Hey, lurking around the forum for a while I have read that some people have read essays that are just spectacular. They explain that if they had the power they would accept them right on the spot. I was just wondering what these unique essays have in common or if you guys can send me an example.
Johns Hopkins publishes prior essays that worked as examples.
These essays have a few things they all share:
- Voice (they don't forcefully try to use big words. If they do, it sounds natural)
- Grammar/Style error free (no comma splices, overly long sentences, or subject-verb disagreements)
- Good pacing.
- Focused (they don't try to get 3 ideas in one essay)
These aren’t just qualities of good college essays, they’re hallmarks of great writing in general. It’s not really a surprise that great writing “scream instant acceptance,” in your words.
Examples of essays that spell INSTANT ACCEPTANCE:
The essay that poignantly conveys how surprised and humbled you were to win the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17
The essay that lightheartedly describes the wild-n-wacky life experiences you had growing up in the White House
The essay that recounts your summertime community service trip to Uganda with your parents Bill & Melinda, to personally deliver mosquito nets to poor villages to combat malaria
^^^ A great essay can help your application or perhaps even seal the deal, but no essay equals an instant acceptance. You have to be great all-around.
Well done, Grasshopper. You grasped my point.
Unless the trip was part of a church group. Then the essay identifies you as an active Christian and someone that the elite schools want to avoid.
^I call BS on that one.
You seriously believe there exists a school in this galaxy that would want to a avoid the offspring of Bill and Melinda Gates?
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/partners/bill-and-melinda-gates.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
I thought this was a nice piece on writing the essay. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-college-essay-20151109-story.html