Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 1 is to WRITE ABOUT YOURSELF:
Your essay is the first place where you get to connect with admissions committees on a human level and say, “This is who I am and why I will be an asset to your college community.” That is what they’re really looking for. Don’t blow this golden opportunity by writing about someone or something else. First and foremost, make sure you write about yourself.
- You may be who you are today because of a parent, grandparent, or personal hero, but you should not write about that person except as a bridge to writing about yourself.
- The essay is not the place to show off your keen grasp of history, entertainment, or any academic subject.
- Share your opinions, but avoid anything too risky, controversial, or confrontational.
- Respect the TMI rule: revealing too much unnecessary or inappropriate information will undermine even the best essay.
Don’t imagine that you have to write about a defining moment like scoring the championship-winning basket, spending a month abroad, or raising a million dollars for charity… you are the hero of every moment in your life. Just choose an essay topic that really represents who you are.
[If you think you’ve read this before, maybe you have. We share our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay every summer to support all of the hard working high schoolers striving towards their most successful college applications!]
Mike Bergin