Many upcoming graduates are trying to get into their desired four-year schools before their last semester at Ulster begins. While GPAs and letters of recommendation are important, the deciding factor in students getting accepted is the admissions essay. Considering that many students may have never written one before, here are a few tips on how to craft an essay that will earn that coveted acceptance letter.
Focus On the Main Prompt
Many admissions essays have one or more prompts for you to answer. If there isn’t a main prompt, typically you should address why the college is right for you. To help with this, be sure you stick to the required word count. If there isn’t one given, a common range is 250-1000, with the ideal being 400-700. Organize by paragraphs appropriately. No matter what the prompt is, you should be able to make it unique to you and your experiences.
Write in a Natural and Engaging Way
The people reading your admissions essay will naturally expect professionalism and proper grammar, but remember that you also need to make your essay unique and absorbing. This shouldn’t read like a term paper. Use conversational, effective language. It should sound natural and showcase you in some way. Remember, you’re essentially selling your value as a student to them. Use description and examples to engage the readers. Personal anecdotes relevant to the prompt, especially in the introduction, can be a great way to hook the readers and give them a good picture of you. Be honest about why you want to attend and why you think their school is right for you.
Revise, Edit, Proofread
You can’t be too careful with this part of the writing process, as you know already as a college student. If you’ve let your writing flow and stuck to the prompt, you will often have to trim off a number of words. Edit your essay to be impactful and to the point. It’s then important to proofread, since you will be expected to have mastered English 101 style during your time at Ulster. Asking someone else (or multiple people) to proofread the paper and give you their opinion can also be helpful.
