10 Tips on Writing the Best College Essay Ever

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By Cora Atkinson

I may have oversold the title a little bit but I think these 10 tips will certainly help you put your best foot forward when it comes to writing the dreaded college application essay.  I have scoured the web, injected some of my proven tricks and compiled a list that you will want to print out and tape to your wall after you are done reading. 

1. Write and outline and stick to it.  When writing a personal essay you may be tempted to write on and on about a point that is not needed.  Most likely you have word limit so keeping your story written within that word count is key (you can loose points for not following instructions). You also want to write tight/concise. Therefore, having an outline will keep you on track from beginning to the end. (Tripod Tip) 
2. Be honest. The essay question might ask you about your best quality, an experience that shaped you or the reason you want to attend a certain college. Don't be tempted to write what you think the admission officers want to hear; answer the question honestly. (Collegeboard)
3. Be yourself. Take a moment to think about what interests you, what you love to talk about, what makes you sit up and take notice... then write about it. One of the biggest mistakes students make is "writing what they think others want to hear, rather than about an issue, event, or person that really had significance for them," says the dean of admission and financial aid at Hamilton College (NY). An essay like that is not just boring to write, it's boring to read.  (NACAC)         
4. Use your own voice. Admission officers “…can tell the difference between the voice of a 40-year-old and a high school senior. (NY Times) 
5. Be specific. Most colleges will give you something really generic, leaving the hard part up to you. The secret? Respond with something really specific. In fact, as a great strategy - the more generic the question, the more specific your answer. The admissions board is comprised of real people, working their 9-5 job, thinking of what to cook for dinner, trying to pay the rent. The last thing they want is "My name is Sue and I love school..." your admissions counselor will cry out of boredom. Try something a little more interesting. Instead of telling us what, tell us why. (Yahoo)
6. Proofread/Spell Check/Read Out Loud and Spell Words Backwards  You must proofread your essay in order for it to be successful. Relying on spell check is not enough.  This is your first step in writing like an adult and you will learn that spell check is not the end all be all. Next, you want to read your essay out loud.  It sounds silly but trust me it works every time. You will catch a lot of mistakes this way that are otherwise easily missed.   (Tripod Tip)
7. Don’t repeat what is already in your application. If you go to a performing arts school and all of your extracurricular activities and awards relate to dance, don’t write about how much you love dancing. Tell me something I couldn’t know just from reading the other parts of your application. (NY Times) 
8. Don't use slang.  Appropriate language should be used in college admission essays. Slang terms, clichés, contractions, and an excessively casual tone should be eliminated.(Petersons)
9. Get a second opinion. Even best-selling novelists ask other people to read their manuscripts before they're sent to the publisher. When you've rewritten the essay to your satisfaction, find someone who can give you advice on how to make it even better. Choose a person you respect and who knows something about writing, a favorite English teacher, a parent, or a friend who writes for the school paper. (NACAC) 
10. Don't expect too much from an essay. The application essay is important, but it's not the only thing that is considered. "Can [the essay] make a difference in getting the 'thin versus thick' envelope? Absolutely, but that is the exception rather than the rule." That's because admission officers look at the whole package, your academics, extracurricular activities, standardized tests, and other factors. A great essay rarely makes up for a weak academic record. On the other hand, a mediocre essay won't necessarily consign your application to the "deny" list. So make your essay as well-written as you can, but don't put so much pressure on yourself... (NACAC) 

Good luck and happy writing.