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100 Successful College Application Essays (Updated, Third Edition)The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country. This helpful guide includes: 100 complete essays with professional commentary Examples of essays on common topics (family background, athletics, work experience), as well as the more offbeat Essays on the immigrant experience by foreign-born students A section of drawing and cartoon essays Insider advice from a Princeton Dean of Admission And more Compiled by members of The Harvard Independent, the weekly newsmagazine of Harvard University, this revised and updated edition is an invaluable resource for students who want to write the best possible essay—and improve their chances of admission to the best possible school. There are no customer reviews for this item yet. Classic Totes![]() Tote bags and pouches in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs , plus mugs, bookmarks, and more! Shipping & Pickup![]() We ship anywhere in the U.S. and orders of $75+ ship free via media mail! Noteworthy Signed Books: Join the Club!![]() Join our Signed First Edition Club (or give a gift subscription) for a signed book of great literary merit, delivered to you monthly. ![]() Harvard Square's Independent Bookstore © 2024 Harvard Book Store All rights reserved Contact Harvard Book Store 1256 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel (617) 661-1515 Toll Free (800) 542-READ Email [email protected] View our current hours » Join our bookselling team » We plan to remain closed to the public for two weeks, through Saturday, March 28 While our doors are closed, we plan to staff our phones, email, and harvard.com web order services from 10am to 6pm daily. Store Hours Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 10am - 10pm Holiday Hours 12/24: 9am - 7pm 12/25: closed 12/31: 9am - 9pm 1/1: 12pm - 11pm All other hours as usual. Map Find Harvard Book Store » Online Customer Service Shipping » Online Returns » Privacy Policy » Harvard University harvard.edu » ![]()
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Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College EssayTips for writing an effective college essay. College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay. Want free help with your college essay?UPchieve connects you with knowledgeable and friendly college advisors—online, 24/7, and completely free. Get 1:1 help brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, revising a draft, or editing grammar. Writing a strong college admissions essayLearn about the elements of a solid admissions essay. Avoiding common admissions essay mistakesLearn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays Brainstorming tips for your college essayStuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started. How formal should the tone of your college essay be?Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice. Taking your college essay to the next levelHear an admissions expert discuss the appropriate level of depth necessary in your college essay. Student StoriesStudent Story: Admissions essay about a formative experienceGet the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay. Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identityGet the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay. Student Story: Admissions essay about community impactStudent story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback. This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org. Academic Editing and Proofreading
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100 Best College Essay Topics & How to Pick the Perfect One!
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Crafting a college essay can be a pivotal moment in your academic journey. It’s an opportunity to showcase your voice, share your experiences, and stand out from the crowd. Picking from a vast array of college essay topics can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled an exhaustive list of 100 college essay topics. These topics are categorized to boost your creativity and help you find the perfect theme that resonates with your story. Get an A+ with our expert essay editing services! Learn more We’ve also given helpful tips on how to choose and write the perfect essay for college. So let’s start by understanding how to pick the perfect college essay topic: How to pick the perfect college essay topicSelecting good college essay topics is more than just finding a subject that sounds impressive. It’s about finding a genuine fit for your personality and experiences. Here’s how to identify the best college essay topics for your unique narrative: Reflect on your passions: What excites you? What are you eager to explore further? Consider your experiences: Which life events have shaped who you are? Identify your growth: How have challenges and obstacles contributed to your personal development? Think about relevance: Will this topic be engaging for the admissions committee? Be authentic: Choose a topic that allows your genuine self to shine through. With these considerations in mind, let’s dive into a curated list of essay topics for college students, designed to spark inspiration and provoke thought. 100 Best college essay topicsWe’ve created a list of the unique college essay topics that stand out to help you ace your essay! Argumentative college essay topicsHere is a list of top argumentative essay topics for college: 1. The role of government in regulating internet content. 2. Should higher education be a right or a privilege? 3. The ethical implications of gene editing in humans. 4. Are standardized tests an accurate measure of student intelligence? 5. The impact of social media on youth and society. 6. Should college athletes be paid for playing sports? 7. The viability of a four-day workweek. 8. Is a gap year beneficial before starting college? 9. The influence of advertising on consumer behavior. 10. Privacy vs. security: How much surveillance is too much? Persuasive essay topics for collegeHere is a list of top persuasive essay topics for college: 1. The importance of arts education in schools. 2. Why volunteering should be part of the college curriculum. 3. The benefits of bilingual education. 4. The necessity of making public transport free. 5. Why we must invest in renewable energy sources. 6. The case for banning single-use plastics. 7. Should voting be mandatory? 8. The importance of preserving historical monuments. 9. Why we need stricter regulations on animal testing. 10. The need for more progressive tax systems. Compare and contrast essay topics for college studentsHere is a list of top compare-and-contrast essay topics for college: 1. Living on campus vs. commuting: Which is better for college students? 2. Online classes vs. traditional classes: A comparison of effectiveness. 3. The pros and cons of private vs. public universities. 4. Western vs. Eastern philosophies of education. 5. Fast food vs. home-cooked meals: Implications on health. 6. Traditional vs. alternative medicine: A comparative study. 7. The leadership styles of two prominent figures in history. 8. Book adaptations: When the book or the movie is better? 9. Comparing two different approaches to environmental conservation. 10. The impact of different parenting styles on child development. Cause and effect essay topics for college studentsHere is a list of top cause-and-effect essay topics for college: 1. The effects of social networking sites on communication. 2. How does consumerism affect the global economy? 3. The impact of college debt on future life choices of students. 4. The effects of global warming on polar ice caps. 5. The causes and effects of insomnia during exam periods. 6. How does stress affect health and well-being? 7. The influence of diet on cognitive functions. 8. The effects of music on mood and productivity. 9. The impact of technology on the job market. 10. Causes and effects of cultural appropriation. Creative college essay topicsHere is a list of top creative essay topics for college: 1. Imagine a day in the life of your favorite book character. 2. If you could invent something, what would it be and why? 3. The adventures of living in a parallel universe. 4. Writing a eulogy for a historical villain. 5. A world without smartphones: Chaos or calm? 6. If you could converse with an artist from the past, who would it be? 7. The experience of time travel to your most and least favorite historical periods. 8. What if you were the president for a week? 9. If animals could form their own society, how would it look? 10. A letter to a future generation about life in the 21st century. College essay topics about life goalsHere is a list of top life goals essay topics for college: 1. How your career goals have evolved over time. 2. The influence of a family business on your professional aspirations. 3. The importance of role models in shaping your future ambitions. 4. A major life goal and the steps you’re taking to achieve it. 5. How overcoming a significant challenge has refocused your life goals. 6. The impact of travel on your personal and professional objectives. 7. The importance of lifelong learning in your career path. 8. The role of mentorship in achieving success. 9. How do you plan to give back to your community in your future career? 10. The pursuit of happiness: Defining and achieving your life’s goals. Informative essay topics for collegeHere is a list of top informative essay topics for college: 1. The history and impact of the feminist movement. 2. The process of neural network development in artificial intelligence. 3. Exploring the causes of economic recessions. 4. The role of genetics in determining personality. 5. The significance of the Green Revolution in agriculture. 6. The evolution of space exploration technology. 7. The impact of colonialism on modern-day global relations. 8. The fundamentals of quantum computing. 9. Understanding the human impact on ocean life. 10. The rise of virtual reality and its potential applications. Research essay topics for collegeHere is a list of top research essay topics for college: 1. Analyzing the efficacy of the current educational model in fostering innovation. 2. The role of social media influencers in shaping youth culture. 3. The effects of urbanization on biodiversity. 4. The relationship between mental health and modern work culture. 5. The impact of cryptocurrencies on global finance. 6. The evolution of gender roles over the past century. 7. The influence of climate change policies on international relations. 8. The effects of diet trends on public health. 9. The future of genetic engineering in medicine. 10. The role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of employment. Narrative essay topics for college studentsHere is a list of top narrative essay topics for college: 1. The moment you overcame a profound fear. 2. An encounter that changed your perspective on life. 3. The experience of losing something or someone important. 4. A moment of failure that turned into a lesson of success. 5. Your first day at college and how it met your expectations. 6. A journey that was more than just travel. 7. A significant memory that defines your childhood. 8. The challenge of adapting to a new culture. 9. An act of kindness that left a lasting impact on you. 10. A situation where you had to stand up for what you believed in. Personal essay topics for college studentsHere is a list of top personal essay topics for college: 1. How has a book or movie influenced your understanding of the world? 2. The role of a particular extracurricular activity in shaping who you are. 3. A personal philosophy or mantra that guides your life. 4. The journey of self-discovery during your teenage years. 5. Overcoming a personal struggle to achieve a goal. 6. A cultural tradition that holds significant meaning for you. 7. The impact of a mentor or teacher on your life. 8. A pivotal moment of realization about your identity. 9. How do you cope with stress and maintain mental well-being? 10. The importance of a work-life balance in your personal vision. Now that we have a list of 100 college essay topics that cover many types of essays and writing styles, let’s delve into how to write an essay , perfect for college! How to write the perfect college essayWriting an essay for college admission is not just about showcasing your knowledge; it’s about telling a story that reflects your identity, aspirations, and the value you can bring to a college community. Whether you’re starting an essay or aiming to conclude an essay , here are steps to ensure your essay stands out: Understanding the promptBefore you begin writing, understand the academic writing prompt thoroughly. Make sure you know what the question is asking and how you can address it in a unique way that showcases your strengths and experiences. Choosing your topic wiselySelect a topic that resonates with you and allows you to share something personal and significant. Know which common college essay topics to avoid, and instead, choose unique college essay topics that allow your personality and voice to shine through. Crafting a compelling introductionYour introduction should hook the reader and set the tone for the rest of the essay. Start with an anecdote, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question to draw the reader in. Developing a clear structureOrganize and format your college essay with a clear essay structure , including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should support the main thesis outline of your essay with evidence and personal reflections. Showcasing your voiceYour essay should sound like you. Use your own voice and avoid overly formal language. The goal is to make the reader feel as though they are getting to know the real you. Being honest and reflectiveBe honest in your writing and reflect on your experiences. Admissions officers can tell when a student is being genuine versus when they’re saying what they think the college wants to hear. Proofreading and revisingAfter you’ve written your essay, take the time to do essay proofreading and edit your essay if necessary. Look for grammatical errors , check for flow, and make sure your essay is clear and concise. It can be helpful to have someone else read your essay to provide feedback. You can also use tools like essay checkers to make your work easier. Avoiding taboo topicsThere are certain college essay topics to avoid, such as those that are overly controversial, inappropriate, or cliché. Choose a topic that is meaningful but also appropriate for a diverse audience. Some examples of essay topics to avoid include: 1. Grandiose tales of heroism that seem exaggerated or implausible. 2. The story of your achievements without reflection on the journey or challenges. 3. Controversial topics that do not contribute to a positive discourse or understanding. 4. Overly polarizing political or religious topics that may not resonate with the reader. 5. Cliched volunteer experiences that don’t reveal anything unique about you. Ending with impactYour conclusion should wrap up your essay without simply summarizing what you’ve already said. End with a reflection on how the topic has shaped you or how you’ve grown from the experience. Your college essay is more than an assignment; it’s a canvas for your experiences and dreams. Choose a topic that resonates with you, and let your passion shine through your words. And while AI essay writers can provide assistance with the initial stages of drafting, the real magic comes from your personal touch and insights. To ensure your essay truly stands out, consider the expert editing and proofreading services offered by PaperTrue. Our team can sharpen your narrative, correct any linguistic errors, and enhance your essay’s clarity, allowing your unique voice to captivate the admissions committee. Happy writing! Keep on reading for more useful tips:
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are good college essay topics, what college essay topics to avoid, ‘how to’ essay topics for college students.. Found this article helpful? Leave a Comment: Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’reYour organization needs a technical editor: here’s why, your guide to the best ebook readers in 2024, writing for the web: 7 expert tips for web content writing. Subscribe to our Newsletter Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox. How to Copyright Your Book? If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path. © 2024 All rights reserved
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Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & ExamplesPublished on October 25, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on July 3, 2023. A strong essay topic sets you up to write a unique, memorable college application essay . Your topic should be personal, original, and specific. Take time to brainstorm the right topic for you. Table of contentsWhat makes a good topic, brainstorming questions to get started, discover the best topic for you, how to make a common topic compelling, frequently asked questions about college application essays, other interesting articles. Here are some guidelines for a good essay topic:
In most cases, avoid topics that
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.Spend time reflecting on and writing out answers to the following questions. After doing this exercise, you should be able to identify a few strong topics for your college essay.
Writing about yourself can be difficult. If you’re struggling to identify your topic, try these two strategies. Start with your qualitiesAfter identifying your positive qualities or values, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.
Start with a storyIf you already have some memorable stories in mind that you’d like to write about, think about which qualities and values you can demonstrate with those stories.
Talk it throughTo make sure you choose the right topic, ask for advice from trusted friends or family members who know you well. They can help you brainstorm ideas and remember stories, and they can give you feedback on your potential essay topics. You can also work with a guidance counselor, teacher, or other mentor to discuss which ideas are most promising. If you plan ahead , you can even workshop multiple draft essays to see which topic works best. If you do choose a common topic, ensure you have the following to craft a unique essay:
Here are a few examples of how to craft strong essays from cliché topics.
Here’s a checklist you can use to confirm that your college essay topic is right for you. College essay topic checklistMy topic is focused on me, not on someone else. My topic shares something different from the rest of my application. My topic is specific and original (not many students could write a similar essay). My topic reflects positively on my character and behavior. If I chose to write about a traumatic or challenging experience, my essay will focus on how I overcame it or gained insight. If I chose a common topic, my essay will have a surprising story arc, interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style. ![]() Good topic!It looks like your topic is a good choice. It's specific, it avoids clichés, and it reflects positively on you. There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic
Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style . To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:
You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities. Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:
Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:
It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style. If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples. Academic writing
Communication
Parts of speech
Cite this Scribbr articleIf you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator. Courault, K. (2023, July 03). Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/essay-topic/ Is this article helpful?![]() Kirsten CouraultOther students also liked, college essay format & structure | example outlines, what do colleges look for in an essay | examples & tips, how to make your college essay stand out | tips & examples, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..". I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes” ![]() Choose Your TestSat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts. ![]() College Essays ![]() If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service? If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one. Table of ContentsWhat Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get? What's Good Editing?What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid. What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay? Who Can/Should Help You?Advice for editors. Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing? The Bottom LineWhat's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get. Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product. Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you." Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved. Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering. Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view. ![]() Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do? Help Brainstorm TopicsSometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you. If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay . Help Revise Your DraftsHere, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers . Revision questions should point out:
But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves. ![]() Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision. You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:
Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions. Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.
![]() Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader. Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters. Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must. Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing). Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's. ![]() A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job. Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:
![]() What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important. On the Importance of EditingGet feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College ) Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College ) On the Value of ProofreadingShare your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University ) Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College ) On Watching Out for Too Much Outside InfluenceLimit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College ) Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University ) ![]() Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self. Parents or Close RelativesYour family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you. A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent? One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard. Teachers or TutorsA humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work. Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you." If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft. Guidance or College Counselor at Your SchoolThe best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay. At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application. Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version. Friends, Siblings, or ClassmatesAlthough they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you . Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you. You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work. ![]() If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation. First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked . Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you. Introduction Questions
Essay Body Questions
Reader Response Questions
![]() Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet. My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service. When to Consider a Paid EditorIn general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you. If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!) If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see. If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students. If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays . If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more. Should You Hire an Essay Coach?On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you. But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you. If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises. Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results. On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay. Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores. Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this! For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this: I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application ) For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies. Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students. ![]()
Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay . Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges . Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study. ![]() Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education. Ask a Question BelowHave any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Improve With Our Famous Guides
The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading Score 800 on SAT Writing Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading Score 600 on SAT Writing Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:36 on ACT English 36 on ACT Math 36 on ACT Reading 36 on ACT Science Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:24 on ACT English 24 on ACT Math 24 on ACT Reading 24 on ACT Science What ACT target score should you be aiming for? ACT Vocabulary You Must Know ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide Should you retake your SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Stay Informed![]() Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: GRE Online Prep Blog GMAT Online Prep Blog TOEFL Online Prep Blog Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!” Essays That Worked![]() The essays are a place to show us who you are and who you’ll be in our community. It’s a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Below you’ll find selected examples of essays that “worked,” as nominated by our admissions committee. In each of these essays, students were able to share stories from their everyday lives to reveal something about their character, values, and life that aligned with the culture and values at Hopkins. Read essays that worked from Transfer applicants .Hear from the class of 2027. These selections represent just a few examples of essays we found impressive and helpful during the past admissions cycle. We hope these essays inspire you as you prepare to compose your own personal statements. The most important thing to remember is to be original as you share your own story, thoughts, and ideas with us. ![]() Ordering the DisorderlyEllie’s essay skillfully uses the topic of entropy as an extended metaphor. Through it, we see reflections about who they are and who they aspire to be. ![]() Pack Light, But Be PreparedIn Pablo’s essay, the act of packing for a pilgrimage becomes a metaphor for the way humans accumulate experiences in their life’s journey and what we can learn from them. As we join Pablo through the diverse phases of their life, we gain insights into their character and values. ![]() Tikkun OlamJulieta illustrates how the concept of Tikkun Olam, “a desire to help repair the world,” has shaped their passions and drives them to pursue experiences at Hopkins. ![]() Kashvi’s essay encapsulates a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and the invaluable teachings of Rock, their 10-year-old dog. Through the lens of their companionship, Kashvi walked us through valuable lessons on responsibility, friendship, patience, and unconditional love. ![]() Classical Reflections in HerstoryMaddie’s essay details their intellectual journey using their love of Greek classics. They incorporate details that reveal the roots of their academic interests: storytelling, literary devices, and translation. As their essay progresses, so do Maddie’s intellectual curiosities. ![]() My Spotify PlaylistAlyssa’s essay reflects on special memories through the creative lens of Spotify playlists. They use three examples to highlight their experiences with their tennis team, finding a virtual community during the pandemic, and co-founding a nonprofit to help younger students learn about STEM. More essays that workedWe share essays from previously admitted students—along with feedback from our admissions committee—so you can understand what made them effective and how to start crafting your own. ![]() Application WorkshopsOur interactive workshops—on topics like the college search process and essay preparation—will help you build your strongest application when you’re ready to apply. REGISTER FOR AN APPLICATION WORKSHOP Application tips in your inboxJoin our mailing list to receive insights from our admissions committee, event invites, and other resources for your college journey. CY25 Virtual Summer Open HouseJoin us on Saturday, July 13, to see what it’s like to live and learn at the #1 research university. Quick Links:
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FREE 2024-25 Printable Teacher Calendar! 🗓️ 60+ College Essay Prompts From Actual 2023-2024 ApplicationsIdeas to inspire every college applicant. ![]() Writing a college application essay can be a stressful task for a lot of students. The more practice they get in advance, the better! This roundup of college essay prompts gives applicants a chance to explore their thinking, polish their writing, and prepare to make the best possible impression on selection committees. Every one of these questions is taken from real college applications for the 2023-2024 season, so they’re meaningful and applicable to today’s high school seniors. Common App 2023-2024 College Essay Prompts2023-2024 coalition for college essay prompts, life experiences college essay prompts, personal college essay prompts, academics college essay prompts, creative college essay prompts. Hundreds of colleges and universities use the Common App process . For many schools, this includes responding to one of several college essay topics, which can change each year. Here are the essay prompts for the current application cycle (check with your chosen school/s to see if an essay is required).
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More than 150 colleges and universities use the Coalition for College process . Here are their essay prompts for 2023-2024.
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Answer these questions by sharing specific examples from your own experience.
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These essay topics give schools a better sense of who you are, what you value, and the kind of student citizen you might be.
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Topics like these show your academic interests and demonstrate your commitment to learning and discovery.
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Use these college essay topics to show off your creativity and innovative thinking.
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How do you help your students prepare their college application essays? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .Plus, check out the ultimate guide to college scholarships. ![]() You Might Also Like![]() ![]() |
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The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country.
Format Paperback. ISBN 9780451417619. The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and ...
About 100 Successful College Application Essays. The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best ...
The largest collection of successful college application essays available in one volume. These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Colby, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country.
Books. 100 Successful College Application Essays: Third Edition. The Harvard Independent. Penguin, Jul 3, 2013 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 304 pages. The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia ...
100 Successful College Application Essays. Penguin, 2002 - Study Aids - 291 pages. The largest collection of successful college application essays available in one volume. These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Colby, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable ...
The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One Volume These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country.
English. xiii, 285 p. : 21 cm. These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools -- followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country.
In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you're on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic. All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type.
This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.
In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work.
Sample College Essay 2 with Feedback. This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org. College essays are an important part of your college application and give you the chance to show colleges and universities your personality. This guide will give you tips on how to write an effective college essay.
College essay example #6. This student was admitted to UC Berkeley. (Suggested reading: How to Get Into UC Berkeley and How to Write Great UC Essays) The phenomenon of interdependency, man depending on man for survival, has shaped centuries of human civilization.
Here is a list of top persuasive essay topics for college: 1. The importance of arts education in schools. 2. Why volunteering should be part of the college curriculum. 3. The benefits of bilingual education. 4. The necessity of making public transport free.
100 Successful College Application Essays (Second Edition) The Harvard Independent. Penguin, Oct 1, 2002 - Study Aids - 304 pages. The largest collection of successful college application essays available in one volume. These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Colby, and other ...
Use your essays to empower your chances of acceptance, merit money, and scholarships.". This college essay tip is by Dr. Rebecca Joseph, professor at California State University and founder of All College Application Essays, develops tools for making the college essay process faster and easier. 15. Get personal.
Give a brief snapshot of your role model's positive character and their influence on you. Maintain focus throughout the rest of the essay, giving examples of your own new actions, outlook, and goals. A traumatic experience or death in the family. Negative and may seem like you're trying to win sympathy points.
Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College) Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head.
The essays are a place to show us who you are and who you'll be in our community. It's a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Below you'll find selected examples of essays that "worked," as nominated by our admissions committee.
These are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Colby, and other outstanding schools -- followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country
2023-2024 Coalition for College Essay Prompts. More than 150 colleges and universities use the Coalition for College process. Here are their essay prompts for 2023-2024. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. We Are Teachers.
College Essay Guy believes that every student should have access to the tools and guidance necessary to create the best application possible. That's why we're a one-for-one company, which means that for every student who pays for support, we provide free support to a low-income student. Learn more.
The Largest Collection of Successful College Application Essays Available in One VolumeThese are the essays that helped their authors gain admission to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Wellesley, Pomona, and other outstanding schools—followed by invaluable comments by experts in admissions, placement, and college counseling at some of the best learning institutions around the country.
Tips for writing your college essay. Your college essay format and writing should be both compelling in clear. So, as you're writing your college essay, keep these tips in mind: 1. Be authentic. One of the most essential parts of how to format a college application essay is to be authentic.