If you’re heading off to college soon, you’ll be tasked with writing some great college essays. They don’t just have to be good – they have to be amazing! If you want to impress your future school, then there are some specific tips and tricks you can use to make sure your essay really sticks out from the crowd. You can seek help from essay helpers or can follow these 7 professional writing tips that will help you write the best college essay possible. (These tips help me write my essays, and if you want help actually writing it, there’s an article on that too!)
1) Get it Done
Are you a procrastinator? Is your essay due tomorrow and you haven’t even started? Are you freaking out that you’ll never get it done in time? Relax. You are not alone. Procrastination is something we all experience at one point or another. It happens when we feel overwhelmed by a task—like writing an essay—or if we don’t feel motivated to do it, or when we lack clear instructions on how to get started on it.
2) Engage
Look, writing college essays isn’t really all that different from writing any other kind of essay. It’s about engaging your audience and getting them to see things your way. In short, it’s not enough to write a good college essay—you need to make sure you can sell it as well. Write out your topic in full sentences first, giving yourself enough space and time to review and revise. Then, go back through and tighten up your language so that each sentence is clear and concise. Use strong verbs (like show or demonstrate) instead of vague ones (like discuss or explain). Make sure each sentence builds on its predecessor; if you find yourself adding filler words like um, stop what you are doing immediately! If possible, have someone else read over your essay before submitting it.
3) Include Full Sentences
The most important part of a sentence is its main idea. Avoid using sentence fragments; these are often worded as questions, such as Do you know what happens when you make your own printed circuit boards? Rather than using that question-like construction, use complete sentences like: Making your own printed circuit boards requires patience and care. You can also use fragments to summarize an idea at the end of a paragraph or section—that’s common in academic writing.
4) Keep Your Audience in Mind
The first thing you need to know when creating a college essay is who it’s meant for. When students draft their essays, they usually focus on what they want to write, not who they’re writing it for. A good college essay will keep your intended audience in mind at all times—and that means keeping things specific and professional. For example, if you’re writing about your love of baseball, use terms like home plate instead of plate. It may seem like a small change, but it can make a big difference.
5) Edit & Proofread
Your essay is due tomorrow? Don’t panic—you’ve got time. Proofreading your essay can be one of your last steps before you submit it and can ensure that everything you have written will make sense to your readers. Use an online proofreader or request one from a friend if you don’t have time to do it yourself. Have someone else read over your essay as well; their fresh eyes may catch mistakes you missed in your initial editing. If possible, ask someone who has taken a college-level writing course, as they are more likely to spot errors than someone who hasn’t had formal training in writing.
6) Use Visual Aids
Be it a pie chart, a Venn diagram, or an infographic, visuals add some extra pizzazz to your writing. That’s not to say you should go overboard with visual aids (that’s what extra pizzazz is for!), but breaking up your text with a few charts and graphs will give your readers something eye-catching to look at.
7) Formatting Matters
Your essay matters because it’s often your first step into a larger community. It’s what admissions officers read when they look at your GPA, test scores, and other extracurriculars to decide whether you’re a fit for their school. Take some time to make sure that you are presenting yourself well in these essays, especially if you’re writing them on your own (and not with an essay service). Formatting counts! At least I do that a lot when I write my essays.
Finding it difficult to follow the above processes? Then you should go here: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/05/05/8-tips-for-writing-a-killer-college-essay/
