An application essay can be the most important piece of writing that you ever get to create. So, without a doubt, students should approach this task with all seriousness. Learning how to write such an essay is quite easy. Learning how to use those tips in practice is the hardest of all. So, here are seven effective tips you can practice while writing an application essay for college admission.
1. Choose the pitch
Application essays have various main arguments at their core. Some students choose to go with their background and family story. Others focus on the future, their goals, and ambitions. Some people talk about the importance of education, while others enlist their sports achievements. Finally, you may talk about the world and your place in it, like activism, volunteer work, lifestyle, etc.
On the other hand, students can choose to go deeper and get into their motivations, commitments, and life values. In fact, you may also open your future school’s site and read the ‘about’ page carefully. There, you will find a few clues about what the school wants to see in its students.
2. Start early
Your main secret to success is starting early and working through a semester. Don’t postpone this task or plan to squeeze this paper in a week or so. An admission essay can be among the most important papers you ever write. It deserves all the time you can dedicate. So, start early. Make several drafts. Try different approaches. Leave for a bit and read drafts in a week or so. See what makes the best impression. Choose a teacher to help you with the task. Ask people to read, analyze, or proofread your essay. These things will help you achieve the best results. Yet, all those steps require time, which you will only have by starting early.
3. Include your goals and ambitions
An admissions board is particularly curious about your future plans, goals, ambitions, and aspirations. So, don’t disappoint them by excluding this vital part from your paper. Tell them what you want to achieve in life. What are your main goals in life, and how do you plan to complete them? Make sure to align your goals and career ambitions with the school’s programs. An admissions board should see how their school can help you flourish, grow, and reach the goals you set for yourself.
4. Stay true to yourself
Being creative and original will put your work above the majority of identical letters. Remember, this assignment calls you to reveal your full potential and identity in just a few pages. Of course, it’s not an easy task. Yet, who else can write about you other than, well, you? Every student has quite a head start at such writing. They already know the topic of writing all too well. Now, you just need to choose what portrait of yourself to present to the readers.
Don’t be afraid to show your true colors. Stay authentic and true. An admissions board is looking to know better about its applicants. Give them a full picture of yourself and what you can bring to the school you are applying to. This way, they will surely remember your paper.
5. Follow classical structure
Sure enough, your application essay should follow the traditional academic structure. It must have an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Moreover, each section should be written according to its purpose and role in the text. Hence, you should introduce the purpose of writing in the first paragraph and conclude your text, summarizing your main points at the end.
Also, every paragraph should follow the traditional structure, too. Hence, they all should have the main idea or argument, supportive sentences, examples, and conclusions. Be sure to follow those rules for perfect clarity and text flow. Besides, a well-structured text requires fewer words to deliver the text message, which is just what you need.
6. End strong
The ending is the last thing your readers will remember. Do it well, and your essay ending will stick with your readers for quite a while. So, start by briefly enlisting your main points mentioned above. Then, restate your thesis statement to bring everything together. Lastly, end with a strong sentence regarding your hopes for the future and the school’s role in it.
Don’t rush the last part of your essay. Sure enough, you’ll be tired by the end, thinking that the most challenging part is over. Still, a good conclusion has the power to turn the scales in your favor.
7. Edit
Editing plays an essential role in your application essay’s success. It’s your last chance to analyze the paper and make the final adjustments. You want to make a good and lasting first impression. Well, nothing will reduce your chances of achieving that more than typos and other avoidable errors hidden across the text. By leaving those small mistakes, you show how little you care about readers’ opinions. In other words, it is borderline disrespectful to submit a poorly proofread paper without a few final reads. Of course, not all students are great with editing skills or struggle with English grammar. In such a case, they should consider running your paper by WritePaperForMe writers. A professional writing service will help proofread and edit a text to perfection.