Valuable Tips for Advanced College Essay Writing

College essay writing can be much easier, if you follow our tips and constantly improve your competencies. We are here to help you with your college work!

Useful Tips to Make Your College Essay Writing Better

As the number of college program applicants increases, colleges become more selective in their application decisions.

College essay writing is one of the primary criteria for choosing a strong and competent applicant. You may feel it is difficult to do; however, do not take it as a torture. More often than not, you will have to complete a significant burden of work to write a paper. However, you will also feel how rewarding it is to be able to do it on your own. Do not forget the truth – grades are important, but they are not everything. You are much more than your GPA. In the meantime, with a college essay, you can reveal the hidden facets of your personality and finally create a truthful, realistic picture of yourself. You can reveal your talents and share what you think with the rest of the world. This is why college essay writing is so important, and this is why it is part and parcel of the college application process. The application is designed to encourage you to showcase your abilities and writing skills. The admission committee expects that you will take it as an opportunity to describe your personality the way you feel you should. Our experts have developed a set of useful tips to assist you in this process. Follow this line to start writing a strong application essay. Train your brain and decision-making before you become a college student, and we know that you have everything for it!

College essay writing involves numerous steps, from brainstorming a topic to finalizing the draft. Here, you will find the simplest recommendations to improve your results.

Getting Started

No, it has not simply to sit down and start to write. It is much more than that, but do not be afraid of difficulties. In reality, getting started is much easier than you think. Writing an essay is practicing how different words mix to create a meaningful story. To get started, you will have to present a general idea of your essay. You will also need to have a basic outline to guide the entire process. Do not hurry. Take your time. You will need to devote much of it at each step of the writing process. Take it seriously. Do not underestimate the value of competent help. If there is someone to support you in these activities, never reject their help. It is your chance to shine through the darkness!

Start Early

The basic, and most common advice, is that you start to write as early as you can. However, it does not work with college applications. Remember that you must follow the instructions provided by the college of your choice, and they will not publish these requirements before September. Then, you will have time until at least December or early January to submit the product of your writing. The best you can do is finalizing your application package before Christmas holidays so that you can devote yourself fully to celebrations!

The most difficult is to ensure that you write what you mean. You should be confident about what you want to share and what you want to keep inside. These things often impede college essay writing. This is why you should take some time to understand what you are going to do. With the idea being clear, you can proceed to write the first draft.

6 Key College Essay Types

 
Narrative essay

Here, you are developing and sharing a story. Use first-person pronouns.

 
Descriptive essay

Here, you create a realistic and bright picture of an event, an experience, an object, etc.

 
Expository essay

You “expose” an important topic, using your ability to research and systematize knowledge.

 
Persuasive essay

You state your position and use evidence to persuade the audience that you are right.

 
Argumentative essay

You argue using evidence and personal experiences to prove the point.

 
Analytical essay

You evaluate something, such as a book or an experience.

Keep These Simple Things in Mind When Developing an Application

As a future college student, you will encounter dozens of issues in college essay writing, whether it is an application paper or a regular piece of college writing. Sometimes, you may wait until the last minute to add interesting details to your paper. At other times, you will rewrite and rework the original paper before you are able to fit in 500 or 600 words. This will showcase your ability to tell more with less. All admission committees want to see that applicants possess advanced skills and flexibility needed to write brilliant papers. You will learn how to prioritize and choose the most important things for your paper.

Again, it usually takes 500 words to write a college application paper. The quality of that paper will be a life versus death for you. It will mean acceptance. Or it will mean rejection. Because you spend days and weeks writing your application, rejection may be too painful to live through. This is why it is important to be you. This is why it is important to be objective no matter what. Do not try to please the audience. Be passionate. Be honest. Be empathic.

Imagine that you are sharing some sacred experiences with someone who cares. Follow these tips to speed up the process:

  • Begin with brainstorming. Choose what you want to discuss.
  • What you write is usually less important than how you write. However, you should be able to find a balance between the two.
  • Choose a topic that drives your passions and reveals hidden emotions. 
  • Write more than one draft before you are ready to submit the paper.
  • Edit and proofread it.
  • Ask someone competent to review and edit your work.
  • Make sure that you submit the application before the deadline, just in case you have it returned with comments.
Our aim

Do I Write a Long College Essay

Length is one of the first things to consider when you sit down to write your college application essay. You should review the instructions and find the requirements regarding the number of words. Also, check if the word count is required or suggested. Then, you will have a clear idea of how much authentic material you can present in your story. 

Limited Word Count

A college paper is not the same as a high school essay. Most college essays have strict requirements for word count. The same relates to college applications. The admission committee expects that all application essays will be of the same length to reduce and optimize the application processing time. If a college of your choosing is specific and imposes strict limits on word count, you must stick with it. If the same college provides recommendations about the best length of your application, you should try to fit somewhere in between the lowest and the highest limit. This is one of your first tests – the admission committee must see that you can read and understand essay requirements. 

However, if you do not find any recommendations for word count, make sure that your application does not exceed 600 words. You will have plenty of space to elaborate on the most interesting topics and create a compelling argument for enrollment.

Typical Mistakes

Writing a college essay is an unavoidable part. It is a challenge, but it is also your chance to become a college student. Take it as an opportunity to share something meaningful with the admissions committee, something that will increase your chances of getting enrolled in the program. Review the most common mistakes below and try to avoid them. 

  • Present yourself in a different light. Pretending you are someone else is the worst thing in college writing. Be sincere and open in your thoughts, but respect others.
  • Failure to answer the application question. Even the best application will be rejected, if it is off topic. 
  • Too general – a good application essay is always personal. It always includes a lot of personal details and experiences.
  • Plagiarism – it is an ethical and legal offense. Once you are caught, you lose a chance for admission. 
  • Dull and substandard wording – you are applying to college, and your vocabulary should also be advanced. However, sophistication is your enemy. Be simple but elaborate!

Why Focus on College Admission Writing

Admission essays are intended to create a realistic picture of each applicant. For the admissions committee, your application essay is a window to your personality. Admission officers typically have a broader view of applicants’ personalities, which is not limited to grades. They want to understand if you have the attributes necessary for college studies and whether you can strengthen and support the college of your choosing.

Valuable Guidelines for College Paper Writing

Research college options

Begin with the analysis of your college application options. See what colleges you are applying to and what requirements they are providing in terms of application. Explore them. What is it going to be like to study in each one?

Engage in brainstorming

If you want to write a perfect application, then you should sit down and brainstorm the most relevant topics from your life as related to assignment topic. Choose an impressive story, but make sure it fits the subject!

Now it is time to start

You should start working on the application as early as you can. You should give yourself enough time to brainstorm and evaluate life experiences. The earlier you begin, the better your chances will be to submit the application before the deadline.

Take your time to edit, proofread, and improve 

These are the last but critically important steps in the writing process. You must finalize the draft before you submit it with your application. You must be satisfied with what you read. You must be confident that the piece meets the requirements and standards of writing set by the admissions committee.

Unique Attributes of College Writing?

No one says that you must be a professional writer to apply for college. Believe it or not, most successful applicants have nothing to with professional writing. Nor are they Nobel Prize winners. They are ordinary people who are attentive, hardworking, and sensitive to detail.

How to Create a Memorable Admission Essay

  • Start with the topic. It must be right for you. You need to choose something that you are interested in, or you are passionate. Otherwise, you will not have any interest in writing the application essay, and admission officers will feel it immediately. Write down everything that comes to your mind. Then you can choose the best one.
  • Choose a story that is unique and which reveals the peculiarities of your complex personality. You need to share something that admission officers cannot learn from any other source, and do not present to be someone else!
  • Do not try to share everything you know about your personality. Do not get too personal either. You need a balanced view of yourself in this world. You need to remember that there are other people around you. Avoid being too casual. Stay formal and restrained when discussing various dimensions of your style. 
  • You may select an issue that is controversial. However, do not try to present yourself as if you are better than others are, or as if your position is better than that of your opponents. Avoid any unnecessary criticism. Showcase tolerance, respect, and mutuality.
  • Tell a story. This is what admission officers want to see. Begin with an eye-catching opening. The officer should take a breath the moment they start reading your story. Do not disregard the importance of self-reflection.
  • Do not simply tell. Show. Use evidence and examples from your life to illustrate your storytelling competencies. Take writing as a process, rather than just a means to achieve certain ends.
  • Revise, revise, and revise. Edit the original piece. Proofread it. Ask someone to listen to it when reading it aloud, or let someone read it to you. You can always ask a professional to revise and edit your work. 
  • Strive for voice. Do not sacrifice it just because you want to look better.

Great Topics for Your Essay 

  • Urbanization – we need to take steps to mitigate pollution risks
  • How restrictions on Internet access on campus can influence learning
  • Bans on smoking – what they have to do with free rights
  • The growing role of fake news in politics 
  • Do colleges create too much pressure on learners? 
  • How capitalism is different from other political regimes 
  • Science and the seven wonders of the world
  • Are our immigration laws too imperfect to benefit native-born citizens? 
  • How going on a trip together can strengthen your marriage
  • Why humans are killing the planet
  • The role of technologies in higher education
  • What I want to achieve in this life
  • The best vacation I have had so far
  • Why I love this author (name)
  • A country of my dreams
  • Why trees will (or will not) save our planet
  • Take it; need it; want it
  • Do not wait. Act. 
  • Why anorexia is as devastating as obesity
  • How students and teachers can work together