I have five GREAT Tips for Starting your College Essay!
Our personal statement (or other essays discussing your personal life) should start by introducing key factors of who you are that are relevant to the essay. Remember, college essays are the place for colleges to get to know you!Â
Although it may seem tempting to write one essay about why you want to attend college and send it to every school, this strategy isn’t likely to get you far. Essay readers can tell when applicants write a general essay, and this may make it seem like you failed to make an effort. Instead, acknowledge specific characteristics of the school.
The list below shows how several of these essay prompts may differ. For example, a University of Central Florida prompt encourages applicants to write about themselves. In contrast, the and New York University provide prompts that ask about what students find interesting about the schools.
Should I title my college essay?
“Why this college” essays are not always as straightforward as simply answering the question “Why do you want to study with us?” Colleges and universities often ask particular questions, hoping to see how students respond to a prompt and follow instructions.
Admissions officers look for several points when evaluating “why this college” essays. They want to know about a student’s interests, values, and goals. They also look for students who demonstrate genuine interest in the school.
Colleges and universities don’t ask students to write a “why did you choose this college” essay just so they can hear compliments about the school. These essays serve a specific purpose: to help you convince admissions committees that you’re a good fit.
When it comes to , one common type of prompt deals with “why this college.” This essay gives applicants the opportunity to share their knowledge of the school and demonstrate why they belong there.
How many paragraphs should a college essay be?
Letâs take a look at some good opening sentences for college essays that worked! These examples of how you can begin your essay are from our and actually got people into college using the methods above.Â
How long should my college essay be?
Your college essay's introductory paragraph sets the tone for the rest of your essay because it is the first thing the admissions officers will read. It's, therefore, a great opportunity to stand out and make your application memorable.
How (and why) to outline your college essay to use a good structure
Before we look at some real-life examples of successful college application essays, a last piece of advice is to not start writing your essay at the beginning. Starting your essay halfway through your story can be confusing yet impactful if done correctly. Then, you can include the beginning of your story in paragraph 2.
Q: How do I transition between examples so my essay “flows” well?
You certainly can. However, you need to do this carefully. You should avoid very popular quotes about hard work or education as that usually sounds cliché. Furthermore, your quote needs to be related to the overall topic of your essay.
How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques
In Olivia's essay about her father's role in her life, the pivot discusses his importance by explaining his deep impact on her values. Olivia has spent the story part of her essay describing her father's background and their relationship. Now, she is free to show how without his influence, she would not be so strongly committed to "personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments."
How to Write a Great College Essay Introduction
So, if you're stumped and don't know how to start a college essay, consider googling jokes about your future major, future profession, or one of your hobbies. There are a surprising number of puns and funny statements that can help inspire you and that you can use to start your essay. That is, if they relate to your topic, of course. You can also think back to any funny experiences you've had or try to think of something funny about where you grew up, for example.