What do colleges want to read in the college essay?

The next 650 words will influence the next 4 years of their lives.

Dr. Agnia Grigas
June 24th, 2024

Essay writing is one of the trickiest parts of the admissions game.

It's the student vs. the blank page.

The next 650 words will influence the next 4 years of their lives.

But no pressure, right?

It's no wonder why one of the main questions I get asked by my students is:

"What do colleges want to read in my college essay?"

This is the wrong way to approach the essay for a couple of reasons:

#1 This is the culprit of a boring essay.

By trying to guess what the admissions officer will think, students begin to overthink and hide the parts that make them unique.

The result?

A generic essay without a "WOW" factor.

An essay that lost all of the student's personality.

#2 They're missing a unique opportunity to discover who they are.

Writing about yourself is difficult, especially if you are still figuring out who you are.

If you've been reading my newsletters, you know I believe in guiding students through a journey of self-discovery.

That’s because going through this process during the high school years makes writing the essay much easier.

But the truth is, most students begin this process as rising seniors.

My advice for these students is:

Writing the essay begins before you sit down to write.

Think about the things you value. Remember those memories that bring up strong emotions. And make sure you show why any of it is important to you.

The more you explore these areas, the clearer your thoughts will become.

This is how you write an authentic, captivating college essay.

Speaking of essays...

If you know of any rising seniors ready to start working on their essays (😉) I've got exciting news. 🎉

On Sunday, July 14th, I'm hosting an exclusive Essay Writing Workshop for students who bought the Application Review Service.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this workshop:

This is a special bonus for Application Review students only.

So if you've already got your Application Review, get excited!

This is my gift to you for taking action early. 🎁

And if you're not in yet, then check out Application Review.

You’ll find all the details by clicking the link below:

To your child’s success,

Dr. Agnia Grigas
Founder - College Admissions Secrets
Author - ‘‘How to Win the Million Dollar College Admissions Game’’

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