how to write a college placement essay

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How to Write an Essay for a College Placement Exam

When just beginning or transferring to a college, students may be required to take a college placement exam that includes math, reading and writing tests. As part of the writing exam, students are expected to write an argumentative essay that states a clear position and provides analysis and evidence. The exam is rated and evaluated by faculty members at the college, and the scores determine into which level English course each student is placed.

Most college placement essays require students to read a set of circumstances and formulate an argument based on those circumstances. Often the prompts for college placement exams involve community- and school-related issues. Once you have carefully read and understood the prompt, decide which position you will take in your essay. Then take a few minutes to plan the basic structure, or outline, of the essay before you write it. Begin by writing a clear thesis statement -- a single sentence that sums up the main point of your entire essay. Then jot down and plan the order of the main supporting point and evidence you will present in the essay.

Writing the Essay

Typically, the essay portion of a college placement exam should be structured in a five-paragraph format consisting of an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. The thesis statement should be placed in the introduction and all subsequent information should directly support -- with explanation, analysis and specific examples -- the thesis statement. For example, if you are arguing that school days should be lengthened for public schools, you can support your claim with the following reasons: working parents will benefit from having their children stay longer in school, students will have fewer opportunities to get into trouble and students will be better prepared for college as a result of the additional schooling. Make certain as you write that each body paragraph's central idea is distinct from the others while still proving the thesis statement.

Part of the score of the college placement essay is determined by grammar, spelling and clarity of structure. Once you have completed the essay, take a few minutes to carefully read through it and proofread the text for errors. Reviewing the essay before you submit it also provides you the opportunity to develop or clarify the sub-arguments. Take time to read through and polish the essay to improve your chances of earning a higher score.

Time Management

A key strategy in the college placement exam essay is to take full advantage of all the time that is allotted. By managing your time wisely, you can allow sufficient time to plan, compose and proofread the essay before you submit it. Typically, each student is allowed 60 to 90 minutes to read the prompt, as well as to plan, write and review the essay. Keep your eye on the clock and allot at least 5 to 10 minutes at the start and the end of the allotted time to properly complete your pre- and post-writing.

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How to Write College Application Essays

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

College Application Essay Fundamentals 

How to prepare to write your essay , how to approach different essay types, how to structure your essay , how to revise your essay, how to find essay writing help , resources for teaching students how to write a college essay, additional resources (further reading).

Of all the materials in a college application, the essay provides the greatest opportunity for you to set yourself apart. Unlike the transcript or resume, the essay is creative and expressive; in it, you can show the admissions counselors who you are and what you can do (that is, how well you can write!). A good application essay should have a memorable main idea, a cohesive structure, and a strong introduction and conclusion. Although essay topics can vary by college, the most common prompts deal with personal experiences and aspirations for the future. This guide   contains a diverse set of resources to help you orient yourself to the college application essay and, ultimately, to write the most competitive essay possible. 

The college application essay is a requirement for admission to almost all institutions of higher learning. Though in some ways it resembles essays you've written in class or on standardized tests, in other ways it's a unique writing exercises with its own particular requirements. Use the resources below to help you understand how the essay should be structured and what kind of content to include. 

"How Long Should College Application Essays Be?" (Learn.org)

This webpage guides you through some basic tips on writing the college essay—including essay length, sticking to the prompt, and maintaining an original tone. 

"College Application Essay" (College Board)

This webpage from the College Board discusses the different types of application essays, what length you should aim for, and most importantly, why colleges value this aspect of the application so much. 

"College Essays, College Applications" (College Board) 

The College Board's website is a great resource for any student looking to apply to college. This webpage contains several links to helpful resources, including sample essays and genuine student interviews. 

"Timeline for College Applications" (College Essay Guy)

This colorful, one-page guide from a college application specialist offers an illustrated timeline for high school students looking to apply for college. 

Before putting your ideas down on paper, it's important to conceptualize your essay, to craft strategically your tone and style, and,  crucially, to choose a topic that suits you and the school to which you're applying. The resources in this section include writing tips, lists of common mistakes you should avoid, and guides dedicated to the college application essay.

How to Plan Your Essay

"3 Common College Essay Mistakes to Avoid" (CNBC)  

This article from CNBC broadly outlines the most common mistakes students make when writing their college application essays. Although these mistakes may seem obvious, even the most experienced writers can fall into these common traps.

"7 Effective Application Tips" (Peterson's)

This article from Peterson's (a company providing academic materials for test prep, application help, and more) lists seven pieces of advice designed to make your writing pop. 

"The Secret to Show, Don't Tell" ( The Write Practice Blog)  

You've heard it before: show, don't tell. This is a great writing tip, but how do you pull it off? Here, the writing blog  The Write Practice  outlines how you can make your writing more descriptive and effective. 

"Passive Voice" (University of North Carolina)  

Avoiding passive construction is a subtle yet effective way to upgrade any piece of writing. Check out this webpage from a university writing center for some tips on recognizing and avoiding passive voice. 

"Using Appropriate Words in an Academic Essay" (National University of Singapore)

There are many ways to upgrade your vocabulary. Often, words can be replaced with more impressive substitutes, phrases can be shortened or lengthened depending on context, and transitions can be used for a smoother flow. The link above expands on these strategies and offers several others. 

How to Brainstorm Topic Ideas

"Bad College Essays: 10 Mistakes to Avoid" (PrepScholar)

This article from a well-known tutoring service and test prep program describes what to avoid when writing your essay. Essays that are too graphic, too personal, or too overconfident are all problematic, and this article explains why. 

"5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic" (CollegeXpress)

Lost on how to choose a topic? This webpage from CollegeXpress outlines five sources of inspiration you can mine for ideas as you're getting started.

"The College Admission Essay: Finding a Topic" (The Choice Blog)

This article from New York Times  blog The Choice  breaks down three essential questions to ask yourself when choosing a topic for your college essay. 

"COLLEGE ESSAY GUIDE: Choosing a Prompt for the Common Application" (YouTube)

In this five-minute video, a Yale student discusses how to choose a college essay prompt and how to approach the essay writing process. His channel is filled with original videos on the college application process. 

"Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises" ( CollegeVine Blog)

Approaching the Common App essay prompts can be difficult. This blog post explains several tactics you can use to narrow down your options, such as writing down a list of your greatest convictions.

"Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When Is It Okay?" (WritingCommons.org)

Most high school students are told to avoid using the first person point of view; this can be confusing when writing college essays, which typically ask what  you  think. This article breaks down when (and why) it's acceptable to write in the first person. 

Although all college essays serve the same purpose - articulating why you should get into a college - they come in different kinds. While topics on the Common Application are relatively consistent from year to year, personal statements and so-called "supplemental essays" vary by institution. Each of these essays requires a slightly different approach. The resources in this section will prepare you to answer the various types of essay prompts you're likely to encounter. 

Common Application Essays

CommonApp.org

The Common Application's official website is the best place to start getting acquainted with the service to which the majority of US colleges and universities now subscribe - a service which allows you to streamline your application process and minimize duplication of materials.

"What's App-enning" Blog (Common App)  

The Common App runs a blog with a wealth of information on common application-related news, including periodic updates on common application essay prompts for each application cycle. You can practice brainstorming with old prompts, or even start preparing your application by looking at this year's prompts.

125 College Essay Examples (PrepScholar Blog)

Here, PrepScholar provides a variety of Common App essays that got their respective applicants into their desired schools. Along with the body text of the essays, the website provides analysis on  what  makes the essays so great. 

A Few Essays That Worked (And a Few That Didn't) (NYTimes Blog)

This article analyzes unsuccessful essays, illuminating the ways in which they fell short. Although you should exercise caution and adjust your approach to your specific school, it's always good to pick up on general things to avoid. 

Personal Statements

What Is a Personal Statement? (PrepScholar Blog)

Although personal statements and Common App essays are similar, not all personal statement essays are administered through the Common App. This article from PrepScholar's blog will provide you with everything you need to know about writing a personal statement.

Examples of Successful Statements (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue OWL online writing lab collate links on this page to several successful personal statement. It can be useful to read successful statements and to consider how and why the statements made an impact on their readers. 

Past Threads on Advice for Writing Your College Essay (Reddit Post)

Although not about the personal statement  per se , this Reddit post has links to several past threads that may be of use to any prospective college applicant. 

What 10 Things Should Your Personal Statement Include? (Which University UK)  

This site outlines ten things to consider when writing a personal statement, including outlining what you will bring to the course, not what the course will bring to you. 

Supplemental Essays

How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays (IvyWise Newsletter)

Supplemental essays can often be challenging, asking a range of questions from the mundane to the oddly specific. This article from college application site IvyWise will break down example prompts to make them more approachable. 

Write Your Supplemental Essays (College Essay Guy)

Looking for a comprehensive guide to supplemental essays? Look no further than this page provided by the "College Essay Guy," who breaks down how to write supplemental essays that ask different kinds of questions. 

An Awesome Guide to the UChicago Supplement (Dyad)

Dyad, a college mentoring service, walks you through how to approach UChicago's supplemental essay question. Although the article is specific to UChicago, it contains general tips that are helpful to any college applicant. 

Reading My Yale Supplement Essay (YouTube)

Josh Beasley is back in this short YouTube video, where he reads the supplemental essay that got him into Yale and extrapolates advice for current and prospective applicants. 

A college application essay (like any academic essay) should have an introduction, a conclusion, and body paragraphs. Additionally, it should have overall coherence (that is, it should make a point) and cohesion (that is, it should flow well from paragraph to paragraph). We've collected the most relevant resources here to help you structure your college essay correctly and efficiently. 

How to Make Your Essay Stand Out 

College Essays That Stand Out From the Crowd (NYTimes)

This NYTimes article includes links to several recent essays that caught the eyes of the admissions readers by taking risks. You can even listen to an essay being read aloud by a current Princeton student.

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays (Gen / Kelly Tanabe)  

If you have some time on your hands, this hefty PDF document contains 50 essays from successful Ivy League applicants. After reading these essays, consider what they have in common and how they might be a model for your own essay.

Make Your Application Essay Stand Out (CampusExplorer.com)

In this article from CampusExplorer, you'll find general tips on how to make your essay more appealing to the admissions readers. The writers include general writing tips as well as more targeted advice for the tone and audience of the application essay.

How to Write a College Application Essay that Stands Out (Boston University)

This short video from BU's own admissions department touches briefly on what impresses their admissions readers, including risk-taking, memorable stories, and honesty. 

Essay Structure (Monash University)

This chart from Monash University visually demonstrates how your content should be organized in order to keep your argument or story on track. 

How to Write an Introduction

How to Start a Personal Statement: The Killer Opening (Which University UK)  

Any good introduction both forecasts what your essay will be about and catches the reader's attention. This page will give you some helpful advice on starting your essay with a bang. 

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly (PrepScholar Blog)

This article from PrepScholar shows you how to "hook" your reader at the start of your application essay with colorful language, a vivid story, and an "insightful pivot" to your main point.

Let Me Introduce Myself (Stanford University)

This article from Stanford U's alumni page details the first-line openings of the essays for some current Stanford undergrads. 

Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays (PowerScore)

In this article, you'll learn five techniques to avoid, as they typically land a college application essay in the "reject" pile; these include beginning with dictionary definitions or famous quotations. 

How to Write a Conclusion 

Ending the Essay: Conclusions (Harvard University)

Harvard's writing center suggests bringing closure to your essay (that is, wrapping up your argument) while still expanding outward to broader applications or insights in your final paragraph.

Concluding Paragraph (Easybib)  

Although you may have used Easybib to make a bibliography before, did you know they have many resources on how to write a good essay? Check out this page for succinct advice on what your conclusion should entail. 

5 Ways to Powerfully End Your College Essay (College Greenlight)

This blog post instructs you to end with action (that is, a story or anecdote) rather than summary, giving you five ways to do this effectively, including addressing the college directly.

How to Write the Best Conclusion for a College Application Essay and Supplement (Koppelman Group)

The Koppelman Group, a college application consulting firm, warns you, above all, not to end "in conclusion" or "to conclude." They also provide targeted advice for the Common App and Supplement essays, respectively. 

No essay is perfect in its first-draft form; college application essays in particular are limited by word counts that can be difficult to meet. Once you've communicated your ideas, you'll want to edit your essay in order to make sure it's the best it can be. You'll also need to cut or add words to make sure it's within the specifications set by the institution. The resources in this section include tips and tricks for revising your college application essay. 

3 Ways to Increase Word Count (WikiHow)

Complete with illustrations, this WikiHow page outlines several ways you might go about substantively expanding your essay. These tips include clarifying points, reworking your introduction and conclusion, adding new viewpoints and examples, and connecting loose threads. 

Admissions 101: What an Essay Word Limit Really Means (Veritas Prep) 

In this blog post, Veritas Prep's college preparation tutors assure you that being a little over or under the limit is acceptable, recommending ways you can think about the word limit's purpose.

College Essay Word Limit - Going Under? (College Confidential) 

In this College Confidential discussion forum, students discuss the possible ramifications of writing under the word limit for a college essay. 

How to Increase Your Essay Word Count (WordCounter)

This article from WordCounter outlines different ways you might go about meeting word count, including addressing different viewpoints, adding examples, and clarifying statements. 

Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admissions Essay (Dummies.com)

This article details how to hit the target word count. Scroll down to the middle of the article for advice on where you should cut words from to meet word count. 

Some Tricks to Reduce Word Count (EastAsiaStudent.net)

This article recommends simplifying your style, deleting adverbs, deleting prepositions, and revisiting connectives and adjectives to reduce word count. 

Advice on Whittling Your Admissions Essay (NYTimes) 

In this New York Times article, Andrew Gelb discusses how to go about cutting down your admissions essay in order to meet the requisite word limit.

How to Shorten an Essay Without Ruining the Content (Quora) 

This Quora post from a concerned student yielded useful community responses on how to effectively shorten an essay without losing the original message. 

Feel like you've hit a wall revising your essay on your own? You're not alone, and there are plentiful resources on the web through which you can connect with fellow college applicants and/or professional tutors. The links in this section will take you to free services for improving your college application essay, as well as two of the top paid writing tutor services.

College Confidential Forums 

College Confidential is a free, public forum in which you can post your essay and receive feedback from current college students, current college applicants, and even teachers or other experienced users. 

/r/CollegeEssays (Reddit)

This subreddit is a great place to look for crowdsourced help on your essay, ask questions about college essays, or even find a private tutor. 

Essayforum.com

Essayforum.com provides another platform for students to share their application essays. Although this link takes you to the site's forum for applicants to undergraduate degree programs, you can submit and review essays in other categories as well.  Varsity Tutors

Varisty Tutors offers tutoring services from freelance tutors based on location. Prices and services vary, but their site is easy to use and there are many tutors available to choose from.

Princeton Review

Princeton Review, one of the largest providers of college preparation tutoring (ranging from standardized test preparation to essay help) offers online essay tutoring services with a free trial period. 

Using in-class time to prepare your students to write college application essays is, of course, rewarding, but can also be challenging. If you're a teacher looking to incorporate the college essay into your curriculum but you're not sure where to start, take a look at the useful resources below.

TeachersPayTeachers

College Essay Writing

This product includes material for more than one full lesson plan, including powerpoint presentations, assessments, and homework on the topic of college essays. 

Narrative Writing Ideas and Prompts

Appealing to students 9th grade and up, this product includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework for developing narrative writing for the college essay process. 

College Essay: Comprehensive 7-Session Workshop Series

This PDF includes entire courses, manuals, and handouts designed to teach students the ins and outs of the college essay process, either in an individual or group setting. 

College Essay Revision Forms & Rubrics

These PDFs provide students with visual organizers and rubrics to assess their own writing and learn how to become better college essay writers. 

Free Resources

Teaching the College Essay (Edutopia) 

Teaching your students about writing the college essay can be incredibly intimidating -- as a teacher, how should you approach the process? This article from Edutopia outlines how to go about introducing the college essay to your students. 

Essay Lesson Plan Ideas for College Applications (EssayHell)

If you're a teacher looking for a concrete lesson plan on college essays, this guide recommends using the first day to discuss the importance of the essay, the second day for brainstorming, and so on. Click on the link above to examine their full guide. 

Help Your Students Write a Killer College Essay (EdWeek Blog)

This blog post goes over various techniques designed to help your students choose an appropriate topic and write their essay with passion. 

The Biggest College Essay Mistakes & How to Fix Them (Talks With Teachers)

Looking to help your students avoid the minefield of mistakes in the college essay field? Check out this post from Talks With Teachers, a journal that shares "inspiring ideas for English teachers." 

Curious to read more about college application essays, or to see fun and unusual examples of what students have written? The articles, blog posts, and books in this section are a good place to start surveying the field.

One Over-the-Top Admissions Essay (Huffington Post)

This piece from the Huffington Post talks about a humorous response to a Stanford supplemental essay topic, the so-called "letter to my future roommate."

College & University - Statistics and Facts (Statista.com) 

In the process of writing your college essay, you may find yourself wondering who exactly goes to college, how many colleges there are in the United States, etc. This site gives the up-to-date statistics for various US demographics, both in aggregate and by university, as well as other information.

Who Made That College Application? (NYTimes)

This piece from the NYTimes outlines the history of the college essay from its origins in the 1800s, to the first "modern" college application, produced by Columbia University in 1919, to the present.  

How They Got Into Harvard (Staff of the Harvard Crimson)

This highly-rated collection of successful Harvard application essays, available on Amazon, is both an entertaining read and an instructive resource for anyone looking for exemplary essays to use as models. 

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12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

College admission committees sift through thousands of college essays each year. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

Pamela Reynolds

When it comes to deciding who they will admit into their programs, colleges consider many criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more colleges are no longer considering test scores.

Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for “test-blind” admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we’ll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We’ll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s genuinely important to you and not a subject you’ve chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You’ll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer’s attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that’s not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don’t Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.

The most engaging writing “shows” by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people’s lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

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Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you’ve had some time to forget what you’ve written. Often, you’ll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer’s tip : Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don’t Repeat

If you’ve mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don’t repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you’ve answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups—a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

“While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would,” the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here’s our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

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About the Author

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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

Pose a question the reader wants answered, don't focus exclusively on the past, experiment with the unexpected, don't summarize.

How to Write a College Essay

Congratulations! You’re thinking about starting to write your college essay! 🎉 The college essay is one of the most daunting parts about college applications and can be something that you keep putting off for later. However, writing a quality college essay takes time and if you start early and work on your essay little by little, it can make the process a lot more manageable! Among the many things that colleges are looking for , colleges want to read essays that are well planned out and authentic, so plan to dedicate a lot of time to writing them.

Like any essay, there are three main steps to writing a college essay:

1. Brainstorming 💭

Before you start immediately thinking of ideas for your own essay, it’s a good idea first to read 📖 a few successful college essays to better understand what a personal statement college essay should accomplish. By reading other essays, you can pick up on the general tone of most essays, as well as things that worked 👍or didn't work in some essays.

Once you read a few essays, it’s now time to start thinking of ideas for your own essay! Like any regular essay, the brainstorming phase of writing is often the most overlooked but critical to writing a good essay. Assuming that you are starting your essay process early and have a few weeks or months 📆 until you have to submit your application, I would suggest that the brainstorming phase takes place for a couple of days. Sometimes the best topic for a college essay isn’t necessarily the idea that you think of first, but the one that takes a little bit more soul-searching 🕵️‍♀️.

Here are a few lists 🗒 and exercises that might help bring out a potentially good college essay topic. You absolutely do not need to complete every one of these exercises, but they can be great places to start if you feel stuck.

Important Objects

For this exercise, list out 10-20 of the most important objects 🎁 throughout your life that may have had a significant impact on your life. Look around your immediate surroundings while completing this exercise. Try reaching back into the depths of your memory for those objects that you cherished as a child but might have forgotten about recently.

Distinct Events/Memories

Similar to the Important Objects exercise, try to list out 10-20 of the most distinct events or memories in your life that may have led to a revelation, a different way of thinking 💭, or personal significance. Do you have any specific hardships in your life that you faced that may have shaped you as a person? Any specific fun memories that you may want to talk about? Write it all down!

Things People May Not Know About You

More lists! This time, make a list of a few facts about yourself that you think many people don’t know about you. Sometimes these can provide slight nuances in your college essay that can make you stand out compared to other applicants. For further introspection, check out this guide about discovering yourself !

How Others Perceive You

For this exercise, have a few close friends or family members write a short list of traits or experiences that they think of when they think about you. Your personal statement essay is your one shot to try to truly encapsulate the kind of student and person you will be on a college campus 🧑‍🏫, so you’ll want to express the core of your personality in your essay. Receiving these compliments can also be a nice reminder of how great of an applicant you are as you approach the college application season 😁.

What Do You Want College Admissions Officers to Know About You?

For this exercise, jot down a concise list of 3 things that you absolutely want your college admissions officer to understand 🤔about you. These are the things about yourself that you absolutely want to get across through your essay. If someone edits your essay, they should be able to pinpoint 📍the items on this list.

2. Writing ✍️

Just Write!

Now is the time for the most intimidating part of this whole process: starting to write ✍️your essay. I know from firsthand experience how daunting it can be to be staring at a blank sheet of paper 📄and not know how to start. However, the best thing that you can do is just to start writing. Don’t try to make it perfect the first time around because it definitely won’t be. That’s the whole point of editing. The best thing that you can do if you don’t know where to start is just to write naturally! Write on a chosen essay topic as if you are trying to explain a story to your friends 👯‍♀️. You can also think about writing your essay out of order. It can be easier to start writing your essay from the middle and worry about the introduction and conclusion after you’ve already written the meat of your essay. Similarly, don’t worry about starting off your essay with a hook or fretting about grammar–that will come later during the process.

Go Over the Word Count Limit

Ok yes, in the end, you will definitely need to stick to the outlined word count limit that’s given to you. However, in the initial stages of writing your essay, don’t worry about writing your essay under the word count. Record ✏️ as many ideas on the page that you can. In other words, don’t let the word count initially limit your thoughts. From personal experience, sometimes the best ideas and connections come after writing over the word count limit 💯. If I had limited myself just to the word count, I might not have used those ideas in my final essay. During the editing phase, you can make sure that you are sticking to the essay requirements.

A Few Other Writing Tips

Write using your own voice 🗣 as much as possible! Try to avoid imitating someone else’s writing voice and tone. Colleges want to get to know the real you through this essay, and your voice is part of that! Along those same lines, avoid filling your essay with stuffy words 🎩. Your essay is a formal conversation with your admissions officer where you have an opportunity to sell a story. Sometimes using extremely proper or impressive diction may hinder the reader’s ability to truly understand the meaning of your essay.

3. Editing 💻

So you’ve gone through the brainstorming process and have written a rough draft of your college essay. Now it’s time to polish up that work!

Self-Editing Your Essay

Since you’re likely going to be editing your essay over a large span of time ⏳, it’s important to keep all previous essay versions and not continuously edit one version of your essay. You might end up deleting something from a previous version that you want to bring back but ultimately forgot about 😵. An edit that you might think is beneficial on one day may be an edit you want to go back and undo a few days later. I suggest that with every new session of editing your essay, copy and paste the essay you previously had and start editing on the new version of the essay. This way, you can still look back 👀 at previous versions of your essay when you feel the need to.

For the first few versions of your essay, you’re likely going to make many, many corrections. This is perfectly fine! With these initial revisions, you’ll edit full sentences and even paragraphs at a time, so it can be beneficial to edit directly online. Once your edits become less about complete ideas and more about word choice and grammar, it can be extremely helpful to print 🖨 out a physical copy of your essay. That way, you can read it aloud and physically mark edits with a red pen. Oftentimes, a screen can be a barrier to noticing all of the small details–interacting with them on pen and paper 📝 can make them more noticeable.

For a review of common grammar conventions, check out this guide from Fiveable.

Having Others Edit Your Essay

It can also be a great idea to have friends, family, and teachers look over your essay and suggest a few edits. However, be careful not to heavily rely on this kind of peer editing. You still want your final product to contain your voice 🎤, not the voice of your editor. If someone suggests something for your essay that you may disagree with, have another person look at your essay. If multiple people suggest the same edit, it may be something you want to consider. But if it was merely a one-time comment, it is absolutely okay to ignore their comment.

It can also be helpful for you to tell editors something specific to look for. Asking your editor specifically for content edits (big picture edits, development of story, etc.) or for copy edits (grammar errors, spelling errors, sentence syntax, etc.) can give your editor more guidance and a clearer pathway for their editing. For example, you may ask your friends to see if your essay best represents you as a person, whereas you might ask your teacher to edit for flow and grammar. This can make the edits that are suggested to you much more targeted 🎯 and detailed. It can also help ensure that both you and your editor are on the same page to avoid them giving you unsolicited feedback. Keeping this in mind, it can be a good idea to have one or two rounds of content editing and one or two rounds of copy editing.

A Few Other Things to Look Out For

• Check carefully for typos
• Be specific when providing context and background
• Someone who doesn’t know a single thing about your life should be able to fully grasp the story you are trying to tell
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the final paragraph
• Avoid forced transition sentences
• Avoid cliches
• Try to write as close to the word count limit as possible
• Use the extra word count to your advantage by adding more descriptors and details

Hopefully, these tips can help you in your college essay writing process. We wish you all the best of luck–happy writing 😁!

Next, check out these top 10 TikToks for more college essay advice and tips for the rest of your college application or check out these top 10 YouTubers with the best advice for the college process ! And don't forget about the important deadlines in the college process.

Guide Outline

Related content, 11 tips for early action and early decision, summer opportunities to improve your college applications, how to contact admissions officers, early action vs. early decision: what's the difference, how to complete the activities section on common app, 7 steps to submitting the common app.

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How to Write an Essay for a College Placement Exam

How to Write an Introduction to an Analytical Essay

Colleges rely on placement exam essays to identify a student’s writing level after high school. Because the test diagnoses areas for improvement in writing skill, the student should not fear that any judgments he makes in the essay are being graded. Though college placement essays are challenging, in the end it is the student who benefits when he is placed in the college English class most suited to his ability.

Spend the full hour you are given to write the essay. Goucher College recommends that such time is necessary to adequately develop your thoughts and present them in error-free text.

Confirm that you understand the question. Pay attention to words such as “evaluate,” “critique” or “present,” which give clues about the kind of response test reviewers are looking for. For example, if the question asks you to “evaluate” responses to a public policy decision, you should not write an essay that predicts whether the decision will produce good results. See “For Essay Questions” on the St. Benedict College-St. John’s University website.

Devote at least 5 minutes to pre-writing. If you don’t have time to outline your essay, at least write a simple list of the topics and points you intend to cover. Pick one or two points you consider strong and focus on supporting those rather than loading up your essay with one point after another, according to Middlesex Community College.

Write a clear, precise thesis statement. Then devote the rest of your essay to supporting it. Buttress your thesis with logical arguments to guarantee a higher score than an essay that tries to prove a point with circular reasoning. For example, support a thesis that the township should reduce the tax rate by arguing that residents are already overtaxed rather than by stating that it is good policy to reduce tax rates.

Engage the reader by varying sentence structure and vocabulary. Avoid writing every sentence with a subject followed by a verb and its direct object. Instead of writing, “The professor was impatient with the class and decided to give it a test,” try a variation such as “Impatient with his class, the professor decided it was time for a test.”

Save at least 5 minutes before time is up to proofread your essay. This can improve your score more than you expect. Correct spelling errors, avoid contractions and never write in the first or second person.

Check the college’s website for sample questions used on past examinations. Some, such as Middlesex County College, give examples of acceptable and poorly written essays that you can use to practice against.

Related Articles

Challenges for a Thesis Statement

Types of Thesis Papers

How to Write the Conclusion for a Persuasive Essay

How to write an essay with a thesis statement, how to write an opinion paragraph.

How to Do a Summary for a Research Paper

How to Get an "A" in Honors English

How to Write an Introduction to a Reflective Essay

• Check the college’s website for sample questions used on past examinations. Some, such as Middlesex County College, give examples of acceptable and poorly written essays that you can use to practice against.

Michele Vrouvas has been writing professionally since 2007. In addition to articles for online publications, she is a litigation paralegal and has been a reporter for several local newspapers. A former teacher, Vrouvas also worked as a professional cook for five years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Caldwell College.

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The Complete College Essay Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the Personal Statement and the Supplemental Essays Paperback – July 19, 2021

Purchase options and add-ons.

Want to write memorable college application essays in less time, with less stress? This book will guide you through the process, with hands-on activities, practical tips, and tons of real application essays—personal statements and supplemental essays—by real students!

Finally—the book you’ve been waiting for! The Complete College Essay Handbook demystifies the entire college essay writing process with easy-to-follow directions and hands-on activities that have worked for hundreds of students. Maschal, a former admissions officer, and Wood, a professional writer and writing teacher, draw on their combined expertise to help students craft a successful set of application essays for every school on their list. Supplemental essays in particular can seem overwhelming—some schools ask students to write as many as six essays in addition to the personal statement. Maschal and Wood identify four types of supplemental essays, walking students through how to write each one and then how to recycle these essays for other schools.

The Complete College Essay Handbook walks students through:

• What makes an essay stand out, drawing on sample essays by real students to illustrate main points
• Brainstorming activities to find the best topics for the personal statement and supplemental essays
• How to write the two central components of every application essay: scene and reflection
• Editing and revision—including techniques to cut down or expand an essay to hit the word limit
• The four types of supplemental essays and how to decode the different essay prompts, using actual essay questions
• The strategy behind a well-rounded set of application essays

The Complete College Essay Handbook is a no-frills, practical guide that will give students the confidence and know-how they need to craft the best essays for every single school on their list—in less time and with less stress.

This book is for students, high school teachers and counselors, parents, and anyone else who wants to help students through the college essay writing process.

• Print length 212 pages
• Language English
• Publication date July 19, 2021
• Dimensions 6 x 0.48 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 173731598X
• ISBN-13 978-1737315988
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ 1 (July 19, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 173731598X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1737315988
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.48 x 9 inches
• #79 in College Guides (Books)
• #173 in College Entrance Test Guides (Books)

About the author

Brittany maschal.

Dr. Brittany Maschal is the founder of Brittany Maschal Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting firm that works with students applying to college and graduate school.

Brittany has held positions in admissions and student services at the University of Pennsylvania at Penn Law and The Wharton School; Princeton University (undergraduate) and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs; and the Johns Hopkins University-Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She has served on admissions committees with American Councils for International Education and International Research and Exchanges Board; as an invited speaker to numerous community programs in the US and abroad; and as an alumni interviewer and admissions representative for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Brittany was also an Executive Board member and Membership Director of the Penn GSE Alumni Association.

Brittany received her doctorate in higher education from the George Washington University in 2012. Prior, she attended the University of Pennsylvania for her master’s, and the University of Vermont for her bachelor’s degree—a degree she obtained in three years. Brittany is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.

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How to Write a “Why This College” Essay

• Nancy Baker
• April 22, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever feel that electric spark when you imagine yourself walking the halls of a particular college? Maybe it’s the stunning architecture, the rich history, or the sense of belonging you get just picturing yourself there. That feeling? That’s exactly what colleges want to see in your “Why This College?” essay. 

These essays, a common feature of college applications, are your chance to go beyond grades and test scores. They’re your opportunity to show the qualitative side of your application. It lets the admissions committee see why you, and your unique spark, belong on their campus.

What is a “Why This College” Essay?

A “Why This College” essay is a common part of college applications in the US. It is also your chance to go beyond grades and test scores and tell the admissions committee why their specific college is the perfect fit for you. This essay is about convincing them to accept you and also about showing that you’ve done your research and understand what makes their college unique.

• Purpose: Colleges use it to see if you’ve researched their school and if you’d be a good fit for their campus community. They want students who are enthusiastic about what the college has to offer and who will contribute to the school spirit.
• Content: In this essay, you’ll explain why you’re drawn to that particular college. This could be because of their academic programs, research opportunities, extracurricular activities, or even the campus environment. Be specific and mention professors you’d love to learn from, clubs you’d join, or aspects of the school culture that resonate with you.
• Impression: This essay shows the college that you’re not just applying to a bunch of random schools. It shows you’ve done your research and that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their community.

Structure of a “Why This College” Essay

The “Why Us” essay is your chance to shine beyond grades and test scores. It’s a personal story that shows your qualities and explains why you’d be a valuable addition to the college community. Here’s how to organize your essay for maximum impact:

1. Hook’em in the first paragraph

Start with a bang! Grab the reader’s attention with a surprising anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description related to your academic passion. Briefly introduce yourself, your academic goals, and a hint of why this specific college resonates with you. This sets the stage for a compelling narrative.

2. Body paragraphs: Show, don’t tell

Get deeper into the specifics of the college that excite you. Go beyond generic statements by showing your research. Did a particular professor’s work inspire you? Is there a program you can’t find elsewhere? Mention specific details to show your genuine interest in the college’s offerings. 

3.  Connect the dots: You + college = perfect match

Explain how the college’s resources, programs, or environment will help you achieve your academic and personal goals. For example, if you’re passionate about marine biology, talk about how the college’s proximity to a research center aligns with your research aspirations. 

4. Conclusion: A lasting impression

Conclude your essay with an authentic expression of your enthusiasm for the college. Avoid cliches or generic statements. Circle back to your opening anecdote or end with a future-oriented statement that depicts your eagerness to contribute to the college community. This leaves a lasting positive impression on the reader.

Tip: Read your essay aloud. Does it flow smoothly? Does it sound like you? Refine your writing for clarity and a strong voice.

5 Tips to Ace the “Why This College” Essay

1. tailor each essay.

Don’t fall into the trap of writing a generic essay that you send to every school. Admissions officers have a knack for spotting these! Instead, acknowledge the unique features of each school. Mention a specific program you admire, a research opportunity that piques your interest, or even a professor whose work you find fascinating. 

2. Research

Take the time to research your target schools. Dig deeper than just basic details like size. Look at faculty websites, student reviews, and course offerings. Did you visit campus or attend an admissions event? Build these details into your essay.  

For example, instead of a bland statement like “This school is a great size,” mention a specific professor whose research aligns with your academic goals or highlight an interdisciplinary program that excites you. 

3. Explain why you and this school belong together

Think about what makes the school stand out and how it aligns with your interests, personality, and goals. Show how the institution’s strengths complement your academic aspirations and career path. Explain how specific resources, faculty expertise, or programs will empower you to achieve your dreams.

4. Ditch cliches

Cliches and generic statements won’t win over admissions officers. Instead, focus on specific details that paint a clear picture of why this particular school ignites your passion. Mention a program, a professor whose work resonates with you, or the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking research. 

5. Show your excitement

Let your excitement for school shine through! Share a positive experience you had with a professor, student, or alum during a campus visit. Describe a specific aspect of campus life that draws you in. However, remember to avoid generic expressions of enthusiasm. Sincerity matters, so find ways to express your genuine passion for the school.

Different Types of “Why This College” Essay Prompts

While it might seem like “Why this college” essays simply ask, “Why do you want to study with us?” colleges and universities often have specific prompts in mind. These prompts go beyond a basic answer and show how you respond to instructions and follow directions, which are both crucial skills for academic success. 

The format of these prompts can vary significantly. For instance, the University of Central Florida might encourage a focus on yourself and your experiences. On the other hand, universities like Michigan and New York might ask prompts that dig deeper into what specifically draws you to their institutions.

• Columbia University: Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.
• New York University: We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and/or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand—Why NYU?
• Stanford University: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

By understanding the specific prompt and tailoring your essay accordingly, you’ll show not only your interest in the school but also your ability to follow instructions and communicate effectively.

From the Desk of Yocket

The “Why This College” essay is a golden opportunity for you to show your genuine interest in a particular school. It transcends the limitations of grades and test scores, allowing students to paint a vivid picture of how they envision themselves thriving within that specific academic environment. Colleges receive applications from countless qualified students, and the “Why This College” essay allows an applicant to rise above the rest. By showing in-depth research and a clear understanding of the college’s offerings, an applicant convinces the admissions committee that they aren’t just applying to another prestigious college but to a place where they can truly flourish.

However, writing a compelling essay requires avoiding common pitfalls. Generic statements and superficial connections won’t make a strong case. Instead, students should talk about something specific—mentioning specific programs, research opportunities, or student organizations that resonate with their academic and personal goals. This shows not only research but also a genuine fit between the student and the college.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “why this college” essay.

This essay, also known as a “Why Us” essay, is a supplemental essay prompt found in many college applications. It gives you the chance to explain why you’re interested in attending that specific school, beyond just its prestige or ranking.

Why is the “Why This College” essay important?

This essay allows you to stand out from other applicants with similar grades and test scores. It shows the admissions committee that you’ve researched the college and understand what makes it different. More importantly, it shows how the college can help you achieve your academic and personal goals.

How long should the “Why This College” essay be?

You should check the college’s specific word count requirement. It’s usually around 250–500 words.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

A Guide to College Application Essay Timelines

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Robert Crystal and Christopher Kilner in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered

Make a plan.

• September and October

November and December

Anyone can write an excellent essay if they have enough time, and it’s important to prioritize writing a strong essay because it plays such an outsized role in the application process. With sufficient time and preparation, you can also decrease your word count and produce a piece of writing that is brief and high quality. “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter,” is a phrase often attributed to many famous scholars and statespeople. The best thing that you can do to set yourself up for success is to plan ahead, giving yourself plenty of time to engage in the writing process and produce multiple drafts of your essay.

It is most helpful to use the summer before your senior year of high school—or the year during which you are applying—to prepare your college application essays, with the goal of completing at least your personal statement by early September. The following timeline roughly outlines the steps of the writing process that you should take each month to achieve this goal.

For more guidance on writing your personal statement, read our article on how to write the Common Application essays for 2022-2023 .

Review the Common Application essay prompts for the most recent application season. These prompts often remain the same as the previous year. Pick a few essay prompts that resonate with you, and start to contemplate them as you go through your day. Maybe you can use your daily bus ride or afternoon stroll to brainstorm possible topics for the prompts that interest you. It is always helpful to have a journal, a note-taking app on your phone, or scratch paper on hand where you can record your ideas. 

In addition to journaling about potential material for your essays, it’s helpful to practice thinking about and articulating your responses to various questions about who you are and how you think and view the world. Here are a few examples:

• What are your core values? How did you develop this system of values? 
• What motivates you? How do you motivate yourself? 
• What are you passionate about? If you could study anything, what would you want to learn more about? 
• What issues in your local community or at the city, state, national, or global level are most concerning to you?
• What are your short-term goals and long-term dreams and aspirations? Where would you like to see yourself in five or 10 years? What are lifetime goals that you have?

For more brainstorming questions, read “ 7 Questions to Help You Start Writing Your College Essays .”

Your goal for May is to outline and write a complete rough draft of your personal statement. The hardest part of writing your essay is committing something to paper, and the best draft is often a bad first draft. Everything becomes easier once you have words to edit. Your first draft does not need to be amazing or even passable; it can be completely awful, and it will still be better than a blank page.

Use June to edit the rough draft that you produced in May. This is where you will dive into the process of constructing your narrative. Then, you should aim to produce at least three or more additional drafts. These will likely be the most time-intensive drafts that you produce.

At this point in the process, you should work on developing your ideas mostly on your own. You do not need to share your essay with anyone else unless you feel confident that your draft is ready for others to review or that you cannot progress without outside input. 

You should continue producing new drafts of your personal statement. This means you should read aloud your essay from beginning to end and make changes to word choice, grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, and content. You should do this every three or so days. 

Now is a great time to share your drafts with a close family member, friend, teacher, or high school counselor. In addition to showing your essays to members of your inner circle, you should prioritize finding a neutral third party to review your essays and provide critical feedback. This third party should be someone familiar with the college admissions process, such as a current college student, a recent college graduate, or a college consultant, like a CollegeVine Advisor . 

Ask each person who reads your essay to provide written feedback, or have a conversation with them about their impressions, suggestions, and questions. Of course, too many cooks can spoil the broth, as the saying goes. Show your essay to enough people to get a broad range of opinions but not so many that you feel overwhelmed or confused.

This month should be devoted to incorporating feedback from people who have read your essay and doing the final polishing work that will take your essay to the next level. By the end of August, you should have a final draft of your personal statement that you would feel confident submitting.

September and October 

Work on and complete your supplemental essays in preparation for meeting the early action and early decision deadlines.

Work on and complete your supplemental essays in preparation for meeting the regular decision deadline.

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English and Math Placement

Placement in Math and English Courses by High School GPA

Unweighted high school gpa – english placements:.

• HS GPA between 2.75 to 2.89
• HS GPA between 2.9 to 3.19
• HS GPA between 3.20 and above

Unweighted High School GPA – Math placements:

• HS GPA 2.89 and below
• HS GPA 2.90 to 3.04
• HS GPA 3.05 to 3.29
• Keystone Algebra Score – 1500 or higher
• HS GPA 3.30 and above with a grade of "C" or higher in Algebra II or higher level math (If no Algebra or higher level math, placement will be in FNMT 118)
• HS GPA 3.50 and above with a grade of "C" or higher in Trigonometry or Calculus (If no Trigonometry or Calculus, placement will be in FNMT 118)

Applicants with a High School GPA older than 5 years must take the ACCUPLACER Math Portion.

Any student can take the ACCUPLACER Math Portion to see if they can place at a higher level math course.

College Level Math by Pathways:

Note: FNMT 118 is required for students who need to take Pre-Calculus (MATH 161)

Placement Test Options

By taking the ACCUPLACER tests, applicants will be placed in the most appropriate English and Math courses as indicated by their ACCUPLACER test results.  There are three options for testing.  

Accuplacer Test Takers Must Be:

• Applicants with a HS GPA of 2.74 and below
• GED students
• Students who cannot obtain a high school transcript
• English as a Second Language (ESL) students will take their ACCUPLACER placement and be placed in Pre-ESL or ESL courses 

Remember to bring a valid photo ID.

Main Campus

Monday through Friday: You can test in-person anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to make an appointment.

Northeast Regional Center

Wednesday through Friday: You can test in-person anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Click here to complete a form to see if you’re eligible to receive a placement test voucher through Accuplacer and Examity. After you complete the form and we determine that you are eligible, we’ll send you a test voucher within 2 business days. Look for an email from Accuplacer/Examity with the subject line REMOTE VOUCHER NOTIFICATION.

Click here to make sure your computer is compatible with Examity .

Please note that to test virtually, you must have a computer with a webcam and audio capabilities. Tablets, cell phones and chrome books are not compatible with the test.

This service is offered Monday through Friday during business hours.

Send your full name, J number, date of birth and phone number to assessmentcenter [at] ccp.edu . Add that you’d like to take the test virtually with a CCP proctor.

Click here to make sure your computer is compatible with Accuplacer .

Students can alternatively submit the following to meet placement:

• SAT score: A minimum score of 560 in English and 510 in mathematics, taken within the last five years
• ACT score: A minimum of 21 in English and 21 in mathematics, taken within the last five years
• Keystone Algebra Score (HS Transcript): A score of 1500 or higher
• AP English Lit/Com Exam: A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Exam
• AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam: A score of 4 or 5 on the exam, taken within the last five years
• IBT (internet based TOEFL): A minimum score of 77 overall and a 20 in writing, taken within the last two years
• IELTS score: A minimum of 6.0 overall and a 6.0 in writing, taken within the last two years
• An official transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university: indicating you have earned a U.S. college degree or have passed college-level English or math with a grade of “C” or higher
• All documents (transcripts and test scores) submitted for placement should be sent to the Transfer Credit and Placement Office at traneval [at] ccp.edu (traneval[at]ccp[dot]edu)

Taking and Preparing for the Placement Test

Take a practice accuplacer placement test.

Because the test determines your first year course load, it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the test format, test questions, and test strategies and that you practice taking the test. To do so, we highly recommend that you:

Visit the official ACCUPLACER site

Download the free ACCUPLACER Study app

Test Structure

Please take a moment to look at the test descriptions below. They will help give you an idea of what to expect on the actual placement test. Overall, the placement test consists of two parts: an English or ESL part and a Math part.

If your primary spoken language is other than English, you may be asked to take the ESL part, which includes ESL Listening, ESL Writing and ESL Reading Skills sections.  

On the other hand, if you are a native English speaker, you will be asked to take the English part, which includes English Writing (Writeplacer) and English Reading Comprehension (Next-Generation Reading) Sections.

Finally, the Math Part consists of three sections:

• Next-Generation Arithmetic
• Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
• Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)

Depending on your performance, you may be asked to take one, two, or all three sections of the Math test.

All parts and sections of the placement test are computer-based, and offered at the Main Campus and Regional Centers. No computer skills are required. You simply use the mouse to click on the answer.

English and ESL Writing Sections

In the English or ESL writing sections, you will have 60 minutes to write about a topic you will be given that day. Topics are chosen randomly.  The writing sample is then scored by ACCUPLACER; if necessary, it may also be reviewed by members of the English Department who are trained to read and evaluate placement essays. Your essay will be read by at least one faculty member, who will rescore your essay for placement. The combined scores of the faculty reader and ACCUPLACER, together with your score on either the Next-Generation Reading or ESL Reading Skills section, will be used to determine your placement in English classes.

For how the essays are evaluated and for sample practice questions as well as scored writing samples, please download the set of or the set of ESL Sample Essays.

Reading Comprehension, ESL Reading Skills, ESL Listening and the Math Sections (computerized):

The Next-Generation Reading, ESL Reading Skills, and ESL Listening sections are comprised of 20 questions each and are untimed, allowing you to work at you own pace.

The Math Part begins with either the Next-Generation Arithmetic or QAS section and may progress to AAF, depending on your skills. Each math section may consist from 17 to 25 questions.

Taking the Test

While the sections are untimed (except the English or ESL Writing section, which is limited to one hour), you should plan on spending at least two hours taking the tests. 

You will have two options for taking the ACCUPLACER test:

• In-person. A limited number of appointments are available for in-person testing. Please contact the Assessment Center by email at assessmentcenter [at] ccp.edu (assessmentcenter[at]ccp[dot]edu) to schedule an in-person test.
• Online with remote proctoring via Zoom. If you want to take the test online, applicants should check their CCP email for an email from the Admissions Office with directions on how to schedule a remote testing appointment.

When you have finished the required sections of the placement tests, you will receive your placement results and instructions on how to login to your Online Orientation. The Online Orientation will provide information on financial aide, registration, payment options and college resources.

Test Prep Sites

Besides the official ACCUPLACER site and the study APP, other test prep sites for the Placement Test may be accessed on the internet by typing "ACCUPLACER Practice" from any browser search field. A number of sites will be listed, some for English and some for Math. Any of the free sites provide valuable practice opportunities; there is not need to use any site for which you need to pay a fee. Some of the better sites are as follows

• https://www.mometrix.com/academy/accuplacer-test/
• http://owl.excelsior.edu/essay_zone/
• http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm
• http://accuprep.pccc
• http://www.accuplacerpractice.com

Placement Levels and Courses

Based on your performance on the placement test, and depending on your specific English language and mathematics abilities and needs you will be placed in one of CCP’s college-level courses or pre- college-level courses.

Please review below the CCP placement levels and courses and visit the relevant department links to view brief course and program descriptions.

English Placement Levels and Courses Your placement in English courses is based on how you perform in the English Writing and the Reading Comprehension sections. The set of pre-college and college English levels and courses that you may be placed in are shown in the chart below.

If you are placed in ABE, you will able to retest upon successful completion of the ABE classes. Learn more about ABE classes .

If you are placed in Level 2 and pass the courses at that level with a grade of "Pass," you automatically move to College Level courses ENGL 101 and ENGL 098.

ESL Placement Levels and Courses Your placement in ESL courses is based on the combination of how you perform in the ESL Reading Skills section, the ESL Writing Section, and the ESL Listening. The set of pre-college and college ESL courses that you may be placed in are shown in the chart below.

If you place in Pre-ESL, you must contact the ESL Institute and pass their highest ESL level before retesting. You will need to bring a letter of completion to the Assessment Center in order to retest. For more information, please visit the ESL Institute .

All ESL Reading, ESL Writing, and ESL Listening/Speaking courses are part of a series and have to be taken sequentially depending on where you are initially placed.

Math Placement Levels and Courses

Your placement in mathematics courses is based on how you perform in the Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and/or College-Level Math sections.  The set of  pre-college and college math courses that you may be placed in are listed in the chart below.

The Foundational Math courses and Math courses are part of a series and have to be taken sequentially depending on where you are placed. 

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Writing Placement

Welcome to UWP Writing Placement!  Please read through the important placement information on this page.  After reading, please proceed to the Writing Placement website by clicking below.  

Purpose of the Placement

Research has shown that test scores aren’t an accurate indicator of your success as a writer. To more accurately place you into one of our three writing courses, we would like to read a writing sample that is more reflective of the processes writers engage in when they write.

Your Writing Placement

Your writing placement will consist of three parts:

An essay: an original essay based on one of three writing prompts.

A revision plan: a plan for how you might improve your essay if you had more time.

A survey: a survey about your writing experiences creates a snapshot of your incoming freshman class as writers for the University Writing Program.

How Your Placement Is Read

Your placement is anonymously read by experienced instructors in the University Writing Program, and you will be placed into WRIT 1010, 1110, or 1120 based on their evaluation of your placement.  

Essays that place into WRIT 1120, our most advanced writing course, answer the prompt fully, have a focused main claim that is developed with specific evidence, demonstrates adaptation of structures taught in high school, use varied and complex sentence structures, and have few sentence-level errors.

Notes on Completing Your Placement

• You need to be an undergraduate student entering BGSU and have access to your BGSU email account to access and write your placement.
• Do not obtain any form of assistance while taking the Writing Placement. This includes consulting with a teacher, parent, or friend for proofreading or editing your written essay. This extends to the use of artificial intelligence language models like ChatGPT. It is imperative that you honor this important part of the placement guidelines. It is to your disadvantage to receive a score higher than your actual abilities. A score that is too high would place you in a course beyond your capabilities with a limited probability of success.

You have 24 hours to complete your placement, which gives you time to explore ideas, draft your essay, revise to improve, and edit to polish. We’re looking to see what you can produce when given more than the standard two-hours in standardized tests, so make the most of the time given you. Your placement determines how many writing classes you are required to take!

You may access the site an unlimited number of times within the 24-hour period, and you may submit your placement at any point within the same 24-hour period. When the 24-hour window ends, however, you will no longer be able to submit work.

You are required to wait one year to resubmit a placement.

You may only submit one placement for consideration.

Your placement results will be emailed to your BGSU email address. You can also learn your placement from your advisor.

When You Should Complete Your Placement

We encourage incoming students to complete the writing placement as soon as possible or no later than two weeks before your scheduled orientation date. The placement website is online and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

We strongly discourage you from writing your placement the day of your scheduled orientation date or writing your placement on your phone. Again, your placement determines how many writing classes you take.

Message for Second Language and Multilingual Speakers/Writers of English

All undergraduate students are required to complete the UWP writing placement. Second language and multilingual speakers/writers of English may be required to complete ESOL writing courses as prerequisites to the University Writing Program’s WRIT courses. Completing an ESOL speaking/listening placement may also be required. See ESOL Placement Assessment Information or contact [email protected] for more information.

Message for AP Students

Students who score a 3 or higher on AP English Language and Composition Test or the English Literature and Composition Test are not required to complete a placement essay. If you plan to take an AP test this year, you still need to write a Placement essay before May 1 because the AP scores will not be submitted in time for you to be enrolled in your Linked Courses.

I am ready to proceed to the Writing Placement Website (Link)

University writing program (uwp).

215 East Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-7885

Dr. Neil Baird, Director [email protected]

Tifanie Knauff, UWP Secretary [email protected]  

English Department

Stephannie Gearhart, Chair English Department Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-7540 [email protected]

Jeanne R. Berry (she/her/hers) Secretary to the Chair [email protected]

Updated: 06/23/2023 01:52PM

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ENGL 102 A: Essentials of College Reading & Writing

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College Admission Glossary: Learn the Lingo

Find the right college for you..

What does admission mean? What is a transcript? What's the difference between early action and early decision? When applying to college, you're bound to come across unfamiliar collegiate terms. This glossary can help you make sense of all the college terms you're sorting through.

A standardized college admission test. It features four main sections: English, math, reading and science — and an optional essay section.

Admissions Process

The entire process you go through to get into college. To define admissions, you need to include a number of components. The process starts early in high school as you begin building your GPA and ends when you move into your dorm. Your research, college visits, applications, letters of recommendation, high school transcripts, and admissions essays are all important parts of the admissions meaning.

Admissions Decisions

The decisions made by the college admissions committee about which applicants receive acceptance letters and which applicants do not. Early decisions are available to students who submit their applications within each school's early decision timeline. See "Early Decision (ED)" for further information.

Admission Tests

Also known as college entrance exams, these are tests designed to measure students' skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work. The ACT and the College Board's SAT are two standardized admission tests used in the United States. The word "standardized" means that the test measures the same thing in the same way for everyone who takes it. Read more about admission tests .

Articulation Agreement

An agreement between two-year and four-year colleges that makes it easier to transfer credits between them. It spells out which courses count for degree credit and the grades you need to earn to get credit.

Bachelor's Degree

When you complete the required courses and earn enough credits, typically after four years in college, you will earn a BA or bachelor's degree. Depending upon your major, you may earn a bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of science (BS), or bachelor of fine arts (BFA).

Candidates Reply Date Agreement (CRDA)

An agreement many colleges follow that gives applicants until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission. This deadline gives students time to get responses from most of the colleges they have applied to before deciding on one.

A measurement of how your academic achievement in high school compares with that of other students in your grade. Your class ranking is primarily based on your GPA. Some schools calculate class rank differently than others, so check with your school officials for information on how your school calculates GPA.

Coalition Application

A standard application form accepted by members of the Coalition for College. You can use this application to apply to any of the more than 90 colleges and universities that are members of the Coalition.

College Application Essay

An essay that a college requires students to write and submit as part of their application. Some colleges offer applicants specific questions to answer, while others simply ask applicants to write about themselves. Colleges may refer to this as a “personal statement.” Learn more about college application essays .

College Credit

What you get when you successfully complete a college-level course. You need a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree. Colleges may also grant credit for scores on exams, such as those offered by the College Board’s AP Program® and CLEP. Learn more about AP and CLEP . 

College Financial Aid Offer

An offer of financial assistance to those who receive acceptance to a college. The offer includes all the monetary assistance available to you to pay for college. Also called an award letter, a financial aid award letter, or simply an offer, your letter will include the need-based assistance you qualify to receive based on your FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and any other required forms such as the CSS Profile or an institutional form.

Common Application

A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association. The definition of the Common Application is synonymous with college application. You can fill out the Common App once and submit it to any one or several of the nearly 700 colleges that accept it. Go to the Common Application .

Deferred Admission

Permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college. The postponement is usually for up to one year. Often, a college requires a good-faith deposit to hold your place for the deferment period. Additionally, your college may ask you to account for your experiences during deferment.

Demonstrated Interest

An action that demonstrates you have a sincere interest in attending a particular college. Many admissions committees consider this factor in making their decisions. Some of the ways you can demonstrate an interest in attending include a campus visit or virtual tour participation, having an initial interview, conversations with admission representatives, and applying for early admission.

Early Action (EA)

An option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. When you apply early decision, you get an admission decision earlier than usual. Early decision plans are binding. You agree to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered a financial aid package that meets your needs. Some colleges have an early decision option called ED II, which has a later application deadline than their regular ED plan. Learn more about applying early .

Early Decision (ED)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Everyone planning to attend college should fill in and submit a FAFSA prior to their first year. It determines if you qualify for financial assistance with tuition so you can attend the school of your choice. Your college offer may be based on your FAFSA results.

Financial Aid

Money given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations. It might also include work-study assistance. Learn more about financial aid .

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A number that shows overall academic performance. It's computed by assigning a point value to each grade you earn. It is also a key factor in determining your class rank.

Legacy Applicant

A college applicant with a relative (usually a parent or grandparent) who graduated from that college. Some colleges give preference to legacy applicants (also called "legacies").

Need-Blind Admission

A policy of making admission decisions without considering the financial circumstances of applicants. Colleges that use this policy may or may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student's full need.

Open Admission

A policy of accepting any high school graduate, no matter what his or her grades are, until all spaces in the incoming class are filled. Almost all two-year community colleges have an open-admission policy. However, a college with a general open-admission policy may have admission requirements for certain programs.

Placement Tests

Tests that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work. They cover reading, writing, math, and sometimes other subjects. Placement test results help determine what courses you are ready for and whether you would benefit from remedial classes. They can also determine whether you need to take a basic course. Read more about placement tests . 

Priority Date or Deadline

The date by which your application—whether it's for college admission, student housing, or financial aid—must be received to be given the strongest consideration.

The college official who registers students. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining your student file.

Rolling Admission

An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.

College Board’s standardized college admission test. It features three main sections: math, reading and writing, which includes a written essay. Learn more about the SAT .

Sophomore Standing

The status of a second-year student. A college may grant sophomore standing to an incoming first-year student if they have earned college credits through courses, exams, or other programs at a previous school.

The official record of your coursework at a school or college. Your high school transcript is usually required for college admission, and for some financial aid packages or scholarship applications.

Transfer Student

A student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college. Before transferring, you should check with your current and future colleges to find out which credits will transfer.

Undergraduate

A college student who is working toward an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

Universal College Application

A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are Universal College Application (UCA) members. Established in 2007, this application offers shortcuts—such as no recommendation letter requirement—that may help you complete your package sooner. However, not all colleges accept it, so check with your school to make sure. Go to the Universal College Application .

Waiting List

The list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available. Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don't enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the waiting list. Learn more about waiting lists .

Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA)

A grade point average that's calculated using a system that assigns a higher point value to grades in certain classes, typically more difficult ones. For example, some high schools assign the value of 5.0 (instead of the standard 4.0) for an A earned in an AP class.

Virtual College

Online college classes. Some colleges are entirely virtual and do not maintain an actual campus, while others offer online and in-person courses. While virtual college classes are often more convenient because they allow you to set your own schedule, some subjects, such as science labs, require hands-on participation that you cannot do online.

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A first-generation college student’s guide to navigating the application process.

Senior Associate, JPMorgan Chase

If you’re the first person in your immediate family who’ll be attending college, you may be on your way to becoming a first-generation college student. While this may feel intimidating, know that you aren’t alone. According to recent data by the Center for First-Generation Student Success, about one in four college students have parents who didn’t attend any form of schooling after high school.

Being the first person in your family to attend college is an outstanding achievement. Not only will you be furthering your education, but you’ll also set yourself up for future career success . While you don’t need a college degree to land a job, some estimates show that having a bachelor’s degree may help you earn 84% more than having only a high school diploma . A college degree may also serve as a buffer during an economic downturn.

Understanding the benefits of college is one thing, but navigating applying and enrolling in college as a first-generation college student is another. How do you get started on your college application journey and ensure your transition is a successful one?

Keep reading as we break down the college application process for first-generation college students and provide resources that may help you on your journey.

What’s a first-generation college student?

First things first, what’s a first-generation college student? According to the federal government, a first-generation college student is someone whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree or some kind of higher education. In a scenario in which you only lived with one parent your whole life who cared financially for you (and this could be for many reasons), and this parent didn’t complete a bachelor’s degree, and you end up attending college, you too count as a first-generation college student under this definition. This definition is important to understand because the federal government uses it to determine eligibility for financial aid programs like the TRIO programs, for instance.

The definition of what a first-generation college student is may vary among colleges and universities, though. For instance, the University of Pennsylvania definition includes students whose parents received a degree outside of the U.S.

Given that institutions define first-generation student differently and offer benefits and resources to first-generation students specifically, you may want to check with college and university admissions offices during the application process to see if you qualify as a first-generation student, according to their unique standards.

How to apply to college as a first-generation student

The college application process may feel daunting, especially if you don’t have parents or immediate family who’ve attended college to guide you. During the process, you’ll have to research colleges, study for standardized exams, fill out school applications, potentially apply for financial aid, and decide where to attend. Fortunately, many resources are at your disposal to make these responsibilities easier.

Checklist for first-generation college students applying to college

Here’s a list that may help you prepare for college applications.

1. Start preparing early (like in your sophomore year of high school)

• Research potential colleges and universities to understand their offerings, campus culture, and admissions requirements.
• Identify the type of college experience you want (size, location, majors, extracurriculars).

2. Understand the academic requirements you need to meet

• Understand your target schools’ grade point average (GPA) and standardized test score requirements.
• Consider meeting with your high school academic advisor and college counselor often to ensure you’re enrolled in the right classes and overall tracking toward your goal of attending college.

3. Prepare for standardized tests

• Register for the SAT or ACT exams and check if your desired schools require or recommend taking them.
• Prepare for these exams using online resources, books, or classes.

4. Research and apply for financial aid and scholarships

• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® ) to determine if you're eligible for federal financial aid along with other types of financial aid.
• Consider researching and applying for scholarships. Consider looking for those that specifically support first-generation students (see below for tips for this).

5. If you’re able to, plan college visits

• Schedule campus visits if it’s feasible for you to get a feel for the environment and ask questions.
• Attend college fairs in your area and meet with college admissions representatives.

6. Tee up your letters of recommendation

• Identify teachers, counselors, or mentors who can write strong, personal recommendations.
• Request these letters well in advance of deadlines.

7. Prepare your personal statement and essays

• Start brainstorming and drafting your college essays early (see below for tips for this).
• Have teachers, counselors, and others review your essays for feedback.

8. Complete your college applications

• Familiarize yourself with the Common App (which you can use to apply to over 1,000 U.S. colleges) and individual college applications.
• Complete all sections of applications carefully and accurately.

9. Keep track of deadlines to make sure you meet them

• There are many deadlines to keep track of during the college process, including college application deadlines, financial aid deadlines, and scholarships deadlines.
• Consider Early Decision or Early Action applications in which you’d apply to colleges earlier in the process.

10. Utilize all the resources that you can

• Connect with organizations and programs that support first-generation college students.
• Look for mentorship programs at potential colleges and within your community to help with the college process.

11. Undergo interview preparation

• If interviews are required, prepare by practicing with teachers, counselors, or mentors.
• Research common interview questions and think about your responses.

12. Do a final review and submit your applications

• Review all materials for completeness and accuracy.
• Submit applications and confirm receipt with each college.

13. Start preparing to enroll in college

• Prepare for potential waitlist or deferral outcomes that may come from your college applications.
• Accept an offer and complete any necessary steps for enrollment.

First-generation college student essay tips

As covered briefly above, you’ll likely need to write one or several personal essays during the college application process. As a first-generation college student, your college essay is a unique opportunity to showcase your perspectives, experiences, and the obstacles you’ve overcome on your road to college.

You may want to begin by reflecting on your journey — what being the first in your family to attend college means to you, the challenges you’ve faced, and how these experiences have shaped your ambitions and character. By crafting a compelling essay, you may help admissions officers understand your background and the resilience you bring to your educational pursuits.

As you write your essay, you may want to focus on specifics rather than generalities to bring your story to life. Instead of simply stating that you’ve faced challenges, describe a moment that illustrates how you’ve been challenged and how you responded. Remember, the goal is to let college admissions committees see the world through your eyes and appreciate the context of your achievements.

After you have a draft of your essay or essays ready, don’t hesitate to seek feedback from teachers, mentors, and counselors who understand the college application process. They may be able to provide valuable insights into how college admissions officers might perceive your essays. 

First-generation college student scholarship tips

As briefly covered above, alongside the college application process, if you’re looking for financial aid to support your college journey, you may consider looking into scholarships specifically for first-generation college students. Some organizations and nonprofits are specifically seeking to help students like you.

Here are a few scholarships you may consider as a first-generation college student:

• The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and The Sallie Mae Fund Completing The Dream Gap Scholarship
• Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars Scholarship
• The National Society of High School Scholars First Generation Scholarship
• EducationDynamics Minority First Generation Scholarship Contest

Programs that support first-generation college students

If the steps involved in applying for college seem overwhelming, the good news is that many programs aim to support first-generation college students on their educational journey. Here are a few.  

College Track Scholar Program

College Track is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students with limited resources achieve their dream of attending college. The organization works with students from the time they’re in ninth grade through college to help them on their journey to receiving a bachelor’s degree.

At the high school level, they help students through academic learning labs, college counseling, and even individualized coaching. When students reach college, the organization helps with career readiness, community building, and financial wellness activities. Finally, they provide early career support in the first two years after a student’s college graduation.

Let’s Get Ready

Let’s Get Ready prioritizes admittance for students who meet specific criteria, such as first-generation college students or students from historically underrepresented communities. It provides students with free college application support with help from peer-led coaches and virtual SAT exam prep courses, and other tools. For those who’d like to seek help from someone who’s been in their shoes, Let’s Get Ready pairs program participants with current college students who act as mentors.

America Needs You

For first-generation students already enrolled in college, America Needs You is a nonprofit organization with a Fellows Program that supports low-income, first-generation college students with resources to help them successfully graduate college, succeed in their careers, and remain competitive in today’s workforce. The Fellows Program helps with internship placements, provides up to $1,000 in grant funding annually, and offers one-on-one mentorship to all enrollees.

Navigating the summer before college starts as a first-generation college student

After you commit to college, you may want to see if any summer orientation programs or bridge programs at your chosen college specifically for first-generation students are available to you before you start school.

Some colleges offer orientation programs that bring together faculty, students, and in some cases, family members to help ensure first-generation students have an easy transition into college life.

If the college you’re enrolling in offers one of these programs, consider taking part. They typically last from between two to four weeks during the summer months. During these programs, you can also ask questions related to everything from picking out classes to navigating dorm life if you plan to live on-campus. You can also start to make college friends.

Final thoughts

If you’re a first-generation student embarking on your college journey, know that it may feel confusing at first, though many resources are available to help. Above all else, as you undergo this journey, you should feel proud that you’re the first in your family to start this path toward higher education. You may inspire many others in your professional and personal circles for years to come.