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How To Write a College Application Personal Essay

Personal essays give insight to an applicant's character and allow a group of strangers to get an idea about a prospective student without ever stepping foot in the same room with them. Despite the daunting task of writing one, men and women around the country survive the feat and often state that the experience made them stronger and clearer writers. Topics, either opinion based or factual accounts involving the challenges a person has to go through during the course of their lifetime, are usually a requirement for entrance into any public or private institution throughout the globe. Pre-determined subjects are often given to the prospective student to write about but on occasion, the applicant is allowed to write about their own chosen topic.

Ranging from deeply personal to highly humorous, a well-written college application personal essay makes an impression on the people who matter most in the situation---the admissions committee. Without their approval, a person's dream of getting into a particular college might be dashed.

So, how does one prepare themselves for writing an essay of such importance? It's easy to be absolutely honest. The sooner a person applies to the college of their choice, the better. High school students start filling out applications as early as 10th and 11th grade. Knowing just how long the process might take, they hope that their consideration in meeting deadlines will affect the admissions process.

Here's how you can write a winning college application personal essay:

Prepare A Checklist In Advance

  • If the college that you are applying to doesn't already have one on their website, use a spreadsheet to keep track of important dates concerning your application and essay.
  • Make sure to distinguish between completed items and outstanding items.
  • Refer to the data frequently and always send the information in a week or two in advance to assure that it arrives to the university in time.
  • Consult www.collegeboard.com with any questions you might have.

Select A Topic That Suits You

There is no place more important to make a good first impression than on paper. It is important to spend some enough time choosing the essay topic. Because the committee is unable to meet with every applicant, they are counting on your essay to convey who you are and what you want out of life. Your personal essay should reflect the core of your being. It should lay out, in the simplest terms, your hopes and dreams for the future. It should not, however, be a conceited account of everything wonderful thing that you have done throughout the course of your educational career. Stick to one or two accomplishments and focus strongly on explaining who you are and why you want to attend the college in question.

Create A Rough Draft Then Have Someon Else Proof It

A professional writer doesn't submit his or her first draft to a publishing company. In fact, it is safe to say that one piece of literature can be written and rewritten several times before it actually goes to print. Do not, under any circumstances, scribble out your essay and turn it in with your application before having a trusted family member or friend look over it. Ask them to take an objective stand and make suggestions on how to improve the essay . Once given that feedback, take the time to rewrite the essay again. Pay careful attention to spelling and punctuation.

Add The Proper Postage, Sit Back And Wait

Decisions don't come quickly so your patience is necessary in getting through this part of the process. Once the essay and application have been sent out, your fate is out of your hands. Sit back, relax, and wait for the mail to come in. Before you know it, you may get an acceptance letter to the college of your choice.

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