What Makes an Essay a Good College Application Essay?

3/30/2020

What makes an essay a good college application essay?

Deisiree De Jesus

3/30/2020 14:53:45

Family is the center of my life; it always has been - or maybe that’s the Filipino in me talking. The fact remains, however. My family, which was the product of two immigrants’ perseverance against heart-wrenching struggles, has played a huge role in shaping me into who I am today. My parents were born and raised in the Philippines, but they both moved to a small house in America (Edinburg, Texas to be more specific) in the late 90s to start a family. Though my parents moved here, they continued to instill in us the Filipino cultural practices and values that they also grew up with. I grew up eating the delectable food, speaking the complex language, and watching the dramatic TV shows. This has caused me to be more accustomed to my Filipino side than the American culture that surrounds me - so much so that I used to think they were the same. However, the duality of these cultures eventually taught me how to consider multiple perspectives on complex issues and that cultural differences don’t have to be barriers but rather seeds of growth that allow us to develop deeper understandings of the world around us. I have three older siblings, but they were old enough to already move out of the house by the time I had learned to speak, so I grew up with my younger brother and the mindset of being the oldest sibling in the household. From this, I gained the skills of a leader and role model who pushes for the best for those around them. Because Filipinos take pride in familial life, I also grew up very close to my family. From playing board games to even eating every meal together, we did everything with each other so that we may always recognize the importance of our bond. My mom, who is caring and strong despite what she’s endured, taught me that life, although cruel, rewards those who continue with kindness no matter who wronged you. My diligent and determined father who has worked endlessly for us gave me the gift of working hard with a purpose so that I may succeed for generations to come. Both of my parents taught me to be a respectful person who did not hesitate to help others whatever their circumstances. I cherish their life lessons and apply them to everything I do so that I can honor them or bring them pride in some way. All of these different aspects of my life, from cultural identities and values to life lessons passed down generations, made me the person I am today and will continue to shape me as life goes on.

Deisiree De Jesus

3/30/2020 20:19:09

An application essay is not like other essays that spew information and facts to persuade or inform. Because admission committees read thousands of application essays, an application essay should be exciting and intriguing but most of all genuine. Each person has a unique background or personality that makes them different from everywhere else. The story you want to tell should be meaningful, something that you went through or experienced that will blow the admission committees away. Many of the prompts provide opportunities to offer something significant or substantial. It doesn’t have to be a tear-jerker, but it should offer insight into who you are or what your life is like outside of school. Cliche ideas or topics should typically be avoided because it ruins any ability to differentiate the individual from other applicants. Additionally, colleges and universities want to not only read your story reflected in the essay - they also want to feel and see it. In your college essay, you must tell a vivid story that is brought to life with your diction. Simple sentences not only reflects poor writing and communication skills, but it fails to create any emotion in the reader. Utilizing devices such as metaphors or similes more than likely will create a memorable story. Combining sentences to creating complex phrases or diversifying your structure is also a way you can make your essay stand out. However, going too much overboard with description makes the essay become a drag instead of an insightful adventure. Being succinct is just as important as providing vivid detail. In essence, a good application essay is a combination of detailed and genuine experiences that create emotion amongst the admission committees and set you apart from different applicants.

Nicolas Strom

3/31/2020 12:09:52

I agree with Deisiree, making this essay intriguing is what you truly need to focus on. Getting the attention of the readers is the only way to have a chance in this game. Though it does not have to be sentimental it has to be meaningful and captivating. If it is not, the reader will get bored and will not be impressed.

Nora Macias

3/31/2020 16:11:41

I agree with you Deisiree on how you said that colleges not only want to read your story they want to feel it and see it. That is a very well and thought out way to put it. I also agree with what you said about pepper sentence writing makes it seem like you don’t know how to write an proper essay. That is why using figurative language and literary devices help your essay be a lot more eligible to be chosen and not passed because of your way of writing.

Nicolas Strom

3/31/2020 12:02:24

An application essay is probably one of the most important essays you will ever write, and it is also one of the most difficult. An application essay consists of three paragraphs, each which has its own factors that will help you write a good application essay. The first paragraph consists of describing your life, challenges, and opportunities according to the prompt. If the prompt does not ask for this information then vaguely cover it in a meaningful way and continue with the prompt. This first paragraph is crucial because it is where the reader can find a connection with the writer of the essay. This connection can be empathetic, inspiring, or even helpful for the reader if the reader has gone through the same situation. This connection will make your essay special and unique in a good way, which will give you a higher chance. The second paragraph is a meaningful reflection of these events and your story. Finally the third paragraph is detailing what you have learned and how you grew after these events. You just have to go out there to get noticed.

Deisiree De Jesus

3/31/2020 12:06:50

Thank you for your response! I agree with your point about having to go out there to get noticed. It is crucial to go beyond the surface or superficial level when writing your application essay because admission committees want to see the person behind the application. Sometimes the experience isn't all that different, but the way you describe it and how it changed you as a person is what will set you apart from other candidates. Great job, and it's nice to hear from you!

Nora Macias

3/31/2020 16:05:31

A college application essay is a big part for your college future and your own future. This essay is not like your regular essays. You have to put a lot of thought and know what you are putting into that essay. The application essay consists of three paragraphs and approximately 800 words. The college application has to be very precise and thought through. Some tips you could use would be to write with precision, use active rather than passive sentence construction, and avoid using clichés. Avoid using clichés because college admission officers will read many essays with the same clichés being used over and over again. So the best tip for using other sentences rather than clichés is going to its root and elaborate and put what change you want to see yourself doing or how you want to impact the community. The writing in itself in the essay is very time consuming because it requires you to think and not type whatever because it is a very important part of your life. The essay prompt goes from Topic A, Topic B, Topic C, and maybe even Topic D. There is one important thing you must remember though your writing must be clear, communicative, and evocative. These are some traits a lot of essays lack so it is important for you to have them incorporated in your essay.

Nora Macias

3/31/2020 16:21:07

Hey Nicolas! I really like how you elaborated on what the each paragraph consists of and how they all have a different factor in the outcome of your final essay. This could be very helpful for people who don’t know anything about the college application essay and it could be a very good guide to help write your essay. I also agree with you on how you wrote that the writing itself is very time consuming and how it requires you to think and not just type whatever comes to mind you have to elaborate so the application officers can see you actually put time and effort into writing your essay.

Jessica Guerrero

3/31/2020 17:02:59

What makes an essay a good college application essay? The best way to tell your story is to write a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you. Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through. Also make sure you answer the question that is being asked. You don’t want to be putting random things that don’t go with your topic question. Stay focused on the goal. Talk about your challenges and failures but don’t make it a sob story. Either personal or school wise. Talk about how you would be committed to getting to school on time and making sure all your assignments will be complicated by or before the due date. Schedule time off to make sure you don’t get too overwhelmed. Use a planner to stay on task with your assignments. Set an end time so you can get enough sleep for the next day.