This is a college essay that worked for .
The best word I see in college essays is "realize." That's the whole point of the college essay—to realize something about yourself that you never took the time to do until now.
Need inspiration for your Common App personal statement? Click below for instant access to 25 full-length example essays including advanced breakdowns of why they resonate with admissions committees.
Along with the individually tailored research projects and the housing opportunity, there were seminars on public speaking, trips to the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and one-on-one writing seminars for the end of the summer research papers we were each required to write. By the end of the summer, I wasn’t ready to leave the research that I was doing. While my research didn’t yield definitive results for the effects of curcumin on cervical cancer cells, my research on curcumin-functionalized CoFe2O4/TiO2 core-shell nanoconjugates indicated that there were many unknown factors affecting the HeLa cells, and spurred the lab to expand their research into determining whether or not the timing of the drug delivery mattered and whether or not the position of the binding site of the drugs would alter the results. Through this summer experience, I realized my ambition to pursue a career in research. I always knew that I would want to pursue a future in science, but the exciting world of research where the discoveries are limitless has captured my heart. This school year, the REU program has offered me a year-long job, and despite my obligations as a high school senior preparing for college, I couldn’t give up this offer, and so during this school year, I will be able to further both my research and interest in nanotechnology.
This is a college essay that worked for .
Gain instant access to 25 exclusive full-length examples covering all seven prompts, plus comprehensive analyses for each to help you craft stellar essays.
We’ll look at an example essay in a minute, but before we do, a word (well, a bunch of words) on how to build a stronger montage (and the basic concept here also applies to building stronger narratives).
Here is a secret that no one in my family knows: I shot my brother when I was six. Luckily, it was a BB gun. But to this day, my older brother Jonathan does not know who shot him. And I have finally promised myself to confess this eleven year old secret to him after I write this essay.
The next step in how to write a college essay is putting together a clear structure that will help your essay flow and make it easy for admissions committees to follow your story.
This is a college essay that worked for .
You can usually find school-specific essay prompts on the college’s admissions website. Most colleges release their prompts in the summer by August, giving you time to brainstorm and draft your essays before the application deadlines in the fall. Be sure to keep an eye on these deadlines, as they can vary significantly from school to school, and check if there are any additional required.
This is a college essay that worked for (WashU).
It's often the last idea that makes the perfect topic for the college essay because you finally start to dig deeper about who you are.
Resist the temptation to buy the “best college essays” book
Once you’ve reflected on your personal experiences, it’s time to choose a topic that will showcase the best parts of who you are. You can use this topic for essays that do not have prompts and weave it into some of the required essay prompts.
Check out these outstanding college essay examples
But the same is true for college essays, as Orwell doubtlessly would have realized if he were reanimated and handed him a sheaf of Common Applications. The sad truth is that most college application essays are not very good. When I say they are “not very good”, I mean they are either boring, impenetrable, melodramatic, or all of the above.
What do I do for a college essay?
Be vulnerable and show emotion. Remember that college adcoms are people, not robots reading an essay to make sure you’ve ticked all the boxes for a particular university. Showing some vulnerability or emotion in your writing can make your story come alive for the reader.
What are the most important things to write your own college essay?
The college essay, not the supplemental essay, is still the best place to celebrate your race, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic background.