.
Years ago, one Friday night when I was in the mood, I wrote an application essay. My theme: “Home.”
I add my thesis was: “I am on a journey to my eternal home.”
Before you start writing, determine your theme!
Do stay within the boundaries of the question:
Shifting for a moment to a test, when answering an essay question on a test, it is a must to specifically answer the question. So called “essay” questions on tests are usually only “long answer” questions.
Now for college admission essays, questions are often more broad in order to encourage a real essay. This gives you the opportunity to get personal and to get creative. However, make sure the core of your essay covers their broad question.
Start with an outline:
Writing an outline is my weakness. When I am in the mood to write, I have a thought, and I get excited, and I like to start rolling. Yet then I have more editing in order to give needed structure to my piece. It is best to have at least a scant outline at the start.
And hit the following two points if they fit the essay question or questions:
- The reason studying a particular subject or subjects would foster future opportunities to carry out your passion.
- The reason that particular university has potential to be a fit for you.
3) POUR IT OUT!
Be yourself!
This is the most important point. Write as though you were talking to your reader. Use vocabulary you would use if you were talking to an enrollment counselor in her or his office. The common expression is: “Use your own voice.” In your own words, convey from your heart why you want to study a certain subject for the next four years.
Give an illustration:
If you can stay within the word count, close with a story if it clearly illustrates your point. For example, if you want to study “Communication,” and you tell about a time you had fun making a video for a class project, this will serve as an illustration. In most cases, you probably want to give the shortest version of the story, rather than getting into all the details. And whatever the word limit is for the essay, do not go a single word over!
Yet in telling a story, you “show” by offering important descriptive details.
Edit big time!
The key to all good writing is to edit much. Right here on Scripture Love Blog, I have written more than 300 pieces over the past fifteen years. For almost all of those pieces, I did much editing, often waiting until at least the next day to do a final edit. When you put the writing away for a period of time, you are able to freshly edit so the piece is truly polished.
Read it out loud:
One of the best classes I took at Colorado Christian University was “Research Writing.” Dr. Windy Petrie, who now serves at a Christian university in California, is an incredible professor. I learned some of these good writing principles from her. And she taught me a lesson, which I had not practiced previously, which has greatly improved the quality of my editing: When editing, read it out loud!
When you hear yourself read, you recognize whether a sentence flows or does not flow. You also catch little errors.
4) CELEBRATE
Be proud of your piece:
Your objective in writing a college admission essay is to be accepted into a specific university. However, in the current overly competitive university application process, a wonderful essay is not a guarantee of being accepted. The best you can do in the moment is to work hard to write a quality essay which genuinely expresses your heart. If you have done that, celebrate your writing. (I like to celebrate by taking a special scenic walk, which is an occasion to take a few precious minutes to relish in my accomplishment. You might want to get a milk shake.)
Be encouraged:
The other day I was looking at the acceptance rates of some random universities, and I was astonished at how low their acceptance percentage was. Even if you apply to such a school with a realistic expectation that the odds are against you, it still hurts to get rejected.
Yet do not let potential rejection thwart your dream!
Engage in much web page research regarding each university you apply to. Talk with someone at the university if you have questions. Get extra assistance from your guidance counselor. Work hard to write a good admissions essay! And give the entire process your full effort! Then you will have an opportunity to be accepted into a fitting university.
When I applied to colleges back in the last century, at some point in high school I got my heart set on one specific college, because I liked the campus and I liked the history involved with the university. I applied early admission, but I was rejected. I was upset.
Yet I did not let that rejection thwart my goal in any manner. I continued to work to be accepted to a great university. And I was. Ironically, looking back these many years later, the university which I attended turned out to be much better for me!
Celebrate indeed:
After all of your hard work, every time a university accepts you, even if that number is simply one, celebrate. (Treat yourself! For example, you could treat yourself and a close friend to lunch.)
Then go by God’s guidance to choose the university or college which has the best potential to be a community where you can flourish.
Hunter Irvine
Scripture Love Blog
