For a lot of high school students, going to college can be a double-edged sword. It’s something that they look forward to, especially with the idea of finally leaving the nest and spreading their wings. On the other hand, the thought of going out of your comfort zone and being in an unfamiliar environment while meeting new people can be daunting as well.
Choosing the degree and school that you’ll pursue may also cause a lot of pressure. Fortunately, platforms like College Rank provide information on which universities offer the best programs for your prospective course.
Once you’ve decided on the college you’d like to apply to, you also need to submit an entrance essay. If you’re worried about the process, here are a few tips on how you can come up with the most compelling write-up:
- Know The Purpose Of The Essay
Aside from getting ready for the entrance exam with a SAT study guide, you should also prepare yourself mentally for the essay. One of the first things you ought to do is to find out the purpose of this requirement.
Of course, the admissions essay must show the school that you can express your thoughts accurately and dynamically on paper. It’s really less of what your story is, but more of how you deliver your message.
This submission is also an excellent way to showcase your vocabulary, which is why you need to build up your arsenal as early as your middle school. Keep in mind that you should be preparing for college admissions at the start of your high school journey to provide a solid foundation to your dreams.
- Determine The Topic You Want
You shouldn’t stress too much on the story that you’ll share on your admissions essay. That’s not to say, however, that you can talk randomly about your life from when you were born up to now—all within 650 words.
Instead, it’s better to find a focal point in your life and discuss why it’s significant for you. Your admissions essay is your opportunity to share your personality, goals, challenges, triumphs, and even losses.
The paper should highlight who you are and give admissions officers a clear picture of that. You must mention why the university would be a good fit for you and your aspirations, and vice versa.
The primary thing you should remember is that your essay should focus on the main idea. Don’t talk about yourself aimlessly. Conversely, you should have a central point to your submission rather than ramble on about your achievements.
Moreover, if you’re planning to write about a particularly challenging experience that you had, you don’t have to share embarrassing details that you’re uncomfortable talking about. You also aren’t required to force a happy ending or solution if the struggle is ongoing.
- Take Note Of Your Ideas
You don’t have to start writing your essay right away. Give yourself time to get that spark of inspiration. With this, you should have a dedicated place for you where you can take note of the ideas that pop into your head. It can be on your phone or notebook, whichever is your preference.
Most attention-grabbing prompts don’t usually happen when you’re on your desk and ready to write. Often, that scenario ends with you getting frustrated that words don’t flow right out even if it’s your life that you’re talking about.
Use an app or a notebook that you carry around when inspiration strikes. Jot down every line and concept that comes to you so that you can review it later, in hopes that it’ll hasten the process of writing your college entrance essay.
Who knows? The perfect opener, out-of-nowhere twist, or brilliant insight might arrive while you’re walking down the familiar path from your school to your home.
- Choose An Essay Type
After you’ve understood the purpose of the essay, determined the topic that you want to write about, and collected your ideas, you must select the type of essay that suits your story best. Once you’ve done this, you can create the outline with ease, and everything will fall smoothly into place.
There are two primary types of admissions essays. The first one is the narrative format, which is, probably, the easiest to write.
Similar to narrative films, your essay would lay out your life to the reader as you reach the climax or culminating point of your journey so far. It involves establishing the backdrop of the story for context, then, sharing the challenges that you faced along the way.
This format is similar to reading a book where there’s a moment of truth, and the hero is never the same again. You can end the essay by describing what your life is like after a significant incident in your life. You don’t always need to write about your victory since a major loss can also provide the same impact to your readers.
The second type of admissions essay is expository. In filmmaking, it would be a montage, which takes snippets of your life that seem unrelated, but tie together to describe you as a whole. It offers a twist in storytelling that will give readers glimpses of various moments in your life that helped turn you into the person you are today.
- Gather Feedback From Trusted Sources
Once you’ve written your first draft, have your school counselor, advisor, or teacher read your work. Keep an open mind and collect feedback from them. They have the experience and knowledge to spot areas of improvement for your essay.
You can also let your dad and mom go through your paper. Listen to their input and incorporate their wise suggestions.
Conclusion
College admissions essays might seem daunting to write, but they’re a cinch to create as long as you prepare for them properly. Remember that the essay is less about what your story is about and more on the delivery.
Keep track of your ideas as they come to you by saving them in your phone or writing them in a notebook. Refine your essay by letting people you trust read it and give their input on how you can make it better.