The Complete College Admissions Essay Writing Masterclass

Why having a GREAT PERSONAL NARRATIVE i.e. PERSONAL STATEMENT is such an important factor?

For the most part, filling out college applications isn’t really difficult, although it does take time. Most of the information you are asked to provide is straightforward (address, birth date, social security number, siblings, etc.), and what you don’t know you can easily check. Then there’s the essay. It’s the piece that often turns the application from an hour of fill-in-the-blanks to weeks of nail-biting stress. But it doesn’t have to be so stressful. When you understand the purpose of the essay, how to find a unique story worth telling, and what school admissions departments are looking for, you can write a great essay in just a few hours.

A number of things have made the essay a much more important factor in the admissions equation. There is increased competition as more students apply to a greater number of colleges. As a result, admissions officers must rely on factors such as the essay to differentiate among groups of students whose grades and test scores are very similar.

In addition, research studies are calling into question the validity of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT as predictors of success in college. Hundreds of schools have adopted test-optional admissions policies, which means that students can opt to apply without having their SAT or ACT scores evaluated. The value of class rank has also been examined, resulting in thousands of high schools that no longer rank their students. Taken together, these trends have resulted in some less numbers-driven factors, such as teacher recommendations and the essay, to gain in importance.

You should view these developments as a positive development—who you are is just as important as your statistics. And there are a couple of other great reasons why the growing importance of the essay is something to get excited about. You’re writing about the one subject you know better than anyone else—yourself. Also, you’re in control. The truth is, by the time you write your essay you can’t do much to improve your grades, test scores, extracurricular involvement, or relationships with your teachers. But with the essay, you’re starting from scratch. With the help of this course, you can write an essay that makes a positive connection with your reader, and prompts him or her to place your application in the accepted pile!

The sample student essays in this lecture are included as a basic point of reference. Remember that you are unique, and your work will be a reflection of your strengths. Use these samples, to learn from the strengths and weaknesses of others, but do not compare yourself, as that can be counterproductive. As you hear me read each one, think about what you know about writing a great essay. Imagine the kinds of comments you think the essays will receive from a reader and take notes. As you look at the feedback provided, compare it to your observations. Were the weaknesses you detected the same as I described? Were you able to spot strong introductions, descriptions that weren’t vivid enough, or examples of too much telling and not enough showing? The better you become at spotting others' mistakes, the more you’ll be able to bring to your own work.