Crafting the ‘ write’ statement
MOST selective colleges require you to submit an essay or personal statement as part of your application.
It may sound like a chore, and it will certainly take a substantial amount of work. But it’s also a unique opportunity that can make a difference at decision time.
Admissions committees put the most weight on your high school grades and your test scores.
However, selective colleges receive applications from many worthy students with similar scores and grades. So they use your essay ( along with your letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities) to find out what sets you apart from the other talented candidates.
Telling your story
So what sets you apart? You have a unique background, interests and personality. This is your chance to tell your story ( or at least part of it). The best way to tell your story is to write a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you. Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through.
Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of essays, most of which are forgettable. Many students try to sound smart rather than sounding like themselves.
Others write about a subject that they don’t care about, but which they think will impress admissions officers.
You don’t need to have started your own business or spent the summer hiking the Appalachian Trail. Colleges are simply looking for thoughtful, motivated students who will add something to the first- year class.
The mechanics of a stellar college essay
Write about something that’s important to you. It could be an experience, a person, a book – anything that has had an impact on your life.
> Don’t just recount – reflect. Anyone can write about how they won the big game or the summer they spent in Rome. When recalling these events, you need to give more than the play- by- play or itinerary.
Describe what you learned from the experience and how it changed you.
> Being funny is difficult. A student who can make an admissions officer laugh never gets lost in the shuffle.
But beware. What you think is funny and what an adult working in a college thinks is funny are probably different. We caution against one- liners, limericks and anything off- colour.
> Start early and write several drafts. Set it aside for a few days and read it again. Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer: Is the essay interesting? Do the ideas flow logically? Does it reveal something about the applicant? Is it written in the applicant’s own voice?
> What you write in your application essay or personal statement should not contradict any other part of your application. This isn’t the place to list your awards or discuss your grades or test scores.
> Answer the question being asked. Don’t reuse an answer to a similar question from another application.
> Have at least one other person edit your essay. A teacher or college counsellor is your best resource. And before you send it off, check, check again, and then triple check to make sure your essay is free of spelling or grammar errors.
Should you apply early action vs early decision?
You’ve put together your list of dream, match and safety schools, and there’s one that makes your heart beat a little faster. Should you prove your love by applying early? Many colleges allow applicants to submit their materials for an early deadline ( sometime in the fall) that falls before the regular deadline ( usually sometime in January or February).
Advantages of applying early:
Some students and high school counsellors believe that applying early decision gives them better odds of acceptance, but the truth is early acceptance rates and admissions standards vary from school to school.
You can find early decision application numbers and acceptance rates for many schools in its Best Colleges book, and don’t be afraid to ask an admissions counsellor at your dream school directly about their early admission practices.
There is a ( potential) disadvantage to applying early, however. You may not have the opportunity to compare financial aid packages offered by other schools.
If you’re sure that you’ve found your best- fit school, you know it’s one you want to attend, you’re a strong candidate for admission, and you know that you can afford the tuition fee, go ahead and apply early decision.
That is a whole lot of research and comparison to have done by fall of your senior year, though, and if you’re uncertain about any of those factors, you’re not alone. Keep your options open by applying early action, or by the regular deadline.
Advice:
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