Application Essay Requirements

Application Essay Requirements No matter what the university asks you to write in your submission, remember that admissions officials are not simply looking for your ability to use big, frilly words. In your essay, remember to be yourself and speak in your voice. If that occurs, I will get to the essays in queue, however I’ll cease as soon as I run out of time. We hope these essays encourage you as you write your own personal statement. Just bear in mind to be authentic and artistic as you share your story. This means you’ll want to avoid generic topics like “I worked hard to balance my schedule.” What is something unique about you? What’s something you’re really passionate about or dedicated to? Choose something interesting that also demonstrates the desirable qualities you have. Whatever the reason, students can mention that these values align with their personal values. It’s also a good idea to tie in your own experience with your college. What experiences have you had so far with the college that have moved you? This could include a positive story from a campus visit or phone conversation with a university staff member. A good way to tie this into your essay is to focus on your school’s motto. Southeastern University’s motto is “Transforming minds. Engaging culture.” This means that our focus is on educating students to become influential, active members of society and giving them a Christ-centered foundation. Having a Christian college education is important to many students not just because of their personal faith, but can also be an important basis for their future career. Students who felt that there was a lack of a Christian presence in their high school might also be looking for a more faith-based environment. Know that many top-tier admissions essays have gone through 7-10 drafts before you have had a chance to read them. Jessica is a former admissions professional who now shares her insider knowledge to help students and their families as they move through the college admissions process. Join thousands of students & parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more. Use these do’s and don’ts, as well as our other essay writing tips, and you’ll be in good shape. The essay is an important factor in the college admission process, and oftentimes the only time the college will get “to know the real you.” It’s not only a number game but a word game as well. On that note, when picking a topic for answering a prompt, keep in mind that the admission officers have read hundreds if not thousands of application essays. When Warren was asked about haphazard mistakes students make, he recounted one college essay example. When you're finished writing your admissions essay, it's important to proofread your material. Start early.Make a list of the number of essays you need to write and their deadlines. Give yourself plenty of time to think through the topics and brainstorm writing points. Some universities will give you specific prompts to answer. Others will ask you to tell your story and how it led you to university. For the Common App, I would recommend a bare minimum of 500 words, about 75 percent of the maximum. Submitting your best admissions application includes answering the optional essays. We look beyond your GPA and test score to see what experiences shaped you and drives you to be successful. It’s vital that your personal essay reflects who you are, not who you think admissions officers want you to be. They’ve been doing this job for years; they’ve seen thousands of essays. Easily avoidable mistakes, like not checking that the entire essay is copied into the application, can harm your application prospects. When an admissions officer doesn't get the whole story or notices a sloppy mistake, it changes how schools perceive you. Sometimes students neglect to copy over their entire essay into an application and only submit a portion of their work.