As you trot towards the finishing line of your high school education, one of the lingering thoughts in your mind will be the college application process. For most students, this process starts early, including studying for their standardized tests and application essays. The staple requirement for most colleges and universities is passing the standardized tests, which can include SAT and ACT, and writing a compelling application essay.
Writing essays at the college level differs from the high school level. This juncture is more important as what you write will determine whether or not you get placed in your college of choice. When drawing up an essay, there is a basic structure that involves the introduction, body, and conclusion. These are not the only tips you must follow for the perfect application essay. Here are six tips on how to write an essay that increases your chances of placement.
Understand the Topic/Question/Subject
The starting point of any essay writing endeavor is the prompt. With college application essays, there is a prompt that should be the central theme of whatever you are writing. These prompts are given to direct your general line of thought. Reading and understanding the topic is essential before starting your paper. If you plan to hire an application essay writing service, you should explain what you want them to write. The nature of these prompts is that you can write on something that is essentially personal to you.
The prompt exists to direct you, but in most cases, it doesn’t limit your topic options. For example, one of the most common topics is to write about something that affected you from your experiences. Such a broad topic could be satisfied by focusing on any life experiences, whether positive or negative. Regardless of the topic, first, analyze it and make sure you grasp what it demands from you.
Choose a Thoughtful Title
As one of the tips for writing your application paper, you should consider choosing a reflective title. Remember the title is the opening line of your paper. It should show the readers what to expect, yet it should be cryptic enough not to reveal everything. The title is what draws them in, leaving the introductory paragraph to lock in your readers. Most students struggle with the title because they write it first, even before they start their introductory paragraphs.
One of the ways that you could have an enticing title is if you write it last. At the beginning of your writing, it is hard to understand what path it will follow. Writing the title after you have the final copy will enable you to design a reflective title that alludes to the content of your essay. Regardless of the same, before you start, you could have a rough copy of the title to guide your line of thought.
Use your Inner Voice
A college essay, especially the application one, entirely focuses on you. The panel going through your written work will look for your voice in what you have written. This means they are more interested in who you are as a person rather than how you write. Though grammar is a paramount necessity in essay writing, sometimes it can take the back seat as they evaluate the contents of your paper. It is helpful to channel your inner voice so the admissions officer can view who you are.
When it comes to writing with your inner voice, most students may think this is all about writing in the first person. Using your inner voice means applying your values and beliefs critically in dealing with the topic of your paper. You will find that most admission officers prefer compositions that have stories from personal experiences and insights learned from the same.
Write Now, Edit Later
Even the most proficient essay writers will find that the college essay writing process involves more stages than one. It is common for students to feel inadequate when it comes to tackling the essay writing part of their college application. The reason behind the same is that they feel that their work is poor. One of the most helpful tips for writing a paper is to start the writing process. Not everyone can get the perfect paper on their first try, which is what editing is for.
Once you write, it is easier to come back and check for grammar errors and any overstuffed information. Your first draft should serve as the skeleton of your final copy. After you write it that first time take time to go through it and see how you feel about its contents. Is it satisfactory? What would be the reader’s impression of you after the read? You can start editing by removing and adding anything you feel makes it better.
Keep Track of the Length
Any college essay that serves as an application has a given word limit. Admission officers typically have to go through thousands of applications hence the word limit. You should have the given number as you write at the back of your head. The number determines how much information you are supposed to give. It is always better to stay a few words short of or past the word limit. Also, refrain from writing too many words above the limit, as this may cause your paper to be disqualified from the list.
Get Feedback
Considering the importance of your application essay, it is always advisable to have someone else read your final copy. You could show it to a teacher, a mentor, or even your parents. The option of hiring an essay writing service is also available to conduct a rigorous composition analysis. This activity aims to get other people’s views of the content, the title, and whether they satisfy the topic.
After receiving the feedback, you can choose to incorporate it into your final copy or not, depending on what you want. It is better if you seek feedback from more than one person to get different opinions of your writing.
Finale
College applications are a big deal for any high school student. Most of them find coming up with an application essay quite challenging. The idea of it can be intimidating. The essay you write is part of the elements that help get you a position in the college or university you want. With the above-discussed tips for writing, you can develop a reflective topic and write a good paper. Remember, writing from your inner voice, beliefs, and attitudes is the most crucial aspect.
