Hi everyone, I’m an over-thinker and about to start college.
I’m not sure how to approach essay questions. I always thought we weren’t supposed to write in first person for essays, but then I get questions like, “Describe a time in your life…”. How do I even start answering these types of questions?
I’m guessing they want MLA format, but I’ve only written English essays before. What’s different about writing essays for college applications?
Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!
For scholarship essays, it’s fine to answer from your own perspective. When you tell a story, focus on showing personal growth. Talk about what you learned and how it helped you develop. Also, try to match your response to what the scholarship or sponsor values. For my son, I had him start with an interesting opening sentence, build on that, and tie the conclusion back to the beginning. The length of the essay will determine how many paragraphs you write. Remember, you’re not being graded on style and you have some flexibility. One of my son’s best essays for a college scholarship started with a conversation and didn’t follow the formal essay format but still worked.
I didn’t do this for my own college applications, but I do it now for other things. I ask ChatGPT to help me clarify my thoughts and rephrase my sentences to improve grammar. I know my experiences, but I’ve never had to describe them in a way that fits college applications.
I also suggest writing your drafts in Google Docs or something similar. Afterward, take a break for a few hours or even a day, then come back to revise. Someone else also suggested reading your essay aloud, and I 100% agree with that. It helps with the flow and catches so many grammar mistakes.
Once you get to university, make sure to ask professors about department-specific scholarships. Good luck!