The Right Way To Write About Tragedy In College Application Essays

The Right Way To Write About Tragedy In College Application Essays As the name implies, writing apersonal statementis apersonalexperience, making it just a little bit different for everyone. Not just the process, but the actual statement itself, too. A person they like and remember through the college essay is most likely to be selected. There are any number of formulas out there for writing personal statements for college applications. Some encourage you to stick to the traditionalopening-body-conclusionformula, while others insist you should take a risk to spice up the admission officer’s reading experience. None of them are wrong, but it doesn’t mean they’re right for you. You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis. While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font. Did you separate dialogue correctly from the rest of your text? On the other hand, if you have experienced difficulty or tragedy that affected you deeply, you may choose to write about this experience in your college application. In order to write a great essay however, you need to realize that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this topic type. Still another essay I had a student complaining about how she didn’t like traditional school so switched to homeschooling. But here, wouldn’t colleges wonder whether she could handle “traditional” college? The college essay provides a good opportunity to leave a long-lasting impression on the reader, apart from the interview and an efficient way to let the people in the admission know you closely. In addition to making sure that all of these things are included, you should also be aware of HOW you write your essay. Admissions committees want essays to be concise â€" you want to make your point in about 700 words or less. You should also make sure that your essay is coherent â€" that your ideas flow and your arguments make sense. Don’t be afraid to show off your writing skills, but don’t do anything that takes away from your core message. This video shows you how to write an effective college admissions essay. Finally, Rachel has a detailed list to work from. For similar categories of essays, Rachel plans to write one rough essay, then tweak it for different colleges. Tragedies, ultimately, can be very positive, transformative topics to write about as they often show us who we are under intense pressure. Do not shy away from writing about the bad in life as it is a relatable experience that all people will go through at one point or another. Furthermore, this type of essay invites comparison. The #1 mistake students make when writing about tragedy is effectively writing a “sob story.” This is an essay which only tries to make someone feel sympathy for you. I've compiled a few of my favorite essay examples for college applications for a variety of college essay topics. Check out my guide for tackling the most popular college essay prompts if you need a refresher. As a high school and MEK English teacher, Ashley brings ready classroom management skills and a strong rapport with students to MEK. However, she is also well-versed in MEK strategy for teaching College Test Prep, H.S. Test Prep, and College Application Essays. Now Rachel goes through her colleges’ essay prompts and groups similar essays together to come up with a list of what she has to write. This essay is an example of how to tell the story of moving to America in a unique way. This student focused on a single question â€" where is home? â€" and showed the reader a lot about who he is as a person. The essay is a joy to read, sharing a detailed glimpse of the student’s personality without feeling like it’s trying to list positive personal qualities. The paradox of the overzealous editing of the college essay by many helicopter parents is that they don’t know what a college essay is really about. Check out our article on the most common mistakes in college essays for more tips to ensure your essay reads well. Sometimes students pick the hardest challenge they’ve been through and try to make it sound worse than it actually was. Tons of students write doctor/lawyer/engineer essays; if you want to stand out you need to say a few things that others don’t tend to say. In my opinion, one of the best ways to write a successful college essay for your college application is by learning from real college essay examples that worked.