Tips for Writing a College Essay

1. Understand Yourself: Before you can write an effective essay, it is important to take the time to assess and reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Make sure that you understand what elements make up your unique identity. Be sure to analyze why these traits are important to you.

2. Reflect on Your Beliefs: Take some time to think about your beliefs and values. Consider how they have shaped who you are today and why they are important to you. Reflect on how these beliefs have influenced your life decisions and experiences and how they could be used to inform your essay writing.

3. Research the School: Knowing what a college or university has to offer can help you decide if it’s the right fit for you. Researching colleges and universities will give you information on their academic offerings, extracurricular activities, research opportunities, campus life, cost of attendance, and more. Doing research will give you specific information and insight to answer the “Why Us” essays.

4. Utilize Technology Tools: Programs such as Microsoft Word, Grammarly, and AI tools allow you to craft and edit essays quickly and efficiently. This can help you save valuable time and ensure that your essay is free of errors.

5. Reading your essay out loud: It is a great way to help identify issues related to clarity, coherence, and accuracy. When you read words aloud, it allows you to focus more intently on the flow of your argument and the use of language and can hear which words sound awkward or use too many syllables for their intended meaning. This exercise also allows writers to gain a better insight into the tone of their writing so they can ensure consistency throughout their essays.