What should my college essay be about?
Your college essay should reflect your opinions and experiences and display clear and critical thinking. It’s more than a list of facts or a highlight reel of successes; it helps college admissions officers understand your character. Colleges may provide writing prompts or leave the topic up to you.
How do you write a good college essay?
Tips for a Stellar College Application Essay
- Write about something that’s important to you.
- Don’t just recount—reflect!
- Being funny is tough.
- Start early and write several drafts.
- No repeats.
- Answer the question being asked.
- Have at least one other person edit your essay.
What is a college essay?
(Getty Images) Not only is the college essay a place to showcase writing skills, it’s one of the only parts of a college application where a student’s voice can shine through. Unlike test scores and transcripts, the college admissions essay offers students a chance to showcase their personality.
Can you write a college essay about depression?
It can be done, but unless your story is how you overcame your depression, it’s going to send up red flags for admissions officers. Thanks for the A2A, Olivia! Mental health is a huge part of life, and something that campus personnel should know about, but the essay is not necessarily the best place to disclose it.
Is it okay to talk about religion in a college essay?
Here’s another key tip to keep in mind for your college applications, from College Essay Guy Ethan Sawyer! The short answer is this: it’s okay to discuss religion in your essay as long as the take-away (or values) promoted in the essay are universal. Instead, discuss the values you gained through your religion.
How important is a college essay?
At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.
Is mental health a good topic for college essays?
Recently, I’ve noticed a concerning uptick in the number of students asking whether it’s appropriate for them to write about mental health issues, most frequently ADD and/or anxiety, in their college applications. So the short answer: don’t do it. Do not write your main essay about the issue.