InfoGuides: How to Write College Application Essays: Home

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Books

How to Write Your College Application Essay

Websites

Purdue Online Writing Lab
The undergraduate application section contains resources to help you through the process of applying to undergraduate institutions. This section contains an overview of applying to undergraduate institutions, words of advice from undergraduate admissions officials from all over the US, and information on writing effective application essays.
Application Essays: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This site will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.
Johns Hopkins University: Essays That Worked!
Examples of essays JHU found impressive and helpful. Hopefully these essays inspire you as you prepare to compose your own personal statements. The most important thing to remember is to be original as you share your own story, thoughts, and ideas with us.
Khan Academy
Writing a strong college admissions essay.
Scholarship Essay Tips for Student Writers
A short article that makes and elaborates on several points: Open-ended questions are an opportunity, not a chore, It’s never too early to start, Do your research, Build the structure first, Remember why you’re here, Look toward the future, Don’t let language get in the way and You’re not done until someone else reads it.
The Best Transfer Essay Advice From Admission Insiders
This short article covers: What is a transfer college essay, anyway? How do I make my essay stand out? What do you want colleges to know about you? What makes a good transfer essay?
How To Write A Winning Scholarship Essay
Hayley Capp, winner of the 2013 QS Leadership Scholarship, shares her top tips [3 points] on how to write a winning scholarship application essay in this short article.

College Application Essay Writing Tips

1. Know the prompt. Understanding what the college is asking you to focus on is key to a great start. Read the prompt and take notes, writing your initial thoughts which could be used later in an outline.

2. Research the college you are applying to. Pay attention to the institution's mission info or "about" page. This helps relate that content to the essay and helps readers understand that you've thought more practically about your educational future and how your desired college/program can help you achieve your goals.

3. Outline. This does not have to be extensive, but it is a good idea to outline the essay just to get an idea of how you'll structure the draft.

4. Draft. Try to get a draft down (or as much as possible) in one sitting so your focus is high. If you can't do it all at once, that's fine; take a break (take a walk, get something to eat, etc.) then once you return you should reread your work to refocus on writing.

5. Reread and revise. After the rough draft is complete, reread it from start to finish out loud without stopping to analyze it in complete context. Following this, make edits one paragraph at a time; make any edits you need to (particularly focusing on coherency, grammar, and mechanics) and then reread the paragraph out loud to ensure you've addressed everything.

6. Final reread. Before submitting the essay, give it one final reread out loud without stopping to ensure everything is as you want it.

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