How long should your college essay be?


The Truth: The college essay is the one space where a student can show who they are beyond grades, test scores, and titles. So instead of wasting these precious 650 words repeating information the admissions committee can find elsewhere in the application, students are better off telling an actual story that reveals something new about them.
Conclusion is the last part of the essay where you need to summarise the main argument of the essay. When of your essay, begin by restating the thesis statement and explaining it with some strong points analyzed in the body section. Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of , and similar writing skills can apply to both. The Truth: There are literally thousands of sample college essays available online, and it might be tempting to ‘borrow’ an idea, especially if a student is suffering from writer’s block. Remember, though, that the college essay is a PERSONAL essay. A student can’t possibly write a successful personal essay if the feelings and experiences are real.. it just won’t seem authentic. Oh and did we mention that plagiarism is never a good look!? The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general. What starts with the letter P and is distinct to Louisiana and not the other forty-nine states? This question stumped my fifth-grade class when our resource teacher was giving a lesson on Louisiana culture. Among hands that threw out guesses, such as ports and Lake Pontchartrain, my minuscule fingers, like unwrapping a Christmas present, unveiled the correct response: parishes. It was this moment that sparked my awakening of Louisiana’s profoundly unique traditions and history, ranging the gamut of culture, such as food, music, and holidays. Always proofread your essay for mistakes and inconsistencies. Also, make sure the is followed, as it will give you a clearer idea of what needs to be improved before submitting!

Please read the 2022 Winning Essays .

Avoid telling admissions officers what they already know about their school. You don't need to repeat the school's history or information about its faculty, unless there is something exceptionally unique about it that you're pointing out. Admissions officers will already know these facts, so instead jump into the "meat" of your point. Focus on the unique aspects that make you interested in the school, rather than the ones that could be said about almost any school.

Order the Book: College Essay Essentials

For "Why Us?" essays, one of the hardest parts is finding what is super unique about the school that other colleges don't offer. Most colleges have similar research, curriculum, sports, clubs, etc. While those can be good references (if unique to the school), it can sometimes be easier to find unique aspects by focusing on the intangibles: the culture, approach to education, values, character of student body, ideals they uphold, etc. Having a combination of both unique offerings (programs, opportunities, curriculum, etc.) and ways the school is unique in its approach will make for the most compelling reasons for "Why Us?".

Here is the format and structure of a well-crafted 500-word essay.

All 500-word essays follow a different style and structure, making it difficult for a student to understand what their instructor expects. In such scenarios, 500-word essay examples can be of great help.

Rumor #1: The topic of your essay should be extraordinary.

A 500-word essay on honesty is a commonly assigned task to high school and college students. It simply involves writing on how to develop a practice of speaking the truth always.

Rumor #2: The essay should sound like a professional wrote it.

For "Why Us" essays, it's critical that you imagine how you'll be involved on campus. One strategy is to research specific initiatives, events, or programs already taking place. The more unique these are to the school, the better. Then, talk about how your personal interests would make you a perfect fit for participating in these opportunities. Don't reference too many (over 5 is pushing it) in a committal way (i.e. saying "I will do XYZ") because it can seem unrealistic. Instead, focus on a handful that you're most interested in, and then you can reference others as "possible" ways you'd get involved.