Once you already know what you want to write about in your personal statement, immediately make a draft after brainstorming to pour out all your ideas and concepts on the chosen topic. Allow some time for your draft to develop by backing up the main topic of your essay with details and supporting them with examples, numbers, or evidence. The draft is one of the most important parts of the paper, because you have a free-flowing supply of unfiltered ideas here. All you need to do is develop it into a convincingly beautiful essay.
The essay writing process
Remember that writing isn’t just about coming up with a piece of reading material. You write because you want to achieve your goals, and you can only achieve your goals if your writing will stand out. To make it happen, make sure you start writing a draft. Polish it–revise it to make it cleaner and smooth flowing. Make sure you do not have lengthy sentences or utter wordiness as these might deter your readers from finishing reading your personal statement. Watch out for pointless phrases, duplication, and out of depth points.
Why you need to set aside time in writing your essay
When writing your personal statement, always remember to start writing way ahead of the set deadline. That way, it will not be a time-conscious written essay. Writing an essay is not a very easy task, especially when you are anxious about meeting the deadline, qualifying for the standards of the admissions panel, and being accepted in your dream school.
Poor time management should have no room in writing because if you spend a weekend checking your various sources and, at the same time, writing down a few applicable quotations as you go along, then the outcome will be a time-pressured, poorly written essay.
Tips in maximizing your summer months while writing your essay
There is an endless list of boring topics that can be transformed into beautifully crafted admissions essays. But the only ones who can do these are those students who really devote their time and exhaust all efforts in writing their personal statements. You can always write your personal statement anywhere, while on vacation or when surrounded by total silence. You may include how your experience taught you significant lessons that have developed you into the person you are now.
Related links:
Essays as reference – Using sample essays as reference
Ivy league applications – How your ivy league admission essay should be
Essays as guide – Using sample essays as guide
College applications – All about college applications and personal statement
Good personal statements – About how to write a good personal statement
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What does it take to get to Ivy League institutions? Of course, you need a GPA that’s no lower than 3.5. You also need to score better than the required 1300 on your SAT. Now that you’ve met these requirements, you think you’re ready to go to Harvard or Yale? Not yet.
It is said that only 8% to 15% of applicants get admitted to Ivy League institutions. With a very low acceptance rate, you must give your application your best shot. We all know by now that admission essays can be your ticket to getting on board the Ivy League community. But with all those writing tips and sample college application essays you can use as reference, why do you think a lot of students still fail to make a good impression on their application?
Take a look at these to see what a lot of applicants have been doing wrong when writing their personal statements:
* Getting TOO personal with your essay writing
How many times have you heard that your application essay should be personal, that it should talk about your experiences, accomplishments, and skills? Do you think the admissions committee would be happy to learn about your summer vacation? Or, should you focus more on experiences that are revealing of your true self and capabilities? How do you know if you’re getting TOO personal or just adding a little creativity to your writing? It all lies on how you choose stories to tell, what experiences and thoughts to share.
Remember, your application essay is not poetry or your autobiography. You must get your message across clearly. Make every anecdote or experience count. Make sure that they not only tell something about yourself but best illustrate reasons for you to get accepted to Ivy League institutions as well.
* Losing Your OWN Voice
Good sample college application essays set the standard for what it is acceptable and what is not. In the course of going over each and every sample that serve as a guide, better not lose yourself into it. Write as you speak, if you want your application essay to be unique. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. After handling thousands of applications every year, don’t you think the admissions committee are capable of seeing through your lies and pretenses?
Don’t try to be Edgar Allan Poe or sound like Abraham Lincoln. Instead, develop your writing style in a way you tell close friends about an interesting story, or the way you speak to them about your goals and aspirations. Know what a specific course program requires or what kind of students the school is looking for.
* Trying TOO hard to impress readers
The panel is composed of esteemed members of the academe, but you don’t have to try too hard to impress them and have the same level of intelligence. It’s a bad sign when, upon reading your application essay, it makes them want to pull out a dictionary. Essay writing experts advise that you focus on expressing yourself better and use words that can clearly convey your thoughts on the topic.
Be clear with your intentions. Create an outline of ideas, think of interesting starts and persuasive conclusions. With that in mind, you’re on your way to writing a winning essay.
Having a hard time writing your essay? Get this FREE DOWNLOAD software to help you.
