For Educators: Military Resources
A college application essay is your big chance to stand out and show your dream school who you are beyond a bunch of grades, extracurriculars and test scores. Articulating what makes you, you — your personality, experiences and values — will help you connect with the admissions committee on a personal level and set you apart from other students in the process. As you start drafting, here’s a few tips and tricks to consider:
A lot of people throw this phrase around to mean any number of things, but this time we’re being pretty literal. Before you even begin your first outline, make sure you’ve carefully read the essay prompt and understand what is being asked.
Now is not the time to freestyle. Before you start writing, develop a plan for what you want to say. Then, organize your essay into a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
If you’ve ever watched a captivating TV show or movie, played a challenging video game or read an enthralling book, you know this one. Try to open your essay with something that grabs the reader’s attention and leaves them wanting more.
Rule number one of telling a great story: show, don’t tell! While writing your essay, demonstrate your strengths with examples in your writing and let your experiences do the talking to make the reader feel connected to your journey.
Don’t submit your first draft — at least if you can help it. Once you’ve gotten everything out on paper (or screen), go through at least one big edit to make sure it says exactly what you want. Then, ask family or friends to review it and give you feedback so you can polish it even further.
We hope you’ve found these tips both useful and inspiring. There’s more to explore, so why stop now?