10 Surefire Ways to Conquer the Admissions Essay
If you want to make your admissions tutor notice your admissions essay, then you must make it personal. And your tutor might fall in love with you.
It would be wrong to assume that most admissions essays are typical, if not boring. It could make you overconfident about your writing abilities without thinking that admissions tutors might be underpaid, if not resentful on the ever-evolving role of guidance counselors. There's no doubt that their eyes are too tired from reading papers, which makes you imagine about a conversation about your favorite book by Dan Brown. Hold that thought, as you must recall your past experiences. It may be trivial compared to your favorite author, but it's your life. Admissions tutors aren't looking for a unique voice, even if they may scream (when they notice that you’ve find your own). They rather look for your conflicting emotions.
You would be surprised at the fact that your feelings could make you stand out from the other applicants. If you have read many classics, then you should know that conflicting emotions would be universal. It doesn't matter if the reader must abide by unspoken rules or not, if the same reader is looking at a manicured lawn or a parched landscape. You're writing for your admissions tutor, so think of something about the household. You can pen about your mother, whom you slightly detest for being demanding whenever you have nothing else to do. Don't ever think that you're the only who thinks that way. You can also discuss about a particular experience that would help you know yourself better. You should figure it out by now, but it doesn't end there.
There are other challenges that incoming college freshmen must overcome before they write the draft of their admissions essay, so they must read the next part carefully.
The Little Things That Count: What to Do in Essay Writing
Write in past tense. It should have dawned on you that novels are written in past tense. It should allow for reflection, which readers are most interested. It's a mistake to recount a past experience in present tense, and this rule applies in essay writing as well. If you're aspiring to study literature, you would know that literary criticism is another case.
Skip the figures of speech if you can. Admissions tutors want to know what topics that would keep you wide awake at night. They like to see how you describe the things that would excite you. If you can write it in plain words, then you won't only get an unconditional offer.
Don't quote your favorite line from a book. Think about space, which could be an issue. If you're thinking about word count, you can provide more details instead. And don't forget that you're writing from your own experience. Your favorite author has nothing to do with it.
Admissions tutors know the definition of the words you've written. No one would stop you from using words that are seldom used in daily conversation. Admissions tutors would be quite impressed at you, so there's no need to cite the name of the (online) dictionary.
To be or not to be, that is the question. You read "Hamlet" many times or you don't comprehend the use of "to be" verbs. It would be better to use verbs that could make your essay "come to life", so cut out those unnecessary words. Don't worry about the word count at this point.
Define word packages. It could be a set of personal beliefs, also a final outcome to a life-changing experience. Think twice about including it, as admissions tutor might not care at all. They're interested at how you reflect at a particular experience, but it must not be described in too many words. And the word count comes later.
Describe a body part. It's not particular figure of speech, but rather your way of engaging admissions tutors. If it would make them laugh, then it's certain that you would be praised for it. There are pitfalls on this one, though. (Don't write about your eyes about to fall off.)
Ignore the rules. The greatest novelists don't pay attention to the rules of writing. You won't finish the draft (of your admissions essay) if you think too much about it.
Beware of prompt. You're likely to write the same thought that you have described in the previous paragraph (or page). You won't know until you proofread your essay, so write your draft slowly and carefully.
No sound effects, please. You're writing an admissions essay, which could change the course of your life. Approach it earnestly without thinking about comic books (or other genres).
The Final Challenge
Time is your final challenge. You wouldn’t know its importance until you’re struggling to push a snowball (of essays and examinations). You have plenty of time at this point, so choose your topic wisely. Think about it for days, if not a few weeks. And read it aloud to any member of your family. It can be your best friend, yet try to be open to ideas other than your own. Good luck!
