The college application committee has several things they look for in prospective students. They are looking for students with a good high school GPA, students that are well rounded with extra curricular activities, both school related and not, and for students who can communicate well. Your college application essay is your chance to show the committee why they would want to choose you as a future student. They want to be proud of their graduates! A well written college application essay may not only be the key to your acceptance, but may offer you a chance at possible scholarships.
It is important when writing your college application essay that you take into consideration if the college has requested a certain criteria for the essay. Some schools actually have questions that they expect answered on the application form. If there are guidelines for your essay it is imperative that you follow those guidelines. Those prospective students that ignore what they want will be among the first applications tossed into the trash can.
Remember your essay is basically a letter that “brags” about you. Make sure that you stand out! The application committee will be sifting through sometimes thousands of applications. They want to know interesting facts, and personal information, but only personal information that is relevant to your college career. They don’t want to know about your pet Fluffy and his urinary tract infection. A well written and interesting application essay will stand out among the others. This may even move your essay to the top of the selection pile.
You will want to include detail about yourself that is relevant to the college, and that tells them what makes you a special applicant. Why should they choose you? For example: are you an Eagle Scout, a Gold Award Girl Scout, a member of the National Honor Society. They really want to know what you have done in your high school career that makes you an exceptional prospective student. Have you worked for soup kitchen every summer since you were twelve? That is the kind of thing the committee wants to know.
A well written college application essay is a must! It is a good idea that when you write your essay to have someone proof read it. Don’t rely on Microsoft Word, and don’t just choose anyone to do the proof reading. You can often times have a teacher, counselor, or even someone that works at the local library do your proof reading. Be careful who you choose to be responsible for your future college career. Remember that the worst thing you can possibly do is turn in an essay that does not have a thesis sentence, complete sentences, grammatical errors, and misspelled words!
Writing your college application essay will be your foot in the door to the college of your choice. Make sure you think about it, write it, edit it, re-write if necessary and then have someone proof read it, and don’t forget to include interesting facts about yourself. If you keep these things in mind you should have a well written college application essay.
