It’s not as bad as you think.

I know applying for college has a wicked connotation and some say it is the hardest part of senior year. Sadly, it is most definitely not the hardest part of senior year.

The cool thing about applying for college nowadays is that it’s really just showing yourself off to colleges and not getting rude remarks about being full of yourself! The personal essay or personal thesis as they are usually called, can literally be about anything you want! When do you ever get the chance in school to write about absolutely anything, however you want to write? Personally I never did, so I found writing an essay on something that I actually truly cared about, the most rewarding experience of high school. This means if you want to write about Skittles, then you write about Skittles (Disclaimer: Don’t just write about Skittles because I said you can, actually have a point to writing about Skittles…).

The thing I enjoyed most about my essay was the format! Because there are no rules on formatting, you are free to express yourself and tell your story in the way that seems most fitting. While most seniors will write a traditional essay, if you feel like trying something new, go for a different format. I used dictionary style entries to tell my story in a unique way. I found a word to describe each paragraph I was writing about, then I went on to continue telling my story. I then ended the whole paper by having an entry just for my name. This is where my 'conclusion' finished out my entire essay by bringing it full circle of how my story has affected me, molded me into the person I am today, and continues to shape my outlook on the world. I got a lot of good feed back that it was memorable to have a unique format.

Make your essay about something that has shaped who you are, changed your life, or something about you that your admission counselor needs to know. While your resume impresses them, this is your chance to leave them wanting you to go to their school. If you aren’t able to go see a school and meet with your admission counselor, this is how they will get to know you and then envision how you will make an impact on their college. Make your voice clear. Make sure your admission counselor will walk away knowing what you want them to know. Finally, before turning it in, have a teacher that you like read your essay to check for errors and ensure that you are getting your point across.

Remember regardless of where you get in and don’t get in, everything happens for a reason!
Happy Common App-ing