what should you write about in a college essay

“Using equipment that a high school student could only dream of using, I was able to map apoptosis (programmed cell death) versus necrosis (cell death due to damage) in HeLa cells, a cervical cancer line, after treating them with curcumin-bound nanoparticles. Using flow cytometry to excite each individually suspended cell with a laser, the scattered light from the cells helped to determine which cells were living, had died from apoptosis or had died from necrosis. Using this collected data, it was possible to determine if the curcumin and/or the nanoparticles had played any significant role on the cervical cancer cells. Later, I was able to image cells in 4D through con-focal microscopy. From growing HeLa cells to trying to kill them with different compounds, I was able to gain the hands-on experience necessary for me to realize once again why I love science.” ( Shemmassian Consulting )

You might be required to submit more than one college essay. This is often the case when a student applies to a specific academic program, like a specialized major or the honors college—you might need to write an essay for admission to the college, then an additional essay for admission to the program. When you write a college essay for a specific program, tailor it to that program.

Here’s an excerpt from an essay a Duke applicant used to successfully get into a medical program:

“As soon as the patient room door opened, the worst stench I have ever encountered hit me square in the face. Though I had never smelled it before, I knew instinctively what it was: rotting flesh. A small, elderly woman sat in a wheelchair, dressed in a hospital gown and draped in blankets from the neck down with only her gauze-wrapped right leg peering out from under the green material. Dr. Q began unwrapping the leg, and there was no way to be prepared for what I saw next: gangrene-rotted tissue and blackened, dead toes.” ( Shemmassian Consulting )

Show, don’t tell

In the example above, the writer used descriptive language to grab their reader’s attention. Here’s another example of an essay that shows what the writer meant to communicate, rather than simply telling it:

“It was through exploring cultures around the world that I first became interested in language. It began with French, which taught me the importance of pronunciation. I remember once asking a store owner in Paris where Rue des Pyramides was. But when I pronounced it PYR–a–mides instead of pyr–A–mides, with more accent on the A, she looked at me bewildered. In the eighth grade, I became fascinated with Spanish and aware of its similarities with English through cognates. Baseball in Spanish, for example, is béisbol, which looks different but sounds nearly the same. This was incredible to me as it made speech and comprehension more fluid, and even today I find that cognates come to the rescue when I forget how to say something in Spanish.” ( College Essay Guy )

See how this student used words to paint a picture, rather than to describe their achievements? Give your reader the opportunity to infer things about you from your writing, rather than simply telling them about yourself. For example, if you want to communicate that you have leadership skills, your essay could discuss specific situations where you’ve taken the lead, rather than simply stating that you have leadership skills.

If you’re having trouble writing an essay that shows, rather than tells, check out our guide to spicing up your writing .

Always, always, always proofread

Proofreading is the last step of the writing process . After you’ve revised your first draft and reworked your content as necessary to make your essay as strong as it can be, proofread it to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes that might have slipped past you during editing. This is perhaps the easiest part of writing a college essay . . . and the easiest to overlook. Make it a priority to proofread every part of every application before you hit “send.”

Above all, be authentic

Most importantly, your unique voice should shine through your college essay. After all, the entire purpose of writing it is to introduce yourself to each school and communicate the aspects of your personality that a transcript simply can’t. That’s not to say you should write your essay in the same tone you use to text your friends, but that you should avoid overly formal language that can obscure your personality and make your essay feel generic. Check out how this student’s personality shines through in their essay:

“Whether I was blowing out candles, writing a letter to Santa, or waiting for the clock to turn 11:11, my one wish growing up was not for something, but for someone. I wanted a sibling. I would always look to my friends and think how lucky they were to have brothers and sisters to play with, while I was stuck at home alone with my parents. However, these sentiments soon changed and my life was transformed, when my parents came home with my new sister, Mia. And while Mia was a furry, Lhasa Apso dog, rather than the human baby sister or brother I dreamed of, she helped me accept and even cherish my life as an only child. I came to realize, however, that it would take much longer for me, and much more than a dog, to accept the other ways I felt alone within my group of friends and my community as a whole.” ( Johns Hopkins )

Opt for a friendly, conversational tone that you would use when introducing yourself to a potential new employer or mentor. Grammarly can help with that by detecting all the tones present in your writing, showing you the most effective sentences in your work, and helping you edit the others to use the same tone.

Remember, your college admissions essay is the place to show case , not show off. There’s a fine line between confident and braggy, and submitting an essay with the latter style could undermine your application. You’re awesome, and you’re heading to college to become even more awesome. Your essay should communicate that.

Don’t let an unpolished essay keep you out of your dream school

How do you lessen your likelihood of getting into your dream school? By submitting a college essay that’s riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. After you’ve revised and proofread your essay, have Grammarly give it one last look to ensure that everything in it is mistake-free, engaging, and has a consistent tone.

Post University Blog

What not to write in college essays if you want to make a great impression.

Sep 3, 2020 | Higher Education

a person sitting at desk writing a paper

Your college essay offers an opportunity to make the right impression on the schools you want to attend, something that can help boost your chances of being accepted when you apply. But before plunging into the writing process, you’ll need to decide what topic to explore in your essay. This might not seem difficult, but it’s important to know which college essay topics to avoid. Certain topics could end up giving schools a bad first impression of you, while other topics might cause you to blend right in with other applicants instead of standing out from the competition.

College Essay Topics to Avoid

When you’re brainstorming ideas, you can narrow down your options right away by knowing what not to write in college essays. The following topics should go in your pile of discarded ideas for your college essay. Staying away from these 12 topics can give you a better chance at having your application considered instead of tossed aside.

1. Controversial Topics

Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs. These topics might provide you with a subject you feel strongly about, but your college essay isn’t the time to focus on something that’s highly sensitive or polarizing. Keep in mind that you have no way to know whether or not the person who ends up reading your essay agrees with your views. Instead of impressing them with your writing skills and knowledge, you could alienate them and hurt your chance of being accepted. If you’re going to choose a topic that you’re passionate about, make sure it isn’t considered controversial or sensitive.

2. Highly Personal Topics

College essay topics to avoid also include anything that’s highly personal or a delicate subject. For example, avoid doing an essay that provides too much detail on an illness, disability, or injury, especially a severe one. You might want to write about this kind of experience in order to emphasize how you were able to deal with it or overcome challenges related to it. While you can still consider choosing a personal challenge as a topic, it’s better to avoid writing about anything graphic or too personal, such as going into detail about a serious injury.

3. Personal Achievements and Accomplishments

Your college application should have a list of your achievements and accomplishments, such as any honors or awards you’ve received. There’s no need to make these the focus of your college essay. Writing about what you’ve achieved might seem like a great way to impress the school you’re applying to, but it can have the opposite effect. The person who reads your essay might not find it engaging or informative enough. You might also come across as bragging or boasting about your achievements. Your college essay gives schools a chance to assess you based on your writing. Handing in what amounts to a list of your accomplishments doesn’t allow you to let your own voice and personality shine through your writing.

4. Most Important Place or a Role Model

If you’re thinking of writing about a place or person who has inspired you, this probably won’t work well as a college essay topic. When you choose to write about this kind of topic, you might end up focusing too much on that person or place and not enough on yourself. Schools use college essays to learn more about those who want to become students. Submitting an essay that mainly talks about a place you find inspiring or someone you consider a role model doesn’t tell the school enough about you as a person. If you do choose the inspirational route for your college essay, make sure you focus more on how this place or person had an impact on you.

5. Creative Writing

Creative writing is one of the most common examples of what not to write in college essays. Writing your essay in a stream of consciousness style or as a poem or play isn’t likely to win you any points for creativity with the school. While it’s understandable that you want your essay to stand out from the rest, adopting a creative style rather than sticking to straightforward prose isn’t the best way to do this. You can work on impressing the school by making sure you provide engaging content in a thoughtful and well-written essay.

6. Athletic Topics

Athletic topics, such as winning a championship game as the underdog team or training hard for a competition, shouldn’t be used as a college essay topic. Student athletes especially might be tempted to choose sports as the topic of their essay, since it’s something they know well. Sports is a common topic, though, which can make it much harder for you to stand apart from the competition. Even if this is your strongest area of interest, it’s better to choose a different topic.

7. Humorous Topics or Jokes

Topics to avoid in college essays also include jokes or humor. Writing your entire college essay in a humorous tone or including a few jokes might seem like a way to make sure it’s entertaining to read, but keep in mind that humor and jokes are highly subjective. The person reading your essay might not get your humor, or they might find attempts at jokes or humor inappropriate or unprofessional. Leave this kind of content out of your essay altogether and avoid trying to achieve a humorous or sarcastic tone. Doing so doesn’t mean your essay will automatically be boring or dry. The challenge is to create an essay that’s enjoyable and informative to read without relying on humor.

8. Tragic Events

Tragic events can provide an opportunity to explore personal growth, but they’re usually very hard to write about. This depends on your own comfort level in handling this type of topic, such as losing a loved one. If you do want to write about a tragic event in your life, make sure that you keep it focused mainly on yourself. For example, use the essay to explore how the event affected you or what your thoughts were when it occurred. Handling a tragic topic in this way helps the school learn more about you rather than just reading about the details of the event.

9. Travel Experience

If you’re a well-traveled person, you might want to write all about a vacation or even a volunteer trip you took. However, travel-related college essays are another common type that might not give you a good chance to be noticed. To make a travel topic really stand out, you would need to focus on a particular part of that vacation or trip, such as meeting someone who affected your life in some way or an unexpected event or challenge that occurred. Avoid focusing on writing about a trip in general terms, since this won’t make your essay a memorable read.

10. Privilege or Luck

If you’ve had a lot of luck or privilege in life, such as growing up in a wealthy community, avoid using this as a college essay topic. Writing about how much you’ve had the privilege of experiencing in life can easily create the impression that you’re boasting. This kind of essay topic also doesn’t tell schools enough about who you are as a person or what you’re capable of accomplishing through your own skills and talents.

11. Negative Aspects of the School

This might seem obvious, but it’s best to avoid writing about anything that portrays the school you’re applying to in a negative way. Some students might consider doing a negative topic as a way to stand out or get credit for taking a risk on their essay. However, the school isn’t likely to see it this way. Spending your college essay criticizing the school you’re applying to or focusing on negative aspects of it is a surefire way to make a bad impression. This could cost you the chance to have your application taken into serious consideration.

No matter what you end up choosing for your college essay, make sure you take your time writing it. Double-check when it’s due. Give yourself plenty of time to come up with a well-written essay that reflects who you are. Creating a high-quality college essay helps put you above the competition and improves your chance of getting noticed among a sea of essays.

Thank you for reading! The views and information provided in this post do not reflect Post University programs and/or outcomes directly. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, you can find a complete list of our programs on our website or reach out directly!

Disclaimer: Thank you for reading! The views and information provided in this post do not reflect Post University programs and/or outcomes directly. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, you can find a complete list of our programs on our website or reach out directly!

It's important to feel confident in the reasons to go to college before enrolling. Learn…

Review these writing tips for students and you will be uniquely prepared to take on…

Sometimes it's difficult for college students to stay on top of the daily barrage of…

Find Your Program

Thank you for inquiring. You must be a licensed RN to qualify for entrance into this program. If you are a Registered Nurse outside of the U.S, please give us a call at 866.922.5690.

College Essay Examples: How to Write Your Story

Experts say a good college essay is one that features a student's voice and personality.

Photo of smart beautiful serious concentrated confident student, tries to find useful information in Internet, prepares for exam while sitting on floor. Girl keeps hand on head and looks thoughtful.

Students should know themselves and write authoritatively so they can share a sense of their lives with admissions officers. (Getty Stock)

No college application is complete without the personal essay, which can be daunting for many students to write.

But a few simple tips, some introspection and insight into what admissions officers are looking for can help ease the pressure. U.S. News has compiled several college essay examples that helped students get into school. Shared by admissions staff, these essays stand out, they say, because the student voices shine, helping the school get to know them.

"We're actually listening for a student's voice and trying to figure out who they would be on our campus," says Karen Richardson, dean of admissions and enrollment management at Tufts University in Massachusetts. "It's not just about the topic that a student chooses to write on, but rather, how they write about it. We encourage students to show rather than tell to help the reader get a sense of who they are."

Experts say the essay should give the school a sample of his or her personality.

"A good essay to me, in general, is one where I learn something about the student that I wouldn't learn elsewhere in the application," says Monica Inzer, vice president for enrollment management at Hamilton College in New York.

But finding their voice can be a challenge for many students, Inzer notes, because they may have limited life experience. Also, she adds, they have been writing to the instructions of high school teachers up until this point, rather than for themselves. Finding their voice means students must get to know themselves and write authoritatively, sharing a sense of their lives with admissions officers.

On its admissions page, Hamilton lists multiple college essay examples written by students admitted to the school. Though Inzer declined to single out one essay, she says that the examples offer a diverse mix of student voices and backgrounds. The essay excerpted below, with the permission of Hamilton College, shows the student's personality through a love of fly-fishing.

I kept a firm grip on the rainbow trout as I removed the lure from its lip. Then, my heart racing with excitement, I lowered the fish to the water and watched it flash away.

I remained hooked.

I caught that 10-inch fryling five years ago on Fall Creek using a $5 fly rod given to me by my neighbor Gil. The creek is spectacular as it cascades down the 150-foot drop of Ithaca Falls. Only 100-feet further, however, it runs past a decrepit gun factory and underneath a graffitied bridge before flowing adjacent to my high school and out to Cayuga Lake. Aside from the falls, the creek is largely overlooked. Nearly all of the high school students I know who cross that bridge daily do so with no thought of the creek below.

When I was a toddler, my moms say I used to point and ask, "What? What? What?" Even now my inquisitive nature is obvious. Unlike my friends, I had noticed people fly fishing in Fall Creek. Mesmerized by their graceful casts, I pestered Gil into teaching me. From that first thrilling encounter with a trout, I knew I needed to catch more. I had a new string of questions. I wanted to understand trout behavior, how to find them, and what they ate. There was research to do.

I devoted myself to fly fishing. I asked questions. I woke up at 4 a.m. to fish before school. I spent days not catching anything. Yet, I persisted. The Kid's Book of Fishing was replaced by Norman MacLean's A River Runs Through It . Soon Ernest Hemingway's essays found their place next to Trout Unlimited magazines by my bed.

I sought teachers. I continued to fish with Gil, and at his invitation joined the local Trout Unlimited Chapter. I enrolled in a fly-tying class.

There I met Ken, a soft-spoken molecular biologist, who taught me to start each fly I make by crimping the hook to reduce harm to fish, and Mike, a sarcastic Deadhead lawyer, who turns over rocks at all times of year to "match the hatch" and figure out which insects fish are eating. Thanks to my mentors, I can identify and create almost every type of Northeastern mayfly, caddisfly, and stonefly.

The more I learned, the more protective I felt of the creek and its inhabitants. My knowledge of mayflies and experience fishing in many New York streams led me to notice the lack of Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies in Fall Creek. I figured out why while discussing water quality in my AP Biology class; lead from the gun factory had contaminated the creek and ruined the mayfly habitat. Now, I participate in stream clean-up days, have documented the impact of invasive species on trout and other native fish, and have chosen to continue to explore the effects of pollutants on waterways in my AP Environmental Science class.

Last year, on a frigid October morning, I started a conversation with the man fishing next to me. Banks, I later learned, is a contemporary artist who nearly died struggling with a heroin addiction. When we meet on the creek these days we talk about casting techniques, aquatic insects, and fishing ethics. We also talk about the healing power of fly fishing. I know Banks would agree with Henry David Thoreau, who wrote "[Many men] lay so much stress on the fish which they catch or fail to catch, and on nothing else, as if there were nothing else to be caught."

Initially, my goal was to catch trout. What I landed was a passion. Thanks to that first morning on Fall Creek, I've found a calling that consumes my free time, compels me to teach fly fishing to others, and drives what I want to study in college.

I will be leaving Fall Creek soon. I am eager to step into new streams.

"It's more about the voice than anything else," Inzer says, noting an essay that is too clinical can mute a student's personality.

"You can think of the essay as the soul of the application. While we recognize that it takes years of hard work and dedication to build a strong college application over a high school career, what helps an admissions committee picture you in our classrooms, in our clubs and in our community is your own voice and perspective," says Ellen Kim, dean of undergraduate admissions at Maryland's Johns Hopkins University .

"The essay is a space for us to see that come to life. The committee isn't looking for any one thing in particular because part of what is so telling is what the student felt was important to share about themselves in that space," Kim says.

Some colleges require a supplemental essay in addition to the personal essay. Typically, admissions pros note, these essays are shorter and focus on answering a specific question posed by the college.

In some cases though, the school may emphasize the supplemental essay as a top priority. That's the case at St. John's College , which has campuses in Maryland and New Mexico, says Benjamin Baum, vice president of enrollment for the St. John's system.

"We call it supplemental, but actually, it's the most important essay that the students will write as a part of our application," Baum says, adding that it allows the school to tailor questions for applicants around topics that are academic priorities at St. John's.

Experts say supplemental essays tend to be short, but St. John's College bucks that trend, requiring a minimum of 400 words. That's because the school is interested in seeing students write at length on a chosen topic.

Baum highlights this supplemental essay on a student's love for political and legal philosophy as a strong example:

Last year in my Constitutional Law class, I fell in love with political and legal philosophy. Sexy, right?

Maybe not, but I loved the rules, the structure, and the big questions that surrounded organizing a government. I thought about these things constantly—while brushing my teeth, doing chores, and driving to school. Unable to take this beloved course a second time, I chose my senior classes with more than a touch of melancholy. I was skeptical that even the most appealing humanities class, AP Literature, would be anything but anticlimactic by comparison. I'd become so accustomed to reading the function-focused writings of Locke, Rousseau, Madison, Thoreau, that I found it difficult to see "literature" as anything more than mere stories. I wanted substance that I could actually do something with, and I didn't expect to find it in AP Lit.

Settling down to read our first assigned book, Sophocles' Antigone , I was apathetic. We'd done a pre-reading exercise earlier in class and I'd gathered that Antigone was just the sad story of a wannabe-martyr-descendant-of-Oedipus who crosses the wrong king, dies, breaks her fiance's heart with her death, leading him, and her would-be mother-in-law by extension, to suicide, blah, blah, blah. I fanned the pages with my thumb, checked the time (10:15 p.m.), and willed myself to make it through the first ten pages without falling asleep.

Rousseau's familiar skepticism of an unchecked ruler, Locke's notions of natural rights philosophy, and Thoreau's willingness to violate immoral laws. Wait—this was a literature class, and yet here was Sophocles articulating the same concerns of the Framers of the Constitution (hundreds of years before any of them were born).

Antigone has become my favorite book because it wraps political and legal theory around complex characters and a compelling narrative. Prior to reading Antigone , I assumed that if I hadn't read every book that pertained to the architecture of US government, I had at least heard of them. But I was so mistaken. Antigone proved this assumption wrong because Antigone itself was a case study in the actual consequences of ideas discussed by political philosophers. In other words, Antigonehumanized the esoteric and function-driven debates I'd studied last year. Witnessing Haemon cradle his dead fiance in his arms, then subsequently kill himself before his father's eyes, allowed me to see all of the ideas I'd spent hours considering as not purely political questions, but as human ones. Finishing the play, I was ashamed that I'd harbored such skepticism at the outset of my reading. My experience with Antigone reminds me why I get excited each time I use calculus in physics or art in cooking, and I look forward to a lifetime of making these connections.

From a compelling opening line to the emphasis on the subject matter, Baum says this example stands out because of the student's "intellectual enthusiasm." Her embrace of in-depth academic concepts signaled to the admissions team that she was a good fit for the college.

While St. Johns College may ask for more in-depth answers, other schools value brevity, challenging students to write concisely. One such example, shared by Tufts, takes the reader from the student's love of origami to a passion for science in less than 250 words.

Using a flimsy piece of printer paper, I remember folding my first paper crane. Reading instructions off a dusty origami book from my basement, my fingers fumbled with the paper, folding, unfolding, refolding, and possibly some frustration-induced crumpling. Nearly an hour later, with little creases scattered across its body and a misaligned beak, it was clear that origami wasn't a natural talent of mine.

Despite its deformities, there was an endearing quality to the bird I couldn't quite explain. After sixteen folds, it resembled the paper only in color and material. I would fold countless other designs, until my room was covered with creations from simple paper boats to intricate seven part lotus flowers.

The joy I found in origami lied in the fact that I had the freedom to invent anything; with each fold, creativity flowed through my fingers, converting curiosity of the potential of each fold into an irrepressible desire to create more. It is what motivated me to read about 2D kinematics to win a projectile motion challenge, and understand the chemistry behind qualitative analysis of cations for a lab.

Everything I could ever want to know and more is right at my fingertips. From the change in weight I feel in a moving elevator, to the chemical reactions that cause the plastic stars in my room to glow, science is a field that permeates every single aspect of life. I know my curiosity to understand the world around me nurtures my love for science.

Richardson says that the appeal of an essay on an atypical topic such as origami showed that the writer was willing to take risks.

"Origami isn't a typical topic for a college essay, but, beyond that, she showed us rather than told us about her process of making objects that didn't always turn out how she expected or wanted. Still, she kept trying. It helps us to see her as someone who would be willing to jump into new experiences on our campus. What also stands out here is the imagery she uses to get her point across – I could picture the crumpled pieces of paper on her floor and the frustration that she felt. In the end, she was able to tie her creative process making origami to her academic interests," Richardson wrote in an email.

When it comes to writing a college admissions essay – whether personal or supplemental – experts advise students to follow the same rules: find their voice, write about a topic that matters to them, share their personality, express themselves and proofread extensively. On the latter point, experts suggest students share their essay with someone who knows them well before submitting it.

Teachers, friends and parents can all be helpful proofreaders, but experts note that the student voice should remain intact.

"The essay really needs to be the student's work. I encourage students to ask people close to them to read the essay and ask 'would you know this essay is about me?' If not, it's time to rework the essay. But make sure it's still your voice," Richardson says.

Inzer also encourages students not to stress too much over the essay and put unnecessary weight on it as part of their college application . While a strong essay may elevate a candidate in a crowded field, she says it doesn't make or break an application.

"That alone won't get them in; it's their grades and hard work and lots of other things. But it might get them an extra look, especially at a highly selective place where there are lots of strong candidates," Inzer says.

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

10 Ways to Discover College Essay Ideas

College Essay

Tags: college admissions , college applications , colleges , students , education

2022-2023 Best Colleges

Search for your perfect fit with the U.S. News rankings of colleges and universities.

College Admissions: Get a Step Ahead!

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S. News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

What to Know About New NCAA NIL Rules

Cole Claybourn March 2, 2023

Facts About the Work-Study Program

Sarah Wood March 2, 2023

Intersection of Business, Human Rights

Sarah Wood March 1, 2023

College Scholarships for Your Hobbies

Cole Claybourn Feb. 27, 2023

Online Programs With Diverse Faculty

Sarah Wood Feb. 24, 2023

Avoid These 7 Scholarship Mistakes

Sarah Wood Feb. 21, 2023

Networking While You're in College

Jackson Nimesheim Feb. 21, 2023

Teacher Training for High Schoolers

Kate Rix Feb. 16, 2023

How to Perform Well on SAT, ACT Test Day

Cole Claybourn Feb. 16, 2023

How to Write a Killer College Essay – Guide

UOTP Marketing

The college admission essay is the key component of your application. It gives the admissions committee a deeper personal understanding of you which can help you get accepted.

The person in charge will most likely read hundreds of essays during the admissions cycle, all of which address similar topics, so naturally, you’ll want your essay to stand out. Keep reading to learn how to write a college essay that will help you get into your dream college.

Start Early

Starting early is one of the first tips for writing a good college essay. At school, it is common for students to turn in assignments late, even though not preferable. College admission essay deadlines, however, should not be missed at any cost.

Starting earlier allows you to go through it many more times. One draft is never enough. You should give yourself more time to experiment, edit, ask for feedback, and finalize it.

Having your college essay completed in advance also enhances your confidence that you’re sending a quality piece of writing and lets you focus on other areas of submitting your application.

Read the Application Essay Guidelines Carefully

Before you start with anything, always make sure to really go through the guidelines; don’t just skim through them. Every step will tell what you should or shouldn’t include. So, take your time to read the guidelines in detail because there is a good chance they won’t even read your application if they notice you have not followed the guidelines.

Once you are confident that you know what rules have been set, you are ready to start exploring a topic that will mesmerize everyone!

Create a Plan For Your Essay

Creating a plan is a must for a successful essay; this will help you immensely when you actually start writing your essay. A proper essay plan will make you feel more organized and less stressed throughout the process.

Brainstorm your topic ideas

Your topic is most definitely one of the most critical parts of the essay, so choosing the right one is always challenging. A simple trick is to list as many topics as possible for a set period. Don’t cringe at your ideas, and don’t underestimate them at this point. They can easily be transformed in the future and can become of great potential.

If you have no idea how to write a college essay about yourself, ask your parents or people who know you best about what they find alluring about you. Think of a time when you stood up to something you never thought you would, a good trait of yours, a skill or talent. And use the power of language to compel everyone with your writing skills!

Pick a topic

After listing everything you got, go through the ideas and eliminate those you think can’t be widened into a good writing piece. Pick something that the guidelines given in the instruction part can support. If the guidelines state a small word count, don’t choose a topic you can address in ten to fifteen pages. Instead, choose something you can elaborate on according to the word count and other instructions.

Brainstorm details to support your topic

Don’t make the mistake of writing a superficial essay! Brainstorming details to support your topic will help deepen your focus, resulting in a much better-written piece.

More specifically, you can consider the following:

You can go more in-depth as long as the details are related to your topic.

Organize everything into an outline format

If you have your mind set on the topic, the next step is starting the real deal. Creating an outline will help you put your ideas in place. Your outline can go as follows:

Introduction

It would be best to start with something that grabs the reader’s attention. After your reader is engaged, put relevant background information the reader should know. Finally, work on the thesis statement that presents your main point.

In this part, you should elaborate on your topic in depth. The paragraphs are limited to the word count. Try to be as precise as you can. Elaborate on the details by giving relevant examples for each one of them.

In the end, remind the reader what all this was about by echoing your thesis statement. Summarize your main points and end the essay with a beautiful and memorable line.

Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

The power of a strong, memorable, and attention-grabbing line or opening is unmatched. The introduction determines whether the reader will be devoted to the rest of the essay or simply skim through it. So, be wise and playful with words to make it outstanding.

Interested in pursuing a degree?

Fill out the form and get all admission information you need regarding your chosen program.

This will only take a moment.

Message Received!

Thank you for reaching out to us. we will review your message and get right back to you within 24 hours. if there is an urgent matter and you need to speak to someone immediately you can call at the following phone number:.

By clicking the Send me more information button above, I represent that I am 18+ years of age, that I have read and agreed to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy , and agree to receive email marketing and phone calls from UOTP. I understand that my consent is not required to apply for online degree enrollment. To speak with a representative without providing consent, please call +1 (202) 274-2300

We value your privacy.

If you feel stuck in this phase, focus on the other parts of the essay; you can always return to the introduction later and make the necessary modifications.

Use Your Voice And Let Your Personality Shine

The point of this essay is for the admission to get to know you more. That’s why you should remain true to yourself and what you’re describing. You can get inspired by others but be careful not to lose your voice and originality.

Be yourself, showcase your skills, and don’t go overboard with jokes because not everyone has the same sense of humor.

Stay Focused on Your Message

Remember that you are given a limited number of words to express yourself in the best way possible. Every word counts. Stick to the details you have listed when brainstorming, and don’t confuse the reader with unnecessary information because they can easily get lost.

Steer Clear of Clichés

Research other essays to see what you like or dislike. If you come across phrases that have been overly used, avoid them at all costs. The person in charge has gone through most of them, and you don’t want them to get bored. So make sure to show them that you’re creative and original.

Edit, Edit, Edit

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of editing and revising. Always start with a draft and return after giving it some rest. Let your brain rest and go back to it with a fresh perspective. Do this until you’re certain your essay is perfect and there is no need to make any other changes.

Ask Someone to Proofread Your College Essay

When writing a college essay, you should consider the audience. After having it ready, have someone read it carefully and ask for their feedback. They can notice things you did not, which will help you improve and finalize your essay. Always welcome feedback, even if it’s not sugarcoated.

The college essay helps you to impress admissions by demonstrating who you are and what you can bring to the table. It is your opportunity to demonstrate originality, depth, and unique creativity. In this article, we tried to emphasize its importance along with the best tips you can get to write a killer essay. Remember to start broad, brainstorm, and explore until you have found something that has meaning for you. Once you begin the writing process, the key is to stay focused and organized. Simply take each of the steps mentioned above into consideration, and you will get the best results.

Share it with your friends!

Explore more.

who-gets-paid-more-business-analyst-or-data-analyst

Business Analyst vs. Data Analyst: What Are the Differences?

What is a BBA Degree?

Recent resources.

How To Graduate Early: 9 Steps To Follow

How to write a research paper: the ultimate guide .

How to Choose a Career: 10 Steps to Find the Right One

What Does Human Resources Do? 12 Key Responsibilities

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

Chat with an Admissions Officer Now!

QUICK LINKS

Request More Information

How to Write About Coronavirus / COVID-19 In Your College Essay & Application

Option 2: the slightly more creative way, how to use narrative structure to describe your pandemic experience if you want it to be all of your essay, should i write about coronavirus/ covid-19 in my college essay.

This year, the Common App is including a special 250-word section allowing students to describe the impacts of COVID-19 on their lives. Here’s the official word from the Common App website:

We want to provide colleges with the information they need, with the goal of having students answer COVID-19 questions only once while using the rest of the application as they would have before to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19.

Below is the question applicants will see:

Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.

Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N

Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.

The question will be optional and will appear in the Additional Information section of the application. The response length will be limited to 250 words.

It’s worth reading from the Common App website directly , which also notes that counselors will have 500 words to detail impacts that their schools have experienced based on the pandemic.

Note: If you’re applying via the Coalition Application, you’ll also have an opportunity to add information. Learn the details here . And the advice below will apply!

So should you write about coronavirus?

On this webinar at the 14:00 mark, I asked Rick Clark, Director of Admission at Georgia Tech, this very question. His response: “How could they not!” In other words: You totally have permission to write about this.

But it also kinda’ depends on your pandemic experience.

Which of the following best describes what the pandemic has been like for you?

It’s been okay . Online school wasn’t as good as real school, but I adapted, played video games maybe a little more than usual (so my sleeping schedule was weird), and hung out with my family a little more. TBH, though, things haven’t changed (or didn’t change) too much for me.

Very negative. Coronavirus rocked my world—and not in a good way. The pandemic has led to serious hardships for my family and me. It’s been incredibly stressful, and we’re still living with some uncertainty.

Very positive. And I feel weird saying that because I know so many people have been negatively impacted. But I’ve learned some new things/felt inspired/maybe even started a new project and (maybe even) I’ve even shifted the way I’m thinking about my future!

It’s been a roller coaster (so 2 and 3). In some ways, it’s been really difficult, but in other ways, it’s been productive, and I’m learning a lot.

Do a quick self-scan: Which feels most like your experience?

And if your experience has been way too complex to fit into one of these (admittedly) overly-simplistic and reductive categories, read on.

But based on these broad categories, I’d say ...

If your life hasn’t changed too much (so A), no need to write about it.

If the pandemic has been either very negative (B), very positive (C), or like a roller coaster (D), maybe do write about it.

The questions are: Where should you write about it in your application, and how?

You’ve got options.

Where to Write About COVID-19/ Coronavirus on Your College Application?

If the school you’re applying to is on the Common App, your options include:

The special COVID-19 question (250 words)

The Additional Information section (650 words)

Your main personal statement (650 words)

Below, I’ll offer tips on how to write each one. And if the school you’re applying to is not on the Common App, check out that school’s particular application.

There’s an old saying in the musical theater world that goes something like this: If what you want to say is so important that mere words can’t capture it, you sing it. And if not even singing can capture those feelings, you dance it. (More commonly: “If you can’t say it, sing it. If you can’t sing it, dance it.”)

That’s pretty much my advice when it comes to writing about coronavirus/COVID-19 on your college application.

How to Write About COVID-19/ Coronavirus on Your College Application

More specifically, if you feel as though you need to address your pandemic experience in your college application, I’d say:

If you can fit your pandemic experiences into the 250-word COVID-19 section, do it.

If you need more space, use the 650-word Additional Information section.

If a) your pandemic experience was one of the most important things that’s ever happened to you and there’s no way it could fit in both of the sections named above, b) you believe that describing your pandemic experience is the best way to demonstrate the values/skills/qualities that you’ll bring with you to a college campus, and c) you’ve spent at least an hour exploring other topics using high-quality brainstorming exercises with a partner and still haven’t come up with any other ideas, then you might consider using the 650-word personal statement.

But keep in mind that if you do write about the pandemic in your personal statement, then you can’t use the 250-word COVID-specific section for anything else. On the other hand, if you write about the pandemic in the COVID-specific space, you can use your personal statement for …. whatever you want.

Also note that the Common App is kind of hinting that you should use the 250-word COVID-19 section so that you can use the rest of your application for other things: “ We want to provide colleges with the information they need, with the goal of having students answer COVID-19 questions only once while using the rest of the application as they would have before to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19.”

Again, I’m going to show you how to write something in each section, but can you sense which way I’m nudging you?

And btw, if you’re unsure what else to write your personal statement on, keep reading—I’ll share brainstorming exercises below.

How to Write About Coronavirus Using the Special COVID-19 (250-Word) Section on the Common App

Here again is the question you’ll see on the Common App:

Option 1: The Straightforward Way

If you did face significant challenges during the pandemic, one way to write about your pandemic experience is by using this structure:

a) Challenges Faced + Impacts on Me

b) What I Did about It

c) What I Learned

Below is an example of what this might look like. (It’s not an actual example, but was written by a former student to illustrate how you can write yours)

Example 1 (faced significant challenges):

Living in rural North Carolina, I have limited access to a consistent, high-speed internet connection. During the pandemic, my family did not have the means to upgrade to a higher internet speed and were working hard around the house trying to make ends meet. This meant I was often unable to access the internet in time to turn in assignments when they were due. It was also difficult to concentrate because our house is very small and everyone was working in close proximity.

Although I found it hard to focus on schoolwork, I communicated these problems to my family so that we could work together. I organized a rotating schedule for my parents and my older sister. We marked off the blocks of time during which we would need to be online and created a system in which only two family members would be on the internet at the same time. The people who were not busy would stay quiet indoors or go outside to talk. This made it so that the internet was faster and there was less noise inside the house.

I am proud to say that I used what I had at my disposal to make the best out of a difficult situation. The unusual conditions instilled in me the value of organization and clear communication. I found ways of adapting my work to fit new time constraints and will bring this knowledge with me to college. (240 words)

Quick Notes + Tips:

This kind of straightforward and factual tone is fine. In fact, some readers will prefer it.

Notice how the example above devotes one bullet point to each of the elements I mentioned: a) Challenges Faced + Impacts on Me, b) What I Did about It, c) What I Learned. And yes, bullet points are OK in this section.

Notice how, in the third bullet point, the author demonstrates a few values that will serve them in college and beyond: adaptability, organization, communication. For a list of values, click here .

Example 2 (did not face significant challenges):

I live in Marfa, Texas, where an important part of the local economy is the restaurant industry. Many businesses in the area were forced to shut down or operate in a more limited capacity. To support these people and their contributions to our community, I started an online blog to write reviews about the takeout my family and I ate during quarantine. I made sure to include details about how food could be ordered and what options they had for different dietary restrictions. As someone who has a very restrictive diet, I understand the importance of finding food that is healthy, delicious, and conscious of different dietary needs. I also wanted to encourage people to support their local businesses.

In addition, to keep myself physically active despite limited mobility, I created a makeshift gym in my house. I fashioned “dumbbells” out of old milk cartons filled with dirt and took an online class about weight training to build a balanced workout schedule. I even got my parents to join me once a week!

I stayed connected with friends during weekly sessions on Zoom and Discord. We often spent hours playing online board games like Bananagrams and Codenames. Because I enjoyed bonding over these games and being intellectually stimulated by the puzzles they posed, I ended up taking an online course in Python and am working on coding my first video game. (231 words)

Quick Notes + Tips:

Notice how in this example, which is not a real example either but was written for illustrative purposes, the author chooses three specific aspects of the pandemic and devotes one bullet point to each.

The author begins by describing a particular need (supporting local businesses) and what they did about it (started a blog). This demonstrates the values of leadership and entrepreneurialism—even without naming the values explicitly, which is fine.

The second bullet point addresses a separate value (health), and the author gives evidence that the impact went beyond themselves—to their parents!

Finally, the author demonstrates the value of what I like to call “curiosity with legs” (i.e., being interested in something—then doing something about it). Again, the tone is straightforward, which works well.

If this kind of straightforward, factual tone isn’t your thing, you could start with something that grabs our attention. Like this:

Example 3 (faced significant challenges):

“Jose, turn down the TV. MOM, THE STOVE WON’T TURN ON! Be quiet, I’m on a call. Zuli, have you seen the scissors anywhere?!” Life in quarantine was actually four lives squished together. The pandemic forced my parents, my older sister, and I into a space that wasn’t built for all of our preferences and professions. Living in a small, one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles meant that internet speed was often slow and privacy was minimal. We were constantly yelling, stepping on each other’s toes. Although I was discouraged, I knew that the tension in our house came mostly from fear of uncertainty, not a lack of love. I kept a level head and called a family meeting. Together, we organized a rotating schedule, marking off when we needed to be online. With this information, we created a system in which only two family members would be on the internet at any time. The people who were not busy would keep quiet or go outside to talk. In a matter of days, the internet was faster and the noise had gone down. I did what I could to make the best out of a difficult situation. The unusual conditions instilled in me the value of organization and clear communication. And I learned how to hit pause when things got intense. We’re still squished, but our love is louder than our yelling. (231 words)

Quick Notes + Tips:

Using a slightly more creative approach is also fine. In fact, some readers may find it refreshing. But note that the “slightly more creative” opening is really just 24 words long. The rest is pretty straightforward. So don’t spend too much time obsessing over this. The information you share is what’s most important here.

Notice how, in this example, the author takes the framework of the first example essay and bends it into a more cohesive narrative. It still follows the same path (i.e., identifying the challenges/effects, how you dealt with them, what you learned), but smooths the edges between those sections. It also gets a bit more creative with the intro, hooking readers with some intriguing sentence fragments. If you want to do something a little unconventional, this is a good framework you can use.

Also notice that the author still keeps all the relevant information here. It’s still crucial for her to communicate that the internet speed was slow and the house was crowded because that’s essentially the answer to the prompt. Those are challenges that will help admissions officers contextualize the author’s transcript. Remember, important information like that should be included no matter which of these formats you use.

How to Brainstorm Content for Your Own COVID-19 Response:

Use this Values List to identify 3-5 values you gained (or strengthened) during the pandemic.

Brainstorm examples to demonstrate each value (e.g., to show the value of “health” the example might be “I built a makeshift gym and designed a workout schedule”).

Write one bullet point per value. Keep it succinct, as in the examples above.

Here’s a simple Google doc template where you can brainstorm the ideas above.

How to Write About Coronavirus Using the (650-Word) Additional Information Section

First, here’s a comprehensive guide that describes what students typically use this section for. Know that writing about coronavirus in this section is also totally fine.

Next, ask yourself, “Am I sure I can’t fit everything into the 250-word Coronavirus/COVID-19 section described above?” The reason I ask that is that it’s tough for me to imagine a scenario in which your pandemic experience(s) would not fit into the space above. I suppose if you created a project that was so large in scope that you have lots of details that wouldn’t fit into 250 words, but I imagine this will apply to fewer than 5% of students. But if that’s you, then by all means, use this section.

If you do use this section, here are some general tips:

When you’re ready to brainstorm content for that section, use the simple three-step process described above where it says, “How to Brainstorm Content for Your Own COVID-19 Response.”

Probably keep the tone straightforward and factual. Value content over poetry. This is, after all, the Additional Information section.

Probably don’t write a whole 650-word essay on your coronavirus experience. Why?

a) What can be communicated in a 650-word essay can probably be communicated in 250 words in the coronavirus-specific section (see above).

b) It’s likely to be a very common essay topic (more on that below), so writing a full-length essay may lead to blending in more than standing out.

c) Again, this is the additional information (and not the additional essay) section.

Note that I say probably in the bullet points above. Could there be an exception to these tips? Something I’m not thinking about? Absolutely. If you are that exception, rock on. (In fact, email me and let me know if you feel you’re the exception, and please share with me what you wrote: [email protected] )

Again, here’s some guidance on how to use the Additional Information section in general.

How to Write About Coronavirus in Your College Essay (i.e., Your 650-Word Personal Statement)

Quick recap in case you skipped straight to this section:

Probably use the coronavirus-specific 250-word section on the Common App. That may be enough space to say what you want to say. Read the section above to see if that might be true for you.

Whatever doesn’t fit there, you can probably fit into the Additional Info section.

If you’ve read both of the sections above and you’re still feeling like you want to write about your pandemic experience in your personal statement, ask yourself if you want to devote:

Part of your personal statement to your pandemic experience (maybe because it connects to a topic you were considering anyway) or

All of your personal statement to your pandemic experience (maybe because you’ve faced extraordinary challenges)

If the answer is part (because you don’t want to potentially be defined by your pandemic experience in your reader’s eyes), I’d recommend using the Montage Structure and devoting a paragraph of your essay to your pandemic experience.

In other words, think of it as a chapter in your life as opposed to the whole book.

If the answer is all (maybe because you’ve faced significant challenges), I’d recommend the Narrative Structure .

Here’s how to write both of these, beginning with ...

How to Use Montage Structure to Describe Your Pandemic Experience in Part of Your Essay

Before you start writing about the pandemic, I’d recommend first brainstorming a variety of topics that might show different values/skills/qualities that you’ll bring with you to a college campus. You can do that using the exercises on this page in the section called “My favorite resources for brainstorming everything you'll need for your college application.” Each exercise will take you 5-20 minutes but will set you up for your entire application. In fact, you may want to bookmark that link because a) I’ll refer to it a couple of times below, plus b) the resources on that page will probably answer a lot of other college application questions you’ll have.

Once you’ve found a great non-pandemic-related topic that captures some of the magic of who you are, ask yourself ...

What was my main take-away from the pandemic?

A simple way to figure that out is to look at this List of Needs and identify 1-2 main needs that became more apparent to you during the pandemic.

Example: Maybe you realized how much you needed community . Or structure . Or contribution .

Whatever need(s) you identify, next answer: How did I work to meet that need during the pandemic?

In other words: How did you meet your need for community? Or structure? Or contribution? (Or whatever value you’ve picked.) What did you actually do ?

Once you’ve identified that, answer: What did I learn? Or how did I grow?

A great way to figure out what you learned or how you grew is to pick from this List of Values .

Try to identify 1-3 values you connected with more deeply as a result of your work to meet your needs.

Example Brainstorm:

Needs: Community + contribution

How I tried to meet these needs: Hosted a virtual open mic with my class where my peers took turns reading and sharing their pandemic experiences

What I learned: Some of my friends are really creative (or) that vulnerability can create closeness even when we can’t be together in person (or) you get the idea ...

Again, here’s a simple Google doc template where you can brainstorm the ideas above.

A Quick Word of Advice on How to Stand Out If You’re Writing About Coronavirus

Once you’ve identified a few potential (ideally, uncommon!) values, ask yourself: How could I work this idea or these ideas into the topic I’ve already thought of?

Again, make this just one part of the larger story of your life.

First, as I mentioned above, COVID-19 is likely to be a common topic this year. And while that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t write about it, I do think it’s going to be a lot harder to stand out with this topic. So, if possible, brainstorm other possible ideas using the resources above before you commit to this as your topic.

Second, check in with yourself: Are you choosing this because some part of you believes, or someone told you, that it’s “better” to write about a challenge for your college essay? BECAUSE IT’S NOT TRUE. :) You’ll find many examples of amazing essays written by students who do not discuss significant challenges. (To see some, click this link and scroll down to the “Personal Statement Examples” link.)

Having said all this, if you still feel that describing your pandemic experience is The Best Way to Show Who You Are, then I recommend this structure:

Challenge(s) I faced based on the pandemic + their impact on me

What I did about it/them

What I learned/How I grew from the experience

Important: Make sure that only the start of your essay describes the challenges and their impact on you, then most of your essay is devoted to describing what you did about it and what you learned from the experience. Why? Because your goal with the personal statement is to demonstrate skills, qualities, values, and interests. If you’re committing to COVID-19 as a topic, you’re basically saying that you feel this is the best way to show the many sides of who you are. Is that true? Is this your deepest story?

If you’re not sure, complete this Feelings and Needs exercise . You’ll find out in about 15 minutes.

If you’re certain if this is your deepest story, still do the Feelings and Needs exercise . It’ll help you create an outline that you can use to write your personal statement.

That’s what I’ve got.

Feel free to email to share examples of what you’re working on with [email protected] , as I’ll likely publish a follow-up once we get deeper into the fall.

WANT HELP writing YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CHECK OUT A FREE TRIAL OF MY STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO COURSE HERE

VIDEO LESSONS

Watch the lessons on your own or via the live option.

What should be in a scholarship essay?

Essay scholarship faqs.

While writing an essay for scholarship purposes, you need to know the format in detail that will help get more ideas. The first thing is that you have to select a topic after making a detailed study. Your essay must contain the introduction, thesis statement, body, transition, conclusion.

Apart from that, you need to write your essay which supports the thesis of your essay. Moreover, it is wise to know how to use spaces when submitting your essay. Also, you should focus more on the objective before writing an essay that will help impact a review board.

How to write it?

You should start the essay writing process early to create a well-thought-out entry. Apart from that, you need to brainstorm your ideas after creating an outline. Another thing is that you should edit proofread and edit the essay with experts to minimize errors.

If you are a new to scholarship essay, then you must understand the scholarship provider’s overall mission and purpose with attention. It is necessary to follow the instructions correctly before starting an essay. Make sure that you are honest, specific, and concise before writing an essay.

You need to paint a vivid picture of your essay instead of explaining everything. Apart from that, you should avoid too many exclamatory marks in your essay. Scholarship authorities will often look at how you overcame struggles and attained success despite the obstacles in your life.

Therefore, you should focus more on including the details in your essay to grab their attention. Getting personal will help you a lot to impress a scholarship committee quickly and seek out guidance and feedback from others before writing an essay. Avoid spelling errors and grammar mistakes while submitting your essay paper.

Start a scholarship essay

Here are some tips you should follow when you want to write a scholarship essay.

How to end it?

The conclusion part of your scholarship essay should highlight only the main points. You can even end the conclusion with dialogues. Discuss what you want to achieve in the future with clear and precise sentences. You need to explain how the scholarship will benefit your life in detail. Besides that, you should also consider adding some action and description in your essay.

Your conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the scholarship committee. Use one of your weaknesses in your essay to show your readers how you implemented them as a stepping stone. Finally, you should thank your committee while submitting an essay.

Why is a scholarship important to you?

Getting a quality education is expensive and a scholarship will help you to pay fees when you want to study in a college . Scholarships provide opportunities for accessing more colleges in your location that help select the best one accordingly. Having a scholarship can reduce the chances of dropping out of college allowing you to get a degree from your dream college without any hassles.

Employers give more preference to scholarship students and offer them good jobs with better salaries. A scholarship will help you to achieve your career goals by lowering the financial barriers to a large extent.

Review an properly before sending a scholarship essay to concerned authorities your ideas in order and start creating paragraphs for g.

+ Categories

What is a Citation and Why Are They So Important in Your College Essays?

Essays are a vital component of assessment in college and the studies before. They can indeed feel burdensome sometimes, perhaps a boulder between yourself and achieving good grades.

And in most cases, your instructors will require properly cited work to get convinced that you actually understood the concept they taught and did some further reading to prove it.

Properly cited work is part of how you convince and prove to your lecturer (as well as yourself) that you’re not just a joy-rider in class.

This said, read on to learn what you need to know about citations, including what they are and why they’re so important in college essays.

What are Citations, and Why Do They Matter?

Citations are important elements of any academic paper, especially for college essays. A citation is a way to recognize the work of others that you use to support your argument or point.

These citations provide evidence for your ideas and demonstrate knowledge within a particular field.

Including all necessary citations also makes it easier for instructors to assess and evaluate the quality of a student’s essay.

Most importantly, properly citing the sources used allows your readers to find further information if they desire more context or research-related content on your topic.

How to Create Accurate Citations in the Correct Style

Whenever you use someone else’s ideas or words, it is important to credit them with a citation.

Every field of study has its own formatting style when it comes to citing sources and creating references for documents such as essays.

It is important to familiarize yourself with these guidelines so that your citations are accurate and adhere to all of the applicable rules.

Use research databases and always include a full source list at the end of your paper, along with embedded in-text citations throughout the main body text of your essay whenever you use any information from other studies or articles.

Tips for Formatting Your Citations

It’s important to know the rules of citing and referencing correctly when creating your citations for college essays.

Start by familiarizing yourself with the different citation and formatting styles that are accepted in your chosen field, such as MLA, APA, Chicago, IEEE, Manual of Style, etc.

And if time is not on your side, or you’re not experienced in a certain formatting style, you can always use a reliable citation creator to generate references for your essay.

It also pays to avoid plagiarism when citing your work, perhaps by creating direct quotes or accurately paraphrasing information instead of rewriting someone else’s work in your own words without attribution.

The Benefits of Citing Sources in Your College Essays

When used properly and consistently throughout your paper, adding citations to an essay can provide several significant benefits.

Beyond simply avoiding plagiarism issues with educational institutions, citations are a way to provide evidence for your arguments, facts, references, and so forth when writing essays .

By helping recognize previous work on related topics done by established experts within the fields of study in question, citations can increase the readers’ trust in your information or the message you’re trying to pass across.

Quoting sources also adds credibility to your ideas, improves the flow and clarity of your written content, and demonstrates that you are knowledgeable about your field.

You can as well look at citations as a way to demonstrate your proficiency in a certain topic or field of study!

How to Avoid Plagiarism When Citing Sources

Plagiarism is a huge issue in academic writing and should be avoided at all costs, and so is self-plagiarism .

Always cite any sources (including books, articles, websites, personal interviews, etc.) that you consulted when researching your essay.

Use quotation marks to indicate verbatim words or passages of text and give credit by including the citation whenever appropriate.

It’s also advisable to check for accuracy when citing your work by cross-referencing information from other study materials.

In this case, published works of research into the topic and commentaries from subject experts can help, especially when creating an informed argument.

Citation Mistakes You Should Avoid When Doing a College Essay

When completing a college essay, it is important to avoid common citation mistakes that could lower your grade or prompt further review for possible plagiarism by instructors and peer reviewers.

To overcome such hurdles, students should avoid the use of borrowed information without citing the original source.

Other common mistakes to avoid when citing your works include:

Acing Citations: Check Your Work Carefully

When your essay is complete, it is paramount to go through it, checking to ensure that every citation is formatted properly and accurately.

Make sure to proofread your work carefully , looking for any errors or omissions of sources where you should have cited them while also double-checking to see if the formatting marries the required style or provided guidelines.

Reviewing everything before submission helps ensure that all information has been attributed appropriately throughout the entire document wherever necessary, so you can earn the much-needed points from each essay or term paper.

In conclusion, correctly citing your work in an assay can have numerous benefits. It can help you appear more knowledgeable and proficient in a subject while also helping the reader to find more information on the topic easily if they wish so.

Hopefully, the above few points will help demonstrate to your instructor and yourself that you’re an A-material as much as college essays are concerned.

Seven Ways to Make your College Essay Stand Out

Australian and American flag blended together

8 Differences Between Aussie and American Schools

Top 5 Most Difficult IB (International Baccalaureate) Subjects

Benefits of Campus Living: Do Students Living on Campus do...

hand of accounting student touching tablet

8 Reasons Why You Should Study Accounting Degrees

8 Best Essay Writing Services According to Reddit and Quora

About the author.

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.

Get Searching

Articles & Advice

Articles & Advice > College Admission > Articles

Female face on black background with eyes cut out from face looking back at self

How to Write About Yourself in Your College Essay

There's a place between humble and prideful, and it's the exact place you want to set up camp while writing your college application essays. Learn how on CX!

by Phoebe Bain Freelance Writer

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2020

Originally Posted: Oct 11, 2017

Early 2000s kids have a pretty funky paradigm when it comes to how big the ego should be. Generation Z falls right behind Millennials, who have been criticized for being overly encouraged as kids. If Millennials have gotten a bad rep for the participation trophies and such, what’s a Generation Z-er to do when it comes to trying to sell themselves to colleges?

Listen up, Gen Z: a place between humble and prideful exists, and that’s the exact place you want to reach in your college application essays. Here are five “what ifs?” of college essay humble-bragging and what to do about each of them.

If you’re afraid of bragging...

College essays are about selling yourself. If you were selling a pen, you would definitely want to talk to your buyer about the pen’s high-quality ink, super-comfy grip, and trendy appearance. You would never leave any of those amazing pen attributes out because you want the buyer to want the pen. When writing your college essays, think of yourself as the pen. Never, ever leave out something great about yourself because you are afraid of bragging. College essays are the only time you get to talk about all of the wonderful things that make you you without anyone judging you for it. So take advantage!

If you want to come off as confident…

Showing confidence in your college essays might sound tricky, but with the right anecdotes, you can fully achieve that confident aura without literally saying, “I’m confident!” If you’re passionate about something unique that you might not have mentioned in your college app thus far, write about it in the essay. Talk about the time you did an underground production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show even though you didn’t know anyone else auditioning for it. If you thought becoming a ventriloquist as a kid was really cool and eventually gave it a shot, write about it. The best way to sound confident without outright telling the reader so in your essay is to write a story that shows you are confident. That will be more than enough to sell them on you.

If you think you might sound full of yourself…

The “show, don’t tell” rule of writing applies in college essays too. For example, if you are writing an essay about your summer job, never say, “I was the best employee at the grocery store.” Rather, show that you were a great employee by telling a story about the time you caught a shoplifter or exhibited great customer service. You never need to tell the reader you are superior or the best in any way if you can show them instead.

If you feel the need to tell the reader your credentials....

There is a whole other section of the Common App where you list the leadership roles you’ve had and the awards you’ve won. You don’t need to mention them again in the essay portion unless the story you’re telling calls for it. Say you are writing an essay about the time you won a particularly interesting debate for your high school debate team—you can write about your accomplishment without sounding cocky. For instance, rather than saying “I was the best debater on my team, which is why I am captain,” you could talk about the reason you are so passionate about whatever topic you debated that day.

If you’re afraid you don’t sound like a competitive applicant…

The place for competing with what you’ve done in high school is in the rest of the Common App. The place for letting the college know who you are and what you’d be bringing to the college’s community as a person is in the essay. The best way to make yourself more competitive in the essay portion of your application is to write an essay that describes exactly who you are on a day-to-day basis rather than talking about your achievements. There are a few colleges famous for requesting applicants to pick one of their friends and have that friend write an essay about said applicant. While that type of essay might sound pretty nerve-wracking, the takeaway from the prompt is that colleges want to know what someone you hang around all the time thinks of you. Ultimately, a university is looking for a great addition to their campus, and in the case of writing a portrait of your personality in an essay, you should never have to brag, and you should have a lot of reasons to be confident in who you are.

Ultimately, the college essay is all about balance. Don’t tell the reader how great you are—show them instead. Admission officers will rarely be turned off by an applicant who wrote a great story about something wonderful they did, but they might find it a little off-putting if you call it wonderful yourself.

Looking for more college essay tips? Check out our Application Essay Clinic.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Tags: admission essays college admission college essays how to write college essays

Join our community of over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Priscilla Yeboah

High School Student

I was afraid and timid throughout my search for colleges, but I finally found the college that was fit for me and luckily I got accepted. One of the most influential things that helped me was the articles and advice on CollegeXpress. They've helped me a lot and benefited me as a senior to make the right choices in life. Thank you!

Kelly Nogueiro

For me, CollegeXpress has given me a valuable tool to use with my students to explore colleges easily beyond objective data. It helps me find colleges for students that fit their needs and wants that aren’t quite so black and white. It's a wealth of knowledge, and the Type-A side of me loves all the lists and the fact that I know they're coming from folks who know what they're talking about. I share it with colleagues and students alike, and it's always well received.

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me find the school I am currently attending by consistently sending me emails of other schools. This allowed me to do research on other schools as well as the one I am in now!

CollegeXpress really helped me by letting me know the colleges ratings and placements. They gave me accurate information on my colleges tuition rates and acceptance. They even let me know the ration between students and faculty and the diversity of the college. Overall they told me everything I needed and things I didnt even think I needed to know about my college and other colleges I applied for.

High School Class of 2023

Being a sophomore in high school, I never really worried about college. I thought it wasn't important to worry about until senior year. Through this program opportunity I came across, I realized how important it is to start looking at colleges early and start planning ahead. CollegeXpress has opened my eyes to what colleges require, what colleges are near me, and what they offer. The daily emails I get from CollegeXpress really help me look at the different options I have and what colleges I fit into. Without this website, I would not be taking the time out of my day to worry about what my future will be nor what opportunities I have. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing and useful website. It's thanks to CollegeXpress that not only me but my family now know how much potential I have in to getting into these colleges/universities that we thought were out of my reach.

Colleges You May Be Interested In

Bucknell university.

Lewisburg, PA

Pace University - Westchester

Pleasantville, NY

Concordia University Irvine

Geneva college.

Beaver Falls, PA

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

Personalize your experience on CollegeXpress.

With this information, we'll do our best to display content relevant to your interests. By subscribing, you agree to receive CollegeXpress emails and to make your information available to colleges and universities, scholarship programs, and other companies that have relevant/related offers.

Already have an account?

Not a CollegeXpress user?

Don't want to register.

Provide your information below to connect with

Frequently asked questions

How should i cite sources in a college application essay.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

Ask our team

Want to contact us directly? No problem. We are always here for you.

Our team helps students graduate by offering:

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

The Scribbr Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

How to Write a College Application Essay: Guide & Examples

Table of contents

Wonder how to write a college essay? You came to the right place. Students struggling with college admissions are often overwhelmed by lots of new information and wonder where they should start. Sounds familiar? This article will help you make an important step towards your successful enrollment! Below you can read about picking a proper topic, planning it through carefully, applying a proper format for the work you write and preparing it for submission. Stay with us and learn how to write winning texts! Need college essay writing help ? Contact StudyCrumb and get professional assistance with your application essay.

How to Write a College Essay: Tips That Work

Figuring out how to write a good college essay is just a first step. You mustn’t spend hours brainstorming ideas and spending precious time. Just stay with us and follow our guide!

Stay with us and you will find more detailed tips for writing winning essays!

Start Your College Application Essay With Something That’s Important to You

If you want to successfully write a college application essay , you should know these few tricks. The best topic would be the one you can say something interesting about. You should look for a subject that is closely linked with your life or interests, so the paper you write will captivate the audience. It can be about that one book you have read, about your encounters with some outstanding people or about outstanding situations you’ve got into.

Create a Strong College Essay Outline

Next step is creating college essay outline. It is important that you do it before composing the full-text version. An outline must include all key ideas you wish to convey to the audience. At the same time, you should make it brief. Start with your main thesis and place headings and subheadings below. Some explanations can be added for each of them, but you mustn’t write full sentences in an outline. Once done with an outline, review it carefully. Making corrections and adding important missing elements is much easier at this stage.

Write the First Paragraph of Your College Essay With a Hook

Strong first paragraph should grab your readers' attention, making them want to read more. If you wonder how to write a hook in an essay , follow these simple rules:

Create Your College Essay With Honesty and Humor

The best way of telling your story when writing college essay is telling it honestly. Show your personal views and ideas about the subject. Be yourself and write emotionally. This will help in demonstrating unique point of view on the topic. Adding some humor into the assignment is also quite a common thing. It is another way of “hooking” the audience . Don’t be afraid that college officers may dislike it – a nice and appropriate joke doesn’t hurt anyone!

Be Creative in Your College Application Essay

Showing some creativity is important when writing college application essay. Following standard templates is not necessary. Try looking at everything from an original angle. After you finish your creative writing essay , take some time for re-reading an essay, and focus on its originality. You might want to replace some sentences that sound like a cliché.

Make Your College Essay Unique and Beautiful

Your college application essay should look outstanding for those who will be checking it. Remember: an application for a school you’ve chosen is likely to be just one of many. In order to make it look very nice keep in mind the following tips:

Write a Strong Conclusion for Your College Essay

A good college essay conclusion can restate the introduction of the essay. It allows students to check themselves the structure of their work: whether all questions have been answered. It is also important that you summarize the main idea and outcomes of the paper in the end. A conclusion must be short and sound as a complete ending of the whole story, so that the reader would be satisfied. And, of course, it should respect grammar rules and follow the format requirements.

Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay

After finishing writing college essay it is crucial that you review it carefully at least two times. Typically, even a quick review of the text with a fresh eye helps in revealing some major and minor mistakes. While reviewing, you might find some places where you missed applying proper format. Sometimes you may spot a fact that needs additional proofreading. Editing your essay yourself before the submission greatly increases your chances of success.

College Essay Examples: Free and Fresh

Still unsure about your goals and wondering what to start from? Make sure that you check these college application essay examples out carefully. This will make it easier for you to come up with fresh ideas. Go on and ensure the success of that college application! The examples are available below.

College Essay: Requirements for Formatting

Wondering how to format a college essay to ensure its success? In fact, there are no strict requirements on which format to choose – unless the college you are applying to has any specific guidelines about that. If there are none, you can use APA or MLA format style, as both are perfectly fine for college essays. In case you need help with a grad school interview , we have a special blog to guide you with such a task.

How to Write a College Application Essay: Final Thoughts

So, good college essays must be creative, unique and beautiful. This would make them stand out among other applicants’ works. The topic you chose will match your own experience, - it's basically an essay about yourself, - which will make it easier for you to provide a lot of interesting information about. You should make strong statements about your own unique ideas. Use some tricks to “hook” your reader from the start. Also, keep in mind that proper formatting and careful reviewing of completed pieces of writing should not be neglected. Plan it beforehand and leave some extra time for yourself to proofread your essay before the submission – don’t allow some obvious mistakes ruin your college application!

Buy college essays online at StudyCrumb and our academic experts will make a quality out of your application essay.

Frequently Asked Questions About College Application Essays

1. how long does it take to write a college essay.

Normally it would take from 20 to 30 hours to write a college essay. You need to carefully choose a prompt, write and outline and review it, compose a draft, then complete the full text of your essay and finally to format and edit it. Better leave some time for yourself to proofread your essay the next day.

2. How long should a college essay be?

There are no strict requirements for college essay length. It depends a lot on your subject: you must provide enough details and explanations to make it a good read. However, a general recommendation is not to exceed 650 words in your essay.

3. What should you not write about in a college essay?

When you write a college essay, it is better to focus on some serious things. Avoid subjects that are just about entertainment and of course do not support any bad actions. In short, this is what you should not write about in your essay:

4. What should I write my college essay about?

You can choose from various topics for your college essays. Just remember to avoid illegal or overly simplistic subjects. Besides, always maintain a respectful tone and don’t use any profanities or slang. This will help make your reader comfortable agreeing with your ideas and arguments.

Rachel R. Hill is a real educational devotee. She prides in writing exceptional general guides while listening to every need of students.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars.

How to Format and Structure Your College Essay

←What Is a College Application Theme and How Do You Come Up With One?

How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges→

A person sitting cross legged, pointing to the text, with an abstract monitor behind them

Does your Common App essay actually stand out?

Your essay can be the difference between an acceptance and rejection — it allows you to stand out from the rest of applicants with similar profiles. Get a free peer review or review other students’ essays right now to understand the strength of your essay.

Submit or Review an Essay — for free!

College essays are an entirely new type of writing for high school seniors. For that reason, many students are confused about proper formatting and essay structure. Should you double-space or single-space? Do you need a title? What kind of narrative style is best-suited for your topic?

In this post, we’ll be going over proper college essay format, traditional and unconventional essay structures (plus sample essays!), and which structure might work best for you.

General College Essay Formatting Guidelines

How you format your essay will depend on whether you’re submitting in a text box, or attaching a document. We’ll go over the different best practices for both, but regardless of how you’re submitting, here are some general formatting tips:

If you’re submitting in a text box:

If you’re attaching a document:

Conventional College Essay Structures

Now that we’ve gone over the logistical aspects of your essay, let’s talk about how you should structure your writing. There are three traditional college essay structures. They are:

Let’s go over what each one is exactly, and take a look at some real essays using these structures.

1. In-the-moment narrative

This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you . This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue, emotions, and reflections.

Here’s an example:

The morning of the Model United Nation conference, I walked into Committee feeling confident about my research. We were simulating the Nuremberg Trials – a series of post-World War II proceedings for war crimes – and my portfolio was of the Soviet Judge Major General Iona Nikitchenko. Until that day, the infamous Nazi regime had only been a chapter in my history textbook; however, the conference’s unveiling of each defendant’s crimes brought those horrors to life. The previous night, I had organized my research, proofread my position paper and gone over Judge Nikitchenko’s pertinent statements. I aimed to find the perfect balance between his stance and my own.

As I walked into committee anticipating a battle of wits, my director abruptly called out to me. “I’m afraid we’ve received a late confirmation from another delegate who will be representing Judge Nikitchenko. You, on the other hand, are now the defense attorney, Otto Stahmer.” Everyone around me buzzed around the room in excitement, coordinating with their allies and developing strategies against their enemies, oblivious to the bomb that had just dropped on me. I felt frozen in my tracks, and it seemed that only rage against the careless delegate who had confirmed her presence so late could pull me out of my trance. After having spent a month painstakingly crafting my verdicts and gathering evidence against the Nazis, I now needed to reverse my stance only three hours before the first session.

Gradually, anger gave way to utter panic. My research was fundamental to my performance, and without it, I knew I could add little to the Trials. But confident in my ability, my director optimistically recommended constructing an impromptu defense. Nervously, I began my research anew. Despite feeling hopeless, as I read through the prosecution’s arguments, I uncovered substantial loopholes. I noticed a lack of conclusive evidence against the defendants and certain inconsistencies in testimonies. My discovery energized me, inspiring me to revisit the historical overview in my conference “Background Guide” and to search the web for other relevant articles. Some Nazi prisoners had been treated as “guilty” before their court dates. While I had brushed this information under the carpet while developing my position as a judge, it now became the focus of my defense. I began scratching out a new argument, centered on the premise that the allied countries had violated the fundamental rule that, a defendant was “not guilty” until proven otherwise.

At the end of the three hours, I felt better prepared. The first session began, and with bravado, I raised my placard to speak. Microphone in hand, I turned to face my audience. “Greetings delegates. I, Otto Stahmer would like to…….” I suddenly blanked. Utter dread permeated my body as I tried to recall my thoughts in vain. “Defence Attorney, Stahmer we’ll come back to you,” my Committee Director broke the silence as I tottered back to my seat, flushed with embarrassment. Despite my shame, I was undeterred. I needed to vindicate my director’s faith in me. I pulled out my notes, refocused, and began outlining my arguments in a more clear and direct manner. Thereafter, I spoke articulately, confidently putting forth my points. I was overjoyed when Secretariat members congratulated me on my fine performance.

Going into the conference, I believed that preparation was the key to success. I wouldn’t say I disagree with that statement now, but I believe adaptability is equally important. My ability to problem-solve in the face of an unforeseen challenge proved advantageous in the art of diplomacy. Not only did this experience transform me into a confident and eloquent delegate at that conference, but it also helped me become a more flexible and creative thinker in a variety of other capacities. Now that I know I can adapt under pressure, I look forward to engaging in activities that will push me to be even quicker on my feet.

This essay is an excellent example of in-the-moment narration. The student openly shares their internal state with us — we feel their anger and panic upon the reversal of roles. We empathize with their emotions of “utter dread” and embarrassment when they’re unable to speak.

For in-the-moment essays, overloading on descriptions is a common mistake students make. This writer provides just the right amount of background and details to help us understand the situation, however, and balances out the actual event with reflection on the significance of this experience.

One main area of improvement is that the writer sometimes makes explicit statements that could be better illustrated through their thoughts, actions, and feelings. For instance, they say they “spoke articulately” after recovering from their initial inability to speak, and they also claim that adaptability has helped them in other situations. This is not as engaging as actual examples that convey the same meaning. Still, this essay overall is a strong example of in-the-moment narration, and gives us a relatable look into the writer’s life and personality.

2. Narrative told over an extended period of time

In this essay structure, you share a story that takes place across several different experiences. This narrative style is well-suited for any story arc with multiple parts. If you want to highlight your development over time, you might consider this structure.

When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the other’s passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.

And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, “I do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely.”

Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third “submission day,” – our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines – I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only others’ perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkin’s pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.

By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends’ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.

I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity – me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind – and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.

The timeline of this essay spans from the writer’s childhood all the way to sophomore year, but we only see key moments along this journey. First, we get context for why the writer thought he had to choose one identity: his older brothers had very distinct interests. Then, we learn about the student’s 10th grade creative writing class, writing contest, and results of the contest. Finally, the essay covers the writers’ embarrassment of his identity as a poet, to gradual acceptance and pride in that identity.

This essay is a great example of a narrative told over an extended period of time. It’s highly personal and reflective, as the piece shares the writer’s conflicting feelings, and takes care to get to the root of those feelings. Furthermore, the overarching story is that of a personal transformation and development, so it’s well-suited to this essay structure.

3. Series of anecdotes, or montage

This essay structure allows you to focus on the most important experiences of a single storyline, or it lets you feature multiple (not necessarily related) stories that highlight your personality. Montage is a structure where you piece together separate scenes to form a whole story. This technique is most commonly associated with film. Just envision your favorite movie—it likely is a montage of various scenes that may not even be chronological.

Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. “Ready spar!” Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped — only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger.

There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous “Yes, sir” and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the “winners” celebrated their victory with laps as usual.

Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous.

The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrée , while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. “ Chassé en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.” I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.

There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: “You might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.” Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. It’s like being a white belt again — just in a leotard and ballet slippers.

But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesn’t falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of “Dancing Queen” that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, it’s hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.

The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappés performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable.

This essay takes a few different anecdotes and weaves them into a coherent narrative about the writer’s penchant for novel experiences. We’re plunged into her universe, in the middle of her Taekwondo spar, three years before the present day. She then transitions into a scene in a ballet studio, present day. By switching from past tense to present tense, the writer clearly demarcates this shift in time.

The parallel use of the spoken phrase “Point” in the essay ties these two experiences together. The writer also employs a flashback to Master Pollard’s remark about “grabbing a tutu” and her habit of dorsiflexing her toes, which further cements the connection between these anecdotes.

While some of the descriptions are a little wordy, the piece is well-executed overall, and is a stellar example of the montage structure. The two anecdotes are seamlessly intertwined, and they both clearly illustrate the student’s determination, dedication, reflectiveness, and adaptability. The writer also concludes the essay with a larger reflection on her life, many moves, and multiple languages.

Unconventional College Essay Structures

Unconventional essay structures are any that don’t fit into the categories above. These tend to be higher risk, as it’s easier to turn off the admissions officer, but they’re also higher reward if executed correctly.

There are endless possibilities for unconventional structures, but most fall under one of two categories:

1. Playing with essay format

Instead of choosing a traditional narrative format, you might take a more creative route to showcase your interests, writing your essay:

2. Linguistic techniques

You could also play with the actual language and sentence structure of your essay, writing it:

These linguistic techniques are often hybrid, where you write some of the essay with the linguistic variation, then write more of an explanation in English.

Under no circumstances should you feel pressured to use an unconventional structure. Trying to force something unconventional will only hurt your chances. That being said, if a creative structure comes naturally to you, suits your personality, and works with the content of your essay — go for that structure!

←What is a College Application Theme and How Do You Come Up With One?

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Why College Students Should Consider Using Custom Essay Writing Services

As a college student, you often feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do. You spend many hours preparing for lectures and studying for exams, with little time left over for your other commitments. If this is something that sounds familiar to you, then it might be a good idea to consider using custom essay writing services as part of your academic strategy.

Custom essay writing services can provide a valuable boost in supporting your studies, by providing professional quality essays with quick turnaround times and experienced writers who understand academics at higher levels.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why college students should consider using such services so they can devote more time to their studies while still delivering well-written pieces on time!

Page Contents

How Custom Essay Writing Services Can Help Students

Custom essay writing services provide college students with invaluable resources to ensure their success in the classroom. They help students craft academic pieces in a timely manner, often providing editing and evidence-based support.

A custom essay writing service is also convenient because they often offer round-the-clock customer service and free revisions, making it easy for students to get the support they need quickly when they are facing difficult deadlines.

Custom essay writing services are also experienced in creating effective outlines and helping students divide large assignments into more manageable chunks.

In addition, custom essay writing services ensure that each paper is tailored to the specific needs of each student, making them a great way for stressed-out college students to get the extra help needed for optimal academic performance.

Advantages of Using Professional Essay Writers

Professional essay writers offer students a number of advantages when writing essays. They are highly knowledgeable in academic writing conventions, have experience tackling different subjects, and can provide well-thought-out arguments and comprehensive analyses.

Not only do they bring strong writing skills to the task, but they also understand the importance of proper citation and formatting . This ensures that one’s work has its due acknowledgment and allows for accurate source checking by professors which is important for academic integrity.

Professional essay writers are an excellent choice for college students who need help meeting their deadlines or ensuring that the quality of their essays reaches the higher standards of their instructors.

Tips for Choosing the Right Essay Writing Company

Writing an essay can be a daunting task for any college student. To make the process easier, many students choose to use custom essay writing services to help them craft the perfect paper.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which service is best for you? Here are a few basic tips for picking an essay-writing company that meets your needs. First, research online reviews and customer feedback from other students or organizations who have used the company’s services before.

This will give you an indication of what kind of quality to expect and also provide insight into their customer service capability. Next, ensure that they guarantee delivery of original, non-plagiarized work and make sure they offer secure payment methods.

Finally, compare prices and services offered by multiple companies to get the best deal for the job done right. With these tips in mind, you can easily find a custom essay writing service that can provide quality papers at competitive prices!

In conclusion, custom essay writing services can be useful for students. Not only do they provide professional help with essays and other assignments, but they also have the added benefits of time-saving and stress-reducing advantages.

It is important though to take the time to choose a custom essay writing service that meets your needs and guarantees quality services. Ensure that you request examples of their work, read reviews from previous customers, and check for any guarantees for original content before signing a contract or sending payment. Taking the time to do this will ensure that you are getting a reliable service at an affordable price.

5 Benefits Of Custom Packaging For Dropshipping - 2023 Guide

What You Need to Know About College Geography

Four Tips for Home-Schooling Your Children

Why Getting a Tutor is Crucial to Getting Distinctions in Your Exams?

How Many Questions Are on The CCNA Certification Exam?

How Do You Finish An Essay When You’re Stuck?

Top 5 Signs It’s Time To Hire a Tutor For Your Child

What Is a Petty Cash Book and Why Is It Important...

Tips to Finding the Perfect Property for You and Your Family...

5 Classic Looks for Your Child – 2023 Fahsion Guide

What Are the Disadvantages of Incorporating a Business in Canada?

How Long Is The Shelf Life Of Ammunition? 7 Things To...

5 Best Mineral Supplements for Vitality and Energy – Stay Healthy

Is Sativa an Upper or Downer?

What Is the Distinction Between Common and Preferred Stock?

4 Annual Septic Tank Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

How To Write A Thesis Statement For An Argumentative Essay?

A thesis statement that clearly and concisely states your opinion on a certain topic is necessary while writing an argumentative essay. A thesis statement outlines your essay’s main contention or assertion and acts as a guide for the remainder of your work. Developing a compelling thesis statement might be difficult, but, with a clear grasp of what makes a strong thesis statement and a few helpful tips, you may create a thesis statement that clearly conveys your viewpoint. Let us know ‘How To Write A Thesis Statement For An Argumentative Essay?’.

Understanding the Purpose of a Thesis Statement

The major argument or stance that a writer will take in an essay is summarised in a succinct and straightforward phrase known as the thesis statement. It usually follows the introduction and directs the remainder of the essay. A thesis statement clearly communicates the author’s position on a certain topic to the reader, a thesis statement is essential in an argumentative essay. It establishes the essay’s tone and directs the writer’s argumentation. A strong thesis statement gives an argumentative writing focus and direction.

Because it presents the main argument or position that the writer will be defending throughout the essay, a thesis statement differs from other types of statements in an essay, such as topic sentences or supporting phrases. It offers a clear direction for the remainder of the essay and is more concentrated and detailed than other assertions. Other forms of statements, including topic sentences, bolster the writer’s argument by supporting the thesis statement with proof and analysis.

Choosing a Topic and Taking a Position?

An argumentative essay topic selection demands serious thought. The subject should be disputed and open to various interpretations. In addition, the author should pick a subject that they are knowledgeable about and are passionate about.

In an argumentative essay, it’s crucial to take into account a variety of viewpoints on the subject at hand. By foreseeing and responding to potential objections, the writer can create a stronger argument.

An argumentative essay must take a firm stance on the subject at hand. In order to back up their claims and persuade the reader to accept them, the writer should provide proof and logical reasoning. The writer should also make sure that their thesis statement is precise and targeted, rather than excessively wide or imprecise, in order to take a clear and compelling stance. This will make it clearer to the reader what the writer is arguing and what evidence they will cite to back it up.

Identifying Your Main Points

The complexity of your argument and the length of your essay will determine how many primary points you should include in your thesis statement. In general, it’s preferable to limit your thesis statement to two or three primary themes. By doing this, you’ll be able to elaborate on your points without giving the reader too much information. Make sure each key point is specific, pertinent to your subject, and supports your argument as a whole.

Crafting a Clear and Concise Thesis Statement

Making your argument overly generic, incorporating unrelated information, and not taking a firm stance on the subject are some typical errors in thesis statement writing. Avoiding these blunders can help to guarantee that your thesis statement is precise, succinct, and successful in directing the remainder of your essay.

Examples of Effective Thesis Statements

Analyzing compelling thesis statements in previously written essays is one method of learning how to create a thesis statement that will work. This might help you comprehend the qualities of a strong thesis statement and how to use powerful language and organisation in your own writing.

Finalizing Your Thesis Statement

Conclusions .

The major argument or point of view of the author should be stated in a clear and succinct manner in the thesis statement of an argumentative essay. As a guide for the remainder of the essay, it should also include the key ideas that support the argument.

- Will you write my paper for me? - Yes, we will.

What we offer:, let’s write a paper for you in no time, follow these 4 simple steps and solve you problem at once.

Provide details such as your topic, the number of pages, and extra requirements, and we’ll do a paper for you in no time!

Log in to your personal account to know the current status of your paper(s). You can also turn to our support team for the same purpose. Enjoy your life while we're working on your order.

As soon as we write the paper(s) for you, check it for correctness, and if everything is good to go, just download it and enjoy the results.

Our customers’ feedback

Still hesitant just look: others have already used our services and were pleased with the results.

Thank you guys for the amazing work! I got an A, and my professor was impressed. You have done the impossible, and I will never forget your help! The best service ever!

I ordered my paper two weeks ago and received it on time. The quality is very good, much better than other companies provide. My support agent is a pro, fast and simple explanations. Thanks!

I am firmly convinced that you will never disappoint me because you haven’t done it before. Amazing approaches and solutions at perfect prices! Please continue working the way you do!

I’ve been using WritePaperFor.me for about five months, and I have nothing to complain about. Excellent quality, perfect grammar, delivery on time, nice support team, pleasant prices, amazing results.

This service helped me focus on my job, and I will never forget the support I received. I’ve got a promotion in the end! Thanks a lot for everything you do for people like me!

I have to admit that searching for a reliable and professional service was a tough quest. Nevertheless, I am happy that I managed to find writepaperforme! Everything is much better than I expected!

The best bargain is just a few clicks away!

Get an original paper that doesn’t cost a fortune!

Still have questions?

Contact our support agents and let them help you!

Is it time to write a paper for you? Contact us and relish the highest academic performance!

Our professionals will do their best!

You’ll write my paper for me, won’t you? We certainly will!

So tired of writing papers that you’re starting to think of your professor’s demise? Relax, we’re only joking! However, even a joke is woven with the thread of truth, and the truth is that endless assignments are constantly nagging at you and keeping you up all night long.

‘Writing my papers is unbearable!’ you may think But you’re not alone… What if we told you that we know a magical place where professionals can write your essays so perfectly that even professors’ most sophisticated requirements will be met? You’ve probably already guessed that we’re talking about WritePaperFor.me — the most delightful, facilitating, and destressing custom paper-writing service!

We are not going to be shy about our wish to see you as our steady customer. As a result, we aren’t twiddling our thumbs but permanently improving our services; we carefully select writers who always bone up on their subjects and disciplines, and we won’t rest unless you’ve gotten your ideal paper(s). All your wishes become our unshakable rules!

Why would I ask you to write paper for me?

Despite the obvious and even natural resistance to the idea of paper writing in principle that may occur with any student, you may also ask yourself, ‘Why would I need you to help me write my paper?’ The answer to this question lies in the spectrum of your routine actions. It’s not surprising that studying becomes part of our lives, but sometimes we’ve just got too much going on!

When you write an essay or academic paper, you just do one of the numerous things you face daily or weekly. This part of your life consumes lots of energy and time, so how can you possibly get around to doing other things like having fun, working, playing sports, helping relatives, and spending time with friends?

People are social creatures, and it’s only natural of us to request help from experts.. That’s why we ask doctors, electricians, or plumbers to help us! They’re all specialists. Who writes essays for you better than you do? Right, people who write numerous essays every day. We are experts in academic writing, aimed at satisfying all your needs related to education.

You just hire a professional to get a paper written, like you normally do in other situations. Our team of writers know everything about writing your paper and can cope with assignments of any complexity and academic level. Well-researched and expertly-written papers are what we do for our customers, and we always do our work professionally so that you could kick back and enjoy your life to the fullest.

The undeniable benefits of our custom paper-writing service

Apart from a paper written in accordance with the highest standards, we provide a wide range of contributory advantages to make your life easier. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Round-the-Clock Support. Our paper-writing service works day and night to help you with all current issues. Our friendly support team is available whenever you need them, even if it’s the middle of the night. They will gladly guide you and answer all your questions on how to order customized papers or consult you about the matters at hand. Feel free to share your questions or concerns with them and get comprehensible answers.

High-Class Quality. ‘Will you write a paper for me that meets all requirements?’ This question is frequently asked by many students, and we always answer in the affirmative. Our main goal is to deliver a perfectly written paper the meets the highest possible writing standards. We don’t rest unless you are satisfied with our work. If you hire a paper writer online, we guarantee you that you get 100% original and plagiarism-free assignments of high quality.

Complete Anonymity. We value your privacy and use modern encryption systems to protect you online. We don’t collect any personal or payment details and provide all our customers with 100% anonymity. ‘Can you write a paper for me and let me stay anonymous?’ Of course, we can! We are here to help you, not to cause problems.

Fast Delivery. We completely understand how strict deadlines may be when it comes to writing your paper. Even if your paper is due tomorrow morning, you can always rely on us. Our writers meet all set deadlines unequivocally. This rule is ironclad! The offered range is wide and starts from 6 hours to 2 weeks. Which one to choose is totally up to you. On our part, we guarantee that our writers will deliver your order on time.

Free Revisions. Our mission is to hone your paper to perfection. That’s why we offer you free revisions to make everything ideal and according to your needs. Feel free to ask for revisions if there is something you would like to be changed. That’s how our paper writing service works.

Money-Back Guarantee. You can get up to a 100% refund if you are dissatisfied with our work. Nevertheless, we are completely sure of our writers’ professionalism and credibility that offer you hard-core loyalty to our guarantees.

Comprehensible Explanations. ‘Can someone write my paper for me and provide clarifications?’ This question arises from time to time. Naturally, we want you to be totally prepared for the upcoming battle with your professor. If you need to fill the gaps in your knowledge, you can always ask for clarifications related to your paper. Moreover, when you order ‘write my paper for me’ service, you can always turn to our support agents for assistance. They will be glad to provide you with the necessary information and comprehensible explanations.

Fast and Customer-Focused Solutions. ‘Is it possible to do my paper for me so that I don’t worry about it at all?’ It certainly is! We offer all-encompassing solutions to all your academic problems by defining issues, determining their causes, selecting proper alternatives, and ultimately solving them. You are free to do your favorite activities while we are taking care of ongoing matters. You can always rely on us when it comes to essay-writing online and taking an individual approach to every case.

Who will write my paper when I order it?

Another crucial advantage of our service is our writers. You may have asked yourself, ‘I’d like to pay someone to write a paper for me, but who exactly will that person be?’ Once you order a paper, our managers will choose the best writer based on your requirements. You’ll get a writer who is a true expert in the relevant subject, and a perfect fit is certain to be found due to our thorough procedure of selecting.

Every applicant passes a complex procedure of tests to become one of our permanent writers. First of all, they should provide their credentials. We need to make sure that any prospective writers we hire have the proper experience.. The next step resides in passing a series of tests related to grammar, in addition to subject and/or discipline. Every paper-writer must pass them to prove their competency and their selected field of expertise.

One more step includes writing a sample to prove the ability to research and write consistently. Moreover, we always set our heart on hiring only devoted writers. When you ask us to write your essay or other academic works, you can be sure that they always do their best to provide you with well-structured and properly-written papers of high quality.

The final chord is related to special aspects of academic paper-writing. It means that every writer is prepared to cite properly, use different styles, and so on, so you don’t have to be worried about formatting at all.

‘So, can they write an ideal paper for me?’ We answer in the affirmative because we select only the best writers for our customers. Approximately 11% of all applicants can pass the whole set of tests and are ready to help you. All writers are fully compensated for their work and are highly motivated to provide you with the best results.

We are online 24/7 so that you could monitor the process of paper-writing and contact us whenever necessary. Don’t forget that your satisfaction is our priority. Our writers fully focus on your order when it comes to the ‘write my paper’ procedure. Our managers will immediately send all the information to your writer if any corrections are required.

It’s time to write my paper! What should I do?

‘I am ready to pay to have a paper written! Where do I start?’ Our team hears these words every day. We really believe that every student should be happy. That’s why we offer you to look at the simple steps to make the process even more convenient.

Every paper we can write for you is expertly-researched, well-structured, and consistent. Take a look at some types of papers we can help you with:

Questions like ‘I would like you to write a paper for me without destroying my reputation. Can you promise to do so?’ or ‘Can you write my paper for me cheap and fast?’ often arise, and we take pride that these options are included in the list. Your safety and anonymity are parts of our common priority, which is to make you fully satisfied with all offered services.

Moreover, our pricing policy is flexible and allows you to select the options that totally suit your needs at affordable prices. You will be pleased with the results and the amount of money spent on your order. Our managers and writers will do the rest according to the highest standards.

Don’t hesitate and hire a writer to work on your paper now!

We believe that students know what is best for them, and if you suppose that it is time to ‘write my paper right now,’ we will help you handle it. ‘Will you do my paper without any hesitation?’ Of course, we will. Our service has all the necessary prerequisites to complete assignments regardless of their difficulty, academic level, or the number of pages. We choose a writer who has vast experience and a breadth of knowledge related to your topic.

Our ‘write my paper for me’ service offers a wide range of extra features to make the ordering process even more pleasant and convenient. Unlike lots of other services, we provide formatting, bibliography, amendments, and a title page for free.

‘When you write my paper for me? Can I monitor the process?’ Naturally, you can. We understand that you may want to ensure that everything is going well. Furthermore, there may be situations when some corrections are needed. We believe that a tool like this can come in handy. The assigned writer will strictly follow your and your professor’s requirements to make sure that your paper is perfect.

‘Is it possible to write my essay from scratch?’ We don’t do just proofreading or editing. Our goal is to fully carry your burden of writing. When this or similar questions appear, we always assure our customers that our writers can do whatever they need. Apart from writing from scratch or editing and proofreading, our experts can effortlessly cope with problem-solving of all kinds;even sophisticated software assignments!

Our ‘write my paper for me’ service is good for everyone who wants to delegate paper-writing to professionals and save precious time that can be spent differently and in a more practical way. We want you to be happy by offering the great opportunity to forget about endless and boring assignments once and forever. You won’t miss anything if your papers become the concern of our professional writers.

Don’t waste your precious time browsing other services. We provide you with everything you need while you are enjoying yourself by doing things you really enjoy. ‘Write my paper then! Do my paper for me right now!’ If you are ready to exclaim these words with delight, we welcome you to our haven, a place where students spend their time serenely and never worry about papers! It’s your turn to have fun, whereas our mission is to provide you with the best papers delivered on time!

Questions our customers ask

Can someone write my paper for me.

Yes, we can. We have writers ready to cope with papers of any complexity. Just contact our specialists and let us help you.

Who can I pay to write a paper for me?

We will help you select a writer according to your needs. As soon as you hire our specialist, you’ll see a significant improvement in your grades.

Can I pay someone to write a paper for me?

Yes, you can. We have lots of professionals to choose from. We employ only well-qualified experts with vast experience in academic paper writing.

What website will write a paper for me?

WritePaperFor.me is the website you need. We offer a wide range of services to cover all your needs. Just place an order and provide instructions, and we will write a perfect paper for you.

Is it safe to use your paper writing service?

Our service is completely safe and anonymous. We don’t keep your personal and payment details and use the latest encryption systems to protect you.

What are you waiting for?

You are a couple of clicks away from tranquility at an affordable price!

- Will you write my paper for me? - Yes, we will.

What we offer:, let’s write a paper for you in no time, follow these 4 simple steps and solve you problem at once.

Provide details such as your topic, the number of pages, and extra requirements, and we’ll do a paper for you in no time!

Log in to your personal account to know the current status of your paper(s). You can also turn to our support team for the same purpose. Enjoy your life while we're working on your order.

As soon as we write the paper(s) for you, check it for correctness, and if everything is good to go, just download it and enjoy the results.

Our customers’ feedback

Still hesitant just look: others have already used our services and were pleased with the results.

Thank you guys for the amazing work! I got an A, and my professor was impressed. You have done the impossible, and I will never forget your help! The best service ever!

I ordered my paper two weeks ago and received it on time. The quality is very good, much better than other companies provide. My support agent is a pro, fast and simple explanations. Thanks!

I am firmly convinced that you will never disappoint me because you haven’t done it before. Amazing approaches and solutions at perfect prices! Please continue working the way you do!

This service helped me focus on my job, and I will never forget the support I received. I’ve got a promotion in the end! Thanks a lot for everything you do for people like me!

I have to admit that searching for a reliable and professional service was a tough quest. Nevertheless, I am happy that I managed to find writepaperforme! Everything is much better than I expected!

The best bargain is just a few clicks away!

Get an original paper that doesn’t cost a fortune!

Still have questions?

Contact our support agents and let them help you!

Is it time to write a paper for you? Contact us and relish the highest academic performance!

Our professionals will do their best!

You’ll write my paper for me, won’t you? We certainly will!

Why would I ask you to write paper for me?

The undeniable benefits of our custom paper-writing service

Apart from a paper written in accordance with the highest standards, we provide a wide range of contributory advantages to make your life easier. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Who will write my paper when I order it?

It’s time to write my paper! What should I do?

Every paper we can write for you is expertly-researched, well-structured, and consistent. Take a look at some types of papers we can help you with:

Don’t hesitate and hire a writer to work on your paper now!

Questions our customers ask

Can someone write my paper for me.

Yes, we can. We have writers ready to cope with papers of any complexity. Just contact our specialists and let us help you.

Who can I pay to write a paper for me?

We will help you select a writer according to your needs. As soon as you hire our specialist, you’ll see a significant improvement in your grades.

Can I pay someone to write a paper for me?

Yes, you can. We have lots of professionals to choose from. We employ only well-qualified experts with vast experience in academic paper writing.

What website will write a paper for me?

WritePaperFor.me is the website you need. We offer a wide range of services to cover all your needs. Just place an order and provide instructions, and we will write a perfect paper for you.

Is it safe to use your paper writing service?

Our service is completely safe and anonymous. We don’t keep your personal and payment details and use the latest encryption systems to protect you.

What are you waiting for?

You are a couple of clicks away from tranquility at an affordable price!

IMAGES

How to Write a College Application Essay
How To Write A Good College Essay Intro. When To Start Writing College Essays
College Essay Format
How to Write Essay in 2019
FREE 9+ College Essay Examples in PDF
Top Writing College Essay Examples Pics

VIDEO

Writing in Present or Past Tense
EASIEST WAY TO WRITE COLLEGE PERSONAL ESSAY
Should You Write A Disadvantaged Essay?
How to Write a College Essay: Step 5
Pray Hear Write: Back to the Basics with Jevon Bolden
How To Write A Check To Yourself

COMMENTS

What Should I Write My College Essay About? How to Brainstorm + Examples
Here's a useful way to understand and reframe college essay topics: Essentially, your "topic" (e.g. Home or Light) is just an excuse— your topic is always you. Who you are, what you value, what you bring to a campus and community. So this is the place to fill in the gaps by being personal and specific.
How to write a college essay that wows
What should a college essay have? A clear beginning, middle, and end Your personality, front and center A logical flow that shows how you think A moment of reflection that shows what's important to you Perfect spelling, grammar, and formatting How to begin writing your college essay. Test scores matter.
What Should I Write My College Essay About?
You can ask - what one should write about in a college essay to make your answer noticeable in the sea of similar stories. It all begins with the choice of a suitable topic. It will help you describe your experience in a capacious and sincere way and demonstrate the ability to compose beautifully.
21 College Essay Topics & Ideas That Worked
Here's a list of essay topics and ideas that worked for my one-on-one students: Essay Topic: My Allergies Inspired Me After nearly dying from anaphylactic shock at five years old, I began a journey healing my anxiety and understanding the PTSD around my allergies.
How to Format a College Essay: Step-by-Step Guide
For a college essay using Narrative Structure, you'll focus the word count roughly equally on a) Challenges You Faced, b) What You Did About Them, and c) What You Learned (caveat that those sections can be somewhat interwoven, especially b and c). Paragraphs and events are connected causally. You've also seen montages before.
15 College Essay Writing Tips From Top School Advisors
8. Start early. Prioritize your early applications to avoid burning out. Writing multiple essays can be overwhelming, so it's best to pace yourself and avoid procrastination. 9. Don't plagiarize or let your parents heavily edit your essay. Colleges want to get to know the real you, not a perfect piece of writing.
10 topics to avoid in a college admission essay
1. Listing accomplishments. You might be the most amazing person on the planet, but nobody wants a recitation of the wonderful things you've done, the people you've encountered and the places...
How to Write a College Transfer Essay (With Examples)
Research your prospective school (e.g. specific classes, organizations, opportunities) for why you want to go there. Make sure to follow the standard/correct essay format! Transfer essay prompts may vary from college to college so you should make sure that you're answering the exact question.
10 College Application Essay Dos and Don'ts
Instead of reinforcing a top activity or interest, write about something that reveals another dimension of your life or personality. If your top activity is swimming, don't write about the big championship meet. Find something else that reveals something new and that shows you put a lot of thought into your essay.
Mention depression in your college essay? (yes or no)
In case you wish to mention depression in your college essay here are some reasons why you should: It impacted your high school experience. Your academic performance suffered. To explain a gap year or period. You wish to highlight how you overcame it. To show how you turned your weakness into your strength.
How to Start Your College Admissions Essay
5. Open up in grand style. There are multiple ways for you to open up your essay. For example, you could start off with a compelling anecdote or an interesting hook. Sometimes, starting in medias res (Latin for "in the middle of things") make the perfect opening for "your story.".
College Essays: Write Ones That Get You Admitted
A college admissions essay, often taking the form of a personal statement, is a brief document through which you demonstrate why you're the right fit for admission to a particular college or university. Think of it as the cover letter to your college application—your transcript shows which courses you've taken and the grades you earned in ...
11 Topics to Avoid in College Essays
You can work on impressing the school by making sure you provide engaging content in a thoughtful and well-written essay. 6. Athletic Topics Athletic topics, such as winning a championship game as the underdog team or training hard for a competition, shouldn't be used as a college essay topic.
College Essay Examples: How to Write Your Story
When it comes to writing a college admissions essay - whether personal or supplemental - experts advise students to follow the same rules: find their voice, write about a topic that matters...
How to Write a Killer College Essay
The college admission essay is the key component of your application. It gives the admissions committee a deeper personal understanding of you which can help you get accepted. The person in charge will most likely read hundreds of essays during the admissions cycle, all of which address similar topics, so naturally, you'll want your essay to stand out. Keep reading to learn how to write a ...
How to Write About COVID-19 In Your College Essay & Application
How to Write About Coronavirus Using the Special COVID-19 (250-Word) Section on the Common App. Option 1: The Straightforward Way. Option 2: The Slightly More Creative Way. How to Write About Coronavirus Using the (650-Word) Additional Information Section.
What should be in a scholarship essay?
in College. While writing an essay for scholarship purposes, you need to know the format in detail that will help get more ideas. The first thing is that you have to select a topic after making a detailed study. Your essay must contain the introduction, thesis statement, body, transition, conclusion. Apart from that, you need to write your ...
What is a Citation and Why Are They So Important in Your College Essays
Essays are a vital component of assessment in college and the studies before. They can indeed feel burdensome sometimes, perhaps a boulder between yourself and achieving good grades. And in most cases, your instructors will require properly cited work to get convinced that you actually understood the concept they taught and did some further ...
How to Write About Yourself in Your College Essay
The "show, don't tell" rule of writing applies in college essays too. For example, if you are writing an essay about your summer job, never say, "I was the best employee at the grocery store.". Rather, show that you were a great employee by telling a story about the time you caught a shoplifter or exhibited great customer service.
How should I cite sources in a college application essay?
If you've got to write your college essay fast, don't panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages. Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.
How to Write a College Essay: Tips for Success
Write in a good, clear and concise manner so that your points would be easy to understand. Create Your College Essay With Honesty and Humor The best way of telling your story when writing college essay is telling it honestly. Show your personal views and ideas about the subject. Be yourself and write emotionally.
How to Format and Structure Your College Essay
1. In-the-moment narrative. This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you. This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue ...
Why College Students Should Consider Using Custom Essay Writing
Custom essay writing services provide college students with invaluable resources to ensure their success in the classroom. They help students craft academic pieces in a timely manner, often providing editing and evidence-based support. ... With these tips in mind, you can easily find a custom essay writing service that can provide quality ...
How To Write A Thesis Statement For An Argumentative Essay?
Depending on the style of argumentative essay you are writing, different thesis statements will be more or less effective. For instance, "Education is the key to a successful future and should be accessible to all" would be the thesis statement for an essay about the value of education.
What Should You Write In A College Essay
What Should You Write In A College Essay. 2640 Orders prepared. phonelink_ring Toll free: 1 (888)499-5521 1 (888)814-4206. REVIEWS HIRE.
How should your personal statement? #college #essay # ...
Schedule your free 15-min consultation here:https://aliimad.com/contact/
What Should You Write About In Your College Essay
It is up to you to choose the right specialist for your task. Make an educated choice by reading their bios, analyzing their order stats, and looking over their reviews. Our essay writers are required to identify their areas of interest so you know which professional has the most up-to-date knowledge in your field.