Ace Your Application Essay

By Sophia Leonard

While not all schools require an application essay or personal statement, some will. Here are some tips if your school is asking for one:

Get used to talking about yourself.
Writing about your accomplishments may feel awkward at first, but it's a must in order to set yourself apart from the crowd. Make sure your tone is genuine and not boastful, while still making it clear why you deserve to be admitted. Some things to consider are:

• Academic & extra-curricular accomplishments
• Personal story
• Challenges you've faced
• Your values

Talk to friends & family.
Need inspiration? Try asking someone close to you why they think you're deserving. That can help you get the ball rolling and remind you of anything you may have missed. Plus, it's always good to get a second pair of eyes on your work!

Double (triple!) check your work.
You've definitely heard it before from your teachers, but it is key to proofread and revise everything before submitting. Check for clarity, style, grammar, and spelling. Nothing makes an essay look like it was written last-minute more than typos and spelling mistakes. Having someone else take a look at your paper is also helpful for making sure everything makes sense; something that might make perfect sense to you could be confusing to someone else.

Check timelines.
This goes without saying - don't miss the deadline! All your hard work will go to waste if you realize it was due today at noon instead of midnight.