Finding
your dream school means nothing if you will be denied admission. Thousands of
aspiring freshmen send their applications to colleges, but most of them will be
turned down for different reasons.
In
Ivy League bigwigs like Harvard and Yale alone, not more than 10% of applicants
go home with a slot. These are the students who stand out in a throng of fresh
high school graduates with impressive records and personality.
Nevertheless,
in contrast to popular belief, standing out from the rest doesn't necessarily
mean outshining them. Many students with excellent grades and extracurricular
activities still find themselves rejected. What makes the difference?
Many forgettable faces have similar
stellar GPAs and SAT
results. One effective way to be picked singlehandedly by the
admissions committee is to be memorable through your college admission essay.
This is the venue where you can show your unique quality and innate ability to
grow in and with their school. However, this is not your life transcribed in a
piece of paper or your grading sheet spread in words. It is a piece of you on a
page, and that piece should be a special one.
So
how can you write a compelling admission essay to get their nod?
1. Know your target school.
Research
on the vision, mission, and specialization of the college, and relate them to
your strength. There is no better way to win the admission committee's sympathy
than to look at the same direction with them. Schools are looking for students
who can sail with them and reach a certain goal. Grow in them, grow with them.
2. Reveal a part of yourself.
Choose
a topic that shows a facet of your real personality. This should be your side
that vividly delineates your ability to grow. College admission essays may be
open-ended or specific-question type. Whatever it is, make sure you clearly
deliver and not waste the whole page for nonsense talking. Many people flunk
this test by picking stunning, seemingly-impressive topics but not justifying
it on the contents.
A
topic can be humorous but not corny, dramatic but not mushy, or a combination
of both. It can even be your favorite cat's first leap for as long as you
bridge the whole context to your portrayed side. Unusual and simple topics can,
most of the time, be more embedded to readers as opposed to cliché topics.
Moreover, simple, short words add complexity and length.
3. Write smart composition.
College
admission essay is a showcase of your intellectual capacity. Surely you don't
need a near-perfect GPA to write a grammar-error free piece, so if you are not
confident with it, give yourself some time to review grammar lessons and seek
advice from reliable people. Keep it as flawless as possible. Remember, you are
not just conveying your personality and catching the reader's attention, but
you are also trying to impress.
Keep
in mind while writing the different parts of essay. As oppose to the usual,
introduction is the most important part as this will be your front line towards
grabbing the admission committee's attention. Remember, they are reading
hundreds or probably thousands of essays everyday. Some may be allotting just a
minute or less for each so the best way to glue their eyes on the page is to
make an exceptional first paragraph.
The
conclusion on the other hand should not be left unnoticed as this will be your
last convincing device towards acceptance in the school. Give a punch. Don't
decline in energy and interest from paragraph to paragraph.
4. Play on emotions.
A
monotone essay is a big no-no. This is not a prose that needs overly
unfathomable words. Rather, you should be witty and fluid with your
organization. Increase your chance of being remembered by making the committee
agree or disagree with what you are saying. Having them disagreeing may mean that
you are rendering a healthy conversation by gaining their opinion. After all,
colleges look for individuals with their own minds to speak out.
5. Be humble, don't flaunt.
College
admission essays are not resumes. This is not the time to boast on your
achievements and GPA. If you want them noticed, you can always (and will
always) indicate them on the initial admission forms.
No tips can guarantee
admission to your dream college. These are just ways to help you decide on how
to deliver effective, if not powerful college admission essays. With utmost importance,
every little change should always start within you. When you are finally
admitted, the real challenge begins. That is your moment to prove that you
certainly deserve the chance the school gave you.
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