What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Can dialogue be used effectively in a college essay?

Hey all, I'm working on my college essay, and I think using dialogue would be a great way to add some interest and color to it. Is it acceptable to use dialogue in a college essay, and if so, do you have any tips on how to do it effectively?

a year ago

Absolutely! Dialogue can indeed be used effectively in a college essay. When done well, it can help engage the reader and reveal more about your character and relationships with others.

When using dialogue, it's important to strike a balance between staying true to the way real people speak while maintaining clarity and readability. Be sure to use proper punctuation for your dialogue and avoid using too much slang, which might potentially confuse the reader.

Also, keep in mind that your essay should reveal something significant about yourself. So, try to use dialogue to highlight your personality, values, or experiences, rather than relying on it solely for entertainment purposes. Remember, the goal is to provide insight into your character and showcase your unique qualities.

CollegeVine has an excellent blog post providing more tips on how to craft a compelling personal statement. Check it out for more guidance: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays-2023-2024

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

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.