How important is a college application essay for acceptance in the undergrad program in the US?

Apart from the other essential elements of a college application such as GPA and SAT scores, extracurricular activities, the one of the most important components that must accompany any college application is an essay. The essay is undoubtedly the deciding factor of whether one gains admission. Especially the premier schools in the USA where students can barely be differentiated based on their test scores or class rank, essay is the only way to make the difference amongst the crowd.

Test scores or academic records do not have a personal component. Scores simply indicates one’s performance on a given task on a particular curriculum. Essay enables to stand out from other components of one’s application as it has a personal touch. Essays depict story of each student which can never be similar.

The essay is one’s opportunity to convey your true experiences to the admission committee. It is often the component helps to build the overall application. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure that one’s essay sheds some light on one’s character, personality, interest that would otherwise have not been known to the reader. So, make your essays fascinating with interesting anecdotes and thought-provoking ideas. You can incorporate the co-curricular and extracurricular activities through your essays.

One can write freely what comes to their mind. There is a vast flexibility to collate and articulate one’s abstract ideas and put them in words to reach out to the person who would read the application and thus be unique amongst the crowd. Another positive aspect of the essay is that there is not one right topic to select that optimizes one’s chances of admission. The right topic depends on the given individual.

Types of Essays

There are five main types of Essay writing: expository, descriptive, narrative persuasive and creative.

Expository type is the most popular one when it comes to college admission. Expository writing is where the author intends to inform, explain, describe or define their subject to the reader in their own way. This type of essay is an informative academic writing that presents a balance analysis of a topic gives real facts, and statistics.

Descriptive or Narrative essays give scope to exhibit your language proficiency.

Creative essays will prove your mettle.

Tips for a Stellar College Application Essay

• Write about something that’s important
• Start early and write several drafts
• No repeats.
• Do not brag
• Do not use colloquial language
• Highlight your potential both academic and extracurricular
• DO give yourself enough time
• DON’T plagiarize
• DO be honest
• DON’T exceed length limit
• DO respond to the prompt
• DON’T use clichés or overuse idioms
• Do a spell check and grammar check
• Have at least one other person edit your essay.