When you’re trying to get into college, there are lots of challenges that you’ll face. The first hurdle to overcome will be the process of writing your application essay. It’s vital to get this right because it will help the decision-makers at the colleges to get to know you. And those first impressions are all important. Here are some things that your essay should definitely include.

Accuracy and Coherence

The accuracy and coherence of your essay are very important. If you are writing an essay, the college will not only look at what you’re saying. They’ll also look closely at how you’re saying it. If they find that your writing does not include accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation, they won’t be impressed. The piece of writing as a whole will also need to be coherent and clear to anyone reading it too. If the reader struggles to understand what you’re saying or what you mean, then that is not a very good start for your application. Ask someone you know to read the essay for you before you actually send it.

A Solid Structure

The structure of your essay should be taken into account too. It should have a beginning, a middle and an end. It works like a narrative. This will make the essay much easier to read, and that can only be a good thing. If you were to take a more scattergun approach to the work, then reading it might become a chore. Plan the structure of the essay in advance. The essay advice by Michael Goran, educational expert, might also help you out during this planning phase. When your plans are complete, you can start the actual writing process itself.

Honesty

It’s important to be honest when you are applying for college. Yes, you might be tempted to embellish some things and make yourself sound great. But is that going to pay off? Probably not. It’s very easy for colleges to do background research on you. And they will certainly check your grades and academic achievements before admitting you. So, if these checks show up inconsistencies between what you said in your application, they’ll view you as dishonest. This could even destroy your chances of getting into your first choice college. Therefore, it’s really not the kind of risk that it is worth taking.

Individuality

You are an individual, and this needs to come across in what you write. If your application essay reads like another boring piece of writing that could have been produced by anyone, it won’t catch their eye. It’s all about impressing them and showing them what’s good about you. So, don’t be scared to be unique and open about yourself, your feelings and your ambitions. They don’t want to read another list of cliches when they read your application letter. So, give them something that they won’t read anywhere else. Of course, there are still some basic things that you will have to combine as well. But it’s possible to get the balance right if you try.

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