WRITING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY – RESIST THE URGE TO SELL YOURSELF
When writing your college admissions essay, keep in mind that you are not “selling yourself” in the traditional sense. Of course, that’s the underlying goal – “Can I interest you in an outstanding student for your freshman class?” But if you come on too strong or obviously in this regard, you do risk a bit of “push back” from the Admissions Committee. Everyone who reads your essay is aware that you want to be accepted. But if you come right out and say it – “I believe I can be an asset to your university” – you do risk a bit of push back. “Oh, really?” the cranky Admissions Director who has already read 200 essays that week might think. “Well, I’l be the judge of that.”
The stated purpose of the essay is for the college to get to know you better, and this is true. In the course of that, naturally, you want to present yourself as a person who is mature, intellectually curious, hard working, ethical, courageous, a self starter and a leader, has a good heart and would be late to the prom to pull a kitten out of a tree. Ideally, and this isn’t easy, your college admissions essay should lead the reader to the conclusion you want them to reach – we need this student at our school – without them realizing they’re being led.
For more personal help with the college admissions essay, please contact Craig Heller directly at 818-340-1276 or [email protected].