| 1. Start early. The more time you have, the less stress you’ll have. And you’ll have plenty of time to give the essay your best effort.
2. Be yourself. Take a moment to think about what interests you, what you love to talk about, what makes you sit up and take notice if it’s mentioned in class or on TV. Then write about it.
3. Be honest. Don’t be fooled! College admission officers have read hundreds—even thousands—of essays. They are masters at discovering any form of plagiarism.
4. Take a risk. Don’t settle for the essay that everyone else is writing. Imagine an admission officer up late, reading the fiftieth essay of the day—yours. Do you want that person to nod off because he or she has already read ten essays on that topic?
5. Keep in focus. This is your chance to tell admission officers exactly why they should admit you. Unfortunately, some students try to list every single reason. When that happens, the essay looks like a grocery list. Instead, read the essay question carefully and jot down a few ideas. Then choose the one that looks like the most fun to write about. Stick to that main theme throughout the essay.
6. Write and rewrite. Don’t try to write a masterpiece on your first try. For your first draft, write anything that comes to mind about your topic. Then let it "rest” for a few hours or a few days. When you come back to the draft, look for ways to make it more focused and better written.
7. Get a second opinion. When you’ve rewritten the essay to your satisfaction, find someone who can give you advice on how to make it even better. Criticism of your writing can be tough to hear, but try to listen with an open mind.
8. Proofread. Finally, you’re ready to send your essay. Not so fast! Read it over one more time, looking for those little errors that can creep in as you write or edit. If you’re using a computer, also run a spell check.
9. Don’t confuse applying online with sending e-mail. Applying online is just as serious as applying "the old-fashioned way.” It may feel like you’re sending e-mail, but you’re not.
10. Don’t expect too much from an essay. The application essay is important, but it’s not the only thing that is considered. That’s because admission officers look at the whole package—your academics, extracurricular activities, standardized tests, and other factors.
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