Most college essays are so full of crap you could plant a forest in them. Write an essay that reads, write and rings true. For this purpose you will need:
- Time to think and write
- Writing material (a pen, paper or computer)
- Somebody you trust
Follow the steps outlined below in order to write a good application essay:
- Think of something that makes you unique and pick a subject that no other applicant could possible write about. It could be your background (maybe you grew up as the only child of two magicians or it could be a personal experience – the more unusual, the better).
- Ask your friends and relatives what makes you special. This could be embarrassing especially if they don't respond, but it could also help you identify something you hadn't considered.
- Once you've picked the subject write the first draft of your essay. Don’t worry about making it perfect, just get your thoughts on paper. You should avoid gimmicks. Admission officers have seen them all. For example, don't write your essay from a perspective of your pet.
- Read over your essay. Then read it again, aloud. Does it sound like you? Cut out unnecessary sentences, paragraphs and adverbs.
- Find a couple of good editors – English teachers, relatives or anyone whose opinion you trust and who will be honest what does and does not work.
- Make the revisions you’ve agreed with and when you are done review your essay carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes. Otherwise, a perfect essay can be ruined by sloppy typos.
Send it off and relax. Nobody will be planting a forest in your crap.
