It’s that time of year. Many high school seniors across the world are eagerly preparing for the college admissions process. If you live in the Arab World and plan to apply to US, Canadian or European universities then most likely your admissions application will require submission of an essay or personal statement. While some students may find writing this essay exciting, for others this task can be stressful particularly if they don’t enjoy writing or if English is not their native language.
English Services Middle East has prepared some tips to help students get more organized and tackle this task with confidence and success!
1. Start working on your essay well in advance. Don’t procrastinate. Check out your college admissions deadlines and start working on your essay at least a couple of months in advance to give you adequate time for brainstorming, writing, revisions and final editing.
2. Carefully select your essay topic. College applicants sometimes have the choice to select among various essay topics, giving you the flexibility to determine which topic best provides you the opportunity to showcase your personality, goals and achievements. Examine the essay topics prudently and select the topic that gives you the best chance to shine. Once you’ve selected your topic, stick to that particular theme and be cautious of jumping across several essay topics.
3. Start with a strong statement to draw your reader. Consider starting your essay with a bold statement or posing an interesting question. Write from the heart and focus on what makes you special. Through your essay, universities want to learn more about your goals and vision for the future. What you can add to the student body? Why YOU should be accepted? Remember admissions committee members sometimes have to sift through hundreds of essays so a weak start to your essay could translate into low interest from committee members.
4. Your college essay plays an important factor in your application process so treat it as such. Take this task very seriously and give it considerable thought. Don’t just write anything so you can check it off your list. Give it the attention it deserves. Keep in mind that some universities have thousands of applicants and where there are similarities in test scores and grades, an essay can often play a determining factor in your acceptance. Don’t assume that your grades and test scores can make up for a poorly written essay; instead, use the essay as your chance to state to the admissions committee what sets you apart from other applicants.
5. Take the time to read sample essays. Spend some time reading sample essays. By searching online, you can find sample essays from students that got accepted to the university of their choice. This review will help give you a better idea of different writing styles in addition to seeing examples of favorable essays but remember, the purpose here is just to give you ideas, you don’t want to sound like or be someone else. Use this opportunity to highlight your own skills, background, accomplishments.
6. Create an essay outline. Creating an outline will help you identify and focus on your key points and supporting information. Cautiously plan your outline. As you are in change of writing your personal statement, you can select what information to share and emphasize and otherwise what to omit.
7. Highlight your unique background. Many college essays focus on challenges you faced, important issues you would like to tackle or sharing interesting information regarding your background. Sometimes students may feel the need to embellish accomplishments. The essay provides universities with the opportunity to learn something interesting about you and your goals, perceptions, accomplishments. Never compare your accomplishments to others and don’t spend time worrying that your accomplishments may seem insignificant compared to others. Everyone has their own unique experiences.
8. Pay attention to word count. Be mindful of word count limits. You don’t want an overly wordy essay or on the other hand one that is too brief or general that it doesn’t allow your personality or ideas to be properly articulated.
9. Be mindful of word selection and tone. If you are an ESL student, don’t feel the necessity to use sophisticated words or language and do not use slang or abbreviations. Select appropriate words that you understand and avoid confusing language. Pay close attention to your tone and keep your language positive. Try to avoid whining or complaining.
10. Have at least two different people review your essay. In addition to English language editing, try to have at least two different individuals review your essay to provide you with an honest critique—these can be either a family member, teacher, counselor or friend. Use this constructive criticism to improve your essay. Treat your essay as a work in progress and realize that you will not finalize it on your first draft. Keep fine-tuning your essay until you feel confident with your product.
11. Make sure your essay is thoroughly edited. Review your essay meticulously for content, flow as well as English language editing including spelling and grammar errors. The last thing you want is to submit an essay that contains spelling or grammatical errors.
With some careful thought and planning you will be able to craft a well-written essay that can help tip the scales in your favor at decision time. Best of luck!
