Writing your College Essay
All the tips and tricks you need to get started!
Overview of the College Essay
- This is a college's opportunity to get to know you in a 3-D way so have fun with it!
- Write it in your own voice.
- Focus on something that is truly important to you.
- Describe what you learned from an experience and how it changed you or led to personal growth.
- Write multiple drafts over several days/weeks.
- Have 1-2 people review your essay for content and 1 for grammar.
- Check out the super cute (and short!) video below on why you shouldn't have too many people review your essay.
The Dangers of Getting Personal Statement Feedback From Too Many People | College Essay Guy
Writing your Personal Statement (main essay)
- Oftentimes, this essay is an opportunity to show a college a part of you that is not evident anywhere else on your application, so dig deep! What do you really want them to know about you?
- Essay prompts
- College essay guy overall resources
- Getting started in your essay (Essay Guy)
- Tips from the Common App
- Essay topics to avoid
- Essay topics to avoid #2
How to Write an OUTSTANDING Personal Statement for College: A Crash Course
Supplemental Essays
- Make sure to answer each college's specific question(s). Tailor for each school.
- Do extensive research to answer the "Why Us" questions.
- Many of these essays give you more space to talk about what gets you excited or is most important to you.
- Tracking sheet for essays (tab 2)
- College Essay Guy supplemental essays
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Kelly Schaeffer
College Counselor, 11th & 12th grade
Email: kschaeffer@tmsacademy.org
Website: https://tmsatrianglecounseling.weebly.com/
Location: 3501 Dropseed Dr. Apex, NC 27502
Kelly Schaeffer
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