Hey guys, I really wanna nail my essays for college apps. I'm searching for some 'perfect essay examples' to help guide my writing. Where can I find some strong examples of essays for inspiration? Any advice or resources are greatly appreciated!
Hello! It's fantastic that you're focusing on writing a strong essay for your college applications. Essays play a crucial role in helping admissions officers understand you better as an individual beyond your scores and extracurriculars.
To find some strong examples of college essays, you can start by browsing CollegeVine's free blog posts on essay examples, which present numerous successful essay examples and explanations of why they work. Here is the link for the Common App post, for example: https://blog.collegevine.com/common-app-essay-examples.
While these strong examples can certainly provide inspiration, remember that you should not copy any of these essays or try to fit yourself into the mold of someone else's writing. Instead, focus on what aspects made these essays strong and think about how you can emulate those qualities as you tell your own story.
When crafting your essay, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Be authentic: Showcase your unique voice and perspective. It's important for the reader to truly learn about you, your goals, and your aspirations.
2. Choose a specific experience or story: Focus on one particular moment or experience, rather than writing a generic biography. This will give your essay a focused narrative.
3. Show, don't tell: Use descriptive language and details to paint a vivid picture for the reader, instead of simply telling them about your experiences.
4. Begin with a hook: Capture your reader's attention from the beginning with an interesting or thought-provoking opening sentence or anecdote.
5. Edit and revise: Good writing doesn't come instantly. Allocate enough time to edit and revise your essay, and ask others for feedback to make it as strong as possible. Remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors, if you're not sure where to turn for feedback.
As you explore the resources mentioned and follow these tips, you'll be on your way to writing a compelling and memorable college essay. Best of luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.