Taking the time to write a great college essay can make the difference
Dear Mr. Bradshaw,
I have been checking out university websites as I prepare for the college application process next fall, and I am a little confused about the essays. Most colleges require a personal essay, but some of the more selective colleges require several additional essays. Some of them are limited to 150 words or even to just 120 characters. Are these shorter essays important? Or are they just fill-in-the-blank type questions about which I don’t have to worry?
Signed,
About to be Applicant
Dear About to be Applicant,
The short essays make a big impression. They are important and you should take them very seriously as they count for 25% of your overall application. It is said that a well-written essay can capture the authenticity of an applicant better than any other part of the college application. Colleges need more than one way to evaluate you, so they produced a series of short essays. Each one is assigned a numerical score. These scores are then tallied, along with the rest of the application — grades, test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities. Together, they make up your overall evaluation. This what the admissions staff uses when they vote to admit or reject you. Believe it or not, the short essays help colleges identify what admissions committees call “noncognitive traits.” These include such intangibles as leadership ability, toughness of character and creativity.
Many colleges today follow the format of the Common Application and require two essays.
The first is the short-answer essay: “Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experience.”
This is the one you pointed out as being limited to 150 words. Admissions officials are looking for personality traits that go beyond grade-point averages and standardized test scores.
If you take the time to write a great essay, it should improve your odds of getting in. But if you write a boring essay, regardless of whether or not it is well-written, you run the risk of rejection — even with top grades and test scores. The main essay on the Common Application is the personal essay. This one allows a maximum of 650 words. You can write a good story without fear of leaving something out that is critical for them to know about you — difficulties overcome, prizes won, special research that led to your interest in computer science, for example. Remember, you must make it interesting. It is not meant to be a valedictory speech filled with lofty (but vacuous) imagery. Essays are your only chance to plead your case directly to the supreme court of the admissions committee — and jump over the heads of references, interviews and all the other paperwork that will fill up your folder. The key is that the personal essay must be written persuasively by you. It is undoubtedly the most important writing you will do, since it will have a direct bearing on your admission so don’t outsource it — admissions counselors can tell. I know students who have been rejected when the only discernible reason was a poorly written essay. Above all, avoid preening before the admissions committee. Don’t come across as overly intellectual or an egotist. Even though they are optional, if you have top SAT or ACT scores, now is not the time to trumpet them. Many top students fall prey to this affliction. Colleges prefer reading about you as a person; they already know how smart you are from your transcripts.
Keep in mind, colleges have been known to overlook less than-stellar academic qualifications if the applicant writes a compelling essay. I spend a lot of time driving home this point to my clients.
Another danger lies with seniors who become bored filling out the application and wait until the last minute to complete the essays.
Smart students take advantage, plan ahead as you are doing and write a masterpiece.