Tips For Writing Your College Essay

Tips For Writing Your College Essay Don’t be afraid to take classes that will improve your skills and make you more confident. Every class you take does not have to apply to your major. If you are a communications major, but computer science has always interested you, take a computer class. This means that you’ll be learning about various topics that you may have never been exposed to before, which expands your chances to discover a new interest, passion or hobby. Besides the personal benefits of college education, you may have a family, or intend to have one in the near future. Did you know that many of the jobs that provide benefits like family healthcare, retirement plans, social security matching benefits and the like typically require at least an undergraduate degree? Activities can also help you build confidence while developing important leadership and teamwork skills. If you’re interested in politics, try joining student government. If you just want a break from studying, find out when the Ultimate Frisbee Club meets. Clubs and activities provide endless ways to broaden your horizons. Editing for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes is fine, but don’t change the voice of the essay. If an essay is too “polished” it may seem inauthentic, creating confusion in the reader. Consider taking a community college course while you’re still in high school. That will allow you to gauge your interest in a field of study while earning college credit. CFNC can help you figure out what interests you and ultimately help you choose a career you will enjoy. Like the diner essay above, this sample excerpt from a student at St. Cloud State spruces up something as everyday as a local pawn shop. Include sensory and emotional details, so the reader will experience the story, not just read about it. Living away from home for the first time can be intimidating. Try joining clubs and organizations to develop a new community and to make new friends with similar interests. Make sure that you are confident in your essay and accept feedback, but don’t allow others to change your essay in any way that will cause it to lose its original message. Parents should always help their child in a positive way as long as they are not writing the ideas for the student. Editing is vastly different from original writing so this needs to be clarified first, as it has to be the voice and personal memories of the applicant not the parent. The sooner the family treats this as a team effort it will be much easier for the 12th grader to feel as though they are not alone in this process. My preference (and admissions officers’) would be that parents are minimally involved in the essay. Overcome your fear of public speaking by taking a theater or speech class. Become a better writer by taking a writing class. College can be the bridge between childhood and adulthood. The transition is an opportunity for you to reflect on the person you were in high school, and the adult you want to become. If you quietly sat in the back of every class in high school, use your college experience to become more outgoing! If you wish you’d studied more in high school, college is an opportunity for you to hit the books harder. , those who obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher tend to live about 9 years longer than those who don’t. Whether you know exactly what you want to major in or not, most colleges require a set of general electives to be able to begin your “upper division,” or major-specific, coursework. Write a backstory for the barista who always draws a lopsided heart in the foam of your soy latte. Imagine life as the person who drives the crosstown bus. Coming up with writing inspiration is tough when you’re feeling anything but inspired. When you’re desperate for a spark of an idea to come floating out of the creative ether, you’re more likely to find the abyss staring back. Here are twelve things to write about when you’re not on speaking terms with your muse.