Harper College is closed Friday, July 3, for Independence Day (Observed).
Many colleges and universities require you to submit an essay with your application. Some colleges give you choices, while others have a specific question. The Common App also has a list of essay prompts that they release each summer.
Show the admissions committee what makes you special and interesting. Schools want to understand your unique perspective, see evidence of strong writing skills, and experience your authentic voice. While it may seem helpful to use AI when preparing your essay, college admissions experts report that AI-written essays exhibit less originality and have a flat, less impactful result. Remember: Colleges want a genuine connection with your original thoughts and reflections.
Many colleges ask applicants to describe themselves, discuss an experience that influenced their life, or explain a special interest or extracurricular activity. Whether you are using a topic of your own or choosing one of the essay prompts in the Common App, choose the topic that you feel most strongly about. If you are working on your own essay topic, come up with a list of several essay topics and note the key points involved in each one before you make a final selection.
List all the items that apply to your essay and organize them. Start with a statement of purpose, then address the individual items and conclude with a restatement of your essay.
Your opening paragraph plays a large role in the success of your essay. There are several approaches you might use including starting with a quotation, a rhetorical question or a short description of the experience you plan to expand upon in the essay.
Do not settle for your first effort. Rewrite the essay. Then edit the final draft one more time and be diligent in your proofreading for spelling or grammar errors. When you think it’s perfect, have a teacher or high school counselor review it and give you feedback.