College Application Essays: Dos and Don’ts for a Winning Essay

Preparing to write your essays as college application season begins? Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind while drafting your work. Ensure you follow these guidelines while you write to come up with a refined, unique and well-written essay! 

Do’s for a College Application Essay: 

1. Be authentic: Share your genuine thoughts, experiences, and aspirations in the essay. Embrace your individuality and let your personality shine through in your writing. 
2. Start strong: Grab the reader’s attention with a compelling introduction to the essay. A strong start sets the tone for the rest of your essay and creates a positive first impression.
    
3. Focus on a specific topic or theme: Develop a clear narrative for the essay. By narrowing down your focus, you can provide a more in-depth exploration of your experiences, insights, or values. 
    
4. Show, don’t tell: Use vivid descriptions and specific examples to illustrate your points. Paint a picture with your words, allowing the reader to visualize and connect with your story. 
    
5. Highlight personal growth: Discuss challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve learned from them in your essay. This showcases maturity and the capacity for growth in the college environment. 
    

Don’ts for a College Application Essay: 

1. Don’t focus solely on achievements: Instead of simply listing your achievements in the essay, explore lessons learned and how it impacted your personal growth. 
2. Avoid negativity or blaming others: Rather, focus on how you overcame challenges, learning and growing as a result. Highlight your ability to adapt, problem-solve, and stay optimistic even when the going gets tough.
3. Don’t exceed the word limit: Stick to the word count to respect the essay’s guidelines. This also demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively within the given constraints. 
4. Don’t procrastinate: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay. Start early, ensuring that you have enough time to refine your ideas, seek feedback, and perfect it! 
5. Don’t forget to proofread: Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors before turning in your essay. Typos or careless mistakes will undermine the professionalism of your application. 

These general guidelines will allow you to present a polished essay, increasing your chances of admission into your dream university! 

For better step-by-step guidance, check out ReachIvy.com’s newly launched “Ace Your Essay” tutorials, available for Common App, UCAS, Masters, MBA and PhD applications!  

With quality video modules, exercises, as well as specially curated resources, it’s your self-paced one-stop-shop for all your writing needs! Be it drafting an essay, a statement of purpose, a supplemental prompt, or a personal statement, we’ve got you covered. Crafted by our team of experts, come learn how to write professional and winning essays, your way!