Do personal essays matter for college?

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.

How important are personal essays for college?

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.

Do colleges look at personal essays?

Most selective colleges require you to submit an essay or personal statement as part of your application.

How much does the personal essay matter?

At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.

What not to write in a personal college essay?

College Admission Officers, What Made You Declined A Student?

Is it bad to write about mental health in college essays?

Conventional wisdom would caution students against discussing mental health issues in their applications. College essay consultants have discouraged students choosing it as a topic in the past. However, we also encourage students to be bold, speak their truth, and stand out from the crowd.

What are the most cliche college essay topics?

How long should it take to write a personal essay for college?

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay, and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don't forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

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.

Is 550 words enough for a college essay?

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. An essay shorter than 500 words won't be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

What kind of essays do colleges like?

Admission essays are very different from the 5-paragraph essays you write in English or history class! Great essays are built around stories, not arguments. They reveal your character, not rehash your achievements. The best essays focus on moments when you changed, learned, or grew as a person.

What essays do colleges like?

What five things do excellent college essays have in common?

Are personal essays important?

The personal statement is typically a key component of college applications and is often the primary essay that allows applicants to showcase their unique qualities, experiences, and motivations. It provides an opportunity for students to tell their story and make a strong impression on admissions committees.

Why are personal essays important?

People write personal essays for a number of reasons. High school students write them for college admissions and writers use them to share personal stories with others. A personal narrative essay can enlighten and inspire an audience with information gained from real life experiences.

Is it OK if my college essay is 650 words?

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. Word count is just one factor to consider as you craft your college admissions essay.

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.

How many pages is 3,000 words?

How many pages is 3000 words? Single spaced, 3000 words yields about 6 pages, while double spacing produces around 12 pages. Depending on your word processor and preferences the page count may vary slightly, but with typical margins and 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font you should expect a similar number of pages.

How many colleges should you apply too?

There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances).

Is it bad if my college essay is too long?

If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you. Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process.

Should college essays be double spaced?

All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced. Beneath the title, type the author's name: first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (PhD).

How do you make a college essay not cringe?

What is inappropriate to write about in a college essay?

Avoid topics that are: Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships) Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things) Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)

Should I write about trauma in my college essay?

While it's true that some students may have experienced personal trauma that has shaped them into the person they are today, this is not a requirement for writing a strong personal statement.

Is it OK to talk about depression in a college essay?

Mental health history or a disability might be an integral part of who a student is, but that doesn't necessarily make it relevant to a college application. Keep in mind that it is actually illegal for colleges to ask for these types of details about your life because it can be considered discrimination.