Spring is here, and with the school year-end nearing, many students start looking at the colleges they are interested in attending. Once the search begins, it can be daunting to keep up with all the application documents needed, along with the prompts and questions you need to answer to complete a college application. We have a great deal of experience with clients who have applied to universities worldwide, and we have learned some tips to help our clients write stellar answers for application prompts and questions. Tip 1: Let your voice be heard: It is important to let your voice and personality develop in your prompts and essays. According to Noodle.com (2012), you want the prompts and essay to be about you and not the college or what you think the admissions office wants to hear. You should tell a story about yourself, your journey, and what you would like to do, both in college and afterwards. When you allow these journeys and goals to come through in your prompts, you create the persona the admissions office sees and are no longer just a name on a piece of paper. Tip 2: Stick to the prompt: It can be quite easy to get lost when you start writing about yourself because we have a tendency to veer off while explaining other details of our situation. Many times, colleges give you several options to choose from when you address a prompt. When you review prompts, you must take time to dissect the prompt and really understand what is asking. College Essay Advisors state that “half the battle is seeing through to the essential questions” of essay prompts (para 2). Once you understand what the prompt is asking, you can create a simple outline to help you include all the necessary information to answer the question and avoid getting sidetracked by other thoughts and ideas as you write. Tip 3: Show the school you know who they are: Colleges want to know that you have invested time and effort to research the programs and faculty at their school and subsequently chosen to apply. In fact, many colleges include a prompt question that essentially asks why you chose their school. Ivywise (2021) points out that when applicants show knowledge of faculty, course, and places of interest, it increases the likelihood that they will enroll in the college. Colleges want to admit applicants who are most likely to enroll. Showing your knowledge of the school demonstrates the time and effort you spent to learn about the school and your seriousness about enrolling if you are accepted. Tip 4: Ask others to review your work: Many students have older siblings or friends who are already in college and can review your application answers. If you don’t know anyone in college who can review, your current teachers can be great reviewers for essay prompts. Liu (2016) lists multiple sources to review your prompts and essays for college applications. In our experience with clients, many of them seek reviews from current teachers or counselors to get well-thought-out and detailed guidance on improving responses and essays. We hope these tips and guidance help you when developing your application prompts responses and essays. Remember, it is important to let your own personality come through and be sure you address what the prompt is really asking for. Moreover, showing the school that you have taken time to get to know them emphasizes your seriousness for attending their school. Remembering these techniques can help you develop essays and responses that make you stand out as an applicant. Additional Sources Make Your Application Essay Stand Out (Campus Explorer): https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/1A74E28E/Make-Your-Application-Essay-Stand-Out/ 10 College Application Essay Dos and Don’ts (Ivy Wise): https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/resources/article/10-college-application-essay-dos-and-donts/ References 10 College Application Essay Dos and Don’ts (Ivy Wise): https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/resources/article/10-college-application-essay-dos-and-donts/ College Essay Advisors. The One Simple Trick for Picking Your Common App Prompt. Accessed 11 March 2021 from https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-one-simple-trick-for-picking-your-common-app-prompt/ Liu, Kimberly. 27 Sep 2016. Whom should I ask for help with my college essay? Accessed 12 March 2021 from https://blog.collegevine.com/whom-should-i-ask-for-help-with-my-college-essay/ Noodle.com. 19 Oct 2012. “How to Show Off Your Best Side in College Essays.” Accessed 11 March 2021 from https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-show-off-your-best-side-in-college-essays
