The Importance of the College Application Essay
Importance of the College Essay:
By school senior year, high school students are busy dealing with many decisions about the college
selection process. Figuring out where to attend college can be a trying time for students and families alike.
For students applying to highly selective colleges, a required college application essay is important
and may further complicate the picture. In contrast to the rest of the college application process where more
factually driven information is requested (grades or test scores for example), the college essay is more open
ended and leaves more room for judgment and creativity.
The essay may generate anxiety as well as foster tension between the student and their parents, who
are typically urging their son or daughter to get the essay finished and the application in before the deadline.
Students who drag their feet and then rush to get everything in on time may deliver a final product that lacks
polish, quality, and more compelling features. Ultimately, a weak essay can trip students up and adversely
affect their overall admission prospects.
General Tips:
Recognizing that the college essay can represent the difference between admission and rejection, it behooves
students to put thought and ingenuity into their application essay. Here are some general tips to keep in mind:
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Treat the essay as an opportunity. Students are in a position to communicate positive and appealing
aspects of their makeup that the school otherwise will not likely see.
Latitude exists. There are usually various ways to approach an essay. You could use the essay to
describe a life changing experience or perhaps show how community involvement has begun shaping
a sense of what you want to do in life.
Be yourself. Try to have the “authentic you” come through to the reader. For instance, if you are
normally not a humorous person, do not inject broad levity into your essay and suggest that you are
the world’s next great comedian.
Go beyond the obvious. Tell the school something different than what they can readily tell or glean
from the rest of your application materials.
Be focused. Keep it brief and to the point. Whatever topic you select, stay on target and don’t go into
excessive detail. Play to a subject that matters to you, carries personal significance and is easy for you
to discuss.
Review your final product. Run it by a few other people whose opinion you value.
Adhere to good writing principles. Grammatical accuracy is critical. Does your central point come
through clearly? Proofread your essay several times. Critique your final product from an outsider’s
perspective.
Essay Workshop:
Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS) offers a college application essay workshop every fall. Participants
can expect to learn how to:
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Write an effective college essay that helps them get noticed or stand out.
Apply practical tips to produce good ideas for essays.
Approach the writing process.
Write personally and vividly.
Revise rough drafts.
Begin developing college writing skills.
Use essay handout materials provided.
College essay coach Leslie Ellis has 30 years experience including work with college bound students pursuing
top colleges around the country. To find out more information, contact Ellen Shapira at 452-6341 ext. 225 or
eshapira@jfcslouisville.org.
Ellen Shapira is a JFCS college and educational consultant.
Article prepared by:
Ellen Shapira
THE VOICE-TRIBUNE
College Corner
College and Educational Consultant
Jewish Family and Career Services (JFCS)
Louisville, Kentucky
(502) 452-6341 ext. 225
eshapira@jfcslouisville.org
Thursday, October 4, 2007 – Page A5