According to surveys by the National Association of College Admission Counselors, admissions officers routinely cite SAT and ACT scores as one of the most important factors in admission decisions, so it’s no wonder that students stress about the SAT and ACT. Students everywhere worry about what SAT or ACT scores they need to get into their dream colleges.
SAT and ACT Scores: What scores do I need?
Colleges have different approaches to SAT and ACT scores, so there’s no simple answer to this question. While many colleges require students to submit test scores, others are test optional or test flexible.
Test flexible schools are schools that allow students to submit other college-level tests, such as SAT Subject Tests or AP exams, in lieu of SAT or ACT scores. These schools include New York University (NYU), the University of Rochester, Drexel University, Middlebury College, Colby College, and Hamilton College.
Test optional schools are schools that don’t require students to submit SAT or ACT scores or that use those scores for placement rather than as part of the admissions process. This group of schools includes some pretty prestigious universities, such as Wake Forest University, George Washington University, Smith College, Wesleyan University, and Bryn Mawr College.
Among colleges that require SAT or ACT scores, the range of acceptable scores varies widely. Most colleges report the middle 50% of scores for the previously admitted freshman class, which means that you can see how the middle 50% of admitted students scored. Keep in mind that ¼ of accepted students will have scored below that range and ¼ will have scored above that range, so the middle 50% range does not tell you exactly what score you would need in order to receive an offer of admission. Our favorite source for ACT score data is the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator, and the best source for SAT score data is the College Board’s Big Future.
What if I have low SAT and ACT scores?
If you’re not happy with your SAT or ACT scores, you have options!
If you’re already a senior…
Most colleges will accept SAT or ACT scores from January or February test dates for regular admission, so there may still be time for one last concerted effort to boost scores. Ideally, test prep should be done over a long period of time, but a shorter and more intensive SAT or ACT prep course can still be effective. With a lot of hard work (and the right test prep program), you might be able to see a significant score increase in just a few weeks or months.
If you’ve already tried everything to boost your scores but you’re still not thrilled about where you stand, consider looking into test optional or test flexible schools. A lot of really excellent colleges deemphasize SAT and ACT scores in the admissions process, and these schools are great for students with good grades but weak test scores.
If you’re a junior or younger…
You’re ahead of the game because you’ve identified a weak spot with time to fix it. How well you score on the SAT or ACT the first time (or even the fifth or sixth time) simply doesn’t matter, so long as you’re willing to put in the effort to improve your scores. Test prep (when done right) is a marathon, not a sprint. The SAT and the ACT don’t test factoids that you can simply memorize the night before; they test foundational skills that take time to master.
Your first step should be to create a test prep plan:
• Do you intend to apply to college early? If so, you’ll need your final test scores by October or November, so you’ll need to start test prep earlier.
• Do you know which test you intend to take? Some students have a natural affinity for one test over the other while other students opt to take both tests. Take a diagnostic SAT and a diagnostic ACT and compare scores to see if one test might be better suited for you.
• How many times are you willing to take the test? Many students benefit from taking the SAT or ACT more than once. If that sounds like you, be sure to check the available test dates to register for tests before your college applications are due.
A diagnostic SAT or ACT is an important part of test prep planning. Scores from a diagnostic test will help you figure out just how much of a score increase you need and where your greatest strengths and weaknesses lie.
Every 宝博体育 Education test prep program starts with a full-length diagnostic SAT or ACT. Our expert educators use the test results to help students plan an effective test prep program, and our teachers examine the results in detail to target each student’s unique strengths and weaknesses. This tailored instruction ensures efficiency, helping students to maximize test scores and build foundational skills.
If a formal test prep program simply isn’t for you, you can utilize some of these same practices to study on your own:
• Get a good test prep book (we recommend either The Official SAT Study Guide or The Official ACT Prep Guide because these books are published by the test-makers themselves).
• Take a diagnostic test to see where you stand. Look at your section scores carefully to see where you need the most work.
• Target your practice and review to hit those areas where you scored the lowest.
• Include some practice on areas where you scored well – if you don’t use these skills, you might lose them.
• Read every day. Both the SAT and the ACT require that you be able to read quickly and efficiently, and that comes only with practice.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you don’t understand something.
• Give yourself plenty of time. When done right, test prep should take months, not weeks.
Blog Author: Ashley Zahn
Ashley joined 宝博体育 Education in 2008. Since then, she has been instrumental in developing 宝博体育 Education’s unique line of curriculum materials, helped hundreds of students through 宝博体育 Education’s college admission essay help service, and shared her expertise in the fields of education and college admissions through the 宝博体育 Education blog.
Last-Minute Tips to Score Well on the PSAT
TEST PREPFor many students, the PSAT will be their first experience taking a lengthy, standardized test. The PSAT is generally considered a practice test administered to juniors and sophomores, and most students don’t prepare as seriously as they practice for the SAT test. However, the results of your PSAT can earn you National Merit distinction and money for college.
If you haven’t spent a lot of time preparing for your upcoming PSAT, don’t worry. There are a few things you can still do to increase your odds of scoring well.
Take a PSAT Practice Test
Taking a practice test can help you prepare for the length and structure of the test. If you’ve never taken a timed exam, a practice test can help you learn how to pace yourself. Furthermore, the structure of the PSAT will be exactly how you experience it in practice rounds.
The results from your practice test will be similarly helpful. Following this guidance, you can devote your time to subject areas in which you need the most work.
Focus on Your Weaknesses
With your limited time, focus on studying for the things you don’t know as well. If you breezed through the reading portion of the practice test but had trouble with the math, take time to review key concepts. Learning to use time wisely is an important part of PSAT practice.
Don’t Stress
It’s important to prepare for the PSAT, but don’t worry yourself sick about it. Instead, make an effort to stay stress-free and see the test as a way to dip your toe into the world of standardized tests. The large majority of students will not qualify for National Merit distinction. The value of your PSAT results is that they provide you with important guidance on how to move forward in preparing for the next test.
Get Extra Help With 宝博体育
At 宝博体育 Education, we specialize in working with students preparing for big exams. Stop by your local 宝博体育 Education Center today, or call us at (888) 339-5205 to learn more about our individualized test prep.
Student Grades: What College Admissions Look For
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSCollege admissions: confusing, complicated, not fun…
These are just a few ways to describe the college admissions process. To help you out, we’ve created a three part series that will give insight into what colleges actually look for when deciding who they want attending their school. Enjoy!
Every year, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors sends out a massive survey to college admissions officers. In this survey, they ask about the most important factors in admissions decisions.
Care to take a guess at the most important factor?
Your grades.
Year after year, college admissions officers – the very people who decide who gets in and who doesn’t – say that a student’s grades in college prep courses are the most important factor in admission decisions.
Why are grades so important?
Colleges don’t just want smart students – they want students who can succeed in college. There are plenty of brilliant people who simply don’t perform well in college; they often drop or fail classes, take years longer to graduate, or drop out altogether. These students don’t reflect well on the colleges they attend; they lower graduation rate and retention numbers. Instead, colleges want smart students who also have the motivation, study skills, organizational skills, and time management skills to perform well in their classes.
And that’s where grades come in.
Grades are the best indicator of how a student performs on a daily basis. A pattern of good grades shows colleges that you care about how well you do in class, you do your homework, you study for tests and quizzes, and you’re pretty consistent in your efforts. Grades don’t just show how smart you are – they show the effort you put in.
The Good News
There is good news here for a lot of students. Students who perform well in class but who struggle with standardized testing often agonize over disappointing SAT or ACT scores – test scores are still important, but know that grades trump test scores. Students who generally get good grades but who got one or two disappointing grades during high school can also breathe a small sigh of relief – those bad grades won’t exactly help, but college admissions officers are generally looking for a pattern of good performance, and an anomaly here or there probably won’t bomb your chances of admission.
The Bad News
One bit of bad news is that colleges consider grades in college prep classes to be of the utmost importance – not grades in typing or current events or whatever other so-called “easy-A” courses. College prep courses are usually limited to English, math, social studies, science, and foreign language courses. In other words, you can’t just pad your GPA by loading up on super easy classes.
The other bad news is that by the time many students seriously start thinking about college, most of their high school grades are set in stone. Colleges look at grades from all four years of high school; if a student didn’t bother putting in the effort in class until junior year when college suddenly seemed very real, those bad grades from early on won’t just go away.
It’s Never Too Late
Even if you’re one of those students whose overall GPA is dragged down by a few years of zero effort as an underclassman, know this: it’s never too late to try to turn things around. Colleges look at patterns in grades. Consistently bad grades certainly don’t tell colleges anything good, but bad grades followed by a pattern of marked improvement can show colleges that you’ve grown and matured. Those bad grades don’t go away, but a few semesters of upward trending grades can indicate that you’ve become more motivated and more mature. That helps!
The Takeaway
If you’ve got good grades already – great! You’re off to a good start towards college admissions success. If you ever find yourself struggling in class, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You want to maintain that good GPA, and it’s easier to bring up a slipping grade if you address the problem early on.
If your grades are less than stellar, there’s no time like the present to make a change. Establishing a pattern of improvement will help to balance out some earlier bad grades, even if you’re not able to bring your overall GPA up to where you’d like it to be.
If you think you might need help maintaining or boosting your grades, contact your local 宝博体育 Education center to schedule a consultation. 宝博体育 Education’s teachers have experience helping students boost their grades in a wide range of subject areas.
Read Part 2: Course rigor and college admissions
Read Part 3: SAT and ACT scores and college admissions
How are your grades doing? Need homework or exam help? Contact your local 宝博体育 Education center to schedule a consultation.
宝博体育 Education is Now Open in Newport Beach!
CENTERSStudents in Newport Beach, California, have a reason to celebrate—宝博体育 Education is open in your neighborhood! For the past two decades, our centers have been providing expert tutoring for kids as they navigate grade school, high school and the college admissions process. Now we’ve opened a center location in Corona Del Mar to provide academic programs and support to more students.
What Sets 宝博体育 Education Apart
Maybe you’re familiar with other tutoring centers. So, what sets 宝博体育 apart?
Schedule a Free Consultation
At 宝博体育 Education, we offer K-12 tutoring programs, SAT tutoring and SAT Subject Test preparation. We’re proud to be part of the Newport Beach community and look forward to getting to know our neighbors! To schedule a free consultation and get started with an academic assessment, stop by our Newport Beach 宝博体育 Education Center today or call us at (949) 478-1256.
Applying to College: When Should I Start?
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSWhen should you apply to college? It seems like such a simple question. I mean, obviously you’ll apply by the application deadline, right?
But which deadline?
Many colleges offer more than one application period: An early application process where applications are generally due between September and November and a regular application process where applications aren’t due until December, January, or later.
What are all these early application designations?
Colleges have different early application policies, and the differences between them can be pretty important.
Early action programs are the most flexible. They are not binding and they don’t restrict you from applying elsewhere. Some colleges have instituted single-choice or restrictive early action programs; these are also not binding, but they allow you to apply early to only one school.
By contrast, early decision programs are binding: If you are accepted, you have to attend. In most cases, this agreement is simply based on the honor system. After all, colleges can hardly force students to attend. But colleges can (and often do) contact a student’s guidance counselor and admission officers at other colleges if a student backs out of early decision acceptance, effectively blacklisting the student.
Is there an advantage to applying early?
In general, yes. According to the 2015 NACAC State of Admissions report, colleges with Early Action (nonbinding) plans admitted 73% of students who applied early compared to 66% of students overall. Similarly, colleges with Early Decision (binding) plans admitted 62% of students who applied early compared to 51% of students overall.
These numbers are just averages and may vary significantly from school to school. Some schools have early admission rates that are double the rates for regular applicants; others have admission rates that are about the same for both pools of applicants.
Welcome Our Newest Center – 宝博体育 Education Mount Kisco!
CENTERSStudents in the Mount Kisco, New York, area have an exciting new academic resource right in their neighborhood. 宝博体育 Education is open and our expert tutors are ready to help you succeed! For the past two decades, we’ve been working with students as they prepare for some of the biggest tests of their lives. Our elementary, junior high and high school tutoring programs consistently produce results. Read more
What is the National Merit Scholarship?
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSThe National Merit Scholarship program began in 1955. Since then, it has become known as one of the most prestigious academic awards a student can earn – and with good reason: Just a small percentage of test takers will become finalists in the competition.
The scholarship itself is worth $2,500, a relatively small sum considering the annual tuition at many selective colleges and universities; however, it is the prestige of recognition in the program that carries the greatest value. Applicants who can boast National Merit Scholarship recognition, even if they didn’t win the scholarship, gain an advantage in college admissions.
For more information on the scholarship program, visit the National Merit Scholarship organization’s website here.
How do you win the National Merit Scholarship?
Of the roughly 1.6 million high school juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT each year, the top 3-4% (roughly 50,000 students) qualify for recognition as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Of these Commended Students, about 16,000 will become Semifinalists. Semifinalists are chosen on a state-representational basis, meaning that they are the highest scoring students in each state and the cutoff score will vary from state to state.
To qualify as Finalists, Semifinalists must maintain high grades in all classes throughout all years of high school; take the SAT and earn scores that confirm the students’ PSAT/NMSQT scores; and submit an application, including an essay, by the designated deadline. About 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists will qualify as Finalists.
About 7,500 Finalists will be selected to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Selection is based on a variety of factors, including grades, test scores, academic rigor, the student’s essay, the school’s recommendation, and the student’s activities and leadership.
Other Benefits of the NMSQT
Take the test anyway. First, there are many other benefits to taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Second, there are other scholarship opportunities that you might qualify for. And finally, while being one of the 7,500 students who wins the National Merit Scholarship is a massive accomplishment, being one of the 50,000 who earn recognition in the program is also hugely beneficial in the college admission process.
Reach out to your local 宝博体育 Education center to get started on PSAT prep today.
What SAT and ACT Scores Do I Need?
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSAccording to surveys by the National Association of College Admission Counselors, admissions officers routinely cite SAT and ACT scores as one of the most important factors in admission decisions, so it’s no wonder that students stress about the SAT and ACT. Students everywhere worry about what SAT or ACT scores they need to get into their dream colleges.
SAT and ACT Scores: What scores do I need?
Colleges have different approaches to SAT and ACT scores, so there’s no simple answer to this question. While many colleges require students to submit test scores, others are test optional or test flexible.
Test flexible schools are schools that allow students to submit other college-level tests, such as SAT Subject Tests or AP exams, in lieu of SAT or ACT scores. These schools include New York University (NYU), the University of Rochester, Drexel University, Middlebury College, Colby College, and Hamilton College.
Test optional schools are schools that don’t require students to submit SAT or ACT scores or that use those scores for placement rather than as part of the admissions process. This group of schools includes some pretty prestigious universities, such as Wake Forest University, George Washington University, Smith College, Wesleyan University, and Bryn Mawr College.
Among colleges that require SAT or ACT scores, the range of acceptable scores varies widely. Most colleges report the middle 50% of scores for the previously admitted freshman class, which means that you can see how the middle 50% of admitted students scored. Keep in mind that ¼ of accepted students will have scored below that range and ¼ will have scored above that range, so the middle 50% range does not tell you exactly what score you would need in order to receive an offer of admission. Our favorite source for ACT score data is the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator, and the best source for SAT score data is the College Board’s Big Future.
What if I have low SAT and ACT scores?
If you’re not happy with your SAT or ACT scores, you have options!
If you’re already a senior…
Most colleges will accept SAT or ACT scores from January or February test dates for regular admission, so there may still be time for one last concerted effort to boost scores. Ideally, test prep should be done over a long period of time, but a shorter and more intensive SAT or ACT prep course can still be effective. With a lot of hard work (and the right test prep program), you might be able to see a significant score increase in just a few weeks or months.
If you’ve already tried everything to boost your scores but you’re still not thrilled about where you stand, consider looking into test optional or test flexible schools. A lot of really excellent colleges deemphasize SAT and ACT scores in the admissions process, and these schools are great for students with good grades but weak test scores.
If you’re a junior or younger…
You’re ahead of the game because you’ve identified a weak spot with time to fix it. How well you score on the SAT or ACT the first time (or even the fifth or sixth time) simply doesn’t matter, so long as you’re willing to put in the effort to improve your scores. Test prep (when done right) is a marathon, not a sprint. The SAT and the ACT don’t test factoids that you can simply memorize the night before; they test foundational skills that take time to master.
Your first step should be to create a test prep plan:
• Do you intend to apply to college early? If so, you’ll need your final test scores by October or November, so you’ll need to start test prep earlier.
• Do you know which test you intend to take? Some students have a natural affinity for one test over the other while other students opt to take both tests. Take a diagnostic SAT and a diagnostic ACT and compare scores to see if one test might be better suited for you.
• How many times are you willing to take the test? Many students benefit from taking the SAT or ACT more than once. If that sounds like you, be sure to check the available test dates to register for tests before your college applications are due.
A diagnostic SAT or ACT is an important part of test prep planning. Scores from a diagnostic test will help you figure out just how much of a score increase you need and where your greatest strengths and weaknesses lie.
Every 宝博体育 Education test prep program starts with a full-length diagnostic SAT or ACT. Our expert educators use the test results to help students plan an effective test prep program, and our teachers examine the results in detail to target each student’s unique strengths and weaknesses. This tailored instruction ensures efficiency, helping students to maximize test scores and build foundational skills.
If a formal test prep program simply isn’t for you, you can utilize some of these same practices to study on your own:
• Get a good test prep book (we recommend either The Official SAT Study Guide or The Official ACT Prep Guide because these books are published by the test-makers themselves).
• Take a diagnostic test to see where you stand. Look at your section scores carefully to see where you need the most work.
• Target your practice and review to hit those areas where you scored the lowest.
• Include some practice on areas where you scored well – if you don’t use these skills, you might lose them.
• Read every day. Both the SAT and the ACT require that you be able to read quickly and efficiently, and that comes only with practice.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you don’t understand something.
• Give yourself plenty of time. When done right, test prep should take months, not weeks.
Blog Author: Ashley Zahn
Ashley joined 宝博体育 Education in 2008. Since then, she has been instrumental in developing 宝博体育 Education’s unique line of curriculum materials, helped hundreds of students through 宝博体育 Education’s college admission essay help service, and shared her expertise in the fields of education and college admissions through the 宝博体育 Education blog.
Applying to College: What You Need to Know
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSRoad signs and mailboxes may be literally melting in the summer heat in some parts of the country, but for rising seniors, summer break is over. It’s time to start working on those college applications. We’re here to help! Keep reading for tips and tricks to get you through the college application process.
The Common App: What is it and how can it help you?
As of 2017, over 700 colleges accept the Common App. The Common App gives you a one stop show for your college applications. Assuming that all of the colleges you’re applying to accept the Common App (and there’s a pretty good chance they do), you’ll only need to enter your basic application information once. Since 宝博体育 Education recommends that students apply to between 6 and 15 colleges, not having to type in your name, social security number, address, and academic data for each school you apply to will save you tons of time.
So I only need to fill out one application? Great!
Not so fast. Although you’ll only need to enter your applicant details once, many schools have supplemental forms or writing tasks that you’ll need to submit. Particularly if you’re applying to highly selective schools where the competition is fierce, it may be a good idea to plan to customize parts of your application for each school. For example, the Common App essay that you plan to submit to MIT might not be the best essay you could submit to a liberal arts college.
Anything else I should know about the Common App?
The Common App will help to keep you organized and on track. It shows you which documents have been submitted to which schools and warns you about upcoming deadlines. But the Common App’s helpful features should NOT be a replacement for your own thorough planning.
Isn’t there an application similar to the Common App?
There is indeed. The Coalition Application is accepted by roughly 150 colleges, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. The Coalition Application has a few unique features, including the ability to upload supplementary materials such as essays rather than pasting them into an electronic field, and some students find it to be a more user-friendly interface, but it is not as widely accepted as the Common Application, which could increase the total number of applications you’d need to complete.
When should I start applying?
There’s no time like the present! If you’re applying to one or more colleges through early action or early decision, some of your deadlines might be mere weeks away. Even if you have no plans to apply early, you’ll have a much less stressful application experience if you start early and plan ahead than if you wait until the last minute.
Why so early?
The application itself – the parts where you enter your personal information, grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and so on – will likely not take too long. But the main essay, supplemental essays, and recommendations take much longer.
How can I make sure to submit great recommendation letters?
Your control over the content of your recommendation letters is obviously rather limited, but there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your teachers, coaches, and counselors give you glowing reviews. First, carefully consider who you’ll ask for recommendations. Clearly it’s in your best interest to ask teachers or coaches with whom you share a strong relationship and who is familiar with your best traits. Second, ask for recommendations well in advance. Teachers are busy – you need to give them plenty of time to write you a great recommendation letter. Finally, provide them with everything they need to make their task as easy as possible. Your teachers and coaches are helping you; the least you can do is make it simpler. When you ask them for recommendations, provide them with a stamped and addressed envelope (if the letter is to be submitted by mail) or with instructions for where and how to submit recommendations online. Consider providing them with a brief note reminding them of some of the accomplishments that you’re most proud of. And after the recommendation letters are submitted, send a thank you note!
Can I see my recommendation letters?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Recommendation letters tend to carry more weight with admissions officers if you waive your right to see them. This suggests to admissions officers that the recommendation letters are more truthful than they might be if the writer knew the subject would read the letter. Ask someone you know has great things to say about you, and you won’t need to worry about what was written.
Anything else I should know?
Tons. We could write an entire book about applying to college – in fact, plenty of people have written books on the subject. Don’t worry – from admission tests to college application essays and everything in between, 宝博体育 Education has you covered. Our expert educators can provide detailed, personal guidance through every step of the college application process. Schedule a consultation at your local 宝博体育 Education center today!
10 Tips For A Great College Application Essay
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSSometimes the blinking cursor on the screen can seem like a curse (pun intended). It just keeps flashing, on and off, on and off, mocking you. Never is this truer than when you’re trying to start your college admission essay, a high-stakes writing task unlike anything you’ve ever had to write before.
Don’t let the blinking cursor get you down – we’ve got some great tips to help you write a stellar college application essay.
Tip #1: Show, Don’t Tell
Which is better:
There were 9 other students competing in the tournament. I was very nervous, but I knew that I had practiced my hardest. When I jumped in the cold water, all I could do was to swim my fastest.
OR
I stood at the pool’s edge alongside nine other students, each hoping to bring home a state champion’s medal. My heart beat a nervous tattoo as I waited for the starting signal, and I took a deep breath, reminding myself of the endless hours of practice that I had put in for just this moment. The pistol rang out, I leapt into the pool, and the cold water rinsed away my apprehensions: I swam like there were nine toothy sharks behind me instead of nine high school swimmers.
The first example tells a story. It’s clear, it’s concise, and it’s effective. But it’s also sort of boring. The second example includes imagery that allows the reader to really picture the sequence of events. This is what we mean by the phrase “show, don’t tell”: Use your language to paint a picture for your reader.
Tip #2: Use a Thesaurus – But Don’t Sound Like a Thesaurus
Part of using your language to paint a picture will require vivid and sophisticated word choice. You want to demonstrate a college-level vocabulary, which can be helped along with judicious use of a thesaurus, but you don’t want to go overboard. It can be easy to come off sounding pretentious by using overly complex word choice, and you don’t want to sound like you swallowed a thesaurus. Use a good variety of words and be cognizant of the overall style of your essay so that each word you use suits the essay as a whole.
Tip #3: Variety (of Sentence Structures) Is the Spice of Life (and Good Writing)
Simple sentences are choppy. Choppy writing is awkward. Awkward essays are not fun to read.
Be sure to utilize a variety of sentence structures in order to make your writing flow from one thought to the next. If you find yourself subconsciously relying on simple sentence structures, utilize the revision process to combine some of those sentences in order to incorporate greater variety in your writing.
Tip #4: Get a Second Opinion
The college application essay is very personal, and it can be easy to overlook how a perfect stranger might perceive you based on your essay. This is one reason why a second opinion from a qualified source (like a teacher, counselor, or tutor) can be incredibly useful. You know exactly what you mean to communicate to your reader, but it’s entirely possible that your word choices or the details you incorporate might inadvertently send a message that you didn’t intend. An honest outside opinion can help you to refine your essay so that it tells the reader exactly what you want the reader to learn.
Tip #5: Think Outside the Box
College admissions officers read literally hundreds of essays each day, all based on the same or similar essay prompts. A lot of trends in topics begin to emerge, making many essays boring. Avoid clichéd topics at all costs. Be sure to check out these posts because some clichéd topics may surprise you:
Top 5 College Application Essay Clichés
Tip #6: Narrow It Down
It can be really difficult to pick just one topic, accomplishment, or story to tell, but it’s important to create a strong focus in your essay. Avoid trying to cram as many things as possible into your essay. Instead, focus on just one accomplishment or one story to write about, and write about that one thing in depth.
Tip #7: Just Write
That annoying blinking cursor isn’t going anywhere. Don’t stress about getting your essay right the first time – just write. The resulting draft will probably be somewhat disorganized, disjointed, and imperfect, but that’s why we call it a rough draft. In the beginning, just focus on getting your thoughts on paper (or, more accurately, on the screen). You can refine and polish to your heart’s content once the initial content is down.
Tip #8: Be Economical
You’re more likely used to minimum length requirements than to maximum length requirements, which can make college essays particularly challenging. For example, the Common App, used by more than 500 schools, limits essays to 650 words. That sounds like a pretty big number when you haven’t started writing yet, but once you get going, you’ll probably find that you need to make quite a few cuts and revisions in order to streamline your essay and get it under word count. When you first start writing, don’t pay attention to length. Get everything out, then worry about cutting and rearranging during the revision process.
Tip #9: Highlight Your Strengths
The essay is the one place on your application where you get to speak directly to college admissions counselors. This part of the application isn’t about a number on a page, a list of activities, or what someone else has to say about you – this is about what you have to say about yourself. Make the most of the opportunity by finding a story that really highlights one or more of your biggest strengths. For example, if you’re writing about overcoming failure, don’t focus on the failure – focus on the resultant success.
Tip #10: Remember Your Audience
Your audience is college admissions officers. These are educators who are invested in creating a freshman class that will (hopefully) reinforce a strong sense of community in the school. You want your essay to demonstrate that you are a person who is not only capable of the level of academic achievement necessary for scholastic success, but also one who will contribute something meaningful to the school’s community. They read between the lines seeking intangible qualities like dedication, motivation, passion, and interest in the hopes of admitting students who will join clubs and organizations, be actively engaged in the classroom and on campus, and represent the school well as a future alumnus.