winning college admission essays

This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.

College essay example #6. This student was admitted to UC Berkeley. (Suggested reading: How to Get Into UC Berkeley and How to Write Great UC Essays) The phenomenon of interdependency, man depending on man for survival, has shaped centuries of human civilization.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. Connecticut College. 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025 . Hamilton College. 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026; 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022

Common App Essay Examples. Here are the current Common App prompts. Click the links to jump to the examples for a specific prompt, or keep reading to review the examples for all the prompts. Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without ...

Prompt 2: Overcoming challenges. Prompt 3: Questioning a belief or idea. Prompt 4: Appreciating an influential person. Prompt 5: Transformative event. Prompt 6: Interest or hobby that inspires learning. Prompt 7: Free topic. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about college application essays.

The essays are a place to show us who you are and who you'll be in our community. It's a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Below you'll find selected examples of essays that "worked," as nominated by our admissions committee.

College essay example #2. This second essay was submitted to Hamilton College during the 2021 college admissions cycle: I dreaded their arrival. The tyrannical cicadas swarmed DC and neighboring areas in 1987, 2004, and again in 2021. I was freaking about Brood X, the worst of them all.

First things first, this Common App essay is well-written. This student is definitely showing the admissions officers her ability to articulate her points beautifully and creatively. It starts with vivid images like that of the "rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge ...

A college essay is a piece of writing that responds to a given prompt, either on the Common App lication, Coalition Application, or on a school's individual application. College essays can range anywhere from 50 to 800 words. There are two main types of college essays: personal statements and supplemental essays.

While most of your application lists your academic achievements, your college admissions essay is your opportunity to share who you are and why you'd be a good addition to the university. Your college admissions essay accounts for about 25% of your application's total weight一and may account for even more with some colleges making the SAT ...

6. Stick to a clear essay plan. Creativity is an aspect very much appreciated in writing, but don't assume that a creative essay is not also an organized one. Obviously, you don't want to write a bunch of words without meaning, so make sure you write about just one subject at a time.

Successful Harvard Essay. "You should scrub off the top layer of your skin whenever you lose a round," my debate teammate once advised me. "That's not practical," I replied. "Neither ...

Hello! Writing a strong college admissions essay can seem intimidating at first, but with a bit of planning and creativity, you can make your essay stand out from the crowd. Here are some tips to help you craft a winning essay: 1. Start with a unique personal story: Sharing a personal anecdote that captures your character and interests can make your essay more memorable.

A strong application essay can boost a student's chances of being admitted to a college. In this guide, admissions experts offer advice on picking a college essay topic as well as navigating the ...

While it's important to be thoughtful and mature, you don't want your college application essay to be too heavy. Try to lighten up the essay with a clever metaphor, a well-placed witticism, or a little self-deprecating humor. But don't overdo it. The essay that is filled with bad puns or off-color jokes will often end up in the rejection pile.

Successful Harvard Essay. When I was a child, I begged my parents for my very own Brother PT-1400 P-Touch Handheld Label Maker to fulfill all of my labeling needs. Other kids had Nintendos and ...

5 Key Components of a Standout Essay: 1. Authentic Storytelling. When crafting your essay, it is crucial to delve into the depths of your personal experiences and share a story that is truly your own. Think about those pivotal moments in your life that have shaped you into the person you are today.

A great scholarship essay helps the scholarship provider understand the real person behind the application and can be the key to winning the award (assuming you meet the other scholarship criteria). Scholarship Essays vs. College Essays. Scholarship essays are very similar to your college application essays in terms of strategy.

With the top applicants from every high school applying to the best schools in the country, it's important to have an edge in your college application. Check out our list of 10 new Harvard ...

Prompt: Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay. (250-650 words) "One of the great challenges of our time is that the disparities we ...

Use your essays to empower your chances of acceptance, merit money, and scholarships.". This college essay tip is by Dr. Rebecca Joseph, professor at California State University and founder of All College Application Essays, develops tools for making the college essay process faster and easier. 15. Get personal.

Option 4: End on an action. Ending on an action can be a strong way to wrap up your essay. That might mean including a literal action, dialogue, or continuation of the story. These endings leave the reader wanting more rather than wishing the essay had ended sooner. They're interesting and can help you avoid boring your reader.

However, when it comes to crafting a college admission essay, set this formula aside. The admission essay is a unique genre that demands a different approach. Rethinking the Essay Structure. Forget everything you know about standard academic essays because the college application essay follows different rules. Here, the focus shifts from ...

A young man reflects on his own thrift, while a young woman accepts a gift of ice cream and pays a price for it. Finally, caregiving becomes a source of pride for someone young enough to need ...

What's the College Essay? When we say "The College Essay" (capitalization for emphasis - say it out loud with the capitals and you'll know what we mean) we're talking about the 550-650 word essay required by most colleges and universities. Prompts for this essay can be found on the college's website, the Common Application, or the ...

Senior Editor College Application Program; Summer Program Applications; Private Consulting Program; Transfer Admissions . UC Transfer Admissions ... So, if you win, it's a big deal and says a lot about your writing skills. Your winning piece will also be published in the New York Times. What Are the New York Times Student Editorial Contest ...

College Transitions is a smarter approach to college admission. College Transitions offers a data-driven menu of services that help students identify good-fit schools, maximize their admission prospects, and make the most of their college investment.

To the Editor: Re "2024 Was the Year That Finally Broke College Admissions," by Daniel Currell (Opinion guest essay, May 5): While Mr. Currell effectively lays out the current admissions ...