Writing Your College Essay: tips from the people who read them

It’s time to sit down and write your college essay. Hopefully, you are not in a state of last minute panic, but you are probably a bit nervous and wondering how you can make your essay different from all the rest. Don’t be nervous! The college essay is a great way to show the admissions committee who you are and what you can bring to their school.

College essay questions come in many forms, but they can generally be broken down into 3 categories:

1. The Why You Essay
2. The Why Us Essay
3. The Creative Essay

The Why You essay is exactly what it sounds like, why would you be a great asset to the college? An example of a Why You essay question, taken from the Common Application, is: “Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.” Think about what you would like us to know that can’t be found on your transcript or resume.

The Why Us essay is about the college to which you are applying. Make sure to research the college before writing this type of essay. An essay about your desire to study at a major research university in the heart of a metropolitan city will make an admissions counselor from a small, rural, liberal arts college wonder why you are applying to their school.

The Creative essay allows you to show yourself off in a unique way. An example of a creative essay question, taken from the Common Application, is: “Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.” A writer can have a lot of fun with this type of question.

As you are writing and editing your essay, please keep the following in mind:

1. Answer the question. Applicants tend to write what they think the colleges want to read or may use one essay for several applications. Make sure the essay you are submitting reflects the essay question of the college to which you are applying.

2. Make it interesting. Admissions counselors can read 30 to 50 applications a day. Make your essay the one we pass around the office.

3. The admissions committee can learn a lot about you in 1-2 pages. We know you want to share a lot, but a 10 page autobiography isn’t necessary.

4. Have your essay read by a few people whose opinions you value. Your school counselor, English teacher, parents or even an older sibling are great choices. This also requires having plenty of time for editing, so don't wait until the last minute!

5. Remember that spell check does not catch everything. Keep your eyes open for typos and grammatical errors.

6. If referring to the college to which you are applying, make sure to send the right essay to the right college! We understand that you are applying to many schools, but we never like to see a competitor's name in one of our essays.

Most importantly, have fun! Writing your college essay is not as daunting as it seems. Just remember to start early, write thoughtfully, and never hesitate to ask for help.

Happy Writing!

We All Scream for Ice Cream

- surviving (and enjoying) the college admissions process -

Completing the college admissions process is a lot like making an ice cream sundae... yes, it can be fun!

The Ice Cream:

For your base, you have numerous resources (or flavors) to choose from:

Your School Counselor: Be sure to talk about…

1. what you’re looking for in a college (How far from home do you wish to be? Do you prefer urban, suburban, or rural? Do you want a big school? Or small? What do you want to study?)
2. your senior courses
3. who will write your recommendations
4. important deadlines

College Guides & Websites:

U.S. News and World Report: Best Colleges
Princeton Review: 368 Best Colleges
College Board
http://www.siena.edu/
http://www.rusiena.com/

The Hot Fudge:

College Visits: Just like hot fudge visits should be fun!
1. Make appointments with different schools. We recommend that you start during the spring of your junior year. Remember, in the summer, college students are on break. So plan spring and fall visits for an accurate impression of the school.
2. Set aside three hours per visit: One hour for an interview with an admissions counselor, one hour for a tour of campus, and one hour to visit the bookstore, have lunch in the cafeteria or visit something further.
3. Pick up materials and take notes of things you want to remember.

For more tips, see Nikki’s last blog, “The College Visit”.

The Whipped Cream:

1. Keep gathering information, like whipped cream, the more you have the better.
2. Start working on your college essay.
3. Attend college fairs and make contacts with admissions counselors (always ask for their business card).
4. E-mail or call the colleges if you have questions.
5. Keep an eye on all application, financial aid, and scholarship deadlines.

The Sprinkles:

1. Start filling out applications and requesting letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of notice along with your resume or activity sheet.
2. In November/December, request your high school transcript and your SAT or ACT scores from the respective testing sites to be sent to all of the college you are applying to.
3. Make sure to fill out any additional components required by that college to complete your application. If you use the Common Application, you may have to fill out a school-specific Supplement.

At the end of the sprinkle process your applications are completed and submitted!

The Candy Toppings:

1. Follow-up with the colleges you applied to. Make sure your application is complete.
2. Continue to still work hard in school. Senior year counts!!

And finally… The Cherry!

1. Your acceptance letters arrive as early as November and through March. Congratulations!
2. Re- visit the schools you’ve been accepted to.
3. Complete the FAFSA and any other financial aid paperwork. The FAFSA should be filed between January 1 and February 15 of your senior year.
4. Take advantage of online chats, accepted student web pages and read your mail.
5. Keep working hard – your grades still count!

6. Prepare for a great four years ahead!

Need help staying organized? Print our College Planning Calendar & Checklist:

Conducting a College Search: Timing is Everything.