I know from both personal experience and from speaking with high school students that one of the most stressful portions of the college application is writing the essay. Two of the most often asked questions concerning the essay are 1) What is the purpose of the essay? and 2) Do you even read it anyway? To answer the first question I must first answer the second… YES! We very much read each essay that is submitted and take it into consideration when making an admissions decision.
Purpose…
The purpose of the essay is not as obscure as you might think. Because we are unable to personally meet even a small percentage of students who apply, your essay acts as an introduction of yourself to us. Remember that Admissions Counselors read thousands of essays each winter (at TCNJ we read upwards of 10,000!) Each one of those essays gives us a glimpse into who you are as an individual. Each one is unique to you. A secondary reason that institutions request an essay is so that we might be able to get a taste of your writing abilities. Keep this in mind as you budget the necessary time to work on your essay!
Choosing a topic…
Think about what you want us to know about you that is not demonstrated on any other portion of your application – that is a great jumping off point when choosing a possible topic. Often times students feel that their topic should be something earth shattering and monumental, but this really is not the case. Your topic should be (and could be) anything that is important to you and makes you unique. Please do not choose a specific topic simply because you think we want to read about it. Write about something that is special to you. Take a close look at each component of your application. What do we need to know about you that we won’t be able to learn in any other vein?
When submitting the Common Application look closely at the six topic choices. Evaluate their merit and yourself, then choose one carefully. For institutions that require supplemental essays, understand that they do so for a reason. They are using each of those essays as a way of evaluating your application. Be sure to take those writing samples just as seriously as you did your original essay. Often times, the institution might weigh their essay more heavily than that associated with the Common Application. Here at TCNJ, we do not require an essay beyond the one on the Common App.
Proofreading…
Now I know that this might sound like common sense, but you would be surprised by what is submitted to us in essay form. Each essay that you submit should be your best piece of writing. Remember that they are being used as an evaluative portion of your application. It is very distracting to read an essay filled with grammatical and punctuation errors or incomplete thoughts. There is nothing wrong with having a parent, your Guidance Counselor, a friend, your English teacher, or any fresh pair of eyes look over your writing. Remember often times this is our first impression of you, make it count!
When writing a “school-specific” essay, remember to change the name of the institution prior to hitting submit. While we are not naïve enough to think that TCNJ is the only school you are applying to (unless you have chosen to apply Early Decision), telling us why you are the perfect fit at a rival institution does not make for a favorable first impression. Spend the appropriate amount of time working on each portion of your application, especially your essay.
Remember, every portion of your application that is submitted is important in its own right. Be sure to give your essay the time and attention that it deserves. Take it seriously!
And lastly, enjoy it! If you are having an enjoyable time writing it, then we will enjoy reading it.
Rebecca Breese
Rebecca Breese attended Lafayette College and graduated with degrees in Psychology and Government/Law and a minor in Economics. As an undergraduate student, Rebecca worked as a tour guide and served on the Tour Guide Committee. Following a year in Admissions at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, she has began working at The College of New Jersey in 2005. She currently recruits students from New York and oversees the College Ambassador Program.
How long is too long for an essay?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! As every English teacher has told you, its quality over quantity. We definitely don't want a 15 page thesis paper, but you should get your point across in a fun and succinct way. The majority of the essays that we get are in the 1-3 page range. I hope this helps.
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