1. How to impress readers with your essays
Essay Writing
How to impress readers
with your essays

2. What Kinds of Essays? Common App or Main Essay Short Answers
Personal Statements
Why School X?
Scholarship Essays

3. Essays should communicate 3 things
How well you think
How well you write
Who you are
Not just a summary of “what you did”

4. Common App Essay Show them something new about you Use your own voice
Be Unique
Start with a “hook”
Focus on a very brief moment - go “deep”, not “broad”
Use specifics when you describe

5. What to Write About Experience you learned from
Experience that changed you
Experience or moment that defines you
Something unique that happened to you
Not Death
Not Divorce
Not Disaster
Careful with travel
Nothing $$ can buy
Don’t blame others
Careful with sports - “I was the hero” essays

6. Short Answer Choose your topic very carefully
It should show a different side of you
Be clear and concise
Don’t go over the word limit

7. Personal Statement
Discuss anything about you that is not explained in the rest of your application
Examples:
How your year abroad affected your education
Why you were disappointed with your responsibilities as Class President
What you like to do in your spare time
Your relationship with your friends or family
Your education and/or career goals
The statement should be a “quilt” of the many interesting aspects of who you are

8. Why your school? Do research!
Come up with several very specific programs, classes, or unique characteristics you like
Explain why you would fit in well with the community on campus
Don’t get the college’s name wrong!

9. Scholarship Essays Choose wisely - you can’t do them all
Take your time and write your best
Get feedback from parents/friends/teachers
Tailor your essay based on the type of scholarship

10. Essay Examples
Piano Recital
Drive to Church
Track Race/Grandpa