![]() I often encourage students to think of writing an essay like creating a painting. If you start the essay writing process knowing that you have many drafts ahead of you, it can actually reduce stress, since you won’t feel pressured to produce something polished on your first try. ![]() While it’s tempting to envision yourself writing a perfect college essay in one go, the best essays require countless drafts before they achieve their final state. ![]() ( UVA, for example, occasionally releases passages from some of their favorite essays from incoming students.) TTA Top Tip : Successful essay samples are included with any Essay Guidance Program or Essay Guidance Program/Common App 911 bundle purchase! Give yourself time to draft (and redraft and redraft). As a rule, we recommend focusing on samples that come from a trusted college counselor or from your dream college itself. Students recently admitted to top colleges may also hold up their own writing as an example of a successful essay-without realizing that they were admitted despite their personal statement, not because of it. While the internet, TikTok, and Instagram offer countless “experts” eager to share advice, most of them are not truly familiar with the college admissions process. Studying successful essays can give you ideas about how to structure your own writing and inspire you to consider new ways to approach complex topics. LEARN MORE Look at examples-but be careful.Įspecially if you have no experience writing personal statements, it can be helpful to look at samples from past students. If you’re feeling stuck, take a look at what you’ve included there and ask yourself which of those items are most meaningful to you. You’ve likely already put together a list of your primary extracurricular commitments for the Common App’s Activities section. A student with a passion for Native American history might discuss how exploring this subject helped him better understand his own family’s past. A student who has done great work in public health, for example, might write an essay about the incident that sparked this interest and the work she has done over the past few years to make healthcare more accessible to her community. What, I ask them, do these activities say about you and your interests? How do they speak to your goals and values?Įach student’s answers to these questions often shape the narrative that forms their personal statement. We pay attention to the types of activities that have taken up most of their time and the ones that have allowed them to show their initiative, scholarly enthusiasm, or empathy. When I work with my rising seniors on their college essays each summer, we start by putting together a list of all of the activities they have completed in high school. DIVE CONFIDENTLY INTO THE WRITING PROCESS Take a look at your activities. ![]() If that sounds familiar, don’t panic! Below, we’ve sketched out a few of our best tips to help you plan out your essays. Personal statements and other college essays often feel particularly fraught, as they are some of the most important pieces of writing high school seniors have ever had to produce, but most students have no experience creating them. For students, and even for professional writers, the idea of diving into a new essay or piece of writing can be even more overwhelming. There’s nothing more intimidating than a blank page.
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