The college essay is often required as a part of a college Admissions Application. Not all schools require an essay, but most accept them. The advantage of submitting a college essay with your application is that it helps the Admissions Counselor get to know you, as well as any information you want them to know that is not seen on the rest of your application. It is your chance to sell yourself to the college.
How do I start writing one?
First, you need to find out if the college(s) you are applying to require you to write an essay. Find an application (online or in print) and search for the Essay or Personal Statement section. If the application gives you a prompt or specific directions, follow those. If the application says you may submit a personal statement or essay, but gives no specific instructions, you’ll need to start branstorming ideas.
Where can I go for help?
Make an appointment to talk with The Writing Center Team as soon as possible! You can also check out the links to essay sites listed via The Writing Center Website under Related Links!
One of the most common prompts for college essays is the following:
This personal statement helps us become acquainted with you as an individual in ways different from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.
- Evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you.
- Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
- Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
What you say in these essays should tell the admissions committee more about you than is on the surface. Here are a few such prompts:
- Tell us about a conversation you've had that changed your perspective or was otherwise meaningful to you.
- If you could go back and change one day in your life, what would you change and why?