Rhiannon Schade
Director of College Counseling
Collegewise of Millburn
Many students think the college essay is where they argue their case for admission. There's a temptation to list every single one of your accomplishments and involvements throughout high school to demonstrate that you are admissible. However, students who approach the college essay this way fail to see its role in the college admission process. The college essay is not about proving your worthiness to attend the colleges to which you are applying, and it's not about showing off your greatest accomplishments. College admission officers look at your transcript to determine whether or not you're academically prepared. In addition to your transcript, they look at your standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and activities to decide whether or not you meet the standards of the college.
By the time they get to the application essay, there is only one question left: What are you really like? What would it be like to hang out with you as a fellow student? What kind of personality, passion, and energy would you bring to your dorm, the classroom, and the campus community as a whole? As you can see, the college essay plays an entirely different role in the admission process than your credentials and the rest of your application. It becomes the way that college admission officers get to know you as a person. Remember that function as you are writing it!
Learn how to write a great, effective admission essay in our Application Essay Clinic.