What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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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)

Tips for a standout college essay?

Does anyone have advice on how to elevate a college essay from good to great? I've heard that showing personality and passion is important, but what else should I consider?

10 months ago

Absolutely, showcasing your unique voice and passion is crucial! To elevate your essay further, focus on specific experiences that shaped you. Colleges love to see reflective insights. That means, instead of just narrating an event, dive into how it impacted your perspective or contributed to your personal growth. Remember to be authentic; admissions officers can tell when a story feels genuine versus when it's been embellished to impress. Connect your experiences to the kind of student you'll be on campus.

For example, if you're writing about a service project, discuss not just the project itself, but also how it sparked a deeper interest in community engagement and how you plan to continue that in college. And lastly—polish, polish, polish! Perfect grammar and syntax show attention to detail, so don't skip on thorough editing and getting feedback from teachers or mentors. Good luck!

10 months ago

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