3 Easy Steps for Writing a Last-Minute College Essay
Hello, hopeless procrastinators. Yes, we know you’re out there. You’ve got your eye on one special school, you’ve been talking about applying early, you’ve been daydreaming about what it would be like to go to classes and stockpile cafeteria cookies in your dorm room, and you’ve – wait, what?! – you’ve got two weeks left to write an essay you have barely even thought about!
Right about now is when the panic starts to set in. Do you have enough time to craft a college essay that communicates your strengths and passions to admissions? Can you actually write a compelling personal statement? Yes you do and yes you can. But you’re probably going to need some help. And that’s why we made you a guide. Follow these three no-nonsense steps to craft a winning essay by making the most of the time you have left:
1. Cancel your plans.
You’re running low on time and there isn’t a single “hack” out there that will add more hours to your day. We know clearing your schedule doesn’t sound fun, but it’s one of the kindest decisions you can make for yourself. Create some space in your day that you can really devote to thinking about – and writing! – your essay(s) without distraction.
2. Start with a simple brainstorm
Give yourself 10-15 minutes and list the things you love. Paragraphs and complete sentences aren’t even necessary —
3. Follow these simple video steps to pull together your first draft.
Spinning your best topic ideas into fully fleshed out essays is something we cover in detail in our video series, College Essay Academy . But what if you don’t have 20 minutes a day to devote to our in-depth lessons? Do you have three minutes? We made this YouTube crash course specifically for the time-challenged among you.
Now, it’s time to get to work. You’re not out of time just yet and we know you can do this!
Hello, hopeless procrastinators. Yes, we know you’re out there. You’ve got your eye on one special school, you’ve been talking about applying early, you’ve been daydreaming about what it would be like to go to classes and stockpile cafeteria cookies in your dorm room, and you’ve – wait, what?! – you’ve got two weeks left to write an essay you have barely even thought about! Paid services exist that promise an “original” essay for $10. Obviously, the effort put forth for ten bucks is not one you want to share with college admissions officials. The whole point of the essay process is to promote candor and add humanity to your academic transcript. Don&rsquoBrand Yourself
Everyone is capable of filling- in the blanks on a college application, but college admissions essay questions pose unique challenges. The first step to essay success is to embrace the requirement as an opportunity to share details about yourself, rather than as a chore or obligation. Factual data only goes so far in explaining your academic past and plans for the future, so use the essay portion of your application to illustrate your goals and strengths.
The tone of your college entrance essay should be genuine and uniquely your own, but your approach must remain academic and professional. Play to your abilities, without being overly self-promotional. Avoid protracted references to your past accomplishments and accolades: Focus instead on providing thoughtful and relevant responses to the questions asked. A certain glimpse of your particular humanity is acceptable, but too casual a tone undermines the competent and studious image you are striving to project with your essay.
Crafting a memorable image for essay readers establishes your individual brand, and makes it easier for college administrators to see your value as a student.
Good pieces of writing don&rsquo The final paragraph of your essay is where you will summarize your argument and present the reader with your ultimate conclusion. The standard format for an essay's conclusion is to restate the thesis, and then concisely demonstrate how your supporting points have proven your original assertion. It is important that the conclusion of your essay be strong and definitive. In the end, you want to present your reader with a coherent and concise essay that demonstrates your knowledge of the topic at hand, and your ability to reason and argue clearly and with precision.In Conclusion
The final paragraph of your essay is where you will summarize your argument and present the reader with your ultimate conclusion. The standard format for an essay's conclusion is to restate the thesis, and then concisely demonstrate how your supporting points have proven your original assertion. It is important that the conclusion of your essay be strong and definitive. In the end, you want to present your reader with a coherent and concise essay that demonstrates your knowledge of the topic at hand, and your ability to reason and argue clearly and with precision.
Preparing for your college admissions essay may seem daunting at first. But with an understanding of an essay's basic structure, and a detailed outline, you will be able to present the college admissions board with a cohesive essay that will impress the judges and move your application at the top of the acceptance pile.
The typical introductory paragraph for any essay will present your thesis statement, which will clearly define the subject and purpose of your essay. For example, a simple thesis statement might be, “Switching to a paperless office model will not only save the company money, it will also reduce wastage and create a more efficient workspace while helping the environment.” As you begin your introductory paragraph you will want to approach your topic broadly, bring it into focus over the course of the paragraph and present the reader with your thesis. By the time the first paragraph is finished you should have introduced the reader to your subject, suggested your supporting points of discussion and interested them in your argument.