college application essays tips

Writing a college application essay is no small task. Your essay is what gives you a voice in your application, and lets a college see who you are rather than just your grades and test scores. Due to this, you’ll want to take the time to craft your essay to make it as engaging and reflective of you as you can. To help you get started and guide you through the process, we talked to Dr. Robin Boren, consultant and owner of The College Doctor, LLC. Boren gives tips for all stages of writing your college application essay.
She covers essay topics, structure, endings, and resources you can utilize. Boren also gives insight into what college admissions officers are looking for when they read your essay. If you’re having trouble getting started or staying focused, check out our video below for help and inspiration.

The essays can be the most important components of your application.
It’s a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Test scores only tell part of your story, and we want to know more than just how well you work. We want to see how you actually think.

Many students trip over common obstacles in their college application essays. For example, many students can’t see beyond the superficial prompt to construct an essay that positively communicates their personality and passion. Some students rehash their activities and achievements without adding the personal flavor, perspective and substance that admissions officers look for. Learn how to avoid these and other damaging traps.
As an independent college admissions consultant, I read many application essays and see many common application essay mistakes. Here’s some helpful advice:

References:

http://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/essays-that-worked/
http://inlikeme.com/19-common-application-essay-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/
http://blog.getintocollege.com/tips-for-writing-college-essays/