How long should my college essay be?


Weeks before, I accepted the request to play my ukulele during the high-school production of Godspell the musical. I thereupon decided to enter the wily seas of the theatre arts with the remarkably determined response of “Hey, why not?” Initially, my decision seemed an innocuous one. Playing ukulele? Seeing a show? Indulging in complimentary refreshments? The positive haze that enveloped the future reminded me that this could be my shot – the chance of realizing my Audra-McDonald-and-Angela-Lansbury-inspired dreams of performing, a dream left behind long ago.
Focus on one event, person or activity. If you write about a trip that influenced you, consider describing one particular scene from the trip and then “zooming out” to explain the greater context. Don’t try to cover multiple years of your life in 500 words. If you have to leave out important events, that’s ok. Think of your college essay as a snapshot, not your autobiography. Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003. Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation’s Top Colleges. New York: Ballantine Books. If your schedule and ours permit, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. Be aware that during busy times in the semester, we limit students to a total of two visits to discuss application essays and personal statements (two visits per student, not per essay); we do this so that students working on papers for courses will have a better chance of being seen. Make an appointment or submit your essay to our online writing center (note that we cannot guarantee that an online tutor will help you in time). Don’t be afraid to talk to professors or professionals in the field. Many of them would be flattered that you asked their advice, and they will have useful suggestions that others might not have. Also keep in mind that many colleges and professional programs offer websites addressing the personal statement. You can find them either through the website of the school to which you are applying or by searching under “personal statement” or “application essays” using a search engine. This doesn’t mean a once-in-a-lifetime event like winning the National Spelling Bee or skydiving – most students haven’t had that kind of experience. In fact, sometimes high-quality essays emerge from a student writing about a very ordinary experience in a personal way. For example, a student could write about her daily commute to school if she talked about a significant conversation she had with her mom in the car, or how she learned to love a new genre of music from listening to the radio, or imagining who lived down a long, mysterious driveway she passed every day. You can turn what might seem like a humdrum topic into an interesting essay when you focus on the details and what the experience reveals about you. One college application essay format that works for some students is to take us directly into a scene through dialogue. This is often an effective hook. Here, the author uses this tactic to capture our attention. They also describe the moment before they step on stage with evocative details, allowing us to experience their anxiety. This is another great example of and not telling.

This section contains five examples of good college essays.

Get several people to read it and write their comments down. It is worthwhile to seek out someone in the field, perhaps a professor who has read such essays before. Give it to a friend, your mom, or a neighbor. The key is to get more than one point of view, and then compare these with your own. Remember, you are the one best equipped to judge how accurately you are representing yourself. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our .

Resist the temptation to buy the “best college essays” book

The admission staff at St. Edward’s looks forward to reading your essay because it’s usually the most personal part of the application. It’s the one place where we really hear your voice and get a glimpse of your personality.

Here's an example from a real student's college essay:

Great Common App essay examples must be well-written. In this essay, the student’s writing mirrors her love for writing; they are both exceptional. Not all effective sample Common App essays need to have large vocabulary words like this essay does. However, they all need to reflect the student’s unique voice and be grammatically correct.

Here is an example of an actual college essay prompt from Yale:

Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. When done well, this strategy can work—your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants and taking a risk with your essay will help you do that. An essay that impresses your reader with your ability to think and express yourself in original ways and shows you really care about what you are saying is better than one that shows hesitancy, lack of imagination, or lack of interest.

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Whether you're unsure where to start or going through final edits of your Regular Decision application to U-M (due Feb. 1), read on for tips on how to approach the college essays.