It is crucial to thoroughly review your Common App and other college essays before submitting them. Since you are applying to ED or EA and you will not get another chance to apply to these colleges in any of the other rounds, this is your last chance to polish and powerfully represent yourself. This blog will help you to take a step-by-step look at your essays, ensuring you have ticked all the boxes.
Read and Understand the Prompt: By now you are familiar with the Common App’s seven prompts to the student. Each of the prompts addresses a different facet of the student. Ensure your essay directly answers the specific prompt and aligns with it.
Check the Structure: Your essay should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure to include the relevant information in each part, and decide how you’ll organize the information within the body. The essay should have a logical flow so that your reader knows where the narrative is leading. Make paragraphs and ensure each paragraph introduces new information or perspectives.
Strong hook sentence: If the first few sentences of your essay fail to grab the reader’s eyeballs, then it is doomed. Avoid using cliches and begin the essay with a compelling statement.
Show, Don’t Tell: Most often students make the mistake of telling the reader instead of showing. The magic of words and the way you illustrate a sentence make all the difference. Use descriptive language and specific examples to illustrate your points. Describe a situation that demonstrates your determination.
Voice and Authenticity: Your personality should emerge through the essay. The voice in the essay should be essentially yours. Look for instances that show your values are well articulated in the essay. You are not expected to produce a literary masterpiece. Avoid overly formal language; be genuine and personal.
Be concise and focused. Do not go beyond the word limit. (usually 650 words). Brevity is important. Cut out the unnecessary details. Edit well so that it communicates the message. The sentences you write should serve a clear purpose. If it isn’t, it should be removed.
Reflect on Growth and Learning: The essays are expected to humanize an application. Your transcripts are quantitative indicators that have limitations. Showcase your experiences to depict how they have shaped you. Do not worry if the story is simple. It is YOUR STORY.
Proofread for Grammar and Spelling: The cardinal rule for all essays is NOT TO MAKE ERRORS. Proofread your essays and look out for grammatical inconsistencies. Read it out aloud to catch awkward and jarring phrases.
Look and delete repetition and redundancy: Each of us has some pet words. But if you keep repeating them in the essays, it starts to pull the essay down. Look for synonyms to use instead.
Adhere to Formatting Guidelines: Follow any specific formatting guidelines provided by the Common App. This might include font size, margins, or file type if uploading.
After you have written your essay, keep it aside for a few days. Revisiting it after a gap gives you a fresh perspective. If you continue to read your essay over and over again, you will not be able to spot the mistakes. Distancing yourself from it will provide a fresh view.
Make sure you are showcasing your growth through your essay.
