Applying yourself: the essay way

If you’re a college-bound high school senior, you’re likely swimming in the midst of deadlines, hunting down school codes to send SAT scores, and chewing off pencil eraser after pencil eraser as you rack your brain for a good opening line to the dreaded college application mandate: the personal statement.

If you’re headed to community college or an institution that doesn’t require you to submit an essay with your college application, then you may think you have it easy. But wait! Just because you don’t have to write an essay to get in to college doesn’t mean you don’t need to have the same strong writing skills to do well in college.

So. Whether you’re crafting the essay of a lifetime to woo those admissions counselors at the school of your dreams, or you’re kicking back thinking you’ve found the easy way out, here are some personal essay-writing tips that are useful to all:

Be specific.

While you may be “a hard worker,” “a dedicated community leader,” and “motivated to learn” … who isn’t? On their college application, at least. While these and similar descriptions may very well be accurate, and even GOOD descriptions, they essentially tell the reader nothing about who you are. Your English teachers have pounded it into your head: SHOW, don’t tell.

Example. Which is more compelling?

a) I’m so great. My dedication to community services has helped me gain experience in working with people, and I’m very passionate in everything I do.

(Um… I can’t even keep writing this because it’s so… incredibly… BORING. We could tack this sentence onto anyone’s college app.)

b) After several years of being involved with student leadership, I have seen the ins and outs of group decision-making, conflict resolution, and of course, the politics of any organized group. These experiences have not only fueled my desire to study group communication and other aspects of human behavior within social sciences, but they have shaped my ability to listen to two sides of a story.

Enough said.

Don’t just brag.

Along the same lines as “show, don’t tell,” telling someone you’re so great will not convince them that you really are so great. Showing them an example of how you’re great will.

Example. Which is more compelling?

a) I’m the hardest worker you will ever meet. I’m passionate, driven, studious and a hard worker.

(Not only is this example a bit obnoxious, but it’s a bit insulting to the admissions counselor who’s going to read this, as if you have to spell out for them literally what they should be able to figure out by themselves. Telling them what to think about you will most likely fail to impress them.)

b) As a child, my passion for sports was so great that I oftentimes didn’t want to do my homework. I was captain of my soccer team and most valuable player on my basketball team, but I wasn’t motivated about school. However, my high school athletics coach became a mentor in my life and instilled in me the value of being a well-rounded student by not letting us play in games unless all of our homework and school projects were up to date. I took his mentorship to heart, and within my first year of high school, I was earning all As and Bs and actually excited to try honors classes. I’m excited to apply the love for learning I gained in high school to broader areas at Blank University.

Blank University? Where’s that?

Now, keep in mind I’m just shooting off random examples and that yours should be given a lot of thought and should be carefully-crafted to match your personal experiences, but this should give you a launching pad for how to brag without actually bragging.

Be yourself.

I can’t believe I just said that. But it’s true, as corny and tired as it sounds.

DO NOT put on your best pseudo-official typing gloves and write your essay like it’s a formal white paper being sent to the Pentagon. Write in your own voice, the way you actually say things.

Okay, don’t start cursing like a sailor for your transition sentences, but four years of high school should have given you the tools to combine the fresh, conversational style you enjoy with your friends and the professional, clear academic standards to which you’ve been held in your English classes.

Edit, edit, edit.

I’m not going to tell you how to proofread. That’s up to you, and you already know you should be doing it.

What I can do is give you a few other ideas on how to further scrutinize your essay.

• Make your parents read it. Do they dig it? Do they believe it? Do they like it?
• Read it out loud.
• Have SOMEONE ELSE read it out loud. You might be very surprised at what your “voice” sounds like coming from someone else’s mouth.
• Read it to your cat. Just for good measure.

While we could sub-point the college-essay-writing process forever, this is a great starting point for college-bound high school seniors who may be feeling stuck as their college application deadlines draw new.

For now, let these tips guide you and PLEASE, add some more! Comment below with your essay-writing suggestions, tips, addendums to this list, etc. Click below!

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Happy essay-ing.