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12 Essays on my Achievements [ Academic & Extra Curricular ]

The achievements, successes or accomplishments we gain in school are the part of best school life years.  Those achievements in middle, high school or college student life may include personal academic achievements and sports or extracurricular achievements. They may be greatest, the best or the bad but we never forget them.

List of Topics

My Achievements  in Life | Individual, Academic & Extra Curricular Achievements | My Achievements that I am Proud of

Achievements are the desires that we love to have for. They are our those goals we struggle to achieve. The achievements in personal or professional life are the true identity of a successful and struggling person. The following essay reflects the importance of achievements and a firm call for us to set and struggle to achieve those aims.

1. Essay about the Achievements that You are Proud of

Achievement is associated with the targeted goals or aims in life. When we define our action in relation to something like a goal a task is created. A task when fulfilled is called an achievement earned. The struggle in life is the sum total of our achievements, success, failures, mistakes.

Therefore, my achievement, my success or my accomplishment is the name given to my fulfilled goals. The failure, in turns, is the names given to my mistakes, my setbacks, and my loss. Every person in life has some achievements, accomplishments, rewards and successes earned. At the same time mistakes, failures and setbacks as well.

My achievements, my successes and my accomplishments are the one that make me happy and proud. Whereas, my mistakes, my failures and setbacks make me strong and bold.

There are various kinds of achievements one may have. There are some examples of achievements like personal achievements, academic achievements, sports achievements etc. There are various roles in which one achieves something. Taking myself as an example it would be like my achievements as a teacher, my accomplishments as student in school, college or in personal life.

My Academic Achievement

Academic achievements are those gains that are accomplished by a student during his high school, college or university life. These achievements are really the ones you remain prideful throughout your entire life.  Everyone who is well taught has some personal achievements including academic achievements as well.

• My student life has given me many academic achievements that I must be proud of. Some of my academic achievements I have listed below.
• My first academic achievement is that I have successfully completed my education till now with A+ throughout. It is my greatest achievement of life
• My second greatest academic achievement is that I have successfully got admission in my desire career. My parents are proud of me.
• They always wanted me to be a great doctor. It is my passion to serve my country.
• My third biggest academic achievement is that on the basis of good scores and my professional degree, I got study scholarship for UK. I really loved my studying experience there.
• My last academic accomplishment is that I am currently serving successfully as the head of city’s biggest health institute.

Related Post:   BEST LINES & MORE SENTENCES ESSAY ON MY SCHOOL.

2. My Sports (Extracurricular) Achievements Essay

Extracurricular activities are the part of a healthy person. I always take pride in participating in various extracurricular activities in my school. There are a few extracurricular achievements I must be proud of.

•  My first extracurricular achievement was that I won a medal in annual inter schools speech and debates competition. I won first prize in class 5th.
• I am also an avid reader and good writer. My second extracurricular achievement was that I won a cash prize of 10,000 rupees on a essay writing competition. I won with my essay on “Save trees Save Earth” during inter schools essay writing competition. I was in 7th grade at that time.
• I have great interest in sports. I can play cricket very well. It was my biggest sports achievement that I helped my team win the tournament this year, in class 10th. I was awarded man of the match. It is a moment of pride and my greatest extracurricular success.

Achievements and success are the part of one’s life. These are my achievements in my school as a student. I feel a great sense of pride for my student life accomplishment. I will try my level best to add more best personal achievements in my coming life days.

3. Short Essay On My Achievements that I am Proud of

Achievements are the signs of good student life. They show the talent, the worth and the status of a student. To achieve something we work hard and we become focused. Therefore, we learn a lot of things like self discipline , hard work, dedication, self respect and motivation.

School life achievements are good and they must be the part of student’s life. I have a good many my school achievements. I must be proud of whatever I have achieved through out my personal life. I am the student of class (your current class). Currently I am studying at the school (Write the name of your school). Throughout my years of schools I have achieved valuable success.

I have some personal achievements, some academic achievements and a few extracurricular achievements. I have been a diligent and dedicated student of my school. In fact, I am the favorite student in my school. It is my greatest achievement that I have been getting A+ in all of my exams and assessments.

This achievement is in fact due to the hard work done under the guidance of my teachers and prayers of my parents. I always take interest in extracurricular activities. I am good speaker and good at playing cricket. It is my great extracurricular achievement that I secured first prize in inter schools debates and speech competition, held last month.

All of my school fellows and my teachers are proud of me. Apart from that I represented my team in annual inter schools cricket tournament. We successfully won the final match. It is my biggest sports achievement of student’s life. I will never forget.

I am grateful to my school teachers and my parents. Thanks to those achievements and set goals I struggled and worked hard. Thereby, I have known how to work hard and how to make achievements. My school achievements are surely going to help me to grow and gain more in my upcoming life days.

4. My School Achievements Paragraphs:

As a high school student, my school achievements hold a special place in my heart. They represent all the hard work, determination and passion that I have put into both academics and extracurricular activities.

One of my proudest achievements is being part of the school’s debate team. Being able to voice my opinions confidently and effectively has always been something I struggled with. However, with the help of my coaches and teammates, I was able to improve my public speaking skills and even won several regional and state-level competitions.

Apart from debating, I have also excelled in academics. Throughout high school, I have maintained a GPA of 4.0 and have been consistently ranked at the top of my class. This has not only brought me personal satisfaction but also earned me recognition from my teachers and peers.

In addition to academics, I have been actively involved in community service projects organized by my school. Through these initiatives, I have had the opportunity to give back to society and make a positive impact in my community. One of the most memorable moments was when our team raised funds for a local orphanage and spent an entire day playing and interacting with the children. It was a heartwarming experience that taught me the value of compassion and empathy.

Moreover, I have also been an active member of various clubs and organizations in school, such as the Interact Club and National Honor Society. These extracurricular activities have not only allowed me to explore my interests but also develop important leadership skills.

Overall, my school achievements have shaped me into the person I am today. They have taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. I am grateful for all the opportunities that my school has provided me with and will always cherish the memories and lessons learned. However, I also understand that these achievements would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my teachers, parents, and peers. I am proud to be a part of such a supportive and nurturing community that values both academic excellence and personal growth.

5. Short Essay on My School Achievements as a Student:

My school life has been a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs, but one thing that has remained constant is my determination to excel. Whether it was academics or extracurricular activities, I always pushed myself to be the best version of myself. As I look back on my journey, I am proud to say that my hard work and perseverance have paid off in the form of numerous achievements.

In terms of academics, I have always been a diligent student. I consistently topped my class and was awarded several academic excellence certificates. Along with maintaining good grades, I also actively participated in various school competitions like debates, elocution, and quizzes. These experiences not only helped improve my knowledge but also boosted my confidence.

Apart from academics, sports have always been a huge part of my life. I represented my school in various inter-school sports competitions and won several medals for both individual and team events. Being a part of the school’s sports teams also taught me important skills like teamwork, time management, and discipline.

Another achievement that I am extremely proud of is winning the title of “Best All-Rounder Student” in my school. This award is given to the student who excels in academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. It was a great feeling to be recognized for my overall performance and it motivated me to continue striving for excellence.

In conclusion, my school achievements as a student have not only brought me recognition but also shaped me into a well-rounded individual. I am grateful for all the opportunities my school provided me to showcase my talents and I will always cherish these memories. So, if you are a student reading this, remember to work hard and never give up on your dreams because your efforts will surely pay off in the end. Let your achievements speak for themselves!

6. Short Essay on My Greatest Accomplishment as a Student:

As a student, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow in various aspects of my life. However, if I were to choose one accomplishment that stands out above all others, it would be my ability to balance academics with extracurricular activities.

Throughout my academic journey, I have always been passionate about learning and achieving good grades. But at the same time, I also wanted to explore my interests in music, sports and volunteer work. Initially, it was challenging to juggle between academics and extracurriculars, but with determination and time management skills, I was able to excel in both areas.

One of the most significant milestones for me was when I received an award for academic excellence while simultaneously being recognized as the best athlete in the school. This achievement not only showcased my academic abilities but also highlighted my talent and dedication towards sports.

Moreover, I have always been drawn towards community service and making a positive impact in society. While balancing academics and extracurriculars, I actively participated in various volunteer projects, including organizing fundraisers for underprivileged children and contributing to environmental conservation efforts. Being able to balance my academic responsibilities and still make a difference in the community has been an incredibly fulfilling accomplishment for me.

In conclusion, balancing academics with extracurricular activities has been my greatest accomplishment as a student. It has taught me valuable lessons about time management, perseverance, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions.

This achievement not only reflects my hard work but also represents my holistic approach towards personal and academic growth. So, I encourage all students to strive for a balance between academics and extracurriculars, as it can lead to a well-rounded and fulfilling educational experience.

7. Short Achievement Essay For College:

As a college student, I have had my fair share of achievements and accomplishments. But one particular achievement stands out to me the most – being able to balance academics, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments.

During my high school years, I was always involved in various clubs and organizations such as student council, debate team, and community service groups. While these activities were fulfilling and allowed me to develop my skills in leadership, communication, and time management, they also required a significant amount of my time and energy. At the same time, I had to maintain good grades and prepare for college applications.

Juggling between these responsibilities was not an easy task, but it taught me invaluable lessons that have helped me succeed in college. I learned how to prioritize my tasks, manage my time effectively, and deal with pressure and stress. These skills are not only essential for academic success but also for personal growth.

Furthermore, being involved in extracurricular activities has allowed me to develop a diverse set of interests and expand my knowledge beyond the classroom. It has also helped me build strong relationships with my peers and mentors, which have been crucial in my personal and academic development.

Overall, I am proud of my ability to balance multiple commitments and still maintain a high level of achievement. It has not only helped me achieve success in college but also prepared me for the challenges of the real world. Through this experience, I have learned that hard work, determination, and time management are key factors in achieving one’s goals and making the most out of college life.

So, my advice to fellow college students would be to not only focus on academics but also explore opportunities outside the classroom and strive for a healthy balance in all aspects of your life. You will be surprised at how much you can achieve when you find that equilibrium. Cheers to achieving more accomplishments in the future!

8. Short Essay on I am Proud of My School Because:

I am a student of XYZ School, and I am proud to be a part of this institution. This school holds a special place in my heart because it has shaped me into the person I am today. It has not only provided me with academic knowledge but also taught me important life lessons that will stay with me forever.

One of the main reasons why I am proud of my school is because of its commitment to academic excellence. The teachers here are highly qualified and dedicated to their profession. They go above and beyond to ensure that we understand the concepts clearly and excel in our studies. Moreover, the school provides us with all the necessary resources to support our learning, including a well-stocked library, computer labs, and extracurricular activities.

This has helped me develop a love for learning and strive to do my best in all my academic pursuits.

Apart from academic excellence, my school also focuses on holistic development. It encourages students to participate in various extracurricular activities such as sports, music, art, and debates. These activities have not only helped me discover my interests but also taught me important values like teamwork, discipline, and time management.

Furthermore, my school promotes a culture of inclusivity and diversity. It celebrates different cultures and encourages students to respect each other’s differences. This has helped me develop an open-minded perspective and appreciate the uniqueness of every individual.

In conclusion, I am proud of my school because it not only provides quality education but also instills important values that will guide me throughout my life. It has given me a strong foundation to build upon and has prepared me to face the challenges of the future with confidence. I will always be grateful for the role my school has played in shaping me into a well-rounded individual.

9. Short Essay on High School Accomplishments:

My high school experience was filled with ups and downs, as I’m sure most people can relate to. However, despite the challenges, I am proud of the achievements I made during those years.

One of my biggest accomplishments in high school was becoming a member of the National Honor Society. This was a goal I had set for myself since freshman year, and achieving it in my junior year was a moment I will never forget. Being part of this prestigious organization not only recognized my academic achievements but also allowed me to give back to the community through various service projects.

Another achievement that holds a special place in my heart is winning first place in the state science fair. Science has always been a passion of mine, and being able to showcase my research and receive recognition for it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

But my high school achievements weren’t just limited to academics. I also excelled in sports, particularly on the varsity soccer team. My team and I won multiple championships, and being a part of such a close-knit group taught me valuable lessons about teamwork and perseverance.

Lastly, I am proud of how much I grew as an individual during my high school years. From overcoming personal obstacles to taking on leadership roles in various clubs and organizations, I learned the importance of resilience and adaptability.

Overall, my high school achievements are a testament to the hard work and determination I put into everything I do. They have shaped me into the person I am today and will continue to inspire me as I embark on new challenges in the future. So, I encourage all high schoolers to set goals for themselves and never give up on achieving them, because the satisfaction of success is truly worth it. Now go out there and make your own high school achievements! The sky’s the limit!

10. Short Essay on My Great Achievement in Life:

Everyone has their own opinion on what constitutes as a greatest achievement in life. Some may view landing their dream job or marrying the love of their life as their biggest accomplishment, while others may see personal growth and overcoming obstacles as theirs. For me, my greatest achievement in life is something that I never thought was possible and it’s something that has shaped me into the person I am today.

Growing up, I struggled with self-confidence and always felt like I wasn’t good enough. This led me to constantly doubt myself and my abilities, which ultimately hindered my personal growth. However, a few years ago, I made a conscious effort to break out of this mindset and started taking small steps towards self-improvement.

One of the biggest challenges for me was to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. It was terrifying at first, but I slowly started seeing the positive impact it had on my life. I began to gain confidence in myself and my abilities, which allowed me to take on bigger challenges without fear or hesitation.

But the moment that truly solidified this as my greatest achievement was when I decided to pursue something that I never thought I could do – running a marathon. Despite never being a runner, I trained for months and pushed myself to the limit on race day. Crossing that finish line was one of the most empowering experiences of my life and it’s something that I will always cherish.

This achievement taught me that with determination, hard work, and self-belief, anything is possible. It also showed me that my greatest achievements in life are not just about reaching a specific goal, but the journey and growth that comes with it. I am proud of where I am today and I am excited to see what other challenges and accomplishments lie ahead. So, my greatest achievement in life isn’t just one moment or event, but rather an ongoing journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

11. Short Results Day Speech:

Hello everyone,

Today is a very special day for all of us. It’s Results Day! I can see the excitement and nervousness in each one of your faces. Believe me, I know exactly how you feel because I have been there myself.

Firstly, congratulations to all the students who have received their results. Your hard work and dedication has paid off and you should be proud of yourselves. Your journey has just begun and you have achieved a major milestone.

For those who may not have received the results they were hoping for, it’s important to remember that this is not the end. There will be other opportunities and challenges in your life, and this is just one small part of your journey.

I want to remind all of you that success is not defined by a piece of paper. It’s about your attitude, determination and resilience in the face of challenges. Your grades do not define you, but rather your character and values.

As you move forward, remember to always believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Celebrate your achievements today, but also continue to strive for excellence in everything you do.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and I have no doubt that each one of you will go on to do great things. Congratulations once again and keep reaching for the stars!

12. Short Essay on My Achievement in School as a Teacher:

As a teacher, my ultimate goal is to inspire and empower my students to reach their full potential. Every day, I strive to create a positive learning environment where my students feel motivated and encouraged to learn. Over the years, I have had many accomplishments as a teacher, but one that stands out to me the most is the impact I have made on my students.

During my time as a teacher, I have seen numerous students who struggled with their studies and lacked confidence in themselves. These students often felt discouraged and believed that they were not capable of achieving success. However, with patience, hard work, and dedication, I was able to help these students overcome their obstacles and witness them excel in their academics.

My achievement as a teacher is not just measured by the grades my students receive, but also by the positive changes I see in them. It brings me great joy to see my students grow not only academically, but also as individuals. I have had students come back to me years later and tell me how much of an impact I had on their lives, which is truly humbling.

As a teacher, I have learned that every student has their own unique learning style and it is my responsibility to cater to each one of them. I constantly adapt my teaching methods to ensure all my students are engaged and understand the material. This approach has not only helped me achieve success as a teacher, but also helped create a lifelong love for learning in my students.

In conclusion, my greatest achievement as a teacher is the positive impact I have made on my students’ lives. Being able to inspire and empower them to reach their full potential has been an incredibly rewarding experience. As a teacher, I am constantly learning and growing alongside my students, and I look forward to many more achievements in the years to come.

1. What are some accomplishments for school?

Answer: School accomplishments can include academic achievements, sports achievements, leadership roles, community service, awards, or recognition for various school-related activities.

2. How to start an accomplishment essay?

Answer: Begin an accomplishment essay with a strong, attention-grabbing introduction. You can use a compelling anecdote, a significant event, or a personal reflection related to the accomplishment you want to discuss.

3. What are your target achievements for this school year?

Answer: Your target achievements for the school year can vary, but they may include improving grades, getting involved in extracurricular activities, aiming for leadership roles, or setting personal goals for self-improvement.

4. Should I include high school achievements on my resume?

Answer: It’s generally a good idea to include significant high school achievements on your resume if you’re a recent graduate or if they are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. However, as you gain more work experience, these high school achievements can be phased out in favor of more recent and relevant accomplishments

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Essay About Achievements: Top 5 Examples and 6 Prompts

Are you having problems writing your essay about achievements? Then, continue reading this article for samples and prompts to guide you in your writing.

Achievement influences our expectations and self-growth. It’s also often connected with an individual’s progress in life. It gives way for recognition in attaining a goal through standards. 

Achievement acknowledges successes, productiveness, and involvement. But sometimes, achieving doesn’t result in a feeling of satisfaction. Writing an achievement essay is usually based on experiences from yourself or others. You can explore different viewpoints, such as what they consider an “achievement,” how to overcome weaknesses, or why they want a specific achievement. Below are 5 examples and 6 writing prompts to assist you in your essay:

1. The Greatest Achievements In Life by Gerard Reese

2. greatest professional or academic achievement by james taylor , 3. essay on achievements from my professional life by bdoan, 4. my accomplishment by taylor wood, 5. when my weakness became my greatest accomplishment by jay merrill logan, 6 writing prompts on essay about achievements, 1. ways to achieve within different settings, 2. achievements in the small things, 3. how to build confidence, 4. the power of overcoming fear, 5. steps to be successful, 6. guide to building a strong character.

“Nobody succeeds on the first try, we take our mistakes and learn from them. Mistakes are the things that help us strive for greatness, which is why failure should not be viewed as something negative, but more as something we can use to attain [what] we want in life.”

Reese’s piece on achievement talks about learning from failure and trying again until you reach success. Time and failure are contributors to our achievements. He emphasizes that failure can be a steward and teacher to help us get where we want to be. He also provides lists of individuals who encountered crises in their lives until they reached their most successful phases. 

“My father always instilled in me the importance of education. He knew very well that in order for his children to be successful he needed to set them up for success and place them in a position where we would be afforded the opportunity to succeed.”

Family significantly impacts one’s interpretation of what achievements are about. Taylor’s essay highlights the idea of what his father taught him about education and success. He mentions how he embarked through life while keeping his father’s acknowledgment of his potential in the field he has chosen. His essay shows that family shapes one’s belief about what’s considered a successful life.

“I consider the experience in Japan as a big achievement and an important step in my career. The fact that I could master the complex situation gave me much self-confidence and showed that I could manage people successfully even in difficult situations. Today, this unique ability of handling teams attributed me as a strong leader for my people.”

Bdoan’s essay focuses on past experiences and how she handled cultural differences and beliefs, leading to her successful professional life. To achieve fulfillment in work, she breaks the barrier, communicates effectively, and embraces Japanese culture, which she set as a significant setting stone in her career life.

“Through the influence of my best friend, I have motivated myself to spend two hours during the night before I go to sleep to master the lessons the teacher has discussed in class. This helped me greatly since I would no longer have to cram and study everything for the exams later.”

Wood’s essay highlights the external factors that contributed to his achievements. External factors can lead a person to success or frustration. Through a piece of great advice, he changed his lifestyle by allowing himself to move forward and build a quality life. He compares this to Newton’s First law of motion, which he quoted and put at the beginning of his essay.

“…the more I thought about my own greatest personal academic achievement, I realized it was simply getting an A in a college history class my freshman year. Succeeding in this upper-level history class set the tone for all my future college courses and gave me the confidence I needed to achieve greatness, and I am not even a history major.”

Logan talks about his worst subject, History. He recounts how he approached his professor and overcame his weakness. This essay points out that words from others can influence self-growth and confidence. He says he developed faith in his study during college and attained his most outstanding accomplishment.

Are you having problems connecting your ideas smoothly? See this guide on transition words for essays.

After reading through the samples above, it’s time to explore your desired achievement subjects. Here are six prompts about achievements you can use:

Everyone sets expectations for themselves, dependent on the environment they’re in. It can be at work, school, or home. In these cases, the result is just as important as the process.

You can focus your essay on a relatable viewpoint, such as a student who wants to get A+ grades or an office worker who wants to get the Employee of the Month Award. Discuss ways they can excel in their surroundings. Your essay will serve as a guide to help them grow personally and professionally.

Achievements don’t need to be grand. Sometimes, simply getting out of bed is an achievement, especially for those suffering from mental illnesses such as depression. Center your essay on the simple things that can be considered achievements in their way. 

Your essay will not only serve as a reminder that it’s essential to appreciate the small things. It will also comfort those who are going through a hard time.

This topic asks you to highlight the relationship between confidence and achievements. You can interview someone confident in themselves. Ask for tips on building confidence and relay them to your readers while explaining the opportunities they can get by believing in themselves more.

In this busy world, fear is one of the most significant setbacks for people in accomplishing their goals in life. In this essay, you can explain to your readers how acknowledging their fears will help them advance.  

You can also conceptualize the effect of anxiety in achieving your desires and help you set your standard in developing self-growth. Feel free to share your experience with fears and how you plan to deal with them.

To be successful is everyone’s goal. However, sharing steps and tips on how to achieve success is general prompt many writes about. To make your piece stand out, you can tailor it to a group of individuals. For example, a student’s image of success is going on stage and graduating with honors.

Someone’s character is critical to achieving achievements. You can write about a well-known individual who went against the usual route of how success is reached. Such as Steve Jobs, who founded Apple but was a college dropout. 

There are many ways to reach a goal. Tell your readers that they don’t need to follow the conventional method of accomplishing things to get their hands on the achievements they crave.

Do you want to be more confident with your writing? Here are 11 essay writing tips you need to learn today!

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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39 Academic Achievement Examples

An academic achievement is any recognized success you may have achieved in an educational context, that you might be able to present on a resume or scholarship application as evidence of your academic skills and unique academic strengths .

When presenting academic achievements, it’s often the case that prestige is the most important feature. Academic institutions are very hierarchical, where awards of degrees and scholarships tend to be tiered based upon how exclusive the achievement was, and how prestigious an institution it comes from.

Nevertheless, any achievement can be presented as positive and worthy of demonstrating your academic skillset, and might give you a leg-up when interviewing for a new job. For example, oftentimes, it’s best to present a relevant achievement over and above a prestigious one.

Below are some examples of academic achievements that you could present on a resume, scholarship application, etc.

Academic Achievement Examples

Examples for undergraduates and below, 1. your school grades.

For those of you just starting out, one thing you can do is reflect back on your grades as a student in high school (for the Brits among us, your A-Levels work, or for the Americans, your AP grades).

If you got great grades in certain subjects that are highly relevant to the position you’re applying for, highlight how those subjects are your strengths, and that objective tests have demonstrated this.

2. Winning a Scholarship

Winning a scholarship, which might be as simple as one that helped pay for your books during your undergraduate degree, or as prestigious as a Rhodes Scholarship or the Fulbright Scholarship, can demonstrate that you’ve been tapped as a promising student.

List your scholarships from most to least important, and include the conferring institution and cash value of the scholarship.

When interviewed about the scholarship, discuss how it demonstrates not only your promise as a scholar, but also your potential to make meaningful contributions to your field of study or society at large.

3. Receiving an Academic Award or Prize

An academic prize or award is something you receive as recognition for your achievements or successes as a student.

For example, you might receive an award or prize that demonstrates that you were toward the top of your class, or that you were tapped as a promising student.

Also consider awards and prizes that you received for entering contests, such as essay writing contests or even a science fair.

Winning an academic award can significantly boost your profile and open up further opportunities for advancement.

4. Leadership in an Academic Club or Society

Serving in a leadership role in an academic club or society demonstrates a student’s commitment to extracurricular learning and their ability to lead others.

This might include roles such as President of the Debate Team, Editor of a university journal, or Chair of a student-led seminar series.

These roles require skills in team management, problem-solving, and communication – all of which are highly valuable in a professional setting.

5. Participation in a Study Abroad Program

Taking part in a study abroad program shows a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone and an ability to adapt to new environments.

This experience can also indicate language skills and a global perspective, both of which are valuable in many professional settings.

In addition, study abroad programs often involve navigating complex logistics, which can demonstrate problem-solving and organizational skills , which are all desirable for future employers.

6. Tutoring or Mentoring Experience

Serving as a tutor or mentor shows a mastery of a particular subject area, as well as a commitment to helping others succeed.

This experience can also demonstrate the ability to explain complex topics in understandable ways, patience, and a propensity for leadership.

These skills are valuable in many job settings, especially roles that require clear communication, team collaboration, and management abilities.

7. Completion of an Internship or Co-op Position

Completing an internship or co-op position during undergraduate studies is a significant achievement that can help bridge the gap between academic studies and the professional world.

These experiences provide students with an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting and develop professional skills.

In addition, having this experience on a resume can make a candidate more appealing to potential employers, as it indicates that they have practical experience in their field of study.

8. Certifications

Even if you haven’t been to university, you may be able to recall a time you received a certification, such as when you participated in a continuing education certification for your workplace.

Make sure it’s a certification that has some academic merit, such as requiring you to sit an exam. Even better, if you can present one that comes with an officially recognized ‘seal’ such as a red seal for a trade, you could frame this as academic, especially if you had to go to a continuing education institution and learn theory to gain this certification.

Other Undergraduate Achievement Examples:

• Class President / Class Representative
• Competitions and Contests (e.g. science fair)
• Extracurricular Activities (e.g. captain of a sports team)
• Foreign language certifications
• Leadership positions (e.g. class prefect, school captain)
• Memberships (e.g. Acceptance as a member of a student group)
• National / state awards
• Nominations for awards
• Student life participation and organization (e.g. organizing an event for a club)
• Perfect attendance award
• Sitting on the student council
• Publications in the school newspaper
• Volunteering in an academic context

Examples for Graduates

22. earning a degree.

Achieving a university degree, whether it’s an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, is a significant academic milestone.

This achievement is a testament to your intellectual acumen, as well as a wide range of soft skills such as determination, ability to self-regulate and manage your time, and your capacity to undertake rigorous study.

The degree subject can also reflect your area of expertise and align with the role you’re applying for, which is often the baseline for getting that interview you’re after.

When presenting your degree, mention the conferring institution and the skills you gained during your course of study. If you earned your degree with honors, be sure to mention that as well.

23. Earning a Continuing Education Certificate

Gaining a certificate through continuing education programs is another notable accomplishment. This might be a postgraduate certificate of diploma that’s not as extensive as a degree, but does show your commitment to continuing professional development.

A continuing education certificate shows your commitment to lifelong learning and your eagerness to expand your knowledge and skills.

These certificates, which can range from professional development courses to specialized skill training, signal your proactive attitude and ability to adapt to evolving industry trends.

24. Completion of a Significant Capstone Project

Many degree programs require a capstone project in the final year, which is an opportunity for students to apply and showcase the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their studies.

This might be an embedded honors project, or a research projected wherein you had to collect empirical evidence and present a thesis.

A successfully completed capstone project that addresses a real-world problem or contributes to a specific field of study can demonstrate that you’re able to engage in academic thinking and writing, think critically , and compose a thorough research project using a recognized qualitative or quantitative scientific methodology.

25. Graduation with Honors

Graduating with honors, such as summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude, is a significant academic achievement.

These Latin phrases, awarded based on grade point average or other academic criteria, are universally recognized symbols of academic excellence.

Graduating with honors shows a sustained commitment to hard work , intellectual growth, and academic success throughout one’s undergraduate or graduate studies.

26. Completion of a Research Assistant Project

Working as a research assistant and successfully completing a research project displays your ability to delve into complex topics, undertake detailed analysis, and contribute to the field of knowledge.

It also indicates your skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

When listing this accomplishment, provide a brief overview of the project, the methodologies used, and any significant findings or results.

If your research led to a publication or presentation at a conference, make sure to include that as well.

(Note: If you want this achievement, reach out to as many professors as you can and see if they have upcoming RA positions available. Often, you’ll find there are a lot of professors wanting an RA but not actively putting out job postings for one.)

Examples for Postgraduates and Above

27. publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Academic publishing is a significant achievement, particularly in fields where knowledge is primarily disseminated through scholarly journals.

When a student or scholar publishes original research or a review article in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal, it demonstrates their ability to conduct thorough research, critically analyze data, and contribute valuable knowledge to their field.

This achievement is highly regarded in academic and professional circles as it shows a high level of expertise and commitment to advancing the discipline.

28. Research Grant Award

Receiving a research grant, especially from a reputable institution or government body, is a significant accomplishment.

Such grants are usually awarded based on the quality and potential impact of the proposed research.

Winning a research grant indicates the recipient’s ability to design, propose, and possibly carry out valuable research in their field.

This accomplishment can provide the means to pursue further groundbreaking research, thereby bolstering the recipient’s academic standing.

29. Successful Defense of a Doctoral Thesis

Successfully defending a doctoral thesis or dissertation is an essential achievement in the journey of an academic.

This feat signifies the completion of a comprehensive piece of original research and contributes new knowledge to a field of study.

It requires years of dedication, intensive research, and critical thinking, culminating in a rigorous defense before a committee of experts in the field.

Upon successful defense, the candidate is usually awarded a doctoral degree, marking them as an authority in their area of research.

30. Acceptance into a Top-Tier Graduate Program

Gaining acceptance into a top-tier graduate program is a significant academic achievement.

Such programs are highly competitive and selective, often choosing candidates based on their academic record, research experience, and professional potential.

Being accepted into one of these programs is recognition of a student’s potential to succeed in advanced studies and make a substantial contribution to their field.

31. Presentation at a Major Conference

Being selected to present research findings at a significant academic conference is an important achievement.

These conferences gather top scholars in the field, and being chosen to present demonstrates that the research is seen as valuable and noteworthy by peers.

This accomplishment showcases the presenter’s ability to contribute meaningful discourse and their potential as a thought leader in their academic field.

32. Appointment to a University Faculty Position

Being appointed to a faculty position at a university is an academic achievement that signifies a high level of expertise and recognition in one’s field.

This position requires a record of successful research and teaching, and the competition is often intense.

Being chosen for a faculty role indicates that the university believes in the individual’s ability to contribute to the institution’s educational mission and to the advancement of knowledge in their discipline.

33. Development of a New Course or Curriculum

Designing and implementing a new course or curriculum at a university is a significant academic accomplishment.

This task requires a deep understanding of the subject matter, as well as the ability to design a structured, comprehensive, and engaging learning experience for students.

This achievement indicates a scholar’s dedication to education and their ability to contribute to improving academic programs in their field.

34. Taking a Role as Course Leader

After getting my first academic position, I told the head of my school that I wanted a course leader role as soon as one came available.

I soon was offered the position of course leader for the Masters of Education course at my university. I knew that this would look great on my resume.

A course leader role demonstrates that you can be a leader in academic contexts, overseeing a course to ensure it’s rigorous and up-to-date, and matches state or national certification requirements so that graduates can be recognized as having a degree required for getting a job in a specific field – in my situation, as teachers.

35. Guest Editing an Academic Journal Edition

Another academic achievement that I worked hard to receive in my first few years on the job was to become the guest editor for an edition of an academic journal.

I emailed academic journals and pitched my ideas, and I got one who came back to me – the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology . I edited the special issue on Cognitive Tools .

This achievement helped to establish me as someone who could successfully manage and oversee the blind peer review process, which subsequently got me a continuing job as a journal editor, which for me was the Journal of Learning Developers in Higher Education .

36. Citations to Your Publications

Citations to your publications can demonstrate that your research is having an impact in your academic community, and that it is contributing meaningfully to the field.

To find all the citations to your publications, go to google scholar and look up your name (or, create a google scholar account).

Here is mine:

Based on this, I can demonstrate that my research has achieved some traction, and this is of course a demonstrable achievement!

Other examples for postgraduates and above:

• Sitting as a Journal Editor
• Sitting as a Peer Reviewer
• Writing a Book Chapter

Even if you don’t feel you’ve had some academic achievements, it turns out once you’ve looked at the above example, you’ll likely have a few achievements under your belt. If you’re looking to advance yourself in an academic context, it’s best to stick your neck out and actively try to obtain further achievements, such as by applying for a research assistant position or working as a peer reviewer for a journal. This (often, unfortunately, underpaid work) can help you to get another step ahead of your competition when looking for a job that requires extensive academic skills.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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84 Academic Achievements Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best academic achievements topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about academic achievements, 👍 simple & easy academic achievements essay titles, ❓ questions about academic achievements.

• Sports and Athletics Affecting Academic Achievements Secondly, apart from the skills of any particular sport or activity, sports and athletics also inculcate special qualities in the performers like the ability to lead, to take and follow orders, to work as a […]
• Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievement The first explanation is that SES refers to a way of life that holistically affects the functioning of a society. An analysis of child development in a family with a low SES standing before the […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• The Effects of Alcohol Use on Academic Achievement in High School In examining the outcome of teenage alcohol misuse on quality of students’ academic grades, the author of this article applied a fixed-impact estimation model in assessing the grade point average derived from various high schools. […]
• Instruments for Academic Achievement of Students However, the findings of researchers are usually incompatible due to the different definitions of parental involvement and, as a result, the use of different metrics for evaluation.
• Theories About Intelligence and Academic Achievement In contrast to Wechsler’s approach, Gardner expands the idea of intelligence and suggests that it is not limited by acquiring information.
• Classroom Environment and Academic Achievement An essential condition for the successful development of the personality of schoolchildren is the presence in the school and class of a favorable socio-psychological climate.
• Racial Inequality and Academic Achievement Education is one of the determinants of quality of life as it affects a person’s job prospects, income potential, the circle of friends, and even their self-image.
• Opioid Misuse and Academic Achievement of Veteran Students The proposed research aims at closing the gap in the existing literature by studying the influence of opioid misuse on the academic achievement of veteran students.
• The Relationship of Various Uniform Policies on Academic Achievement In a bid to develop the overall standards of schools, the school administration decided to build links with the community by allowing parents to interact with staff members and the students alike.
• Academic Achievements: Requirements and Goals Some of the aims of academic achievement include a better career, higher opportunities, and a better understanding of life. The aim of academic achievement is to guarantee careers that we can enjoy in the future, […]
• Behavior Problems and Academic Achievement in Children This can be attributed to the social isolation experienced by children exhibiting behavior problems challenging behavior can lead to a child being rejected by his peers, exacerbating the problem and increasing the likelihood of rejection.
• Child Poverty and Academic Achievement Association It is expected to pay attention to the challenges and problems poor children and their families may face in their lives.
• School Violence and Academic Achievements Burdick-Will addresses the problem of safety in modern schools by scrutinizing the factors that contribute to the development of school violence.
• What Affects the Likelihood of Academic Success Probably the best indication that this is indeed the case can be deemed that fact that in the preface of just about every qualitative study on the causes of educational underachievement, the authors express their […]
• The Variances in Student Academic Achievement One of the factors discussed was the quality of professional education of the teachers that most commonly tend to work in the schools where the majority of students are African-Americans.
• Academic Achievement: An Examination Parental aspects that have been found to have a strong influence on academic achievements of their children include the parents’ expectations and attribution, home environment, instilling of discipline, parental involvement in their children’s schoolwork, and […]
• Academic Achievement and Physical Fitness This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge, which identifies that there is a positive correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement.
• Academic Achievement Among International Students and Associated Issues These include economic conditions, the extent of the students’ success, and the effect of peer programs on International students in terms of their adjustment.
• Grades as Valid Measures of Academic Achievement of Classroom Learning Allen said that this is not the way to give grades to students and that teachers must learn to use a more objective way of evaluating the performance of their students.
• Academic Achievement by Gender and Cultural Group
• Computer Malfunction and Its Effects on Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievement and Self-Concept
• Personality Traits, Learning, and Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievement and Difference Between Athletic or Extracurricular Achievement, and Grades or Gpa
• Time Management Skills, Academic Achievements, and Life Satisfaction
• Learning-Related Skills and Academic Achievement
• Academic Achievements: Keys to Academic Success
• Schools Influence Students’ Academic Achievements: A Behavioral Approach With Empirical Evidence
• Acknowledging and Congratulations for Academic Achievements: The Primary Motivation
• Academic Achievement in Primary Education
• Relationships Between the Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievements in Students
• Academic Achievements and Study Habits
• The Psychology of Academic Achievement
• Connection Between Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievements
• Factors Which Determine Academic Achievements
• Effect of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievements and Short or Long-Term Educational Goals
• Relationship Between Academic Achievement, Psychological Well-Being, and Coping Strategies
• Academic Achievement and Future Leadership Positions
• Positive and Significant Correlation Between Academic Motivation and Academic Achievement
• Academic Achievements: Grades Versus Duration
• Relationship Between Study Habits and Academic Achievement
• Academic Achievements and Non-academic Goals
• The Relationship Between Academic Achievement and the Emotional Well-Being
• Academic Achievement, Personality, and Emotional Intelligence
• The Relationship Between Computer Literacy Level and Academic Achievements in Association With Gender and Grade
• Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievements and Career Goals
• The Relationship Between Academic Motivation and Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievement: Diplomas and Bachelor’s Degrees
• The Importance of Non-academic Achievements for Students
• Factors of Academic Achievement: Literacy Skills, Background Knowledge, and Motivation
• Parental Absence Accompanies Worse Academic Achievements: Evidence-Based Upon a Sample of Left-Behind Children
• Motivation: The Key to Academic Achievements Success
• Academic Achievements and Social Adjustments
• Motor Skills, Attention, and Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievements and Career of Steve Goldberg in the Field of Mediation and Dispute Resolution
• The Concept of Academic Achievements
• Academic Achievements: Perspectives, Gender Differences, and Outcomes
• What Are the Components of Academic Achievement?
• How Do Schools Influence Students’ Academic Achievements?
• What Are the Factors Influencing the Academic Achievement of Students?
• How Does School Environment Impact Students’ Motivation and Academic Achievement?
• Do Teachers’ Expectations Influence Students’ Academic Achievements?
• How Can Teachers Improve Students’ Academic Achievement?
• Why Is Academic Achievement Important for Students?
• How Do Socioeconomic Status Differences Affect Students Academic Achievement?
• What Has the Biggest Impact on Student Achievement?
• How Can We Increase Academic Achievement?
• What Are Exceptional Academic Achievements?
• Is Social Class Important in Academic Achievement?
• What Is the Relationship Between Academic Achievements and Leadership?
• How Can Students Improve Academic Achievement?
• What Social Factors Affect Student Academic Achievement?
• How Important Is the Social Skill of a Student in Their Academic Achievement?
• What Is the Relationship Between Society and Academic Achievement?
• Does Leadership Affect Student Academic Achievement?
• What Is the Effect of Academic Achievement?
• Is There a Relationship Between Socio-Economic Status and the Academic Achievement of Culturally Diverse Students?
• What Causes Low Academic Achievement?
• How Does Poverty Affect Academic Achievement?
• What Is the Single Biggest Predictor of Academic Achievement?
• How Is Academic Achievement Measured?
• What Are the Main Indicators of Academic Achievement?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Student Life — Academic Achievements

Essays on Academic Achievements

Brief description of academic achievements.

Academic achievements encompass a wide range of accomplishments in the academic realm, including but not limited to academic awards, research publications, academic presentations, and other notable achievements in educational settings. These achievements demonstrate a student's commitment to excellence, dedication to learning, and mastery of academic subjects.

Importance ... Read More Brief Description of Academic Achievements

Importance of writing essays on this topic.

Essays on academic achievements are significant as they provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their educational journey, showcase their accomplishments, and highlight the impact of their academic pursuits on their personal and professional development. Writing about academic achievements also allows students to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs, inspiring others and contributing to the academic discourse.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

• Reflect on personal growth: Choose a topic that showcases your growth, challenges overcome, and lessons learned in your academic journey.
• Highlight unique accomplishments: Select a topic that highlights a specific academic achievement that sets you apart from others.
• Connect to future goals: Consider topics that align with your future academic or career aspirations, demonstrating relevance and foresight in your essay.

Essay Topics

• The impact of academic achievements on personal development
• Overcoming academic challenges and achieving success
• The role of mentorship in academic accomplishments
• Academic achievements and their influence on career prospects
• The significance of academic awards and recognitions
• Balancing academic achievements with extracurricular activities
• The value of research publications in academic achievements
• Reflecting on academic achievements in a reflective essay
• The impact of academic achievements on self-esteem and confidence
• The role of perseverance in academic success

Concluding Thought

Writing essays on academic achievements provides an opportunity for self-reflection, celebration of accomplishments, and sharing valuable insights with others. By exploring the diverse facets of academic achievements through writing, students can gain a deeper understanding of their educational journey and contribute to the broader conversation on academic excellence. Dive into the world of academic achievements through essay writing and uncover the profound impact of your scholarly pursuits.

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Academic achievement represents performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person has accomplished specific goals that were the focus of activities in instructional environments, specifically in school, college, and university.

Academic success is important because it is strongly linked to the positive outcomes. Adults who are academically successful and with high levels of education are more likely to be employed, have stable employment, have more employment opportunities than those with less education and earn higher salaries, are more likely to have health insurance, are less dependent on social assistance, are less likely to engage in criminal activity, are more active as citizens and charitable volunteers and are healthier and happier.

Relevant topics

• Studying Abroad
• Academic Interests
• Critical Thinking
• Physical Education
• Stem Education
• Middle School
• High School
• Importance of Education
• School Uniform

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Frequently asked questions

How do i write about my achievements and qualities.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

• Extracurriculars, especially sports
• Role models
• Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
• Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
• Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
• Overcoming a difficult class
• Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

• Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
• Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
• Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
• Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
• Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

• Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
• Focuses on you and your experiences
• Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
• Is creative and original

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

• Return to the beginning with a “full circle” structure
• Reveal the main point or insight in your story
• Look to the future
• End on an action

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

• For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
• For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
• Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
• Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

• Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
• Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
• Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

• Your personal information
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• College application essays
• Transcripts
• Standardized test scores
• Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

• Use a standard, readable font
• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
• Stick to the word count
• Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

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College admissions

Course: college admissions   >   unit 4.

• Writing a strong college admissions essay
• Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes
• Brainstorming tips for your college essay
• How formal should the tone of your college essay be?
• Taking your college essay to the next level

Sample essay 1 with admissions feedback

• Sample essay 2 with admissions feedback
• Student story: Admissions essay about a formative experience
• Student story: Admissions essay about personal identity
• Student story: Admissions essay about community impact
• Student story: Admissions essay about a past mistake
• Student story: Admissions essay about a meaningful poem
• Writing tips and techniques for your college essay

Introduction

Sample essay 1, feedback from admissions.

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• School of Thought Blog

Recognizing Student Success: Creating a Positive Culture for Students

Guest post by Matthew Younghans

Motivation and success are what drive individuals in any profession. In the school setting, it is critically important that we celebrate and recognize the outstanding things that students accomplish, both inside and outside of the building. Watching students grow and accomplish their goals is one of the main reasons most go into education, myself included. The recognition of students fosters strong relationships among students, families, faculty, and the community and creates a positive school culture where students feel valued.

At Clarkstown High School South, a variety of programs and traditions recognize and support student accomplishments. Academically, we celebrate student achievement through multiple events on a yearly basis. Each spring, Clarkstown holds an Academic Awards night, which celebrates student achievement in all content areas, including the arts, music, physical education, world languages, and the elective program offerings. More formally, a night of Academic Excellence is held in the winter, which invites the top-performing students and their families to a dinner and recognition ceremony at an outside venue within the community.

The Principal’s Newsletter, distributed monthly to all school stakeholders, contains a “Congratulations To” section on the cover page and includes articles regarding student accomplishments such as Eagle Scout/Gold Award projects, athletic team and individual accomplishments, college athletic letter of intent signing events, school clubs and organization recognitions, and local contest winners.

At the building level, something as simple as a bulletin board or case in a high volume of traffic area is an easy, efficient way to promote success. In the main lobby of the school, a case with the heading, “Vikings in the News” displays articles about positive news for a member of our student body or staff.

At the district level, our school website does an excellent job of recognizing students’ accomplishments on its website and also links to each school building page. The influx of social media has allowed these success stories to reach larger audiences as they are typically posted to the district’s Facebook and Twitter page.

The entirety of these small tasks and programs are an effort to promote a positive culture within the school building. While preparing students to be good citizens and contributing members of society, promoting and celebrating their success shows students that you care. Be proud of the students and staff that you serve and the amazing things that go on within your school community!

How do you recognize student success in your school and community? What role does/should the community have in recognizing its future leaders? How can recognition strengthen school-community relationships? Tell us in the comments.

Matthew Younghans is the current principal of Little Tor Elementary School in New City, NY, after serving as Assistant Principal at Clarkstown High School South. He is the 2016 SAANYS/NASSP New York Assistant Principal of the Year .

About the Author

Matthew Younghans is the current Principal of Little Tor Elementary School in New City, NY, after serving as Assistant Principal at Clarkstown High School South. He is the 2016 SAANYS/NASSP New York Assistant Principal of the Year .

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Greatest accomplishment essay example and topic ideas.

Developing a college essay on accomplishment may seem easy on the surface, but a hard nut on the inner. Why? Most students have not developed the necessary skills and tactics needed to give such an essay a perfect look it deserves. Nevertheless, we are here to help you develop that and make your essay one of the best achievements ever made. At the end of this post, you will be more proud that Isaac Newton, who saw a mango falling from a tree.

An accomplishment essay should have the following components :

• The challenge
• The outcome
• The significance

First things first, we will start with an accomplishment essay example, which will form the basis of our discussion. Let’s do this!

The Greatest Accomplishment Essay: How I Made it in Life “When I was growing up, I had one purpose in mind, to be my boss. Well, many may find it absurd that a young lad who barely knew all the letters of the alphabet would dream of such. As crazy as it may sound, that was my dream, and I had no intention of looking back. The same urge still burned in me ten years later. No doubt that my passion for leadership was in my DNA, and nothing could stop me from achieving it. What is success? One person defined it as the accomplishment of a purpose or an aim. We create success on our own, and this is how I made my success story. I grew up in a humble background, with my mother taking both parental roles. We lived from hand to mouth, and there are times when we would go for two or three fortnights without a meal. Being a single mother, she had to ensure that her two children were well fending for with the little that she could afford. She would take up any job position; a cleaner, a homemaker, a cook, and even one time, a garbage collector. All these were for the best of her children. Don’t think that I was blind to all these sufferings. There are times that she would take me on these jobs, and I had a first-hand experience of how difficult they were. That is where I started developing a longing for a better life. Not just for me, but my family and all the others who were going through the same ordeal. From the little pennies I collected, I began my little savings account. A bank wouldn’t accept my little coins, and so I had a metallic tin, which I dubbed, “my treasure box.” As time went by, my little treasure box began being heavy. One day I decided to open it when I counted the amount; it was kind enough to buy a few packets of sweets. I bought the first three packets, and lucky enough, all of them sold out. The urge to buy more packs of sweets developed, and within no time, I had a small kiosk. Through several ups and downs, I managed to open a small shop with not just sweets but also other essential commodities. The shop did well, and I moved to a mini-market where I would do wholesale and retail services. I eventually opened a supermarket, and that is where my fortune came. Due to the excellent progress of this supermarket, I opened another branch, and the business began expanding. From a sweet seller to the director of a supermarket with branches nationwide! That is how I became my boss by creating opportunities for people like me who did not have a source of income.”

A personal accomplishment essay is as simple as that. You do not have to hustle for the so-called “great” stories. Look for that one achievement in your life and give it your best shot.

Topic Ideas for Writing the Greatest Accomplishment Essay

Show the great strides you made in your education and the accolades you received for the same.

Describe how your interest in medicine drove you to become a doctor

How does one not achieving a specific goal contribute to his/her failure?

• The Importance of Accomplishment Discuss the privileges, results, and social impact of an accomplishment

Things to Avoid in an Accomplishment Essay

A good essay on accomplishment should not:

• Be of an ancient achievement
• Involve a friend, family, or marriage unless the story is genuinely distinctive and has a substantial impact.

To sum up, writing one of the most significant accomplishment essays bears a couple of requirements in mind. You should critically ask yourself specific questions and, after that, reflect on the experiences that answer those questions. If you have a problem on how to do this, we have experts with years of experience who can help you navigate through.

We also offer professional wring assistance with more essay samples for your inspiration. Contact us today.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

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 obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Personal Accomplishment Essay Writing Secrets To Bear in Mind

EssayEdge > Blog > Personal Accomplishment Essay Writing Secrets To Bear in Mind

Most of what is applicable to writing a successful  personal growth  essay holds here for Accomplishment pieces: Colleges use the relation of accomplishments to get insight into applicants’ personalities and character traits. Some schools ask targeted questions, while others leave the topic open for applicant interpretation.

An important point is to refrain from repeating information found elsewhere in the application. Some “overachievers” try to include virtually all their accomplishments in one essay, missing the point of the exercise altogether. A laundry list of academic, extracurricular, and work successes will not give admissions officers much more insight into your personality. In fact, they may infer that you do not realize that, in college, you will not be able to be essay editor , editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, president of the honor society, captain of the football team, and president of the class all at the same time. The mature applicant knows that college will require a student to focus on a few interests but spend more time and effort pursuing them.

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

For those of you who were not the school “all-star,” do not worry. Some of the best Accomplishment essays have been written about what could be construed as mundane events—learning how to bake a cake, miraculously getting the engine in your first car (which you affectionately call your “clunker”) to start, or getting your elderly and bed-ridden neighbor to smile by performing your cheesy stand-up routine. The accomplishment does not need to be earth-shattering, but you do need to show why it is important for you and how it has affected you in a discernible way.

Discussing and revealing some writing secrets is a good idea, but not all information should be publicized. If you plan to regularly text us and say: “I need help editing my essay ,” let it be your small proofreading tip. The smartest person always wins, so we’ll be happy to see our clients get accepted to their dream colleges.

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August 8, 2022

Writing a Powerful Leadership/Achievement Essay [Sample Essay]

Essays that ask you to write about significant achievements fall under the category of

what are known as behavioral or experiential questions . The basic assumption behind these questions is that past behavior is a great predictor of future behavior . They are all varieties on the theme of “Tell us about a time when you…” These questions are meant to take the measure of your managerial potential.

Let’s look at how one candidate effectively addressed this essay question from  Stanford GSB  (*this question is not from the current application):

Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.

This writer avoids writing about leadership in any generic way and zeroes in on the specific aspects of his contributions and their impact:

Leadership essay example: The Change Agent

When I was invited to become the Vice President and General Manager at Third Way Associates (TWA)* two years ago, the company was in financial and administrative disorder. Employee retention was poor, and TWA took too long to pay vendors because of poor communication and accounting processes. Cash flow was managed based on immediate needs rather than by the logic of budgets planned by project and city. Sloppy expense reports that were turned in with no receipts were reimbursed to employees.

TWA founders Scott W ____ and Glenn L ____ had good intentions, but spent most of their time selling sponsorships and getting new clients rather than directing and managing the company. As we begin 20XX, TWA is much healthier in every way. Under my direction, vendors are paid in an average of 20 days from date of invoice, instead of 60 days or more. Our cash flow is better administered since I introduced very specific detailed area budgets with over 125 budget lines per city. Because I can give the company founders much better stability and macromanagement vision, the three of us are able to look more to the future rather than simply put out fires.

Despite the difficult economy in 20XX, we not only retained our same clients but also signed several new client agreements for three years or more, including a two-year contract with Big Shoe Company worth $1.3 million. I’ve brought fresh accounts and industries into TWA, including ____ Airlines and Drink Y, among others. Combined, these accounts generated more than $500,000 in 20XX, and we estimate close to $1 million dollars in the following year.

Since my arrival, we have a much wider and broader sales menu which has been crucial to generate more revenue. I’ve expanded our most popular sports events to 25 cities, giving our clients new investment opportunities. These events range from recreational soccer clinic tours to professional soccer games broadcast on TV.

I also expanded our field staff, and at present we have 25 strong and reliable managers who report directly to me from each city. Despite the economy, 20XX was not a bad year for TWA, and this year promises to be even better if we continue our current strategy and continue to work as a team.

Leadership essay analysis

In every paragraph, this writer mentions concrete measures he took to introduce order to a chaotic company that was trying to grow. From instituting budgets with line items, an improved accounts payable system, and recruiting additional big-name accounts, the writer proves how his efforts strengthened the organization.

How can you maximize on your thought leadership experiences?

As you choose among your own experiences as essay material, think about these questions to help you frame answers of substance:

• What was the obstacle, challenge, or problem that you solved in this accomplishment? A tight client deadline? A complex merger transaction? A new product launch amidst fierce competition?
• What did you do to rise to the challenge you are writing about? Motivate your team to work overtime? Sell senior management on the deal’s long-term upside? Identify a marketing profile for your product that no competitor can match?
• What facts demonstrate that your intervention created a happy ending? Did your team submit the project deliverables three days early despite being 20% understaffed? Your client approved the $500 million merger, the largest ever in its industry? Your new product has 20% market share after only one year? What was the impact of your leadership?

Don’t forget about your people leadership skills

What we’ve spoken about until this point revolves mostly on skilled problem-solving, or “thought leadership.” But respected businesspeople need to be equally or even more talented at something we didn’t have a formal name for: people leadership. By effectively leading the thinking of client firms’ problems as well as motivating them to work long hours to develop solutions to these problems and collaborate with clients on implementing them, these businesspeople prove to have what it takes to be exemplary leaders.

So don’t forget to include strong elements of people leadership in your essays. Here are several to keep in mind:

• Rallying others around a vision. Did you convince your team or group to follow a specific path/solution? How did you do it? Successful clients have talked about handling dissenting opinions diplomatically or presenting their teams’ detailed quantitative evidence for a recommendation. The more you can show that you understood your audience and tailored the content and form of your message to them, the better.
• Harnessing others’ strengths – and expanding them. Did you provide team members tasks they could handle comfortably based on their capabilities, as well as opportunities to broaden their skills? For example, you may have handed your quant jock teammate the most complicated operations analysis as well as responsibility for leading a key client meeting. In this way, you leverage teammates’ strengths while helping them develop new ones.
• Getting through tough times. Did you model for your team enviable cool in pressure-cooker situations, maybe helping them keep the big-picture goal in mind or lightening the mood with humor? Did you reward teammates with praise, pizza, or both for working long into the night? Did you pitch in on others’ responsibilities as deadlines loomed? Helping your team handle stress while managing your own is a cornerstone of strong leadership.

Use your words

Another tip: Look for opportunities to incorporate strong verbs that illustrate your strengths in these areas. Good examples of leadership might incorporate several of the following:

• Establishing a goal or vision
• Obtaining buy-in
• Taking responsibility

The old adage, “Show, don’t tell,” remains a classic bit of wisdom in the writing process. Make that a guiding principle not only in your leadership/achievement essays, but throughout your application.

For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get accepted.

Related Resources:

• School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips • Tone Up Your Writing: Confidence vs Arrogance • “I’m Smart, Really I Am!” Proving Character Traits in Your Essays

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How To Write A Powerful Essay On Achieving Goals (+ Example)

Writing an essay on achieving your goals can be a great opportunity to share your accomplishments.

Goal setting is a useful strategy to get the most out of life and set yourself up for success. However, there are many things to remember regarding proper goal setting and achievement. When writing a blm argumentative essay , it’s important to provide context on the history of the Black Lives Matter movement and the issues it seeks to address. This can help the reader understand the significance of the essay’s thesis and arguments. Let’s get to grips with the process of goal setting and come up with a powerful essay on achieving goals.

Structuring Your Essay on Achieving Goals:

How to write an introduction.

Any academic essay must have a strong beginning. It will establish your point of view and inform the reader of what to expect. An introduction should:

• Attract the reader’s attention with a ‘hook’. You can achieve this by quoting a shocking statistic, quote, fact, or controversial statement.
• Give some background or historical information about the topic. For instance, psychological theories and models on effective goal setting and achievement.
• Present your thesis (main point of your essay) e.g., “Rewarding achievement is the most effective means by which employers can increase workplace productivity”.

How to Write The Main Body of Your Essay

There should be a minimum of three paragraphs in your essay. Each one is a ‘mini-essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each should include:

• Topic sentence: inform the reader about the subject of the paragraph, e.g., “how to measure goal attainment”, or “effective workplace goal setting”.
• Evidence sentences: inform the reader about the evidence you’ve uncovered, e.g., a business model and study on effective workplace goal setting.
• Analysis sentences : inform the reader of your thoughts on the evidence and its significance. For example, “Model A clearly shows how employers are to set realistic goals with employees and this model has proven to be successful in study x”.
• Concluding sentence: summarize what you’ve learned about the topic and how it relates to the essay question. For instance, “Setting realistic goals for employees is straightforward and likely to increase successful goal achievement in the workplace”.

How to Write a Conclusion

• To signal the essay is ending, use a suitable word or phrase , such as ‘In summary’ or ‘With all of this in mind’.
• Reread your introduction to remind yourself of your thesis. After that, either paraphrase or respond to the thesis.
• Summarize the key points stated in each of the assignment’s paragraphs. So, if you wrote three key body paragraphs, the conclusion should include three main themes.
• Give your readers a concluding line on the main issue and possibly attempt to urge them to further ponder the topic in its wider context.

Example Of An Essay About Achieving Your Goals

So, let’s put all this information together and check an example essay on achieving goals: Effective Methods to Increase the Likelihood of Goal Achievement Achieving goals can be extremely rewarding and result in a more satisfying and successful life. Many people set goals yet cannot achieve them. However, there are ways to avoid or reduce the likelihood of missing the mark. By ensuring that goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound), using visualization techniques, and rewarding goal attainment, the chances of success increase. First, ensure your goals are SMART. This means that goals should be specific and measurable in terms of outcomes, e.g., test scores . Goals should be achievable and realistic to the person’s capabilities and resources available. Also, a goal should apply to the person’s work, education, hobbies, or interests and include a deadline. If there is no specificity of outcome, there’s no real way to see how someone has improved—or how they might be falling short. And if goals are not SMART, they are more difficult to achieve. Second, by imagining and visualizing the feelings and outcomes of achievement of the goal , the likelihood of high achievement increases. The imagination can be a powerful tool. Imagining the feelings of accomplishment helps to increase self-efficacy and motivation. A Canadian study found that imagery skills moderate the effect of mental practice on self-efficacy. The effects of visualization techniques are valuable in goal achievement. Third, once the goal has been accomplished, a reward is required. Getting a reward for hard work will increasingly motivate an individual to set and achieve the next goal. The offer of a reward gives employees and students an extra boost of motivation. Rewards help the cycle of goal setting and goal achieving to continue. In summary, by ensuring the goals set are SMART, visualizing and rewarding success, goal achievement becomes more likely. Achieving goals is a cyclic process that’s possible to master if the right method is in place.

The Basics of Setting and Achieving Goals

Getting things done is often more difficult than you may think. You may have a strong desire to see positive changes, including better grades, weight loss, or passing an educational course. But success requires more than just motivation. The right goal-achievement skill set can help you see the exact steps you need to perform to take your life to the next level. Of course, it all starts with setting a goal and there’s a useful (SMART) acronym to remember:

Goals should be specific and free of generalizations, or they are unlikely to get done. Instead of stating that your goal is to improve your English skills, make it more specific by stating that your goal is to learn and use one new word every weekday to boost your English vocabulary.

A goal should be measurable because you need to keep your finger on the pulse and know where you’re at. For instance, a test or assessment score can provide evidence that you have reached your goal.

A goal needs to be possible to achieved. If it’s beyond your capabilities or requires resources you cannot access, then you will set yourself up for failure.

Goals must have some relevance. It is pointless to set a goal if it’s not relevant to your life, work, education, interests, hobbies, etc.

You must set a completion date for your goal. If you do not set a deadline, you may lack the motivation to reach it. Once you have your SMART goal, record it clearly on paper or a mobile device and then visualize the outcome of achieving that goal. Imagine how happy you will feel when you achieve it. This vivid mental imagery will provide you with the extra motivation to go for it. Finally, when you reach your goal, it’s time to celebrate! Reward yourself with a trip, an item you desire, relaxation time with friends, or whatever else that will make you feel happy.

Ready to write an essay about achieving goals?

Hopefully, the information in the article has given you the basics to help you write a powerful essay on achieving goals. I also hope that this article has helped you think about how you can work toward achieving your own goals. There are many great books about the science of goal achievement. I especially recommend ones written by Brian Tracy , as they have helped me a great deal in my pursuit of happiness . You can also create an engaging presentation about achieving goals and objectives using this  goal presentation template . Next up, you may want to explore an ultimate guide to writing expository essays .

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School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

College of engineering, chbe honors student achievements.

Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering recognized the achievements of our undergraduate and graduate students over the past year.  

An honors presentation and dinner were held April 8 in the Ford ES&T Building.

AIChE Outstanding Undergraduate Course Assistants - Aditya Sankaran and Maeve Janecka,

AIChE Honors

AIChE Freshman Recognition Award - Hannah Reynolds

AIChE Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Excellence Award - Benjamin Wellisch

AIChE MAC Scholarship Award - Oluwadarasimi Jakande

AIChE Othmer Scholarship Award - Anugeeth Raghavan

AIChE McKetta Undergraduate Scholarship Award - Saksham Malik

AIChE Outstanding Senior Award - Shreya Ghosh

AIChE Outstanding Undergraduate Course Assistant Award - Aditya Sankaran, Maeve Janecka, Grace Menard

AIChE Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Anna Kaehr, Amisha Patel, Anush Venkataraman

AIChE Outstanding Faculty Award - Christian Cuba-Torres, Yonathan Thio

Graduate Honors

Research Accomplishments

Ziegler Award for Best Thesis Proposal - Victor Brandão “Microenvironment Engineering for the CO₂ Reduction Reaction Over Copper Electrocatalysts”

Ziegler Award for Best Paper - Rajas Poorna “Toward Gene-Correlated Spatially Resolved Metabolomics with Fingerprint Coherent Raman Imaging” ( Journal of Physical Chemistry B )

Outstanding Performance on the Qualifying Exam - David Witdorchic

Outstanding PhD Thesis - Lukas Bingel

Shell Outstanding Teaching Assistants - Richa Ghosh, Sayan Bhowmik, Soor Vora. Hsiang-Ju Kai, Steven Crouse

Exemplary Academic Achievement - Luisa Barraza Vergara, Hung Yu Chang, Haoyu Chen, Anomitra De, William Freer, Jacob Hewes, Geoffrey Hopping, Cheng-Tien Hsieh, Sahba Khorsandzadeh, Jieun Lee, Huston Locht, Kijeong Nam, Nisha Raman, Steven Renfroe, Eric Sarbacker, Steven Schlosser, Adam Senko, Mohammed Tahmid, Alberto Tous Granados, Soor Vora, Abraham Weinstein, David Witdorchic, Xintong Xu, Jin Yu, Wanqing Yu, Morgan Ziegelski

Symposium Chairs - Anush Venkataraman, Jennifer Lee

AChEGS - Caitlyn Davis, Michael Rettstatt, Ishmamul Hoque Sadab, Botagoz Kuspangaliyeva, Ramy Ghanim, Priyadarshini Seshasayee, Daniel Kim, Jason Ye, Calib Lanier, Savyasachi Shrikhande, Geoffrey Hopping

Recruiting Committee - Raja Selvakumar, Anush Venkataraman, Ananya Vajapayajula, Chizi Chibuko, Lotanna Onua, Isabel Panicker, Emad Renfroe

Fellowship Recognition 

NSF Fellowships - Richa Ghosh, Emily Heckard, Kaitlin Jacobson, Henry Kantrow, Felicia Oentoro, David Pando, Nisha Raman

NSERC (Government of Canada) - Sucharita Vijayaraghavan

David Witdorchic, winner of Outstanding Performance on the Qualifying Exam (with Professor Martha Grover, associate chair for graduate studies)

Winners of the Shell Outstanding Teaching Assistant Honors

Anugeeth Raghavan, winner of the Chair's Award - Outstanding ChBE Senior (with Professor and School Chair Chris Jones and Academic Advising Manager Ellen Riley)

Gianna Fiduccia, winner of the Chair’s Award—Outstanding ChBE Junior, with Professor and School Chair Christopher Jones and Academic Program Manager Adrienne Hillman

Undergraduate Honors

Overall Accomplishments

Chair’s Award—Outstanding ChBE Senior - Anugeeth Raghavan

Chair’s Award—Outstanding ChBE Junior - Gianna Fiduccia

COE Honors Day Award - Jeffrey Li

ChBE Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher - Julia Vallier

Davidson Family Tau Beta Pi Senior Engineering Cup - Saksham Malik

Love Family Foundation Scholarship—ChBE Nominee - Maeve Janecka

AIChE Student Chapter Advisors - President: Saksham Malik; Vice President: Gabrielle Wong

ChBE Student Advisory Board Advisor - Leadership: Suhyun (Su) Kim, Sasha Bronovitskiy, Michael Silas

CHBE Peer Led Help Desk - Archita Jayaram, Lizmarie Chavez , Saksham Malik, Karan Kotak

ChBE Student Ambassadors - Leadership: Owen Pittman, Regina Cuellar Lelo de Larrea, Maggie D’Amaro, Lizmarie Chavez

ChBE First-year Peer Mentors Advisor - Leadership: Anugeeth Raghavan, Saksham Malik, Xingwan (Helen) Zhu

Undergraduate Scholarships

Albemarle Corporation Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship - Ben Wellisch

Thomas L. Gossage International Enrichment Scholarship - Lizmarie Chavez, Naisargi Goyal, Karan Kotak, Saksham Malik, Rui Matsubara, Mattias Silva Larsson

Suzanne C. and Duncan A. Mellichamp Jr. Scholarship - Jessica Bermudez, Harper Finch, Peter Gardner, Sarah Szabo

Elbert Ward Jones Jr. Scholarship - Yelizaveta Pivnik

Exemplary Academic Achievement:

Camryn Aguilar Abigail Auty William Barton Jessica Bermudez Ghufran Bhatti Anna Brewer Joshua Brown Anna Burson Michael Camacho Andrey Chee Natasha Chen Christine Cheng Hyunchan Chung Joshua Clark Lincoln Crowe Lewis Denson Radeen Dixon Max Freidlin Layla Ghalayini Carter Guerrin Hunter Hammond Shane Harris Joseph Henderson Connor Herrington Bingcheng Huang Timothy Hurley Nicolas Kelhofer Ellie Kim Sareum Kim Andrew Knobbe Jeffrey Li Makenna Locke Oliver Long Saksham Malik Catherine McCoy Nancy McNichols Lauren Mellinger Aliasgar Momin Tanishq Moondra Demetrios Pappas William Poindexter Javier Pratdesaba Christopher Qi Anugeeth Raghavan Hannah Reynolds Nathan Saliceti Jack Sanders William Schulman Christina Sealy Alexandra Seesee Michael Silas Henry Skinner Paul Teltscher Sebastian Toyotoshi Kenneth Truong Julia Vallier Avery Walker Garrett Warner Benjamin Wellisch Hannah West Lonnie White Paige Woodham Liliana Wuerth

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Guest Essay

Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands

By Sarah Bernstein

Ms. Bernstein is a playwright, a writing coach and an essayist in Brooklyn.

“I just can’t think of anything,” my student said.

After 10 years of teaching college essay writing, I was familiar with this reply. For some reason, when you’re asked to recount an important experience from your life, it is common to forget everything that has ever happened to you. It’s a long-form version of the anxiety that takes hold at a corporate retreat when you’re invited to say “one interesting thing about yourself,” and you suddenly believe that you are the most boring person in the entire world. Once during a version of this icebreaker, a man volunteered that he had only one kidney, and I remember feeling incredibly jealous of him.

I tried to jog this student’s memory. What about his love of music? Or his experience learning English? Or that time on a summer camping trip when he and his friends had nearly drowned? “I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “That all seems kind of cliché.”

Applying to college has always been about standing out. When I teach college essay workshops and coach applicants one on one, I see my role as helping students to capture their voice and their way of processing the world, things that are, by definition, unique to each individual. Still, many of my students (and their parents) worry that as getting into college becomes increasingly competitive, this won’t be enough to set them apart.

Their anxiety is understandable. On Thursday, in a tradition known as “Ivy Day,” all eight Ivy League schools released their regular admission decisions. Top colleges often issue statements about how impressive (and competitive) their applicant pools were this cycle. The intention is to flatter accepted students and assuage rejected ones, but for those who have not yet applied to college, these statements reinforce the fear that there is an ever-expanding cohort of applicants with straight A’s and perfect SATs and harrowing camping trip stories all competing with one another for a vanishingly small number of spots.

This scarcity has led to a boom in the college consulting industry, now estimated to be a $2.9 billion business. In recent years, many of these advisers and companies have begun to promote the idea of personal branding — a way for teenagers to distinguish themselves by becoming as clear and memorable as a good tagline.

While this approach often leads to a strong application, students who brand themselves too early or too definitively risk missing out on the kind of exploration that will prepare them for adult life.

Like a corporate brand, the personal brand is meant to distill everything you stand for (honesty, integrity, high quality, low prices) into a cohesive identity that can be grasped at a glance. On its website, a college prep and advising company called Dallas Admissions explains the benefits of branding this way: “Each person is complex, yet admissions officers only have a small amount of time to spend learning about each prospective student. The smart student boils down key aspects of himself or herself into their personal ‘brand’ and sells that to the college admissions officer.”

Identifying the key aspects of yourself may seem like a lifelong project, but unfortunately, college applicants don’t have that kind of time. Online, there are dozens of lesson plans and seminars promising to walk students through the process of branding themselves in five to 10 easy steps. The majority begin with questions I would have found panic-inducing as a teenager, such as, “What is the story you want people to tell about you when you’re not in the room?”

Where I hoped others would describe me as “normal” or, in my wildest dreams, “cool,” today’s teenagers are expected to leave this exercise with labels like, Committed Athlete and Compassionate Leader or Environmentally Conscious Musician. Once students have a draft of their ideal self, they’re offered instructions for manifesting it (or at least, the appearance of it) in person and online. These range from common-sense tips (not posting illegal activity on social media) to more drastic recommendations (getting different friends).

It’s not just that these courses cut corners on self-discovery; it’s that they get the process backward. A personal brand is effective only if you can support it with action, so instead of finding their passion and values through experience, students are encouraged to select a passion as early as possible and then rack up the experience to substantiate it. Many college consultants suggest beginning to align your activities with your college ambitions by ninth grade, while the National Institute of Certified College Planners recommends students “talk with parents, guardians, and/or an academic adviser to create a clear plan for your education and career-related goals” in junior high.

The idea of a group of middle schoolers soberly mapping out their careers is both comical and depressing, but when I read student essays today, I can see that this advice is getting through. Over the past few years, I have been struck by how many high school seniors already have defined career goals as well as a C.V. of relevant extracurriculars to go with them. This widens the gap between wealthy students and those who lack the resources to secure a fancy research gig or start their own small business. (A shocking number of college applicants claim to have started a small business.) It also puts pressure on all students to define themselves at a moment when they are anxious to fit in and yet changing all the time.

In the world of branding, a word that appears again and again is “consistency.” If you are Charmin, that makes sense. People opening a roll of toilet paper do not want to be surprised. If you are a teenage human being, however, that is an unreasonable expectation. Changing one’s interests, opinions and presentation is a natural part of adolescence and an instructive one. I find that my students with scattershot résumés are often the most confident. They’re not afraid to push back against suggestions that ring false and will insist on revising their essay until it actually “feels like me.” On the other hand, many of my most accomplished students are so quick to accept feedback that I am wary of offering it, lest I become one more adult trying to shape them into an admission-worthy ideal.

I understand that for parents, prioritizing exploration can feel like a risky bet. Self-insight is hard to quantify and to communicate in a college application. When it comes to building a life, however, this kind of knowledge has more value than any accolade, and it cannot be generated through a brainstorming exercise in a six-step personal branding course online. To equip kids for the world, we need to provide them not just with opportunities for achievement, but with opportunities to fail, to learn, to wander and to change their minds.

In some ways, the college essay is a microcosm of modern adolescence. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a forum for self-discovery or a high-stakes test you need to ace. I try to assure my students that it is the former. I tell them that it’s a chance to take stock of everything you’ve experienced and learned over the past 18 years and everything you have to offer as a result.

That can be a profound process. But to embark on it, students have to believe that colleges really want to see the person behind the brand. And they have to have the chance to know who that person is.

Sarah Bernstein is a playwright, a writing coach and an essayist.

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Harvard Business School Honors Five Graduates with 2024 Alumni Achievement Award

Mark Cautela mcautela+hbs.edu 617-495-5143

About Harvard Business School

Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 250 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and PhD degrees, as well as more than 175 Executive Education programs, and Harvard Business School Online, the School’s digital learning platform. For more than a century, faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching, to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. The School and its curriculum attract the boldest thinkers and the most collaborative learners who will go on to shape the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

LATEST PRESS RELEASES

Hbs honors five graduates with 2024 alumni achievement award, “reskilling in the age of ai” wins 2023 hbr prize, 2024 harvard business school new venture competition: uniting cutting edge ideas, innovative ventures, and talented alumni and students, harvard business school rock center for entrepreneurship hosts first annual demo day, harvard business school announces spring 2024 cohort of executive fellows.

Rollins School of Public Health Ranked Third in the Nation

The Rollins School of Public Health has risen to a No. 3 ranking among all accredited schools and programs of public health in the United States in U.S. News & World Report ’s 2024-2025 graduate school rankings , which were released earlier today. The reputation-based assessment is reflective of the school’s continued tradition of excellence as demonstrated by the school’s commitment to research, teaching, and academic rigor.

“We are so grateful to be recognized by our peers in this way, and to be included with so many high-quality programs, especially at a time when public health is so critical,” says M. Daniele Fallin, PhD, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health. “While we are happy with this result, rankings are but one of many indicators for success. In addition to these rankings, Rollins also excels in a number of critical areas, including our robust research funding portfolio, our award-winning faculty, our strong relationships with national and local organizations, and the caliber of individuals that make up our community.” 

Rollins has ranked in the top 10 for 20 years and was most recently ranked No. 4. In addition to its ranking as a school, Rollins also secured top spots for each of the programs individually ranked this year: environmental health science, social behavior, epidemiology, health policy and management, and biostatistics. 

Additional recent major achievements for the school include:

• Rollins ranked No. 5 nationally among schools of public health in National Institutes of Health funding, receiving more than $62 million in fiscal year 2023.
• Total research funding for the school in fiscal year 2023 was $179 million.
• Stephen Patrick will join the school June 1 as new chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management.
• The school recently crossed the six-month mark since the launch of its strategic plan and has made substantial progress toward achieving the six goals outlined in the plan. Progress updates will be posted to the strategic plan website later this month. 

Learn more about the Rollins School of Public Health

  *Rollins tied for third with Harvard.

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Essay on My Greatest Achievement In Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Greatest Achievement In Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Greatest Achievement In Life

My proudest moment.

My greatest achievement in life is not about winning a big trophy or getting the highest score in class. It is about learning to read. Reading was hard for me. I would look at books and feel lost. But I did not give up. I practiced every day, sounding out words and slowly making sense of sentences.

Hard Work Pays Off

After many weeks, I could read a whole book by myself. I felt like I had climbed a huge mountain. This success taught me that with patience and hard work, I can overcome tough challenges. Now, I love reading new stories, and it has opened up a world of knowledge and adventure.

250 Words Essay on My Greatest Achievement In Life

Everyone has a moment in their life that stands out as special. For me, my greatest achievement came when I learned to read. It might sound simple, but it changed everything for me.

The Challenge of Reading

When I was younger, I found reading really hard. The letters seemed to dance on the page, and I just couldn’t make sense of them. I watched my friends read easily, and I felt left behind. But I wanted to enjoy stories and learn new things, so I kept trying.

Practice and Patience

I practiced every day after school. My family helped me, and my teacher gave me extra attention. Slowly, the letters started to stop dancing. They began to form words, and the words turned into sentences. It was like a light turned on in my brain.

The Joy of Reading

The day I read my first book on my own was my greatest achievement. It was a short story about a cat who went on adventures. But to me, it was more than just a story—it was proof that I could do something I’d once thought was impossible.

Looking Forward

Reading opened up a world of knowledge and imagination. Now, I can learn about space, dinosaurs, and faraway lands. I can read instructions, signs, and even write essays like this one. It’s amazing how one skill has given me so much. That’s why learning to read is my greatest achievement in life.

500 Words Essay on My Greatest Achievement In Life

Introduction to my greatest achievement.

Everyone has moments in their life that they are very proud of. These are times when they have done something that makes them feel happy and successful. My greatest achievement in life is not about winning a big prize or being the best at sports. It is about learning to read and write very well.

The Challenge of Learning

When I was younger, reading and writing were hard for me. I would look at the pages of a book and feel lost. The letters seemed like a secret code that I couldn’t understand. Writing was also tough. My hand would get tired, and the letters looked messy. Many of my friends could read and write without any trouble. I felt left behind and sad.

Working Hard to Improve

I knew I had to get better at reading and writing. So, I started to practice every day. I would sit with books and try to make sense of the words. I asked my teachers for help, and they gave me extra lessons. My family also supported me. They would read with me and encourage me to write short stories.

Overcoming the Obstacles

The more I practiced, the better I got. Slowly, the letters started to make sense. I began to recognize words and could soon read whole sentences. Writing also became easier. My hand didn’t get as tired, and my writing became neater. I felt like I had unlocked a secret treasure chest full of stories and knowledge.

The Joy of Success

After months of hard work, I could finally read books on my own. I started with simple stories and moved on to bigger books. With each book I finished, I felt more confident. Writing stories became one of my favorite things to do. I could share my thoughts and ideas with others, and that felt amazing.

Why This Is My Greatest Achievement

Some people might think that reading and writing are small things, but for me, they are huge. They opened up a world where I can learn new things every day. I can travel to magical places in my mind just by reading a book. Writing lets me create my own adventures and share them with the world.

In conclusion, my greatest achievement in life is learning to read and write very well. It was not easy, but I did not give up. This achievement is special to me because it has changed my life. I can now enjoy books, do well in school, and express myself through writing. It has taught me that with hard work and determination, I can overcome any challenge.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Grandfather
• Essay on My Goal As A Teacher
• Essay on My Future Profession Lawyer

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Amanda Hoover

Students Are Likely Writing Millions of Papers With AI

Students have submitted more than 22 million papers that may have used generative AI in the past year, new data released by plagiarism detection company Turnitin shows.

A year ago, Turnitin rolled out an AI writing detection tool that was trained on its trove of papers written by students as well as other AI-generated texts. Since then, more than 200 million papers have been reviewed by the detector, predominantly written by high school and college students. Turnitin found that 11 percent may contain AI-written language in 20 percent of its content, with 3 percent of the total papers reviewed getting flagged for having 80 percent or more AI writing. (Turnitin is owned by Advance, which also owns Condé Nast, publisher of WIRED.) Turnitin says its detector has a false positive rate of less than 1 percent when analyzing full documents.

ChatGPT’s launch was met with knee-jerk fears that the English class essay would die . The chatbot can synthesize information and distill it near-instantly—but that doesn’t mean it always gets it right. Generative AI has been known to hallucinate , creating its own facts and citing academic references that don’t actually exist. Generative AI chatbots have also been caught spitting out biased text on gender and race . Despite those flaws, students have used chatbots for research, organizing ideas, and as a ghostwriter . Traces of chatbots have even been found in peer-reviewed, published academic writing .

Teachers understandably want to hold students accountable for using generative AI without permission or disclosure. But that requires a reliable way to prove AI was used in a given assignment. Instructors have tried at times to find their own solutions to detecting AI in writing, using messy, untested methods to enforce rules , and distressing students. Further complicating the issue, some teachers are even using generative AI in their grading processes.

Detecting the use of gen AI is tricky. It’s not as easy as flagging plagiarism, because generated text is still original text. Plus, there’s nuance to how students use gen AI; some may ask chatbots to write their papers for them in large chunks or in full, while others may use the tools as an aid or a brainstorm partner.

Students also aren't tempted by only ChatGPT and similar large language models. So-called word spinners are another type of AI software that rewrites text, and may make it less obvious to a teacher that work was plagiarized or generated by AI. Turnitin’s AI detector has also been updated to detect word spinners, says Annie Chechitelli, the company’s chief product officer. It can also flag work that was rewritten by services like spell checker Grammarly, which now has its own generative AI tool . As familiar software increasingly adds generative AI components, what students can and can’t use becomes more muddled.

Detection tools themselves have a risk of bias. English language learners may be more likely to set them off; a 2023 study found a 61.3 percent false positive rate when evaluating Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exams with seven different AI detectors. The study did not examine Turnitin’s version. The company says it has trained its detector on writing from English language learners as well as native English speakers. A study published in October found that Turnitin was among the most accurate of 16 AI language detectors in a test that had the tool examine undergraduate papers and AI-generated papers.

Jeremy White

Karen Williams

Schools that use Turnitin had access to the AI detection software for a free pilot period, which ended at the start of this year. Chechitelli says a majority of the service’s clients have opted to purchase the AI detection. But the risks of false positives and bias against English learners have led some universities to ditch the tools for now. Montclair State University in New Jersey announced in November that it would pause use of Turnitin’s AI detector. Vanderbilt University and Northwestern University did the same last summer.

“This is hard. I understand why people want a tool,” says Emily Isaacs, executive director of the Office of Faculty Excellence at Montclair State. But Isaacs says the university is concerned about potentially biased results from AI detectors, as well as the fact that the tools can’t provide confirmation the way they can with plagiarism. Plus, Montclair State doesn’t want to put a blanket ban on AI, which will have some place in academia. With time and more trust in the tools, the policies could change. “It’s not a forever decision, it’s a now decision,” Isaacs says.

Chechitelli says the Turnitin tool shouldn’t be the only consideration in passing or failing a student. Instead, it’s a chance for teachers to start conversations with students that touch on all of the nuance in using generative AI. “People don’t really know where that line should be,” she says.

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He got a college degree in prison. Now he’s off to a prestigious law school

In a historic achievement, Benard McKinley, 39, was accepted to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago

Since leaving prison in December 2023, Benard McKinley, 39, has been busy preparing for huge next steps.

Between working and visits from friends and family, McKinley is getting ready for his first year of study at the prestigious Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, a historic achievement.

“Just months ago, I was still behind prison bars, and not knowing exactly how the future of going to law school would turn out. So to be home and know I’m going to law school … is an amazing feeling,” McKinley told the Guardian.

McKinley is the first person from Northwestern University’s Prison Education Program (NPEP) to be accepted into any law school, including Northwestern’s, which boasts a 4% acceptance rate.

The NPEP scheme grants bachelor’s degrees, among just a handful of programs in the US that offer a collage-level education to incarcerated people.

McKinley, who served 22 and a half years in prison, finished his bachelor’s degree last year and applied for a place at the prestigious law school, all while incarcerated at the Stateville correctional center in northern Illinois.

McKinley and his classmates were the inaugural class of NPEP, one of four cohorts with 20 incarcerated students in the program overall.

Northwestern has stated that graduates in McKinley’s class are the first incarcerated students to receive a bachelor’s degree from a top 10 US university, as measured by rankings from US News & World report.

McKinley said he had always wanted to go to college. But the 39-year old’s mainstream education stopped abruptly when he received a criminal sentence while still a teenager.

“I was already passionate about trying to go to college, I just didn’t know how or when that would happen,” he said.

McKinley was sentenced when he was 19 to nearly 100 years in prison after being convicted of a gang-related murder.

While incarcerated, he began studying the law with the aim of appealing his case as well as helping others serving time alongside him with their legal problems.

He first obtained his GED and paralegal diploma behind bars and was eager to continue his education. McKinley applied and was accepted into the highly competitive NPEP program, a rare opportunity to get a bachelor’s degree while incarcerated. In 2023, out of 400 people who applied, only 40 were accepted.

Northwestern University’s degree requirements were rigorous and McKinley studied intensely, taking classes on political science, thermodynamics and more, pushing through the Covid-19 pandemic in the process, like millions of other college students.

The NPEP experience proved transformative, he said. “It allowed me to reflect on who I thought I was, who I wanted to be, and where I wanted to go,” he said, adding that classes taught him how social ills, such as systemic racism, manifest in society.

He started applying for law school last year – taking the LSAT examination, writing application essays and collecting letters of recommendation, all while incarcerated.

McKinley wrote his application essay on his personal journey, detailing how he went from being incarcerated at the age of 19 to obtaining a degree from the prestigious university. Those handwritten essays were then typed out by NPEP tutors, many of whom wrote letters on McKinley’s behalf to the law school admissions committee.

He found the best time to study was late at night or “five, six in the morning”, but it was difficult in the prison environment.

“At the end of the day, prison still has a negative social dynamic and to be able to block all that out and focus can be challenging,” McKinley said.

McKinley was released from prison early into transitional housing, while his law school application was still pending.

In a rare case, his original sentence was successfully reduced to 25 years by the Illinois appellate court, which said that the judge who originally tried McKinley’s case did not take his young age into consideration or the efforts he had made to rehabilitate.

At Northwestern, graduating students walk under a famous arch that forms the university’s entry gate as part of a commencement tradition.

Early in 2024, McKinley was able to as well, and it was one of the first things he did after being released, to mark his degree.

“That was an amazing feeling,” McKinley said. “To know that, no matter how my journey led up to getting to that point. I was still welcome to participate in that type of tradition.”

Soon after, McKinley heard he’d been accepted into law school.

Sheila Bedi, clinical law professor and director of the community justice clinic at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, said:

“He’s just an exceptional student on so many levels. He’s rigorous, disciplined, eager to learn, passionate about self-growth.” She added that other Northwestern law students were “thrilled” for McKinley to join the community. She is eager for more programs like NPEP.

“There are so many other Benards who could come home and could be contributing positively to their communities, but who are not provided that opportunity,” Bedi said.

McKinley hopes to become a civil rights lawyer and open his own legal aid clinic to help other marginalized communities.

Now the first person in his family to attend college, let alone law school, he is relishing the achievement while also feeling responsibility.

“It feels amazing. I’m definitely a positive role model for the future generation and my family. So you know, I have a job to do,” he said.

• US education

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UC selects dean to lead renowned performing and media arts college

Peter jutras, phd, will serve as dean of the college-conservatory of music.

Peter Jutras, PhD, professor of piano and piano pedagogy and director of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) at the University of Georgia, has been named dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, effective Aug.1, 2024, pending approval of the UC Board of Trustees.

Jutras, an award-winning professor and educator, has been a member of the HHSOM faculty for 18 years and served as associate director for research and graduate studies prior to being named director in 2019. The HHSOM is a nationally recognized, large public university music school with more than 500 majors.

Peter Jutras, PhD

“Peter Jutras has a strong record of inclusive leadership, visionary thinking, fiscal responsibility, community building and student-forward curricular development, all of which will serve our College-Conservatory of Music as it continues to grow its legacy as an internationally renowned performing and media arts institution,” says Valerio Ferme, PhD, UC’s executive vice president of academic affairs and provost. “His experience in the development of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary partnerships with programs in the humanities and sciences will continue to fuel our innovative approach to education.”

During his tenure at HHSOM, Jutras has become known for an innovative and creative vision, community building and student success. He led school-wide efforts to launch new curricular offerings and review core requirements to create opportunities for more relevant and flexible course options. Additionally, Jutras has tapped innovative collaborations across campus to partner with new educational programs such as an Innovation Bootcamp for musicians and an interdisciplinary arts Lab.  

I have a strong passion for advancing the cause of music and the arts on a global scale while supporting and empowering students, faculty and staff. I can’t wait to partner with members of the UC and Cincinnati communities to build on the college’s rich history.

“It is an honor and privilege to be chosen as the next UC College-Conservatory of Music dean,” says Peter Jutras, PhD. “I have a strong passion for advancing the cause of music and the arts on a global scale while supporting and empowering students, faculty and staff. I can’t wait to partner with members of the UC and Cincinnati communities to build on the college’s rich history to prepare students for successful careers that positively impact society.”

An avid researcher, Jutras has published numerous articles in leading music journals, and he is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Jutras served as editor-in-chief of Clavier Companion Magazine, a leading national piano pedagogy publication, for 11 years.

Jutras holds a BM degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music, an MM degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University and a PhD in music education with an emphasis in piano pedagogy from the University of North Texas.

About the College-Conservatory of Music

The University of Cincinnati's nationally ranked and internationally renowned College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts. The school’s educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction by internationally renowned faculty has been at its core since that time. Declared "one of this country's leading conservatories" by the New York Times, CCM offers nearly 120 possible majors, along with a variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs and workshops. The synergy created by housing CCM within a comprehensive public university gives the college its unique character and defines its objective: to educate and inspire the whole artist and scholar for positions on the world stage.

Learn more at ccm.uc.edu .

• College-Conservatory of Music
• Next Lives Here
• Graduate School
• Arts & Culture

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Peter Jutras, PhD, professor of piano and piano pedagogy and director of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) at the University of Georgia, has been named dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, effective Aug. 1, 2024, pending approval of the UC Board of Trustees.