Seven Ways to Write your College Essay Stand Out
A college essay is more demanding than a high school essay. Providing background info and a thesis statement isn’t enough. You need to plan carefully to write a college essay that will stand out. You need to prepare just as you prepare the best answers to your college interview. Remember your reader has many essays to read. They don’t have time to read poorly written essays. In this article, you will learn how to write an essay that will stand out. Keep reading and become a better college essay writer.
Seven Ways to Make your College Essay Stand Out
1.Grab your reader’s attention
To write a college essay that stands out, start the essay with an attention-grabbing sentence. The admission committee has many essays to read. But you can get their attention. You can use different techniques to do this;
- Use an interesting question. Questions are effective in grabbing a reader’s attention. Humans are curious. When we come across a question, we are eager to know the answer. Starting your essay with a question will make your reader want to know more.
- Use a bold statement. This is a strong sentence that presents your argument. Your reader will want to know how you support this statement.
- Use a relevant quote. You can grab your reader’s attention with a quote. Ensure that you use a powerful quote.
- Talk directly to your reader.
- Use a short stor This technique is effective in grabbing attention.
2.Be real
When writing your essay, let the reader know that you are not a robot. Give your essay a personality. Include humor, honesty, and originality in your essay. Don’t just present facts. Include reality in the essay. This will make your essay stand out.
3.Don’t be boring
Think of an admission essay as a date. What happens when on a first date and want another date? You try to express your opinion, in a nice, unique, and funny way. If you are boring, chances are you won’t get another date. The same applies to your admission essay. If it is boring, you won’t impress your reader. Try to be funny but at the same time be formal. Express your point nicely and interestingly. Most students ignore this technique. In the end, they fail to impress the admission committee. Use this info to make your essay stand out.
4.Write a beautiful essay
Let’s talk about dates again. What would happen if you go on a date with undone hair and dirty clothes? You will make a very bad impression. Before you go on a date, make sure you look beautiful. Do your hair. Get some nice-looking clothes. Get your best pair of shoes. Just look good. Okay, back to your college essay.
To impress your reader, you need to write a beautiful essay. Use a readable font. Some students choose a bold typeface thinking it is easier to read. What you need is a good font. For example, Times New Roman is readable. Don’t write your essay as a one-paragraph essay. Have several paragraphs addressing different themes. These paragraphs should balance. Don’t write one paragraph with 2 sentences and another with 8 sentences. Create a balance.
A beautiful essay should not have errors. You must ensure that your admission essay is error-free. Read your essay several times. Check your sentences, grammar, and punctuation. A perfect essay will always stand out. You may consider asking another person to edit your essay or hire a professional from an essay writing service. For example, ask a friend to read your admission essay. They should highlight any identified problem. You can then reread the essay and remove the errors. For more tips, read the article on the most common mistakes in college essays.
5.Take a different approach
When writing an essay, students tend to take a similar approach. But you can be different. Pick a not-so-common angle. This way, you will stand out from others. For example;
- Use a story to answer a question. Normally, students will give a direct answer to a prompt. Instead, choose to use a story.
- Use a negative approach to answer a question. For example, instead of telling your hopes, write what you don’t hope for.
- Use mystery to answer a question. Instead of giving a direct answer, give some background info. Then, write the answer.
These tricks will ensure that your essay stands out. You may also use other good techniques.
6.Be clear and logical
A clear and logical essay will always stand out. Your sentences must make sense. Your essay must be properly organized. The reader should see a transition from one paragraph to the next. Your essay should also have an introductory paragraph, the main body, and a concluding paragraph. This ensures that your paper is easy to understand.
Make sure that any person can understand the essay. You may involve several persons to assess your essay. Ask a friend to review the essay. Then, ask them what they understood from that essay? Is that your intended message? Ask a family member to do the same. If your essay isn’t clear, fix it.
7.Conclude with a lasting impression
This is a great way of making your college essay stand out. We tend to remember the last things more. This is why we tell our loved ones we love them on our way out. To leave a lasting impression.
In the same way, conclude your essay with a lasting impression. Don’t just summarize your points. End the essay with a memorable sentence. You can end with a simple fact. You may conclude with a personal story. Just make sure your conclusion is interesting.
Final Tips!
To get the attention of admission officers, you need to write a good essay. Use our tips to grab your reader’s attention. Also, use our guide on seven ways to make your college essay stand out. You will thank us later.
What if you are having problems starting your essay? You don’t have to worry. Even expert writers had problems starting essays at first. It is through practice that they become professionals. For now, you may use the help of an essay writer. You will find sample essays you can use as a guide. They also offer free writing guides. You can also rely on The Essay Guy. You will get more essay writing tips. For non-natives, check out tips on how to improve your English writing skills. These sites will help you write a good college essay. Good luck.