Tips on Writing a College Admissions Essay
By Heather Graber Stinson
Media Officer, St. Lawrence University
We've all been there—sitting in front of a computer, staring at a blank screen.
The cursor blinks, waiting for you to type something brilliant. The more you
think about it, the more your brain seems to freeze up.
Relax. Writing a college essay can actually be fun. It's a chance for you to
show an admissions committee who you are and what you have to offer. Be funny,
sad, abstract or literal, but, above all, be creative and be yourself! Here are
a few tips to help you through the process:
Don'ts
-
Don't put too much pressure on yourself
Writing your college essay is an important task to be taken seriously, but have
some fun. Start early and think of it as an opportunity to strut your stuff,
not as a chore to get over with.
-
Don't tell – show
An essay with lots of description is more interesting and will hold a reader's
attention longer. Writing about wrestling an alligator is pretty
interesting—throw in some descriptive phrases about what the experience looked,
felt and sounded like to make it stand out that much more.
-
Don't write an essay on something you think
an admissions committee would want to hear
It's important to the college folks that you write a thoughtfully prepared
essay. It's very clear who believes in what they're writing and who doesn't.
-
Don't submit your essay until you have had
someone else (or several someone elses) proofread it
Having a few extra pairs of eyes looking over both your essay and your
application can help catch those little mistakes that you might miss (like
misspelling your name or sending your "Why I Love the University of X" essay to
College Y - you'd be surprised how many times that happens!).
Do's
-
Do brainstorm
When settling on an essay topic, sit down with a piece of paper and write down
every idea that comes to mind, no matter what it is. One of the items might
trigger a brilliant idea for your essay.
-
Do bring your unique perspective and qualities to the essay
Show multiple sides of yourself. If you're very active in your school's
marching band and your talent for playing the trombone is mentioned throughout
your application, write your essay on your butterfly collection. Let the
admissions committee know what makes you different.
-
Do stay true to yourself
Everyone has his or her own writing style – what's yours? Follow basic rules of
grammar, etc., but let the voice be your own. Have someone else read your essay
and ask them if it sounds like something you'd write or say. If not, go back to
the drawing board. This particular piece needs to be about you, written by you.
Let your voice be heard!
-
Do spend time on your essay
It's a very important component of your application and taking the time to do a
good job and write a strong essay will pay off in the end.
About the School
St. Lawrence University is
a private, independent, four-year, liberal arts and sciences university located
in Canton, NY with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,100 students.
Because of its close proximity to both the Adirondack Mountains and to the
Canadian border, St. Lawrence’s location plays a large role in the education of
its students. St. Lawrence offers a wide range of interdisciplinary courses and
encourages students to take advantage of its diverse curriculum and
co-curricular offerings. Do visit
www.stlawu.edu
for more information!