CollegeVine, EssaysThatWorked, Youtube videos, Reddit. My Google search page became a sea of purple links as I scoured the internet trying to crack the code for the perfect college essay. I eventually realized that there is no such thing as the “perfect” college essay due to the subjectivity of the essay review process, but I did notice some similarities between strong essays. Below are a few key ideas from my research about writing the different types of supplemental essays:
- Community Essay
- Focus on your impact. One of the most common mistakes people make is only describing the community and neglecting to explain their role in it. However, be careful to avoid a pretentious tone while talking about your contributions.
- Stick to one theme. Think about what trait about yourself you are trying to convey—is it leadership, collaboration, empathy, or passion? It can be tempting to choose multiple themes if you have many good stories to tell, but with the limited word count, it’s better to elaborate on one topic than to skim over multiple disconnected events.
- Show, don’t tell. Give 1-3 specific examples or anecdotes related to your theme. Avoid vague descriptions like “I am passionate about helping my community.” What does it look like when you are passionate? How do you feel internally? Why are you passionate? Describe the scene and use powerful action verbs.
- Diversity Essay
- Think outside of the box. Diversity is more than just culture or sexual orientation; it also includes unique family or hometown backgrounds, hobbies, or values. Colleges make sure to leave the prompt vague for this reason.
- Read the prompt carefully. Every college will have a slightly different version of the diversity prompt. Some might look for your personal growth, while others might look for your worldview or ability to work with people of different backgrounds.
- Emphasize the reflection. After relating your story, make sure to have a mature reflection on what you learned about your identity and/or values.
- Why Us Essay
- Avoid cliches. Please don’t use vague “love at first sight” or “strong academic reputation” cliches. Colleges are already very aware of their beautiful campuses and prestige, and they won’t be eager to accept a student interested in them only for those reasons.
- The more specific, the better. Research different classes using the school’s course catalog. Find specific professors, clubs, and research opportunities. However, don’t just name drop without explanation; make sure to elaborate briefly on WHY you are interested in those opportunities.
- Make connections to your passions/career goals. In the “Why Us” essay, the “Us” isn’t only referring to the college—it’s about how you and the college are a great fit together. Colleges want to know how your background and future goals align with the resources and communities they offer.
College essay prompts can feel overwhelming because of their open-ended nature, but remember, admissions officers aren’t looking for perfection. Just focus on presenting your authentic self!
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