Secondary

Writing an University or College Admission Essay

After the SAT, the admission essay is the next most important step during the application process. Instead of making it a flowery fairy-tale, you must focus on revealing characteristics that give the reader an opportunity to learn more about you as a person as well as a writer. On the other hand, even though you should make your essay thought provoking, don't take it too far!

Remember to be honest -- the essay should touch on main aspects of your character and interests, but stretching the truth or lying is not the right way to do things.

What Should the Essay Include?

Before writing a draft, select a topic that you are familiar with, such as accomplishments other than academics, or successes/failures that have altered your lifestyle and outlook. Try to choose a topic that is interesting to the reader. However, learn to draw the line between a topic that reveals the real you and a topic that is too personal and hence, irrelevant. A great deal of thought and brainstorming must go into topic selection. The topic you select must highlight the following three aspects of your personality:

• Preferences: Mention and elaborate your preferences. Are you a seeing-is-believing type or the gullible type who doesn't go the extra mile for facts and proof? Are you an optimist who is all for dialogue and discussion or do you consider war as the ultimate end to all conflicts?
• Values: Tell the reader what matters to you the most. For example, what do you value more: financial success or personal satisfaction? Make sure you back up your ideas with a good amount of thought and reasoning.
• Thought-Process: A focused and sincere essay signifies planning and effort. A topic like "My 5-year Battle With Cancer" should include imagery and arouse strong (not sympathetic) emotions within the reader. Emphasis on your feelings and thoughts will give a more vivid picture of what goes on "up there", as compared to intricate details of medications, hospital trips, and therapy.

How to Write the Essay?

Deciding what to write is the most important step of the whole essay writing process. A common mistake made by applicants is trying to include all kinds of ideas into the essay, without proper brainstorming and focusing on key points.

Generally, the essay should consist of 3 sections: introduction, body and conclusion.

• Introduction: A summary of all the points mentioned in the body is not a good start; it gives the reader opportunity to discontinue reading after the introduction as the essence has already been presented. Applicants can arouse interest in the reader by adding intrigue and appealing to the emotions of the reader from the very start of their essay. The introduction should be compelling enough for the reader to continue reading the essay. A startling fact, funny anecdote or a question - all these are ways to make the admissions officer continue reading.
• Body: The essay must have flow: all thoughts and ideas should be connected and linked. Merely mentioning disjoint incidents or opinions is not effective. The purpose of the essay is to see how well you can organize and present various thoughts under one topic.
• Conclusion: The conclusion should reiterate the views you expressed in the body in a positive, forceful and brief manner. Remember, you don't have to alter others' views or attitudes - you have to show how sound your belief is.

Always remember the real purpose of the essay-writing exercise - to reveal your personality and at the same time, keep the admissions officer interested. Students seem to forget that the admissions officer is more interested in learning about your opinions on various issues and your presentation of those opinions. This puts him in a better position to decide whether or not to offer you admission. The emphasis should be on presenting the topic in a unique and thought provoking manner.

Adapted from a related article on http://www.about.com