Do college essays matter more than grades?

College essays are critical because the admissions committee at most institutions, particularly more selective colleges, want to know more about you beyond grades and test scores.

Do colleges care more about GPA or essay?

School size and type

State schools tend to screen candidates first using GPA and test scores, before reviewing extracurricular activities and essays. At these schools, essays matter less if you have particularly strong academics. The more selective the school, however, the more important essays are.

Does your college essay really matter?

As you can tell, college essays are very important for applicants hoping to get accepted into prestigious institutions. And if you are planning to apply to any colleges that are test optional or test blind, then the essay probably becomes more important, since schools have fewer data points to work with.

Do college essays make a big difference?

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Can you get into a good college with a bad essay?

Curating and word-smithing a compelling essay is a key factor to getting accepted by your college of choice. If you are applying to top colleges, you do not get a pass for poor essays, you get a rejection.

Why Perfect Grades Don't Matter

Is it OK to write a sad college essay?

While there's no definitive answer to whether or not sad college essays will work for every student, it's important to focus on presenting a well-written, genuine, and impactful story. If your "sad" topic is truly significant to your life and has shaped your character or values, then it might be a strong choice.

Can a college essay hurt your chances?

Writing Generic Essays and Supplements

Writing supplements that lack authenticity or fail to address the unique qualities of the institution to which you're applying and how they align with your goals and interests will significantly hurt your chances of admission.

Is it OK to use first person in a college essay?

Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too!

Is a 450 word college essay good?

If your institution doesn't provide a specific word count, it's best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format: 250 to 650 words.

Is it okay if my college essay is over 650 words?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort.

What makes a college essay weak?

The main ways college essay topics go wrong is bad taste, bad judgment, and lack of self-awareness.

Why is college essays so hard?

Oftentimes, the reason writing the college essay is so difficult is because the student doesn't spend enough time picking the right topic before they start writing. Students look at the Common App essay prompts to generate ideas. And then they choose a topic that they spent mere moments thinking about.

How do I know if my college essay is good enough?

Can you get into college with B's?

Though high grades provide an advantage in the college admissions process, earning Bs will not prevent you from getting into a top college. Just as you are more than your academics, your application is more than your GPA.

What GPA do most colleges prefer?

In general, admissions officers want to see more As than Bs, so having an unweighted GPA of above 3.5 can make a big difference. A GPA below 3.5 indicates to colleges that you have more Bs than As, and anything below 3.2 suggests that you may have some Cs in the mix, too, which will be a red flag for many schools.

What GPA do most colleges like?

Most community colleges only require a high school diploma or GED® certificate for admission. If you want to attend a four-year school, however, having a GPA higher than 3.0 is ideal. Schools with more mid-level admissions selectivity may set minimum GPA requirements, usually asking for a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Is 400 words good for a college essay?

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.

What does 650 words look like?

A 650-word essay is approximately a page and a half to two pages long when using a standard 12-point font and standard spacing between lines. To visualize what 650 words look like, think about a typical two-page, double-spaced essay with an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Is 750 words good for a college essay?

Even if you aren't filling out the Common App, most college essays set word limits around 500-750 words. In the rare case there is no established word limit, most experts recommend not exceeding 900 words for a college essay.

Can you use the word I in a college essay?

It's absolutely fine to use 'I' in your college essay. College essays are meant to be personal and provide insight into who you are as an individual. Using first-person is actually encouraged in this context.

How long should college essays be?

The average length of a personal essay for college is 400─600 words. Always read the prompt. Follow the instructions provided in the application.

What should a college essay sound like?

Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through. Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of college essays, most of which are forgettable. Many students try to sound smart rather than sounding like themselves.

Can I trauma dump on my college essay?

However, students should consider avoiding including traumas in their essays because traumatic moments don't always demonstrate the best aspects of one's personality. “If I was applying to college or any other part of my life, I would not want to feel obligated to be judged on my worst moments,” Henderson said.

Can colleges tell if your essay is plagiarized?

Colleges do indeed take plagiarism very seriously when it comes to application essays. While admissions officers are quite skilled at detecting when something seems off, many colleges also utilize plagiarism detection software to ensure that submitted essays are original work.

How bad is a typo in a college essay?

Take a breath and remember that college admissions officers, who have to read your whole file in a very short time, are not going to nit-pick over a minor error! They realize that applicants are 17-year-olds; a typo is not going to spell doom for your application.