If you’ve never written an essay before, writing one in college can seem like an impossible task. How are you supposed to convince the admissions board that you’re the perfect fit for their program when there are thousands of other applicants vying for the same spot? Luckily, there are plenty of paper writing service or steps you can take to write an excellent college essay and really stand out among the crowd. Here are seven of them.
1) Choose your topic
Get a topic that’s important to you. The most common advice is to choose something that is personal and that means something. If your goal is to get into Harvard, then talk about how important it is for you to be able to attend an Ivy League school. If you’re looking for some inspiration, read this New York Times story about two sisters who were accepted by every Ivy League school and which one they chose.
2) Brainstorm
Think of your best traits and experiences. Do you have a lot of leadership skills? What about being an athlete? Or maybe you are an academic or artist? Whatever it is, it’s important that you remember this will be your introduction letter for yourself. It is what sets the tone for your entire application, so make sure you’re choosing something that makes you stand out. Remember though, there isn’t just one type of perfect essay. There are essays on everything from overcoming adversity because everyone has different interests and strengths.
3) Do your research
Research is key, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The Internet has everything you need. Type the best essays into Google and you’ll get a variety of different articles with various approaches. Read through them and find out which style seems like it would work best for you. Once you’ve chosen one, make sure that it’s an option at your school. If not, go back to step 1 and research some more.
4) Outline
Outlining your essay before you start writing is a great way to not only organize your thoughts but also make sure you’re hitting all of the right points. There are many different ways you can outline your essay, but it’s important to find an outline that works best for you. We recommend starting with an introduction, then adding three supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. The first paragraph should introduce who you are and what you want to do. The second paragraph should be about why this opportunity is important to you and how your life will change if this opportunity comes true.
5) Write
Writing an essay that can win over admissions officers is not an easy task, but with these steps, you’ll be well on your way. The first step to writing a great essay is brainstorming. The best essays are those that are deeply personal and tell a story. Use this time to come up with all of the topics that could potentially make for a good topic, and then choose one of them. Once you have chosen a topic, it’s time to get down to business.
6) Edit
Editing your essay is the last step in a long process of writing your personal statement. The editing stage allows you to reflect on what you’ve written and make sure that it is structured correctly. When it comes time to edit, don’t be afraid to ask for help! That’s what friends are for! Edit with someone who knows your voice, like a friend or family member, and they will be able to tell if something sounds off or if there are any mistakes.
7) Proofread
Proofread your essay for any errors before handing it over. Some of these errors might include grammatical mistakes, punctuation mistakes, or missing words. Your reader should be able to understand your thoughts and not get lost while reading your writing. If you’re using English as a second language, you can use online translation programs like Google Translate to check your sentences and help make sure they are correct.