The structure of your college application essay is one thing that you must be conversant with before you embark on writing.
The application essay itself is certainly the most important part of your application.
It’s where you’ll tell the admissions committee why you’d be a great fit for their school and what sets you apart from other applicants.
But how do you structure an effective essay?
Here are some tips for writing a college essay that will help admissions officers see your true potential:
Section: Start with a topic sentence
Section: Write about something that matters to you
Section: Avoid writing about yourself
Section: Don’t include too many details on personal topics (examples from my own experience). Instead, focus on your values and why they matter to you
Show your excitement about the college/program.
- Show that you have done some research.
In this section, you can show that you have already done research about the program and its location. You should also explain why it is a good fit for you and why this college or program will help develop your skills in certain areas.
- What is interesting about the program?
This is an important question to answer because it shows how much thought went into choosing where to apply, as well as what makes them special—and different from other schools on campus or elsewhere in the world!
If possible, try finding someone who has been accepted into their desired field at this school (or another similar one) so they can give firsthand accounts of what life there is like during their first year studying together under one roof; this could inspire others thinking about applying there themselves later down the road!
Define yourself when you structure a college application essay
The first thing to do is define yourself.
This can be one of the hardest parts of writing an essay, but it’s also one of the most important ones.
You want your essay to show how unique you are, what makes you different from everyone else who has written their college application essays before.
When we talk about defining ourselves, we mean:
- Be specific about what makes YOU unique and interesting! Don’t just say “I love soccer and hiking”—that’s generic enough for anyone who might read your application (and no one will care). Instead, explain why those activities interest YOU personally as a person; why they make up part of who YOU are today and where YOU want to go in life (or even just “into”).
Let your personality shine.
When writing your college application essay, you should be yourself.
If you’re not who you are and what interests you, then why would anyone else want to read your essay?
It’s also important not to try too hard—or at least, not too much—to write like someone else.
It’s okay if your personality isn’t as dynamic or interesting as other people’s; just don’t pretend that it is! Instead of writing about things that interest only one person in the world (like me), share something about yourself that appeals to readers on a larger scale.
For example: “I love reading,” or “I’m passionate about animals.”
And don’t worry if some parts of this section seem boring or unoriginal: They won’t be picked up by admissions counselors anyway!
Tell what you know about the program and give concrete reasons for wanting to study there, other than its name or ranking.
Write a paragraph that explains why you want to study at the school.
For example, if you’re applying for an engineering program, talk about how you are interested in pursuing a career in engineering and why it is important for your future goals.
You could also write about how similar courses at other colleges have helped shape who you are as a person.
If it’s possible, include examples from your own experiences that show how these skills will be useful in this field (e.g., writing an essay on how much time was wasted when trying to write “The End” as opposed to simply typing ‘The End’).
Don’t say anything negative about yourself.
- Don’t say anything negative about yourself.
- Don’t be afraid to show your weaknesses.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments and experiences, even if they weren’t great or perfect.
- And finally, don’t be afraid to talk about your failures—they can help you learn more than anything else!
Write in a way that lets your voice and personality come through.
The most important thing you can do to make your application essay stand out is to write in a way that lets your voice and personality come through.
While it’s tempting to use canned phrases or quotes from other people, this can make you sound like a robot rather than an individual with a unique perspective on life.
Instead of using yourself as an example of someone who has overcome challenges in their life, try writing about something that makes sense for you—like what inspired the creation of one of your own projects or why helping others is important to you (aside from getting good grades).
You don’t need any fancy words or metaphors—just be honest and genuine when describing how things really are!
Proofread and edit, but don’t overdo it! If a student asks you to read his or her essay, do so and make suggestions, but don’t rewrite it. Most admissions officers can tell a canned essay from one that’s genuine.
When you’re editing, avoid the following:
- Use too many words and sentences. You should know what you have to say in only one sentence or two.
- Avoid jargon and obscure vocabulary that only experts would understand (and won’t impress the admissions officer).
- Be too formal or informal at the same time—it’s confusing! If your essay is on a first-person perspective, be sure not to use “I” too much; it can sound like bragging if used too often…or like boasting if not used enough (which happens sometimes).
A college application essay should be unique to you, but there are ways to structure it so it will be a strong essay.
You should not try to sound like someone else.
The college application essay is your chance to present yourself as the person you want to be, and if it doesn’t reflect who you are now, then why would they want to accept your application?
You need to be honest with yourself about why studying at the school will benefit your life.
If it’s because of a connection with one of its professors or teachers, for example, then let that come through in your essay.
If there are specific courses that appeal most strongly and seem like they’ll help prepare me for my future goals (and please note: I’m not saying this is true), then mention those too—but only briefly so as not give away too much info too quickly!
Conclusion of How to structure a college application essay
The most important thing is to keep in mind that your essay should be original, personal, and authentic.
It should be something that only you can write about.
And it’s also good practice for future essays because you will use the same techniques in future essays!