Successful College Essay Examples From Top

Successful College Essay Examples From Top Not even famous writers get it right the first time. As you can hopefully see by now, it’s not imperative to have some big, flashy story to tell. In fact, the vast majority of successful essays approach a seemingly simple topic in an innovative or interesting way. If you keep these tips in mind and reframe your thinking, you’ll be on your way to a great essay. Other topics that I ultimately rejected for my Common App essay actually went to be the focal point of other essays. There were numerous times when I opened up a Google doc and stared at a blank screen, only to inevitably get distracted by Facebook and not get anything accomplished. Beware of words like “but” or “meanwhile” as transitions. The classic essay starts with an introductory statement that hooks the reader and continues with a strong topic sentence. This essay is going to convey who you are as a person, so you should start by jotting down ideas, examples and fragments that might form an essay. It’s acceptable to look at someone else’s essay as a sample and a creative tool. It is not OK to copy it or to excerpt anything without proper credit. And don’t even think about having someone else - parent, friend, tutor or writing service â€" create your essay for you. Determine what about your experience is unique to you. That’s what will make your story different from the next essay in the pile. Ask someone to help you proofread for spelling and grammar. ” From there, I started cultivating this list of essay topics, character traits, experiences, and even some random sentences that I ended up using in my final essay. Varying your word choices keeps your copy fresh and holds the reader’s attention. Above all, look for words or phrases that can be cut out of your essay to leave just the very best of what you have to say. When you’re nearing the end of your essay, it’s time to put the finishing touches on it with a separate closing paragraph. The conclusion is where you bring together all of the elements you previously mentioned in the other sections. My third essay draft started with the idea “I’m not afraid to speak up. I refuse to stay silent.” I brainstormed how I came to have this character trait and intersections of it with my Asian-American identity. I ultimately told the story of slam poetry night at Governor’s School, the first time that I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone to speak about a racial issue. My final draft is multifaceted, showing my personal growth in context of the frustration and empowerment rooted in my Asian-American identity. It combined parts of my initial drafts into something completely new. This information will help them make distinctions between you and other students who have similar scores. Colleges are not necessarily only looking for students who perform well academically. Get the College Application Blueprint for Ivy League experts' guidance to help you build a successful college application. It was then that I decided to no longer bite my tongue. It ends with a strong closing paragraph or summation. The body of the essay is where you make the sale that your thesis is true. Big Future, run by the College Board, has sample essays and tips. Many colleges, including Johns Hopkins University and the University of Connecticut post “essays that worked” going back several years. It is important to think deeply about the meaning of things in your life. And be you follow the essay guidelines as far as word count and topic are concerned. The college wants to know if you can follow directions and how creative you can be within set limitations. And pay close attention to your transitions from one section to the next. Transitions should give information, not just be links.