If you are hoping to be able to express yourself completely on the Common App, you will probably be disappointed. It is a limited document that provides a small amount of space for answers and information. Additionally, you may submit supplemental materials, and two essays. One of your essays should be specific to school. The other one can be generic.
Here are 5 Tips to help you maximize this opportunity:
1. Paint a clear picture of yourself. Tell about your personality and accomplishments. This is much more effective than telling a good story.
An applicant may submit a very wonderful essay recounting childhood experiences and family tales; however, this sort of essay does not tell the examiner the two things that are necessary in determining whether or not to admit an applicant.
-It did not tell me about anything the applicant had accomplished. -It only gave me an idea of one aspect of the applicant’s personality.
If it doesn’t address these points, a wonderful, entertaining, engaging essay may cause it’s writer to be waitlisted.
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2. Talk yourself up!
Many overachievers tend to be overly modest. Even though, they have had tremendous accomplishments, they tend to soft-pedal them. They say things like:
“Naturally, there are many others who are just as worthy as I am of attending Harvard, if not more so.”
Or
“I know it will be pure luck if I am accepted to Stanford.”
Simply do not say things like that.
There is a big difference between inappropriate boasting and a simple, straightforward accounting of your accomplishments. Know that difference and use it. Talk about your achievements, yourself, and your life in an honest and open way to make the best impression possible.
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3. Tell personal stories.
Telling anecdotes about the contests you have won, conflicts you have settled, and experiences you have had is very effective. It makes a strong impression in the mind of the reader. Be sure that your stories tell about your successes and ways in which you have prevailed against adversity. This sort of story supports the acceptance of your application.
4. Don’t bother to tell about shortcomings and failures. These things are not pertinent to the process. Tell about your successes.
This is not the place to share the fact that you only got third place in the first track meet you ever participated in. The only exception to this would be if that event acted as the springboard to your winning the state championship.
Avoid talking about ancient history, like the very first short story you ever published, unless that event led to your becoming seriously committed to creative writing, which in turn lead to winning serious contests and national recognition.
5. Name-dropping is not impressive.
This sort of statement is not impressive in an essay:
“I know Fred Smith, who is a freshman here at Harvard. He is a very dedicated student, whom I deeply admire. That is why I am most interested in attending Harvard.”
Dropping the names of alumni and professors is also not impressive.
Generally speaking, the only time it is appropriate to mention someone’s name in your essay is if it is essential to the information you are conveying. If you could tell the story just as well without the name, it is best to do just that.
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