How to Write Great Essays

HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
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for sun and sand was my first thought. Then, I wondered if I would be able to
go SCUBA diving there, in a real ocean, after only four months of taking
classes in the chilly pool at the local community center. Mr. Carlson told us
that we would be making trips to the coral reef in Ambergris Caye, and writing
up our findings as a report once we got back to school. I didn’t know yet that
the trip would begin to give direction to my life.
AVOID THE MOST COMMON ESSAY BLUNDERS
Admissions Directors note that the worst essays usually:
◆
are depressing.
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paint an unflattering picture of the applicant.
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are completely impersonal or unoriginal.
While just about any experience can be the basis of a great essay, keep in mind the
following tips:
◆
Positive is probably better.
You could write a superb essay on the anxiety you
have experienced as a teen (think cliché), or your struggle with depression, but
think about your audience. How many times does an admissions officer want to
read depressing topics?
◆
Focus on the recent past.
Readers want to know about who you are today, not
about your early childhood. Unless it has significant relevance to who you are
today, skip it.
◆
Keep unflattering experiences to yourself.
You want the readers to like you. Don’t
tell them about major screw ups or stupid things you did. You want to sound
competent and responsible. See “success out of failure” above.
◆
Avoid clichés!
“Peace in the Middle East,” “Why my volunteer position helps me
more than those I’m supposed to be helping,” “How my friend’s death taught
me to enjoy life more,” have all been done before, many times. Unless your take
on a popular topic is highly original and highly personal, you run the risk of bor-
ing your audience. Showcase your uniqueness by steering clear of obvious top-
ics and content.
◆
Think local, not global.
Large societal or political issues are usually not personal.
Subjects such as world peace, September 11, and Columbine have been
expounded upon by experts every day in the media, and you probably do not
have a unique perspective (unless you were personally involved, or directly
impacted). Think specific and personal, rather than abstract and global.

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