We’ve talked about application essays a lot over the years—what to write, what not to write, what to do when you’re ready to pull your hair out and quit at life. That’s why we gathered all the juicy application essay advice up so you can find it in one handy place. Right here!
How to start your application essay
- How to Write a Great College Admission Essay, Step-by-Step: You already know how to write an academic essay. You start with an introduction, throw in a thesis statement, find about three paragraphs' worth of evidence, and wrap it all up with a tidy conclusion. Writing the college application essay is different.
- Students who are willing to share who they are as a person, distinct from their academic record and test scores, are the students who stand out.
- Now Is the Time to Start Your College Essay: It's smart to start thinking about your college application essay as soon as possible because planning it can be harder than actually writing it.
- : A good college essay can help you get accepted, but a bad one can sometimes prevent it. That's why it's important to do it well.
- How Learning to Freewrite Can Generate Great College Essay Ideas: How can you come up with the basis for a standout college application essay when you have no idea where to start? Try free writing. And start with these tips.
Real-world application essay examples
- Admission Granted: Examples of Successful College Application Essays, Volume I: Getting stuck writing your college essays? Try reading some examples of successful papers that got students admitted to get ideas for your own essays!
- Admission Granted: Examples of Successful College Application Essays, Volume II: We have even more college admission essay examples if you're still stuck on what to write about, how long it should be, and more. Check them out now!
- Admission Granted: Examples of Successful College Application Essays, Volume III: We've got a couple more college application essay examples for you to see what kind of stories impress college admission committees. Happy reading!
Inside information from the admission office
- Top College Essay Questions Answered by Admission Insiders: The college essay can help your application or hurt it. You want to stand out in a good way, and these admission experts know how you can do just that.
- Top 5 Tips for Making Your College Essay Stand Out: These five college essay tips—straight from admission professionals—will help you and your college application stand out.
- : Worried about writing the "perfect" college application essay? Guess what: admission officers don't want perfect! One admission insider explains.
- How to Write a Transfer Essay That Works: Before sitting down to write your transfer college application essay, use this one simple question as a guideline to your future: why are you applying to this particular college?
- : Many colleges and universities offer a "Why us?" essay prompt on college applications. Do you know the best way to approach it? Find out with this advice.
- Writing is not a group activity, and you should always write your college application essay on your own. You can get guidance, but make sure it is the right kind of help.
Do’s, don’ts, and serious essay fails
- Steering Clear of College Application Essay Mistakes: Keep yourself on the sunny side of your target colleges' radars by avoiding these simple yet costly essay mistakes.
- College Admission Essay Ideas That Just Don't Work: Some college application essay ideas are bad, and you may not know which ones are. Here are some essay ideas that don't work and potential alternatives.
- Don't Use Your English Paper as a College Essay Year after year, students send us college application essays to review that were written for an English class. Most of the essays earned A's...but not a single one was ready to submit with a college application.
Find articles and advice about every aspect of your college applications in our College Admission section.
