How important are college application essays?
Applying to American college these days has much in common with giving the JEE examinations. The process is complex, the stakes are high, and there are complicated answers to what seem like simple questions.
This is an easy question: How important are grades? Very. Top grades are necessary but not sufficient to get into selective colleges and universities. BUT, how important are the essays in the application process?
In 2014, Time published an article where they concluded: “No matter how gorgeous your prose is, you can’t get into college based on the strength of your essay alone.”
Or in the words of more than one admissions officer: “A good essay can heal the sick but not raise the dead.”
After working with many hundreds of students on their application essays, and reading thousands of articles, and essays, I can offer a more nuanced answer to this exasperating question!
And there’s this: Essays play different functions for different students. If you’re applying to the most selective colleges without a stellar academic & extracurricular record, great essays are not going to do much in your selection to a college.
But if you’re applying to less selective, small colleges and you have a less than stellar application, several terrific essays can make more of a difference.
Large state universities – because of the huge applicant pools – often rely much more on grades and scores, at least for the first cut.
They might just disqualify applicants who don’t meet the numerical criteria.
Private colleges and universities tend to be more holistic and examine the student’s entire record, including recommendations.
It’s obviously wise to aim high in writing the personal statements and do a good job! Reading your essay should give admissions officers an insight into what it would be like to have a conversation with you.
What makes you tick. What makes you, you.
The idea of the admissions essay is to tell admissions officers something that isn’t represented anywhere else on the application.
The essay should reveal something about your true passions, interests, and goals while giving a taste of your personality.