Writing An Admission Essay For College Or University

By Jon Ginsburg

One of the most challenging aspects of applying for colleges and universities is writing the admissions essay. Long a standard requirement for graduate schools, this is a relatively new addition to the undergraduate application package. Many students faced with writing a short essay about themselves and their suitability for the college of their choice can feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to even begin.

Rather than seeing the admission essay as an obstacle, look at it as a way to sell yourself and to share the aspects of you and your life that aren’t apparent on your CV, transcript or application form. This is a place where you can highlight what makes you the ideal candidate for your preferred school, and when well written, it may well be what sways the opinion of the admissions committee.

With a little research, you’ll find that it is possible to get a pretty clear idea of what each school would like to know. Some provide a question or topic, or a list of questions you can choose from, which others simply give a broad outline and leave it open.

Check the application documentation and be very clear about what you are being asked to write about, as well as the length and style, and any information about formatting or anything else the college deems important. You can also check the college website, as many have tutorial pages giving further information on how to write specific essays, including an admission essay. Use all the information that is provided – this shows that you can do research and follow directions.

When you start writing, consider what approach you will take. Try to find something that will make you stand out, whether it is a tone, a theme or an approach that may be different from the norm. It is important to be yourself, and not sound like someone you aren’t – this is all about you, right down to the narrative voice. Even if editing is needed, try to retain your own voice in the final copy.

When you are finished, do a final read-through with all the requirements in mind. Check that you haven’t written too much (or too little), pay attention to details, and if needed, find another person to proofread as well, so that you end up with the very best representation of yourself that you can have.

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