A Four-Step Guide to Writing a Great College Admissions Essay: Part II

Last updated Feb 5, 2021

SUBSCRIBE

Contributed by: Jake Rosen

Welcome back. In last month’s newsletter, I laid out the first and second steps in this four-step guide to writing a great college admissions essay. Before reading on, I’d go back and read (or re-read) Part I, which includes Step One: Don’t Panic and Step Two: Guided Brainstorm.

Ready for more? Let’s get to it.

Step Three: Create a map; see where it leads (and remember this first draft is just that, a first draft!)

You are (almost) ready to write. Your admissions essay is unlike the essays you write in English and History classes in many ways, but it is similar in one critical way: you still need an outline! Whatever you decide to write about, it’s helpl to think of your admissions essay as a story you are telling about yourself. Good stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The best stories have dramatic tension, unexpected twists, memorable characters, vivid imagery, etc. If possible (spoiler alert: it is possible), your story should have all of these things too.

“But my life is not filled with amazing, college-essay-worthy stories,” you may be thinking. To which I’d reply: unless you have been living under a rock since nursery school, I guarantee that you have at least ONE interesting story to tell about yourself. Still not convinced? Use the following questions as inspiration:

What’s the toughest lesson you ever had to learn, and how did that lesson help to make you the person you are today?

What was your proudest moment? What led to that moment?

What was the best day, or the worst day, of your entire life?

What secret, special talent do you possess, and what does it say about you? (Note: We’re not talking superhero stuff. If I were answering this question, I’d say that I am able to open any jar, no matter how stuck. And the personal statement I’d write about my jar-opening skills would probably be more memorable to admissions people than the overdone “I went to South America this summer and I built houses for Habitat and it was soooo amazing and now I understand poverty and privilege” essay)

Once you settle on a story, lay out a quick, bullet point outline with the “moment of truth” either in the middle of the story, or, for dramatic effect, right at the beginning. Then, write!

You may want to draft your essay over two or three days. Write when you’re feeling inspired; stop when you run out of gas. At this point, though, your job is just to get a draft down on paper. You can always rework your story from there. Don’t forget that your story needs a narrative arc and a good ending, which in this case, should focus on how you became a wiser/stronger/more complete human as a result of your “moment of truth” experience. Bonus points if your reader comes away with an understanding of exactly why this “new you” would make an awesome addition to campus.

Not happy with your first draft? Good. That means you’re ready for…

Step Four: Review/Revise/Rewrite

Although you have already come a long way on the road to a great college essay, you are not there yet. Even strong first drafts need to be carefully revised. Here’s how to go about it:

Start with the structure of your essay. Re-read what you have so far and compare it to your outline. Does your essay tell a story? Do you learn something significant about your “main character”? Does your story have a point that comes across clearly? If you cannot answer “yes” to all three questions, rework/add to your draft until you can!

Next, turn to the style of your personal statement. Do you have a punchy opening line? You should. Do you end on a high note? You should. Do you include some evocative language and memorable imagery? It’s important that you do. Your readers want more than just a coherent story; they want to know that you can write. Writing is an art. Add some color to your draft. Paint a picture worth looking at more than once. Then, when you believe you are finished, proofread, proofread, and proofread again. Your final draft should have ZERO spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes.

And now, at last, you’re (almost!) ready to send your statement out to admissions offices. Before you do, though, have someone look over it to make sure it’s 100% ready to go. Consider any suggestions, and fix any spelling and grammar mistakes, but don’t let them re-write your work. Colleges want to know who you are, and they want to hear your voice.

Jake Rosen, Founder & Lead Coach, Launchpad Coaching has more than a decade of experience as a classroom teacher, academic and college advisor, and teenage life-coach.

0 Comments

What They're Saying

    EXCELLENT  
  48 reviews on
 
 
         
   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
  Load more