7 Helpful Tips on How to Write A Memorable Personal Essay
Everyone has a story to tell and a message to share. The challenge lies in getting that story and message out of your head and into print in a way that resonates with your audience.
Starting somewhere in the late 2000s, a certain type of personal essay experienced a popularity boom. These essays were ultra-personal and confessional in nature, often in a TMI sort of way. Their headlines were clickable, not to mention shareable, for their shock value alone.
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Although the confessional shock essay’s star seems to be fading, the personal essay itself is still standing strong. Essay collections by late greats like James Baldwin ( The Fire Next Time ) and David Foster Wallace ( Consider the Lobster ) still top Amazon’s Best Sellers in essays. Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) launched a career with her darkly funny and self-effacing essays about her health and mental illness challenges ( Let’s Pretend This Never Happened ). Celebrities like Mindy Kaling ( Why Not Me? ) and Tina Fey ( Bossypants ) blended personal essays into memoir-esque collections that became best sellers. We head for the nearest bookseller when essay titans like David Sedaris or Anne Lamott have a new release.
We’re looking for real stories and musings from people who are able to share their foibles, lessons, and truths in a way we can relate to. Here are seven tips to help you craft a personal essay that will connect with readers.
1 Understand what a personal essay is
Ask three different experts what a personal essay is and you’ll likely get three different answers. Are they structured? Must they address a certain type of subject? Here’s a definition we like:
A personal essay is a short work of autobiographical nonfiction characterized by a sense of intimacy and a conversational manner. Also called a personal statement. A type of creative nonfiction, the personal essay is ‘all over the map,’ according to Annie Dillard. ‘There’s nothing you can’t do with it. No subject matter is forbidden, no structure is prescribed. You get to make up your own form every time.’
Personal essays relate the author’s intimate thoughts and experiences to universal truths. They aren’t simply a retelling of events, though—that falls more in the realm of memoir or autobiography. They conclude with the author having learned, changed, or grown in some way and often present some truth or insight that challenges the reader to draw their own conclusions.
2 Find a compelling topic
The best essay topics are often deeply relatable. Although the story itself is unique to the author’s experience, there’s some universal truth that speaks to us from just below the surface. Topics like facing a fear, falling in love, overcoming an obstacle, discovering something new, or making a difficult choice tackle feelings and events that happen in everyone’s life.
3 Start with a strong hook
As with any type of writing, it’s essential to draw the reader in from the very first paragraph , or even the first sentence. Here are a few examples.
Aside from Peter, who supposedly guards the gates of heaven and is a pivotal figure in any number of jokes, the only saint who’s ever remotely interested me is Francis of Assisi, who was friends with the animals.
When I was young, my family didn’t go on outings to the circus or trips to Disneyland. We couldn’t afford them. Instead, we stayed in our small rural West Texas town, and my parents took us to cemeteries.
I underwent, during the summer that I became fourteen, a prolonged religious crisis.
Alone, we are doomed. By the same token, we’ve learned that people are impossible, even the ones we love most— especially the ones we love most.
Your hook and opening paragraph should establish the topic of your essay (or at least allude to it) and set the scene and tone.
4 Create an outline
All it takes to understand the importance of an outline is listening to someone who struggled to tell a personal story. Often, the story will seem to have no real point. The switchbacks where the teller says “But wait, I have to tell you about this part, first!” are maddening and disruptive. An outline will help you organize your thoughts before committing them to text.
Consider your opening hook and the statement it makes, then map out the sequence of events or main points that support it. Just like a good fictional story, your essay should have rising action. Raise the stakes with each paragraph until you reach a climax or turning point. Plan to add a conclusion that will evoke an emotional response in your reader.
5 Narrow your focus
Don’t try to write to a general topic. Your essay may well be about sexism, but you need to illustrate it through the lens of a defining incident that’s deeply personal to you. What did your experiences teach you about sexism? What does it mean to you as an individual?
6 Show, don’t tell
Close your eyes. Think of the scene you’re about to write down. What were you experiencing with your five senses? How did you feel?
Your challenge is to evoke those senses and feelings without flatly stating them. Don’t say “I felt cold.” Say “I exhaled and my breath turned to vapor that hung in the air. I shivered and pulled the blanket tight around my shoulders in a vain attempt to trap my body heat.” Your description should help the reader experience the cold with you. Stephen King describes it as making the reader “prickle with recognition.”
7 Craft a thought-provoking conclusion
Your essay should end with your own reflection and analysis. What did you learn? How have the events and thoughts you described changed your life or your understanding of life? It’s not enough to say “And that’s what happened.” You have to describe how whatever happened shaped you.
Just as a good lead hooks readers and draws them along for the ride, a good conclusion releases them from your essay’s thrall with a frisson of pleasure, agreement, passion or some other sense of completion. Circling back to your lead in your conclusion is one way to give readers that full-circle sense. Try to restate your thesis in a way that reflects the journey the essay has taken.
There is so much outside the false cloister of private experience; and when you write, you do the work of connecting that terrible privacy to everything beyond it.
7 HELPFUL TIPS ON - HOW TO WRITE A MEMORABLE PERSON ESSAY?
Writing a memorable personal essay requires not only putting your thoughts and experiences on paper, but also doing so in a way that engages and informs your audience. Here are seven tips to help you write a standout essay:
7 HELPFUL TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A MEMORABLE PERSON ESSAY?
Choose a Unique Topic: Your essay should be personal and reflective, but it should also be unique and memorable. Choose a topic that is both meaningful to you and sets you apart from others.
Develop a Strong Thesis: Your thesis should be a clear and concise statement of what you will be discussing in your essay. It should encapsulate the main idea and serve as a guide for the rest of your writing.
Use Descriptive Language: Your essay should be full of sensory details and vivid descriptions that bring your experiences to life for the reader. Use vivid language that captures your thoughts and emotions, and try to make the reader feel as if they are there with you.
Tell a Story: Personal essays are, by definition, personal, so try to tell a story about your experiences. Use anecdotes and specific events to illustrate your points and make your essay more engaging.
Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply telling the reader how you feel, show them through specific examples and experiences. This will make your essay more memorable and more impactful.
Edit and Revise: Writing a great essay is a process of multiple drafts and revisions. Read over your essay multiple times, and consider feedback from others to help you make it the best it can be.
Be Yourself: Your personal essay should reflect your own voice, experiences, and perspective. Be yourself, and write about what is important and meaningful to you.
By following these tips, you can write a personal essay that is both memorable and impactful. Whether you are writing for a college application or just for yourself, remember that your experiences and insights are valuable, and writing them down can be a powerful way to reflect on and share your life.
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6 Helpful Tips on How to Write A Memorable Personal Essay
Jan 25, 2022
Jan 25, 2022 | Blog
Writing a personal essay is probably the most common type of essay collection that you will come across. These essays provide an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and feelings about a particular event or issue. Personal essays are often written from a deeply personal point of view and can be very persuasive in nature.
These essays are the most important part of an application to a college or university. The daunting element of the college application is writing a great college essay . Not only do they let the admissions counselors know who you are and your specific skill set, but they also give them a glimpse of your writing and communication skills.
What Is a Personal Essay?
A personal essay is a narrative that focuses on the author’s thoughts and reactions to a particular event or idea. It is often used as literary criticism, but there are many genres in which this type of writing falls.
These essays are similar to memoirs, but not all memoirs are personal essays. The distinction lies in that memoirs focus on people and events from the author’s past, whereas essays focus on ideas and events that have shaped who the author is today.
Essays come in many forms, but they all contain information about the author. They may talk about a childhood memory, an experience with a friend or loved one, a life-changing event, or even just how a particular book affected the author’s life. In any case, these essays contain details about what makes the author unique.
The best personal essays are ones that have a clear focus and purpose. If your essay is filled with unnecessary details, it will be difficult for your readers to follow your ideas and message. Keeping the topic-specific will make it much easier for your audience to understand what you are trying to say.
This type of essay also provides an opportunity for you to show the personality behind the words. You want to try and connect with your reader on a personal level. The more emotionally charged and genuine feeling your essay contains, the more impact it will have on its readers.
Writing memorable personal essay collections is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. However, once you develop an idea and put in the proper effort and research, you will find that composing this kind of paper is much easier than it seems.
Different Types of Personal Essays
In general, there are two different essay types: the “this is what happened to me” type of personal essay and the “this is what I learned from this experience” type.
The first kind of personal essay is a list of events, which can be very short or take up the whole piece. These types of essays are called plot-driven narratives.
The second kind of personal essay is more self-referential, exploring the theme or topic at hand. These essays are called character-driven narratives. It can be a humorous story detailing the writer’s personal experiences.
How to Structure a Personal Essay
Let’s look at the structure of a personal essay. An essay has three parts: an introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The introduction is where you grab the reader’s attention. The body is where you explain whatever it was that you grabbed the reader’s attention with. The conclusion is where you summarize and restate your thesis.
The introduction paragraph- The introduction paragraph of your personal essay should not be too long. A great introductory paragraph can be powerful and can instantly pull the reader into the essay, but a weak one will cause a reader to lose interest. The main purpose of the introduction is to hook the reader, so you want it to be as strong as possible.
The best way to write an introduction is to start with a story or observation that is interesting, true, and relates directly to your writing topic. This is what makes the introduction stand out. Detail is important in a good opening statement because it helps you paint a picture for your audience, and this helps them visualize what you are saying and will help them feel like they are right there with you.
Body – For a personal essay, the most important thing is probably the body paragraphs. That’s where you get to tell your story. So how do you use body paragraphs to tell a story? There are two basic ways to do it: either by having just one main idea per paragraph or several ideas that are all related to each other.
A good personal essay is divided into sections describing a single topic. Some of the topics are chronological; others have a general category of experience. The interesting opening line of each section is called the topic sentence; it describes the subject of that section.
It would help if you began a section with a topic sentence that tells the reader what to expect in that section. Each paragraph should be about one thing only and should tell the reader explicitly how it’s related to the topic sentence. And there should be a concluding sentence that ties together the previous sections. The concluding sentence may repeat part of a previous sentence or sum up something discussed earlier.
Conclusion- This conclusion summarizes what you have said in the essay’s body and should include a few sentences that bring the essay to a close. The conclusion might also include some final thoughts on the subject or any further ideas you want to share with your reader.
The next example shows how an essay can conclude:
“ In this way, I have discovered that it is a great privilege to be alive now. I realize that I am in an extraordinary time, not only because of the wonders of technology, but also because of the problems we face. It is up to me to do something with my life, and I will do everything I can to make this world a better place for all people. ”
Tips for Writing a Personal Essay
The personal essay is one of the most common college assignments and one of the most popular forms of creative writing. But even with a seemingly simple assignment like “Write about your family,” there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind to make sure your essay is polished, insightful, and effective.
Here are tips to help you write an engaging personal essay:
1 Create an essay outline
Some people prefer to plan their essay before writing, and others prefer to begin with a first draft.
Planning an essay outline is a good way to organize your thoughts. It lets you make sure that your essay has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
To write the essay outline , follow these steps:
1. Write down the major points you want to include in your essay. This will include the introduction and body of the essay.
2. Place these points in order. Decide how much space you want to devote to each point and fit it into the order of your outline.
3. Write out each point as a simple sentence or two, using a combination of direct statements, quotations, and paraphrases from the readings or other sources.
4. Assemble these points into an outline format, with an introduction and conclusion.”
2 Start with your introduction
Your personal essay should have a clear introduction. This important part of your essay should clearly state the topic and why you want to write about the subject. In this section, it is also important to indicate why your essay will be interesting and why it has value for others.
It would help if you had an introduction that does three things: grabs the reader’s attention (A good hook), states your thesis (what you will be discussing in the essay) and forms an emotional connection with the reader.
The hook is the attention-grabbing statement or question that will make your reader want to read on. Your hook should state what you’re writing about and your thesis, which is the main idea you’re trying to prove in your essay.
3 Fill your body paragraphs
Your body paragraphs should include specific details of your experience supporting your thesis statement . You should also include any interesting quotes from people involved in your story.
The body of your essay also gives specific examples of your thesis. The great thing about personal essays is that they are based on real events and people, so it can be easy to develop ideas for this part of your essay. Remember that when you’re writing your examples, you don’t have to stop telling what happened; try including why it affected you and how it made you feel.
What often makes a personal essay powerful is showing the contrast between two points of view — in most cases, your own and someone else’s
4 Be specific
To write a good Personal Essay, you will need to use specific details, show emotion, and share your own opinion on a topic.
Explain an incident or situation instead of describing how you felt about it. The more specific your description is, the more likely it is that the reader will see herself in your story rather than feeling like she’s reading about someone else entirely. You can also help ensure that what you’re saying applies just as much to you as it does to everyone else.
5 Include a conclusion
The conclusion is the last part of your essay. It is where you sum up what you have written so far and draw your reader’s attention to the main idea of your paper. You should always include a conclusion because it helps your readers understand your ideas and remember them longer.
You can write a conclusion in three different ways:
- Summarizing the main idea of your essay
- Acknowledging that you are finished with what you want to say in the essay and thanking the reader for listening to you
- Explaining how what you wrote in the essay applies to real life and what conclusions can be drawn from it
Examples of effective personal essays conclusions are below:
“ I learned that when you make efforts to help others out, you should never expect any gratitude in return. I was simply trying to do something nice for an elderly couple and was rudely rebuffed. Even though I know the couple is always very busy, I was hurt by this behavior because it shows how selfish they really are. ”
“ In conclusion, I would like to say something about the importance of being confident. If you are, I guarantee that you will never lack for friends. On the other hand, if you have no self-confidence and feel undeserving of the things and people you want in life, then you will be at war with yourself. You will feel compelled to prove that you are somehow better than everyone else. This is not a healthy attitude and it will only end badly. My advice is to improve your self-esteem. Tell yourself that you deserve the best life has to offer—and make it happen! ”
6 Proofread your work
Be sure to proofread your essays. Your spelling and grammar do not need to be perfect, but they shouldn’t be so bad that people have to reread whole sentences to understand them.
The tone is also important. You want your essay to sound friendly but not chatty. Students often think they are casual when using words like “I” and “my.” These should almost always be avoided in formal contexts — even in casual conversation, we usually use the more formal “one” and “one’s.”
Final Thoughts- Get Help with your Personal Essays
If you are looking for someone to write your college essay, there is no better place on the web that you could have found. Our professional writers and editors will deliver a great personal essay for you in a very short period of time. We guarantee complete confidentiality and satisfaction guaranty.
We provide 24/7 customer support service, and we are always ready to help you.
Don’t waste your time with low-quality services! Place an order now and get your college essay written in 3 hours!
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College admissions
Unit 4: lesson 3.
- Writing a strong college admissions essay
- Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes
- Brainstorming tips for your college essay
- How formal should the tone of your college essay be?
- Taking your college essay to the next level
- Sample essay 1 with admissions feedback
- Sample essay 2 with admissions feedback
- Student story: Admissions essay about a formative experience
- Student story: Admissions essay about personal identity
- Student story: Admissions essay about community impact
- Student story: Admissions essay about a past mistake
- Student story: Admissions essay about a meaningful poem
Writing tips and techniques for your college essay
Pose a question the reader wants answered, don't focus exclusively on the past, experiment with the unexpected, don't summarize, want to join the conversation.
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Personal Essay
Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023
Learn How to Write a Personal Essay by Experts
By: Cordon J.
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Sep 28, 2021
Teachers typically assign a personal essay, along with other kinds of essays at the beginning of the high school year. Their reason behind this is to evaluate your writing abilities, communication skills and also to get to know you a little better.
If you are overwhelmed with the writing process or don’t know what to include in your essay, there’s no need to panic!
This complete guide will provide you with all the necessary steps for writing a personal essay. We have also mentioned a sample and some additional tips for you to ace your personal essay and create a lasting impression.
On this Page
What is a Personal Essay?
A personal essay is a type of writing that is based on the personal experiences of the writer. It talks about such life experiences that were the turning point for the writer or resulted in some major lessons and growth.
Not just that, you can also write a personal essay to address an issue close to your heart and how you feel about it.
The focus of such essays isn’t having to prove a point. But, it is to share the writer’s feelings, personal opinions, and experiences. It is a work of creative nonfiction autobiography narrated in a way that the reader feels as if he experienced it himself.
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Characteristics of a Personal Essay
Now that you have understood the personal essay definition let's take a look at the different writing styles and their characteristics.
When writing a personal narrative:
- To write a personal narrative essay, the center point should be a significant and meaningful life-changing experience.
- Since it is a narration, you must include storylike elements such as plot, setting, characters, imagery, dialogues, etc.
- It is written in the first-person perspective.
- It is an insight into the writer’s personal story, so it doesn’t need to be objective.
- The writer must be honest when sharing real-life incidents.
Sharing a Personal Opinion:
- It is kind of like a conversation with the readers where you can talk about an issue and propose a solution.
- It includes facts.
- It isn’t an essay about yourself, but an issue from your perspective.
- Your opinions are like evidence to prove the argument.
How to Write a Personal Essay
Writing a personal essay for college isn’t much different from other types of essays. They all follow the same writing process and structure - the only difference is the content.
Follow the steps given below to learn how to write an interesting personal essay.
1. Come Up with an Interesting Topic
When choosing a topic to share with your reader, think about things that you like reading about yourself. These are normally the things that you can relate to, such as overcoming a hurdle, losing a loved one, a milestone, etc.
It’ll be easier to write about events or experiences that hold a significant meaning in your life. Or, the incidents that happened to others at some point and you witnessed it.
The idea is to write about something that will teach your reader’s a lesson.
2. Create a Personal Essay Outline
It is always better to organize your essay and information using a proper structure to avoid going off track. Make a list of everything that you want to share with your reader and then create an outline to organize this information into different sections.
- Introduction
“How to start a personal essay?”
For a personal essay, make sure that you start on a light note. Build the reader's interest by providing them with something catchy and interesting about yourself. You can do that in the form of an anecdote, short story, or some fact.
To make it easier for the reader to understand, introduce the characters in your story as well as yourself.
- Body Paragraphs
he body typically consists of three paragraphs, but it can vary depending on your teacher's requirements. Chronologically describe the life events and how they influenced your beliefs and personality.
While writing such essays, your focus should be to show and not tell. Provide descriptive details about the incidents to make it easier for the reader to visualize. Use sensory details so that the reader uses his five senses to visualize your story.
Don’t just focus on narrating the story. Don’t forget the main purpose – how the event influenced and changed your life.
The conclusion is just as important as the opening of your essay. Use it to give the reader a sense of closure and reflect on your life events.
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Personal Essay Examples PDF
POETRY ANALYSIS ESSAY EXAMPLE (PDF)
Personal Essay Topics
Here are some interesting personal essay topics to give you an idea:
- Someone who taught you an important lesson.
- Things you learned from your mistakes.
- In what ways can you contribute towards the betterment of our society?
- The incident that changed your life forever.How you got rid of a bad personality trait.
- How did you meet your partner?
- What is your dream job and why?
- What is your favorite book and why?
- When did you majorly got inspired by someone or something?
- The most admirable work of art you came across
Personal Essay Writing Tips
Keep in mind the following tips to write a high-scoring personal essay:
- Always remain truthful when narrating your story and events from your real life.
- Take out some time to list down your thoughts that you want to incorporate in the essay beforehand.
- Don’t add irrelevant details to meet the word count as it will only bore the reader.
- Don’t feel shy sharing your failures. Instead, use them to show how you became a better version of yourself because of the setbacks.
- Maintain a positive point of view throughout the paper.
- Write in a conversational tone.
- Read the essay after you are done writing. Proofread and revise them as needed.
Check out more about writing a personal statement .
This was everything you needed to craft an interesting personal essay. Remember that there is a greater purpose than simply narrating a story. Your aim should be to inspire the reader with the lessons that you have learned.
If you get stuck during the writing process, all you need to do is reach out to the experts at 5StarEssays.com and they will write essay for you accordingly.
Whether you need help writing an essay from scratch or need editing assistance, we’ve got it all covered. Place your order today and get affordable help!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the elements of a personal essay.
Following are the major elements of a personal essay:
- Character descriptions
- Dialogue association
- Setting description
- To the point focus
- Strong introduction
- Logical sequence
- Real details
Do personal essays have to be true?
Yes! A personal essay is an engaging way of showing off your growth and change through life's experiences. Unlike formal writing, you don't have to prove anything in a personal narrative because it speaks for itself!
How do you identify a personal essay?
A personal essay is typically written in the first person and has a conversational tone. The writer uses self-disclosure, honesty, and truth to tell their story of any experience they've had that relates back to various aspects of their lives.
Law, Persuasive Essay
Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.
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How to Write a Personal Essay for College, Scholarship, or Social Change
A personal essay is a short piece that demonstrates the author’s point through a story told from a first-person perspective and based on the author’s authentic experiences. It can be an uplifting tale of success or revelation designed to inspire. Yet it can also be an account of failure meant to warn others against repeating the same mistakes. The tone of the personal essay is semi-formal and conversational. The main objective is to establish a connection with the reader and leave them with some insight.
A personal essay is a flexible format that exists in various incarnations: from a formal autobiography to creative nonfiction. It can also cover different subject matters: a story of a triumph over adversity, a moral turning point, finding your way into a profession, or a formative relationship with a significant person. The particular focus is chosen based on the purpose.
In this post, we will examine the three most popular personal essay situations. You will learn:
- how to write a personal essay about yourself for a school admission
- how to write a personal essay for scholarships and grant applications
- how to write a good personal essay for publications, such as blogs, op-eds, etc.
How to Write a Personal Essay for College Application
Many students face the need to create a personal essay for the first time when preparing their college application. This adds anxiety and high-stakes pressure to the already awkward situation of writing about yourself for strangers. However, millions of students write their application essays every year, and there is absolutely no need to worry about it. Here is what admission officers and college admission advisors want you to remember when you are preparing to write a personal essay.
- Give it a thought, but don’t worry too much
A personal essay is an essential part of your application and a valuable tool to display some of your character traits that don’t make it into charts, scores, and reports. However, it’s not a “make it or break it” component of the application. Yes, it is the only piece of your application that is still in your control. Yet, on the other hand, the rest is already there: all the trophies, grades, and extracurriculars are done and recorded. All that is left is to add a personal touch to let the admission officer know the real you.
- Put yourself in the spotlight
Modesty is usually commendable, but don’t remove yourself from this text. Even if you choose a prompt asking you to tell about your role model or a person you admire, don’t spend the entire essay praising them or detailing their accomplishments. Focus on their influence on you. Tell what you learned from them and how their example influenced your decisions, your values, and your view of the world. The audience of this essay is genuinely interested in learning more about you, so don’t disappoint them.
- Don’t rely on “winning strategies”
Trying to emulate “essays that got me into an Ivy school” isn’t the best idea. If that particular essay worked for that specific application to that selective college doesn’t mean it will have the same effect in your unique situation. All students, schools, and admission officers are different and put value into different things. Don’t try to game the system and guess what your readers want to hear. Instead, focus on the things that are genuinely important to you.
- Fill the gaps in your application
The essay is your chance to add something new to your application. Don’t waste it recounting things that are already there: your academic achievements, athletic successes, extracurricular activities, etc. Focus on something admission officers cannot find in transcripts and test scores.
- Ask for advice
If you struggle to pinpoint your strongest traits or things that make you unique, ask people in your life for input: family, friends, teachers, coaches, etc. However, don’t go beyond sourcing ideas on writing or advice on improving your draft. Please don’t ask them to actually write for you. You wouldn’t ask your parents, “ Do my coursework for me!” after being admitted, so why ask them to write your personal essay? Treat it like your first college assignment.
- Edit and proofread
One of the primary purposes of this essay, beyond letting the school representatives know what makes you tick, is to showcase your writing skills. Therefore, make some effort to ensure you put your best foot forward. Revise several times, spacing editing sessions out and letting your draft sit for several days or even weeks. Don’t forget to check out our free essays writer tools for planning, drafting, editing, proofreading, and making sure your text meets recommended word count.
However, don’t panic if you find an error after you submit your application. Most schools practice a holistic approach to student selection, so a single typo wouldn’t hurt your chances.
How to Write a Personal Essay for a Scholarship
A scholarship is a great way to fund college tuition, which young people tend to underestimate. They usually have their eyes on prestigious, highly competitive scholarships like Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, Goldwater, and Truman. This creates bias, and they think winning is unrealistic for someone who is not exceptionally gifted or already highly accomplished. However, what many students don’t realize is that you can cover tuition fees by consistently winning a number of smaller, more accessible scholarships.
Yes, it will take a lot of research and application. This means a lot (I do mean, A LOT ) of writing since almost all legitimate scholarships require you to write a personal essay or answer specific questions to apply. The good news: practice makes perfect, and every subsequent essay will be easier for you than the previous one. Here are some things you should keep in mind.
- Don’t procrastinate
Sort all your prospective scholarships by the deadline date and start writing right now, giving yourself enough time for revision and editing. Create an application schedule and incorporate regular research, writing, and application submission into your calendar. Applying for scholarships can feel like a full-time job, and in a way, it is: you must show up regularly to keep the money coming.
- Highlight relevant accomplishments
This is the best, most objective way to answer the popular “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” type of prompt without bragging or overselling yourself. Lay out your professional or academic path to date using the most significant achievements as milestones. Keep it to the point, and don’t list all the trophies and diplomas – only the ones relevant to this scholarship. For example, if this is a scholarship for young leaders, concentrate on projects you’ve organized and roles you’ve filled that fit the description of “leadership.”
- State your need
You might be deserving, but that’s just one component of the winning combination. Another one is need. Describe your financial situation: do you work? receive financial aid? support a family as a provider? etc.
- Highlight the impact
Now, go beyond finances. Tell how this scholarship will help you achieve your educational objectives and career goals. What you, as a scholar and professional, will be able to contribute to the field, community, the world? How will this scholarship empower you to give back? Demonstrate to the granting institution that they are making a difference by investing in your education.
- Keep it short
Write in simple and clear language. Stay on point and within the limits of the recommended word count. Don’t overcomplicate your style to make an impression or “fill the page.” Concentrate on your message, values, and the things that drive you.
- End positively and politely
The best way to wrap your personal essay up is to tell how your education so far has been changing your life and thank the committee for their time and the opportunity to apply.
- Check readability
Make sure your essay is accessible to the reader: written in complete sentences, logically structured, and flowing naturally. Ask someone to read your text for clarity or use an automated readability checker .
When you are happy with the content, tone, and delivery, spellcheck and edit your essay for grammar and punctuation before the submission.
Despite the scholarship essay being more formal, with a rigid structure and several necessary points to hit, it still has a place for your personality: your hopes, dreams, struggles, and unique tone of voice. After reading your essay, decision-makers should feel they know you personally.
How to Write a Good Personal Essay for Other Occasions
A good personal essay has a profound impact on readers. It can inspire, comfort, affirm, move, unsettle, stir, make someone doubt their assumptions, and question their values. It can argue crucial moral and political things through a personal story. It brings a human dimension into the argument and convinces readers by leveraging empathy and relatable real-life examples. Personal essays can spark important discussions and start big cultural, social, and political changes, just as a small stream starts a roaring river.
To create something as compelling and poignant, you will have to devote a fair amount of time to the pre-writing phase and later to revision and editing. Here are some tips on how to write a personal experience essay for various occasions.
- Find a story and a slant
Tell about something that is very important to you: something you hold dear or something that infuriates you. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic story or extraordinary event, but it must illustrate your point and help your readers relate. It can be a current event or a personal situation from your past that triggered an emotional response. For example, you can tell how you struggled to find a perfect prom dress to demonstrate how fashion caters to a very limited size and body type, putting pressure on consumers to conform and shape themselves to fit – not the other way around.
- Find a tone
Different stories benefit from different tones of voice. Some messages come across better if they are very sincere. Others might need a bit of humor and light-heartedness. Then again, others require scathing sarcasm and scrutiny. Make sure that your story and the tone you choose to tell it match and don’t clash: don’t trivialize serious matters, but don’t over-dramatize something mundane.
- Find a focus
What differentiates a great personal essay from an aimless memoir-style rambling is the focus. Find a focal point for your story: an object, a phrase, a feeling, or a metaphor to tie it all together and serve as a tangible symbol to represent the main idea. It can be anything: a coveted designer item, a physical response of nausea to potent triggers, a hurtful comment that still rings in your ears, a smell of your grandmother’s cooking that feels like home, etc.
- Use structure creatively
The structure of a story is a rhetorical device too. Leverage it as expressive means to elicit the emotional response you need. Open your essay with an engaging scene, dropping your readers right in the thick of it. Alternatively, prepare them with an exposition. Ask a rhetorical question or kick things off with an inventive hook. Likewise, for the rest of the story, you can create suspense and keep the intrigue until last or show your hand at the very beginning to manage expectations. You don’t have to follow a linear plot, but you don’t have to innovatively break it, either. See what works best for your story and your message.
- Make your essay real with detail
Use sensory and physical detail to describe your characters, places, and objects to give them dimension. Use all five senses and follow the “show, don’t tell” rule for a more impactful and memorable essay. You don’t have to spend paragraph after paragraph describing someone to make them real for your reader. Choose a defining trait or a vivid detail. For example, an inappropriately loud voice or strong perfume can stand in to highlight someone’s obnoxious, inconsiderate personality. Soft hands or kind eyes can be singled out to describe someone caring and gentle, etc.
- Read your essay out loud
For a revision session, read your essay out loud to yourself or a friend. This way, it will be easier to identify confusing or unclear sentences, passages that are too long or monotonous, pick up on repetitive expressions, etc. Inconsistencies, abrupt theme changes, dragging pace, etc., also become more apparent when you read aloud.
This type of personal essay crosses over into a literary domain, and it might be tempting to embellish the truth. However, stick to reality if you want it to be an essay, not a short fiction feature. You can convey your side of the story and your personal perspective, but you must never manipulate or invent facts and twist someone else’s words so they would better fit your artistic vision.
For all types of personal essays, reading someone else’s work can be insightful. It will give you a better sense of the genre and any particular means a writer can use to introduce the subject, convey personal perspective, connect their experience to a universal idea, use humor, etc. Read personal essays in our free library and enrich your writer toolkit now!
Jana Rooheart
Jana Rooheart came to WowEssays.com with a mission to put together and then slice and dice our vast practical experience in crafting all kinds of academic papers. Jana is an aspired blogger with rich expertise in psychology, digital learning tools, and creative writing. In this blog, she willingly shares tricks of pencraft and mind-altering ideas about academic writing any student will find utterly beneficial.
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- How to Write a College Essay
College admissions experts offer tips on selecting a topic as well as writing and editing the essay.
Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App, an application platform accepted by more than 900 schools. (Getty Images)
Not only is the college essay a place to showcase writing skills, it's one of the only parts of a college application where a student's voice can shine through.
Unlike test scores and transcripts, the college admissions essay offers students a chance to showcase their personality.
"The essays are important in part because this is a student's chance to really speak directly to the admissions office," says Adam Sapp, assistant vice president and director of admissions at Pomona College in California.
Prospective college students want their essay, sometimes called a personal statement, to make a good impression and boost their chances of being accepted, but they have only several hundred words to make that happen.
This can feel like a lot of pressure.
"I think this is the part of the application process that students are sometimes most challenged by," says Niki Barron, associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York, "because they're looking at a blank piece of paper and they don't know where to get started."
That pressure may be amplified as many colleges have gone test-optional in the past year, meaning that ACT and SAT scores will be considered if submitted but are not required. Other schools have gone test-blind and don't consider such scores at all. In the absence of test scores, some admissions experts have suggested that more attention will be paid to other parts of an application, such as the essay.
But just as each applicant is unique, so are college admissions policies and priorities.
"Being test optional hasn't changed how we use essays in our selection process, and I wouldn't say that the essay serves as a substitute for standardized test scores," Barron wrote in an email. "A student's academic preparation for our classroom experience is always front and center in our application review process."
Essay writing tips offered by experts emphasize the importance of being concise, coherent, congenial, honest and accurate. An applicant should also flex some intellectual muscle and include vivid details or anecdotes.
From brainstorming essay topics to editing the final draft, here's what students need to know about crafting a strong college essay.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a College Application Essay
- 1. Explore essay prompts and select a topic.
- 2. Start your college essay outline before jumping in.
- 3. Write the essay and leave time for multiple drafts.
- 4. Edit and proofread your essay.
- 5. Submit your essay.
Getting Started on the College Essay
A good time for students to begin working on their essays is the summer before senior year, experts say, when homework and extracurricular activities aren't taking up time and mental energy.
Starting early will also give students plenty of time to work through multiple drafts of an essay before college application deadlines, which can be as early as November for students applying for early decision or early action .
Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App , an application platform accepted by more than 900 schools.
In addition to the main essay, some colleges ask applicants to submit one or more additional writing samples. Students are often asked to explain why they are interested in a particular school or academic field in these supplemental essays , which tend to be shorter than the main essay.
Students will want to budget more time for the writing process if the schools they're applying to ask for supplemental essays.
"Most selective colleges will ask for more than one piece of writing. Don't spend all your time working on one long essay and then forget to devote energy to other parts of the application," Sapp says, noting there may be additional questions on an application requiring thoughtfully written responses.
How Long Should a College Essay Be?
Though the Common App – which students can submit to multiple colleges – notes that "there are no strict word limits" for its main essay, it suggests a cap of about 650 words.
"While we won't as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you'd hoped it would," the Common App website states.
The word count is much shorter for institution-specific supplemental essays, which are typically around 250 words.
How to Pick a College Essay Topic
The first and sometimes most daunting step in the essay writing process is figuring out what to write about.
There are usually several essay prompts to choose from on a college application. They tend to be broad, open-ended questions, giving students the freedom to write about a wide array of topics, Barron says.
The essay isn't a complete autobiography, notes Mimi Doe, co-founder of Top Tier Admissions, a Massachusetts-based advising company. "It's overwhelming to think of putting your whole life in one essay," she says.
Rather, experts say students should narrow their focus and write about a specific experience, hobby or quirk that reveals something personal, like how they think, what they value or what their strengths are. Students can also write about something that illustrates an aspect of their background. Even an essay on a common topic can be compelling if done right.
Students don't have to discuss a major achievement in their essay, a common misconception. Admissions officers who spoke with U.S. News cited memorable essays that focused on more ordinary topics, including fly-fishing, a student's commute to and from school and a family's dining room table.
What's most important, experts say, is that a college essay is thoughtful and tells a story that offers insight into who a student is as a person.
So, no matter what topic students choose, they'll ultimately be writing about themselves, says Ethan Sawyer, founder of the College Essay Guy website, which offers free and paid essay-writing resources. "What we think of as the topic is just the frame or the lens that we're using to get into other parts of you."
If students are having trouble brainstorming potential topics , they can ask friends or family members for help, says Stephanie Klein Wassink, founder of Winning Applications and AdmissionsCheckup, Connecticut-based college admissions advising companies. Wassink says students can ask peers or family members questions such as, "What do you think differentiates me?" Or, "What are my quirks?"
The essay should tell college admissions officers something they don't already know, experts say. Students should ensure they're writing about something that isn't mentioned elsewhere in their application, perhaps in the activities section, or expand greatly on the topic if it is noted elsewhere.
Writing the College Essay
Some experts encourage students to outline their essay before jumping into the actual writing.
But there isn't one correct way of doing things, says Sara Newhouse, senior consultant at Enrollment Research Associates and former vice president for admission and financial planning at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama.
"Your writing process is your own," she says. Newhouse encourages students to use whatever process worked for them in the past when they completed writing assignments for English and other high school classes.
The first draft of an essay doesn't need to be perfect. "Just do a brain dump," Doe says. "Don't edit yourself, just lay it all out on the page."
If students are having a hard time getting started, they should focus on their opening sentence, Doe suggests. She says an essay's opening sentence, or hook, should grab the reader's attention.
Doe offered an example of a strong hook from the essay of a student she worked with:
"I first got into politics the day the cafeteria outlawed creamed corn."
"I want to know about this kid," she says. "I’m interested."
But Sawyer cautions that students shouldn't get so caught up in writing the perfect hook that they neglect the rest of their essay. He also says he's read some essays that were excellent overall, even though they had what he would consider mundane hooks.
Editing and Submitting the College Essay
While admissions officers try to learn about students via the essay, they are also gauging writing skills, so students want to make sure they submit top-notch work.
"The best writing is rewriting," Sapp says. "You should never be giving me your first draft."
When reviewing a first essay draft, students should make sure their writing is showing, not telling, Doe says. This means students should show their readers examples that prove they embody certain traits or beliefs, as opposed to just stating that they do.
After editing their essay, students should seek outside editing help, experts recommend. While there are individuals and companies that offer paid essay help – from editing services to essay-writing boot camps – students and families may not be able to afford the associated fees.
However, there may be options to defray the costs. Sawyer, for example, says he offers scholarships to students from low-income families that cover the cost of one-on-one essay consultations.
The availability of and level of feedback from free essay advising services vary. Some college prep companies offer brief consultations at no charge. Free essay workshops may also be available through local high schools, public libraries or community organizations. Khan Academy, a free online education platform, also offers a series of videos and other content to guide students through the essay writing process.
Colleges themselves may also have resources, Barron notes, pointing to pages on Hamilton's website that offer writing tips as well as examples of successful admissions essays. Likewise, Hamilton also holds virtual panel discussions on writing admissions essays.
Students have other options when it comes to essay help. They can ask peers, teachers, school counselors and family members for help polishing an essay.
Newhouse says it works well to have other people proofread an essay in two stages. The first stage focuses on content. Readers should look for information gaps in the essay – anything they are confused about. Once the content is nailed down, the second proofing stage focuses on style, including grammar, punctuation and spelling.
But proofreaders should not change the tone of the essay. "Don't let anyone edit out your voice," Doe cautions.
And while proofreading is fair game, having someone else rewrite your essay is not.
When an essay is ready to go, students will generally submit it online along with the rest of their application. On the Common App, for example, students copy and paste their essay into a text box.
Sapp says even though students often stress about the essay in particular, it's not the only thing college admissions officers look at. "The essay is the window, but the application is the house," he says. "So let's not forget that an application is built of many pieces."
Strong College Essay Examples
Below are two examples of strong essays written by students accepted into Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
"This is a personal statement, so what works in these essays works because of who the student is and how it fits into the rest of his or her application," notes Ellen Kim, dean of undergraduate admissions at Johns Hopkins.
Hover over the circles along the sides of the letters to read more about what worked.
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How to Write a Personal Narrative
Last Updated: October 17, 2022 Approved
This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA . Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 835,501 times.
Personal narratives focus on a particular real life event that was pivotal or important for the writer. You may have to write a personal narrative as part of a college application or as an assignment for a class. To write a strong personal narrative, start by coming up with an engaging idea. Then, write the narrative with an opening hook and a detailed, organized structure. Always review and revise the personal narrative before handing it in so it is at its best.
Template and Sample Narrative
Brainstorming Ideas for the Narrative
- For example, you may write about your struggles with body image in high school and how you overcame them in adulthood. Or you may write about your disastrous 15th birthday party and how it affected your relationship with your mother.
- For example, you write a personal narrative about your complicated relationship with your birth mother. Or you may write about a conflict you have with a sport you play or a club you are a part of.
- For example, you may explore a theme like poverty by writing about your family’s struggle with money and finances. You may write about having to defer college applications to work at your parent’s business to make ends meet for your family.
- The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard
- Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
- The Lives section of The New York Times
Writing the Personal Narrative
- For example, the first line in the personal narrative by Tony Gervino is attention grabbing: “I was 6 when my brother John leaned across the kitchen table and casually whispered that he had killed Santa Claus.” [4] X Research source
- For example, in Tony Gervino’s essay, he sets the scene by providing setting, character, and narrative voice: “It was July 1973, we were living in Scarsdale, N.Y., and he was four years older than I was, although that seemed like decades.”
- For example, you may start with an event in childhood with your older sister and then move forward in time to the present day, focusing on you and your older sister as adults.
- For example, you may describe the feeling of your mother’s famous lemon cake as “rich and zesty, with a special ingredient that to this day, I cannot identify.”
- For example, you may end a personal narrative about your complicated relationship with your troubled sister by ending on a recent memory where you both enjoyed each other’s company. You may leave the reader with a lesson you have learned about loving someone, even with all their messiness and baggage.
Polishing the Personal Narrative
- You can also try reading the narrative out loud to someone else so they can hear how it sounds. This can then make it easier for them to give you feedback.
- Be willing to accept feedback from others. Be open to constructive criticism as it will likely strengthen the narrative.
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You Might Also Like
- How to Write a Narrative Essay
- How to Write a Journal Entry
- How to Write an Epistolary Narrative
- How to Write an Autobiography
- ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-a-personal-narrative-1856809
- ↑ http://www.byrdseed.com/writing-better-personal-narratives/
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/magazine/lives-a-rats-tale.html
- ↑ http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-for-writing-a-personal-narrative-essay.html
About This Article
To write a personal narrative, start by choosing a memorable moment, event, or conflict in your life that you want to write about. Then, use your personal narrative to describe your story, going chronologically through the events. Try to use a lot of sensory detail, like how things smelled, sounded, felt, and looked, so your readers can picture everything you're describing. At the end of your narrative, include a lesson you learned or something you took away from the experience. To learn how to brainstorm ideas for your personal narrative, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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How to Write a College Essay | A Complete Guide & Examples
The college essay can make or break your application. It’s your chance to provide personal context, communicate your values and qualities, and set yourself apart from other students.
A standout essay has a few key ingredients:
- A unique, personal topic
- A compelling, well-structured narrative
- A clear, creative writing style
- Evidence of self-reflection and insight
To achieve this, it’s crucial to give yourself enough time for brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.
In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through every step in the process of writing a college admissions essay.
Table of contents
Why do you need a standout essay, start organizing early, choose a unique topic, outline your essay, start with a memorable introduction, write like an artist, craft a strong conclusion, revise and receive feedback, frequently asked questions.
While most of your application lists your academic achievements, your college admissions essay is your opportunity to share who you are and why you’d be a good addition to the university.
Your college admissions essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s total weight一and may account for even more with some colleges making the SAT and ACT tests optional. The college admissions essay may be the deciding factor in your application, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.
What do colleges look for in an essay?
Admissions officers want to understand your background, personality, and values to get a fuller picture of you beyond your test scores and grades. Here’s what colleges look for in an essay :
- Demonstrated values and qualities
- Vulnerability and authenticity
- Self-reflection and insight
- Creative, clear, and concise writing skills
It’s a good idea to start organizing your college application timeline in the summer of your junior year to make your application process easier. This will give you ample time for essay brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.
While timelines will vary for each student, aim to spend at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing your first draft and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Remember to leave enough time for breaks in between each writing and editing stage.
Create an essay tracker sheet
If you’re applying to multiple schools, you will have to juggle writing several essays for each one. We recommend using an essay tracker spreadsheet to help you visualize and organize the following:
- Deadlines and number of essays needed
- Prompt overlap, allowing you to write one essay for similar prompts
You can build your own essay tracker using our free Google Sheets template.
College essay tracker template
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
Ideally, you should start brainstorming college essay topics the summer before your senior year. Keep in mind that it’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic.
If you want to write about a common essay topic, such as a sports injury or volunteer work overseas, think carefully about how you can make it unique and personal. You’ll need to demonstrate deep insight and write your story in an original way to differentiate it from similar essays.
What makes a good topic?
- Meaningful and personal to you
- Uncommon or has an unusual angle
- Reveals something different from the rest of your application
Brainstorming questions
You should do a comprehensive brainstorm before choosing your topic. Here are a few questions to get started:
- What are your top five values? What lived experiences demonstrate these values?
- What adjectives would your friends and family use to describe you?
- What challenges or failures have you faced and overcome? What lessons did you learn from them?
- What makes you different from your classmates?
- What are some objects that represent your identity, your community, your relationships, your passions, or your goals?
- Whom do you admire most? Why?
- What three people have significantly impacted your life? How did they influence you?
How to identify your topic
Here are two strategies for identifying a topic that demonstrates your values:
- Start with your qualities : First, identify positive qualities about yourself; then, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.
- Start with a story : Brainstorm a list of memorable life moments; then, identify a value shown in each story.
After choosing your topic, organize your ideas in an essay outline , which will help keep you focused while writing. Unlike a five-paragraph academic essay, there’s no set structure for a college admissions essay. You can take a more creative approach, using storytelling techniques to shape your essay.
Two common approaches are to structure your essay as a series of vignettes or as a single narrative.
Vignettes structure
The vignette, or montage, structure weaves together several stories united by a common theme. Each story should demonstrate one of your values or qualities and conclude with an insight or future outlook.
This structure gives the admissions officer glimpses into your personality, background, and identity, and shows how your qualities appear in different areas of your life.
Topic: Museum with a “five senses” exhibit of my experiences
- Introduction: Tour guide introduces my museum and my “Making Sense of My Heritage” exhibit
- Story: Racial discrimination with my eyes
- Lesson: Using my writing to document truth
- Story: Broadway musical interests
- Lesson: Finding my voice
- Story: Smells from family dinner table
- Lesson: Appreciating home and family
- Story: Washing dishes
- Lesson: Finding moments of peace in busy schedule
- Story: Biking with Ava
- Lesson: Finding pleasure in job well done
- Conclusion: Tour guide concludes tour, invites guest to come back for “fall College Collection,” featuring my search for identity and learning.
Single story structure
The single story, or narrative, structure uses a chronological narrative to show a student’s character development over time. Some narrative essays detail moments in a relatively brief event, while others narrate a longer journey spanning months or years.
Single story essays are effective if you have overcome a significant challenge or want to demonstrate personal development.
Topic: Sports injury helps me learn to be a better student and person
- Situation: Football injury
- Challenge: Friends distant, teachers don’t know how to help, football is gone for me
- Turning point: Starting to like learning in Ms. Brady’s history class; meeting Christina and her friends
- My reactions: Reading poetry; finding shared interest in poetry with Christina; spending more time studying and with people different from me
- Insight: They taught me compassion and opened my eyes to a different lifestyle; even though I still can’t play football, I’m starting a new game
Brainstorm creative insights or story arcs
Regardless of your essay’s structure, try to craft a surprising story arc or original insights, especially if you’re writing about a common topic.
Never exaggerate or fabricate facts about yourself to seem interesting. However, try finding connections in your life that deviate from cliché storylines and lessons.
Admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and they typically spend only a few minutes reading each one. To get your message across, your introduction , or hook, needs to grab the reader’s attention and compel them to read more..
Avoid starting your introduction with a famous quote, cliché, or reference to the essay itself (“While I sat down to write this essay…”).
While you can sometimes use dialogue or a meaningful quotation from a close family member or friend, make sure it encapsulates your essay’s overall theme.
Find an original, creative way of starting your essay using the following two methods.
Option 1: Start with an intriguing hook
Begin your essay with an unexpected statement to pique the reader’s curiosity and compel them to carefully read your essay. A mysterious introduction disarms the reader’s expectations and introduces questions that can only be answered by reading more.
Option 2: Start with vivid imagery
Illustrate a clear, detailed image to immediately transport your reader into your memory. You can start in the middle of an important scene or describe an object that conveys your essay’s theme.
A college application essay allows you to be creative in your style and tone. As you draft your essay, try to use interesting language to enliven your story and stand out .
Show, don’t tell
“Tell” in writing means to simply state a fact: “I am a basketball player.” “ Show ” in writing means to use details, examples, and vivid imagery to help the reader easily visualize your memory: “My heart races as I set up to shoot一two seconds, one second一and score a three-pointer!”
First, reflect on every detail of a specific image or scene to recall the most memorable aspects.
- What are the most prominent images?
- Are there any particular sounds, smells, or tastes associated with this memory?
- What emotion or physical feeling did you have at that time?
Be vulnerable to create an emotional response
You don’t have to share a huge secret or traumatic story, but you should dig deep to express your honest feelings, thoughts, and experiences to evoke an emotional response. Showing vulnerability demonstrates humility and maturity. However, don’t exaggerate to gain sympathy.
Use appropriate style and tone
Make sure your essay has the right style and tone by following these guidelines:
- Use a conversational yet respectful tone: less formal than academic writing, but more formal than texting your friends.
- Prioritize using “I” statements to highlight your perspective.
- Write within your vocabulary range to maintain an authentic voice.
- Write concisely, and use the active voice to keep a fast pace.
- Follow grammar rules (unless you have valid stylistic reasons for breaking them).
You should end your college essay with a deep insight or creative ending to leave the reader with a strong final impression. Your college admissions essay should avoid the following:
- Summarizing what you already wrote
- Stating your hope of being accepted to the school
- Mentioning character traits that should have been illustrated in the essay, such as “I’m a hard worker”
Here are two strategies to craft a strong conclusion.
Option 1: Full circle, sandwich structure
The full circle, or sandwich, structure concludes the essay with an image, idea, or story mentioned in the introduction. This strategy gives the reader a strong sense of closure.
In the example below, the essay concludes by returning to the “museum” metaphor that the writer opened with.
Option 2: Revealing your insight
You can use the conclusion to show the insight you gained as a result of the experiences you’ve described. Revealing your main message at the end creates suspense and keeps the takeaway at the forefront of your reader’s mind.
Revise your essay before submitting it to check its content, style, and grammar. Get feedback from no more than two or three people.
It’s normal to go through several rounds of revision, but take breaks between each editing stage.
Also check out our college essay examples to see what does and doesn’t work in an essay and the kinds of changes you can make to improve yours.
Respect the word count
Most schools specify a word count for each essay , and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit.
Remain under the specified word count limit to show you can write concisely and follow directions. However, don’t write too little, which may imply that you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.
Check your content, style, and grammar
- First, check big-picture issues of message, flow, and clarity.
- Then, check for style and tone issues.
- Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.
Get feedback
Get feedback from 2–3 people who know you well, have good writing skills, and are familiar with college essays.
- Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your content, language, and tone.
- Friends and family can check for authenticity.
- An essay coach or editor has specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and can give objective expert feedback.
The checklist below helps you make sure your essay ticks all the boxes.
College admissions essay checklist
I’ve organized my essay prompts and created an essay writing schedule.
I’ve done a comprehensive brainstorm for essay topics.
I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me and reveals something different from the rest of my application.
I’ve created an outline to guide my structure.
I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.
I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of telling.
I’ve shown positive traits and values in my essay.
I’ve demonstrated self-reflection and insight in my essay.
I’ve used appropriate style and tone .
I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.
I’ve revised my essay , checking my overall message, flow, clarity, and grammar.
I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.
Congratulations!
It looks like your essay ticks all the boxes. A second pair of eyes can help you take it to the next level – Scribbr's essay coaches can help.
Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.
Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.
A standout college essay has several key ingredients:
- A unique, personally meaningful topic
- A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
- Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
- Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
- Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
- A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending
While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.
You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.
You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.
If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
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Here are seven tips to help you craft a personal essay that will connect with readers. 1 Understand what a personal essay is Ask three different experts what a personal essay is and you'll likely get three different answers. Are they structured? Must they address a certain type of subject? Here's a definition we like:
People write personal essays for a number of reasons. High school students write them for college admissions and writers use them to share personal stories with others. A personal narrative essay can enlighten and inspire an audience with information gained from real life experiences.
Tips for writing a compelling personal essay Follow these tips to help strengthen your essay, identify errors and enhance clarity: Use an active voice. Write conversationally. Proofread. Read the essay out loud. Ask friends or colleagues for feedback. Use writing tools. Use an active voice
When you read the prompt, underline any directions that tell you how many points to include or how long your essay might be. Related: 7 Simple Strategies To Improve Reading Comprehension 2. Pick an interesting topic if you can Some assignments ask you to write an essay but let you choose the topic.
The body of your personal essay must consist of paragraphs that lay down ideas about your topic. Your paragraphs must have attention-grabbing sentences with elaborate statements. Each paragraph should have a specific idea connected to the topic. Use proper transition words and phrases.
7 HELPFUL TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A MEMORABLE PERSON ESSAY? Choose a Unique Topic: Your essay should be personal and reflective, but it should also be unique and memorable. Choose a topic that is both meaningful to you and sets you apart from others.
View Hertzberg, 7 Helpful Tips on How to Write A Memorable Personal Essay.pdf from ASAM 120 at California State University, Long Beach. 7 Helpful Tips on How to Write A Memorable Personal Essay Karen
4 Tips for Writing a Personal Essay 4.1 1 Create an essay outline 4.2 2 Start with your introduction 4.3 3 Fill your body paragraphs 4.4 4 Be specific 4.5 5 Include a conclusion 4.6 6 Proofread your work 5 Final Thoughts- Get Help with your Personal Essays Rate this post
View Document (19).docx from MENG 381 at New York Institute of Technology, Manhattan. 7 Helpful Tips on How to Write A Memorable Personal Essay Karen Hertzberg Updated on May 20, 2019 · Writing
7 Helpful Tips On How To Write A Memorable Personal Essay 724 Finished Papers TWO 1722 Orders prepared Min Garages Any 100% Success rate 4 reasons to write my essay with us! You are always welcome to check some of our previously done projects given on our website and then judge it for yourself.
Don't summarize. Avoid explicitly stating the point of your essay. It's far less effective when you spell it out for someone. Delete every single "That's when I realized," "I learned," and "The most important lesson was...". It's unnecessary, unconvincing, and takes the reader out of the moment.
Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene. An effective way to catch the reader's attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you're stuck, try thinking about: A personal experience that changed your perspective. A story from your family's history.
They all follow the same writing process and structure - the only difference is the content. Follow the steps given below to learn how to write an interesting personal essay. 1. Come Up with an Interesting Topic. When choosing a topic to share with your reader, think about things that you like reading about yourself.
7 Ways To Write A Better Hook. Whether you're writing a book, essay, article, or marketing content, a great hook is a must. With so much content out there, you need to stand out. A killer hook is a powerful tool to get your intended audience to care for what you have to say. Here are a few surefire ways to pen a perfect hook. 1. Understand ...
A good personal essay has a profound impact on readers. It can inspire, comfort, affirm, move, unsettle, stir, make someone doubt their assumptions, and question their values. It can argue crucial moral and political things through a personal story.
1. Explore essay prompts and select a topic. 2. Start your college essay outline before jumping in. 3. Write the essay and leave time for multiple drafts. 4. Edit and proofread your essay. 5.
Restate your thesis, summarise the primary points from the body paragraphs, and leave your reader with a particular emotion based on the topic of your essay. Personal Essay Topics Choosing to narrate an exciting story from your experience can help you engage your readers.
Show the narrative to others. Ask a friend, peer, classmate, or family member to read the narrative. Pose questions to them about the style, tone, and flow of the narrative. Ask them if the narrative feels personal, detailed, and engaging. [6] Be willing to accept feedback from others.
The setting of a novel or play often plays a big role in the overall telling of the story. Below are tips on how to write a settings essay: • End your introductory paragraph with a "hook," a statement enticing readers to keep reading. • Conclude the essay to tie together all of your points and reiterate your theme.
Choose a unique topic. Ideally, you should start brainstorming college essay topics the summer before your senior year. Keep in mind that it's easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. If you want to write about a common essay topic, such as a sports injury or volunteer work overseas, think carefully about how you can make it unique and personal.
7 Helpful Tips On How To Write A Memorable Personal Essay | Top Writers Hire a Writer 1035 Natoma Street, San Francisco This exquisite Edwardian single-family house has a 1344 Sqft main… Bedrooms 3 REVIEWS HIRE Level: College, University, High School, Master's, Undergraduate, PHD 4.8/5 4.7/5 7 Helpful Tips On How To Write A Memorable Personal Essay