Does my college essay need to be perfect?

While many high school seniors fret over writing the PERFECT college application essay, the reality is that most admissions officers are not looking for “perfection.” That is, they don’t need to see an essay that is stunningly brilliant, unforgettably profound and full of sophisticated words.

How can I make my essay more unique?

There are different ways to grab the reader.

1. Try starting with a question.
2. Begin with a bold statement.
3. Use an interesting quote.
4. Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things.
5. Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.
6. Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.

How do colleges know if an essay is plagiarized?

A quick and simple method that essay evaluators and professors use to detect plagiarism is to enclose a sentence or a paragraph from the applicant’s essay in quotes and Google it. The search results will show exact matches to earlier works in which the sentence or paragraph was used.

What do college admissions look for in an essay?

Admissions officers look for students whose essays reveal their character and perspective through their real experiences, not contrived situations. Admissions officers say most essays they read are safe, generic and do nothing to make them remember or want to advocate for the students who wrote them.

What makes an essay unique?

Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present their ideas in the order that makes most sense to a reader. Successfully structuring an essay means attending to a reader’s logic. Thus your essay’s structure is necessarily unique to the main claim you’re making.

What should I avoid in my college admissions essay?

The last thing you want your college essay to be is a cliché, so avoid the following. Make your admissions essay stand out by avoiding these topics that are overused on college applications. Applying to college is a multi-pronged process that culminates with a component that high school seniors tend to both dread and procrastinate.

What is an admission essay?

An admission essay is an essay that a student writes when applying for a university or college program. It is normally not more than two pages long (around 300-500 words), so you have to be concise in your thoughts and choose your words carefully.

What do college admissions officers look for in an essay?

Admission officers have read countless essays about how Mom or Dad are so inspiring as well as high school teachers that really prompted a love for learning. As important as these people may be in your life, the college admissions essay should be about you and your experiences.

What are the do’s and don’ts of writing a college essay?

Dos and Don’ts in Writing College Application Essays 1. Write too much, ramble on, thinking that more (words) is better. It is not. 2. Brag, boast, toot your own horn, or come across as arrogant. 3. Write what you think college admissions people want instead of what you really think. 4. Go off