How to Begin a College Application Essay
- 1). Study the prompt. No college admissions officer wants to read an essay that looks like it's been sent to a dozen schools. Read the prompt for each application and, even though it takes more time, tailor each essay to the particular requests of each one. If the prompt asks for a time when you showed leadership capabilities, don't write about how you learned to ride a bike when you were six. Similarly, if the prompt asks about a time when you showed compassion, don't stress your cutthroat debating skills.
- 2). Choose your main examples. Based on the prompt, pick three instances of things you have done that exemplify the qualities the essay is looking for. You may not write about all three; still, having an idea of the picture of yourself that you want to present will help you craft your introduction. Another way of crafting an essay is to pick three aspects of a singular event, such as a school trip to a foreign country, and weave in details about your other activities as needed.
- 3). Examine your examples for opening anecdotes. With the examples you will use later in your essay in mind, pick one and think about something specific that occurred during this event. During your class trip to Peru, for example, did you do something you never thought you'd do? You might start out your essay with, "I never thought I'd climb a mountain; staring out over the hundreds of feet I just climbed up on Mount X in Peru, I was startled by how far I felt from everything familiar to me."
- 4). Search for relevant statistics. Still considering the examples you'll use later on in the essay, think about a startling or interesting statistic you could use to open your essay. For example, you might write, "Even though 10,000 American students travel to Peru each year, only 50 have ever made it to the top of Mount X. In 2010, I was one of them." If you do choose to use a statistic, make sure that it is relevant, accurate, and applies directly to the rest of your essay.
- 5). Write your introduction. Write three to five sentences using the strategies above. You might write one paragraph using each technique, seeing which one works best. Use actionable verbs, trying to avoid "to be." In addition, use as few adjectives and adverbs as possible. Show your reader what you did, rather than describing how you did it, for the best effect.
- 6). Transition to the rest of your essay. At the end of your anecdote or statistic, transition smoothly to the rest of your essay by situating your story in the context of the prompt. For example, using the Peru example, you might write, "During our climb of Mount X, I was finally able to get past my shyness and help lead our group back down the trail after we got lost. This experience, more than any other, demonstrates how my leadership skills have emerged in the past several years." By using a transition that ties together your anecdote or statistic and the prompt itself, you'll drive home your understanding of the assignment and your suitability for the school.
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