College Admission Essay/Personal Statement

  • What is a college application essay or personal statement?
    The college application essay, also known as the personal essay or personal statement, is your opportunity to show off to colleagues your personality and how you think. Many students use the essay as a chance to stand out from the other applicants and demonstrate what they can bring to their campus and student body.

    Why do you need a college application essay?
    Many colleges require an essay or personal statement from each applicant. The essay is also a part of the Common Application, which is used by more than 1000 colleges and universities. Although every college has its own admissions process, most schools and admissions officers take the college application essay into consideration in deciding which students to admit. Your college admission essay is your chance to use your voice to add to your college application. Many colleges require the essay as a way to hear from the student directly and to get a sense of who you are in your own words. It’s a great opportunity to personalize your application beyond the grades, scores, and other information you’ve provided and can make a difference at decision time.

    What are colleges looking for in your application essay?
    Colleges are looking for students to show they can write well and build a logical argument with supporting ideas. With test scores not being used as a deciding factor for admissions at more and more colleges, the essay is a way for colleges to learn about the applicant, apart from their grades and scores. For some colleges, the essay can indicate whether an applicant is a good fit.

    With high school seniors having lived part of their high school year in a pandemic, there is evidence that resilience matters more than ever.
    Resilience is always a helpful trait, in both college and life after graduation. In the era of COVID-19, when pandemic restrictions prevented many students from reaching the milestones or earning the grades and test scores that traditionally signal college readiness, admissions officers are seeking evidence of resilience in applications and essays.

    There are many websites offering college admission essay help. Here are just a few: