Over the past few years, the Personal Statement has become one of the single most discussed aspects of the College Admissions Process. Yet even with dozens of guide books, blog posts, and guidance-counselor-approved pamphlets dedicated to “acing it”, writing a standout admissions essay remains a mystery for more than a few college-bound students.
Now, I may be a tad biased as a four-year staffer of my high school’s student newspaper, but I’ve always believed in the impact of a well-crafted essay. The fact is, it doesn’t matter whether you’re sending your application to a community college, private university, scholarship fund, or even a prospective employer—a well-planned and solidly-written essay is the key to being competitive.
Be Yourself.
When writing any personal statement, the most comforting thing to know is that there is no wrong answer. You are talking about you. You (yes, you!) already have all of the tools to write a unique reflection… you just have to take the time to sift through your experiences and perspective to find the one that’s just unique enough to catch your admission officer's eye.
For the more general prompts (as on the Common App), take advantage of the fact that you have the freedom to write about anything that works for you. Now, this isn’t an excuse to make up some a story about your once-miserly Uncle Bill who decided to help build a school for orphans in Honduras after he discovered he had five months left to live (unless, of course, you do in fact have such an uncle).
The point is, be real. Be eccentric, if you’re eccentric. Be funny, if you’re funny. If the topic of your essay speaks to you, then you’re on the right track—just be prepared to do a lot of brainstorming, and to scrap multiple ideas and drafts (three, in my case!) before you get there.
Don’t Sweat Perfection.
No one is expecting to be the next Shakespeare, so don't wast your time and energy trying to be. Of course, when you’re done writing your essay, do make sure that you have at least three other people (affectionately) rip it to shreds—but realize that it’s probably not going to be perfect, and that it doesn’t have to be.
Above all, make sure that your essay offers a unique perspective and sounds like you. Even when placed next to an essay that's grammatically impeccable, a statement that is imperfectly but passionately written might just gain the upper hand.
Why Yes, It Does Make a Difference.
It’s your typical stressful weeknight: a jam-packed school-day, varsity sports practice ‘till 5:00, and a monster Physics test to boot. Your essay is technically due tonight, but you’ll just lump something together in a half-hour, and have it ready to submit by 1:00 AM, right?
Wrong. No matter how stressful the college application process has been up until now, if you just give up, all of your hard work will have been for nothing. Quite simply, the college admissions essay is an amazing opportunity to take your application from black and white to technicolor.
Especially if you've had a less-than-stellar history with standardized testing, this is your space to make yourself more than just another number-- this piece of paper represents you as a student and individual, which are (who knew!) what most colleges are really looking for.
Can a well-written admissions essay really get you into college? Crazier things have happened. Either way, good luck, and happy writing!
Confused, terrified, or unsure about your future beyond Brookfield East? As surprising as it may sound, you are far from alone! For the forward-leaning Spartan, make sure to stay tuned for monthly advice on everything from college admissions to summer job searches, and everything in between.