How do you write an essay that will help you get into the college of your dreams? This can be a daunting task especially without an essay writer, and one that you’ll have to complete many times over as you go through school, from college admissions essays to scholarship applications to grad school applications. You want your essay to stand out from the crowd, and make sure that the reader knows that you’re just the type of student they want in their program.
Here are eight steps that will help you write the perfect college essay as a student!
1. Know What You Want to Get Out of College
Do you want to go into business? Do you want to become an engineer? Do you want to become a teacher? Regardless of what your career goals are, you should know what they are. Before taking on any essay-writing assignment, it’s important that you fully understand why exactly your college essay is important. For example, if you have no idea what you want to get out of college, then how can anyone else expect to understand your essay? It might seem like common sense, but most students don’t think about their essays in terms of results—they just write them. And when those essays don’t get them into their first choice school or program, they wonder why.
2. Write About an Experience That Defines You
Start with your most recent experience (preferably something that happened in high school or very recently) and go backward from there. What you write about should be something that changed your life or caused you to mature/grow. To write about an experience that defines you, you’ll need to dig deep into what makes you who you are today. For instance, did something happen where you were forced out of your comfort zone?
3. Show, Don’t Tell
In essays of all varieties, show, don’t tell is an axiom that holds true—especially when it comes to describing your own personality. One way to do so is through your extracurricular activities: Did you run for student council? Volunteer at a food bank? Lead up-and-coming bands at talent shows? If you did any of these things, explain how it taught you leadership skills or otherwise shaped your character. Be sure to write about your experiences in detail!
4. Develop Your Voice and Style
Your essay isn’t just your chance to talk about yourself—it’s also an opportunity for you to develop your voice and style. Focus on connecting with readers by showcasing your personality. Describe how your past has influenced who you are today and what goals you have for yourself. And, of course, don’t forget all those dos and don’ts from English class: Be clear and concise, check your grammar, proofread!
Also Read: How to Write a Paper about Saving the Environment
5. Practice Writing Essays for Other Subjects
It’s easy to get comfortable writing about your personal life and your day-to-day activities. But if you want to stand out in college admissions, make sure you expand your essay beyond that scope. Look into opportunities in high school for essay competitions that are not geared toward personal topics. Write essays on topics outside of yourself—maybe start with an analysis of current events or an argumentative paper on an important historical topic. Remember: It’s not just what you write, but how you write it!
6. Edit and Revise Before Proofreading
It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s best to edit and revise your essay before you proofread it. By doing so, you’ll be able to identify your grammatical and spelling errors. You don’t want your readers focusing on typos rather than what you have to say. Once you finish editing and revising, then it’s time for proofreading. While proofreading, think about clarity—make sure every sentence is precise and easy to understand.
7. Avoid Plagiarism
Don’t plagiarize your essay. If you do, even by accident, you will be penalized. And no one wants that kind of thing on their permanent record. The best way to avoid plagiarism is simple: don’t copy from someone else’s work word for word or get help from https://us.grademiners.com/. Paraphrase what other people have written, and write your own words in place of theirs wherever possible.
8. Stay Organized
You may have heard that writing an essay takes hard work and effort, but you might not realize just how much. Before you even think about picking up your pen or opening a blank Word document, make sure you’re ready. In order to write that essay from start to finish in one sitting, it helps to stay organized with a structure throughout every step of the process.
