Are you applying to join your favorite college and wondering how to go about it? Well, there are a few things that you need to consider before you jump right into it. First, you need to make sure that you qualify for whichever college and course you are interested in. Apart from your school grades, you’ll also need to submit your test scores. In case you took yours prior to 2016, there are online sites that teach you how to get old SAT scores, so this task shouldn’t be hard. Also, as part of your application, you might also be required to write an essay in a particular format as well.
Admission officers use personal essays to separate the applicants, considering most of them usually come with the same test scores and school grades. It can be a daunting experience because of the pressure to deliver high-quality content. To make it worse, you might be writing for the first time after a long time. Nonetheless, this should not be a reason for you to fail your essay test. This article will give you some tips on how to impress colleges with your personal essay.
Write About Something You Cherish
It is very easy to write about something with which you have had direct interactions. For one, you may have enough knowledge to brilliantly discuss the subject. Therefore, it is always advisable to choose something you love or one that you feel is important to you. It can be a person, book, or even a memorable experience. Take your time and think of something that fits the description.
While dissecting the topic, make sure that you highlight all the details as clearly as possible. In fact, this is exactly why you shouldn’t choose something that you have little to no knowledge of. The admission officers will gauge the quality of your essay with how well the message is passed through to the audience.
After choosing your preferred subject, what’s next?
Start Writing As Early As Possible
The biggest mistake that most candidates do is thinking that they have a lot of time at their disposal. Of course, you still have several days or weeks before the submission deadline, but that shouldn’t encourage you to start late. Plan your calendar the same way you prepare for college tests. One advantage of beginning your test early is that it gives you ample time to organize your ideas. Writing under pressure may force you to write a bunch of paragraphs that make no sense to the readers.
Another reason for writing your personal essay early is the fact that you’ll have enough time to re-read the content. Writing several drafts can be quite helpful because more ideas will start flowing as you advance. Once done, put yourself in the admission officer’s shoes and try to criticize where you see possible mistakes. Of course, you might not pinpoint all the issues alone. Therefore, it would be prudent to let someone else read the essay and let them tell you which areas you need to change or improve.
Reflect That Important Event
Another thing that you will need to avoid like a plague is recounting your experience. It is a good idea to write about some of your life events that you cherish. Actually, they are the best ideas to go with, as earlier mentioned in the post. However, try not to report the history, but, rather, reflect on it. So, what’s the difference between recounting and reflecting?
The two words have a closely similar meaning, but they are very different, at least with regard to the essay. Recounting means you are reporting everything just as they happened that day. Reflecting, on the other hand, is the act of reviewing and drawing lessons from certain events. Using the latter will give you an upper hand over some applicants. Search for some of the best examples of reflective essays online if you find yourself struggling.
Answer The Question Comprehensively
The examiners will be testing how well you can answer a given question. You need to focus on the subject at hand and don’t deviate from the goal. As you write, you might get many ideas along the way. Don’t include them in your essay if they do not answer or are not relevant to the topic at hand.
One way to make sure you remain on track is to come up with a list of subheadings. Try and split the essay into several small parts and write them down somewhere. Now, start your writing with a relevant introduction, followed by a discussion of your points. Finally, do not forget to close with a comprehensive conclusion summarizing everything you’ve covered.
Never Hesitate To Reach Out For Help
Getting help for your essay doesn’t mean having someone to write it for you from scratch. You probably haven’t written one for a very long time, and that could work against you. So, don’t let things go south when you can salvage the situation. There is always someone who can help with one or two things.
Do you have someone in your family who has experience in the same field? Maybe, they graduated from the college to which you are applying. As such, they could give you ideas on what and how to write to avoid being denied entry to your favorite school. Also, there are several people ready to offer professional help in case you need it. Feel free to contact them and let them guide you in the right direction.
Conclusion
Perhaps, the most stressful part of applying to a university is essay writing. It can be a tough task, especially if it’s been long since you wrote one. Hence, you might need help from those around you and even some of the university officials. Before you commence your writing, make sure you choose a subject that you are comfortable discussing.
If you have a memorable experience, do not feel ashamed reflecting on it. This could be the difference between being admitted and missing out on the chance. This post serves as a guide to writing the most impressive personal essay. Feel free to implement all points covered here and you’ll definitely like the results.