Overview
This section includes materials to support students through writing a college application essay, including brainstorming topic ideas, analyzing a sample essay, and writing their own essay.
Objectives
Students should be able to:
- Analyze a college essay prompt;
- Generate ideas for their own college admissions essay, and
- Write a draft of their own college admission essay.
Introductory Questions
- What are some significant events in your life that have shaped you?
- What parts of you would a college admissions officer miss if they only looked at your academic record?
- What experiences or qualities of yours would make you a great addition to a college’s student body?
Suggested Class Sequence(s)
Class sequences are connected topics with activities, worksheets, and readings which take two or more days of class to complete.
Writing the College Application Essay sequence
Help students work through each piece of the college application essay, including analyzing the prompt.
College Application Essay sequence
Write a College entrance essay by learning about the Common Application and evaluating a sample college entrance essay.
Videos
Short videos help tap into multiple modes of learning and can provide a good introduction to or illustration of a topic. See suggested protocols for classroom viewing.
- Lesson 5: How to Write a Game-Changing College Essay (7:04)
This video provides advice and tips on writing a stellar personal statement for admission to college - The Biggest Mistake Applicants Make on Their College Essays (3:13)
This video talks about how to avoid common mistakes applicants make in their college essays. - How to Write an OUTSTANDING Personal Statement for College: A Crash Course
This 24 minute video consists of a crash course on writing a personal statement by Ethan Sawyer, an author who calls himself ‘the college essay guy’ - Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay
This web page contains many videos about writing the college essay, including a whole series of students stories about the essays they wrote.
Readings
All readings should be paired with a structure or protocol, especially if any reading will be completed in class.
- Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay
This short article reviews several tips for writing a college admissions essay. - Types of College Essays and How to Approach Them
This article from the site College Raptor describes a variety of essay prompts and how an applicant might approach each one. - How to Format Your Personal Statement for Your College Essay
This article provides specific advice about transitions, openers and other essay structures to help students build a successful essay. - A Comprehensive Guide to College Essay Format
A longer article touches on all aspects of a college essay. - College Application Essay Guide: A How-to With Samples!
This reading provides several samples of college essays.
Activities
Activities include individual or group tasks that can be completed in less than one class period; some activities may be repeated in a sequence and are re-listed here for ease of access.
- How to Write a College Essay Step-by-Step
This reading includes several activities to help students brainstorm ideas for a personal statement and refine their writing. - Sample College Admission Essay 1 with Feedback
Read a sample college admission essay and listen to how an admissions officer evaluated the essay. - Sample College Admission Essay 2 with Feedback
Read a sample college admission essay and listen to how an admissions officer evaluated the essay.
Resources
- Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay – BigFuture
The College Board’s resource page includes blogs and videos, some from a student’s perspective.
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