The College Essay... Dun Dun Dun

The College Essay is probably one of the most nerve-wracking and important essays you will write in your adolescent life. It's understandable for you to be nervous. College essays (sometimes called Personal Statements) are personal narratives meant to give admissions officers a better picture of who the student is, other than just the numbers and test scores on their transcripts. College essays make the student a human being, with life experiences, likes/dislikes, and a personality. As some say, it puts flesh on the bones.This essay can set a student apart in a sea of applicants with similar numbers in their file.

The College Essay can be a lot of pressure, but the most important thing to remember is that you cannot be wrong about your own story. Your life happened to you. There is no right answer. Nonetheless, there is the best way to tell it. The most effective way to get better at College Essays, like any other style of writing, is practice. Below is a list of a few common College Essay prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Pay attention to each element of a prompt. There are often several questions to answer. Brainstorm some ideas for each prompt. Try starting a draft.

• Can you think of or find any interesting prompts to add to the list above?
• Share what you have written with others. Have a discussion.
• Put what you have written away and approach the same prompt differently. Write about a different experience if you can. Is there more than one way to answer the prompt? Does one response answer the prompt more completely, truthfully, or compellingly? Why?