<p>1) Find out what makes you unique, defining characteristics, maybe 3 to 4 things you really, really value. For me, two things that I really love are learning and my friends… thus my extended essay ended up being a typical conversation with my friends with some commentary. </p>
<p>2) Don’t worry too much about being terribly creative. I really believe that virtually any topic can work well. Clearly anything involving you getting in trouble with the law, an intimate encounter with your boyfriend/girlfriend, etc. is probably not a good idea. Even really cliche topics can work. You just have to make them personal and use lots of detail and really show how it impacted your life. Maybe building houses in Mexico or your grandparent’s funeral really did have a profound effect on you. So write about it. And MAKE IT PERSONAL. It doesn’t have to gush with emotion, just make it is really specific to you. If you know anyone else who could have written the essay, toss it out. </p>
<p>3) Don’t try to impress the adcoms with your essay. Don’t use big words just to use them. Use, more or less, your style that you’d use while speaking. If you try to impress them it shows, and it makes it seem more fake. Fake = not “you,” thus it’s bad. </p>
<p>4) After you’ve done some brainstorming, just start writing. Write a lot. Try different intros and different directions. If you get stuck and don’t know what to write next, feel free to just try again. In each draft you might like only a couple of sentences. That’s fine. The more you write the more phrases and sentences you’ll find that you like and the more you’ll discover about yourself. You might have four or five essays you think are your final drafts and then realize that they just aren’t quite right. </p>
<p>5) Edit your essays down. A lot. Make them more concise and to the point. At first I was VERY resistant to this. I’m often quite wordy, so being concise was quite difficult for me. However, it made my essays MUCH better! I think I cut down one short answer from about 400 to 250 words and it was a million times better because it had a clear purpose and direction. Figure out what the essay is about, what you want to communicate through the essay (and it might be several things). Cut out anything that doesn’t add to it’s purpose. </p>
<p>6) Have a few close friends and/or teachers who know you well read through the essays. See if they think they are “you.” I had my best friend read through one of my essays I thought was my final personal statement and she was like “this isn’t quite right… I really don’t like it and think you should start over.” We talked about it for a while and I realized that she was right. My final personal statement was much more “me.” Teachers can really help you be more concise. Find a teacher who hates wordiness and ask him/her for help in finding parts that don’t need to be there.</p>
<p>my essay was quite longer than the limit set forth on the common application (i think the limit was 1000 words) and i still got into all the colleges to which i applied (except wesleyan).</p>
<p>the moral of the story: no moral really…other than that you can get away with an essay thats a little too long perhaps</p>
<p>If the essay keeps the attention of the reader, I agree. The danger with a longer essay is that the reader gives up on it and stops really paying attention before the end.</p>
<p>Excellent suggestions. Application essays can seem an overwhelming challenge until you break down the process into bite-sized chunks like this.</p>
<p>I do have a related question (in response to comments further down the thread): </p>
<p>Colleges that request the Common Application (usually in addition to a college-specific supplement) would be receiving a student’s initial essay (“Personal Statement”) as part of that document. If you send it online, you will be subject to the length restriction, it seems. </p>
<p>I get the impression that more and more colleges prefer that you submit online (at least the Common Application). Some say so in no uncertain terms, and others waive the application fee if you submit online. So how are people managing to send in principal essays that are longer?</p>
<p>And a related question regarding the college-specific supplements: Many of them including additional essay questions; some can be submitted online, and some have to be mailed. If a supplement is going to be mailed, does the student just give it to the guidance counselor to be sent in with the transcript and teacher recs? (In our school, those documents must come directly from the school; the student does not mail them).</p>
<p>I guess I’m a little confused about what seems to be a very disconnected application process, with elements of the student’s file coming in via different channels. </p>
<p>thanks moms! and also, don’t send your essay to JUST ANYONE you meet here on college confidential. This place is full of maniacal, overachieving, Machiavellian midgets.</p>
<p>semamom,
my son only completed one common app - and that did require a supplement that he was able to complete online. In general, completing as much of an application online as possible is better. </p>
<p>Last year, I think that the the number of characters was actually counted for some components - the number of words was a guideline that typically could be exceeded. If a print preview feature is available, use that to verify that everything you think is in the application is, in fact, in the application. </p>
<p>All of the on-line apps that my son submitted provided an e-mail confirmation that the form was received. For the paper bits (transcripts that come from the guidance office and letters of recommendation from teachers) - do yourself a favor and included stamped reply cards. While they don’t ensure that the college will file all the transcript materials correctly (one uni lost the hs transcript), if you don’t get them back in a couple of weeks or so, you will know at least something is wrong. My son’s coded with TR-H (for teacher rec - initial) and so on. If you or your s/d are sending out a lot of apps, check off the cards on a spreadsheet when they are returned. Teacher’s not sending rec’s is a pretty common problem (they procrastinate, too!). Remember that application will not, in most cases, be reviewed until it is complete (expect for the midyear grades).</p>
<p>immajap88,
good points. If you send essays to someone you trust, please send them early. We might be doing something fun on new year’s eve this year …</p>
<p>I think the danger of having a long essay is also having uneeded or tangential information and corny flowery language. But if shortening your essay will significantly compromise your story/message – don’t do it!</p>
<p>thecmpguru-First off, Duke’s alumni interviews are very informal and not a major factor in their application process. Second, a good essay doesn’t “brag” it reveals. Showing and not telling is a big thing here.</p>