How Important is the College Admissions Essay?
Your grades, your test scores and your recommendations are pretty well established and there’s not a lot you can do about them. However your college admissions essay is your one shot to stand out amongst the crowd and make a difference, positive or negative. Here’s a great article from USA Today that discusses the importance (or not) of the college admissions essay.
There are some valid opinions espoused in the article. Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers believes that a come-from-behind attempt using the essay is not a substitute for competency and consistency demonstrated through one’s progress in school. Also he warns that college admissions officers have become good at detecting paid embellishments to essays.
While I agree with the above I firmly believe that there are always factors that may have impacted one’s ability to perform in school academically. Perhaps you were part of a school sports team and there was always the issue of balancing your studies with your games and practice. You have an opportunity to communicate that the college admissions committee in your essay.
Parke Muth, the associate dean of admissions at the University of Virginia agrees with me and says that for some students the essay can make a huge difference both positively or negatively. Here are some of his observations and advice:
- Add the Human Touch: The main challenge is picking a topic. Any topic can work - or fail. However an essay about community service should be about a moment in time, perhaps a vivid story about a homeless person you helped that got you started with your humanitarian efforts. Like any good writing that will make your essay come alive.
- Get to the point: He believes students often start out with too wide a focus that by the time they get to the details they run out of room. Schools want the details, those specific nuances that are special about you and help you stand out! Providing too much context may dilute your uniqueness.
- Tone of voice matters: Muth further suggests you read your completed essays to your best friend. If it sounds like them, you’ve probably done a good job. If it sounds like a Ph.D. thesis, it’s probably not your voice, the voice college admissions committees are looking for.
- Avoid essays by committee: Students often have their high school counselor look over their essays, then their Mom looks it over, then Dad and a friend friend or two. By the time it goes through a bunch of people, the life is out of it. Show your essay to one or two people, that is it.
So to conclude, a balanced application with decent grades and test scores and a strong essay has the best chance. But for those who don’t have them there’s still hope. I would recommend you read entire article and I would also check out the ensuing discussion to see some of the other reader’s opinions.
