How do you write a college essay? What should a college essay include?
As UNH's Regular Decision deadline on February 1 approaches, it’s time to think about writing your college essay. Your college essay is your chance to use 650 words or fewer to both help you stand out from other applicants and tell admissions counselors something about yourself that’s not included in your other application materials. Be sure to read through the full requirements for your college essay on the Common App.
If you’re feeling writer’s block while coming up with a topic, or stumped about the structure of your college essay, have no fear! UNH undergraduate admissions is dedicated to offering you a variety of resources as you work on your application. Follow these tips to complete a compelling and true-to-you personal essay!
Keep following our Becoming a Wildcat blog series for the inside scoop on the application process and UNH admissions events.
How do I start writing my college essay?
Brainstorm your essay topic
The first step is to pick a topic to write about. Picking a topic you’re enthusiastic about will make the process fly by and ensure your passion and interest will stand out to admissions counselors.
Is there a particular story you want to tell? Part of your identity or life you feel is important to share? Think of your college essay as your opportunity to tell colleges something about yourself, your life or your story that is not included in the rest of your application materials.
What should I write my college essay about?
The Common App gives you seven prompts to choose from. Read through each Common App prompt to see if any one stands out to you or resonates with your life experience. It can also be helpful to set a timer and write for a few minutes about each prompt to see which ones generates the most ideas and enthusiasm.
Think of your college essay as your opportunity to tell colleges something about yourself, your life or your story that is not revealed by the rest of your application materials.
Did you know?
There are no supplemental prompts or essays required to apply to UNH beyond the Common Application essay.
Start with an outline
You don’t need to jump into writing right away. Consider starting your essay with an outline, where you write down a list of ideas that you plan to go through in the essay. Or, write your main idea in the center of a piece of paper and draw arrows off of it with ideas related to the topic. Either of these exercises will help you think about what details you need to include in your essay and the direction you want to take your topic in.
How do I write my college essay?
Start with a hook
Think about how you can creatively draw in the reader from the start. Maybe you can describe the scene of a story they are entering or come up with a creative first line.
Don’t write one long paragraph
Make sure to hit enter! By varying your paragraph sizes you add visual interest to the essay and also group together similar thoughts, ideas and events
Tell a story
Tell a story, with a beginning, middle and end. Writing your essay as a story takes your reader on a journey and can make your topic more exciting and easier to understand. For example, if you have always loved art history, perhaps your essay will be the story of your first visit to an art museum as a child, interspersed with examples of how art influences you in the present day.
Writing your essay as a story takes your reader on a journey and can make your topic more exciting and easier to understand.
Be specific
You only have 650 words, so pick a smaller area of interest or a smaller area of a larger topic to write about. While you might start with a larger idea, it’s helpful to narrow down as you go by thinking about the most important details to include.
Show don’t tell
Instead of just telling the reader how something is or that something is important to you, show them. This is where storytelling, examples and details come in. Make sure to take your reader into specific scenes, while also giving them background information.
Be different
Admissions counselors read so many essays, so take the opportunity to choose a unique topic that will help you stand out among applicants. You can also write about a more common topic in an uncommon way. Either way, make sure your essay is unique to you.
Write like you speak
You may be tempted to use larger words or to try and sound fancy in your essay, but admissions counselors will be more drawn to your essay if you show your personality and don’t make it overly stiff and formal. Vary your word choice without choosing overly complicated words you would not use in real life.
How do I conclude my college essay?
Crafting a conclusion
Referencing the beginning of your essay at the end can help tie the essay together. Be sure to also allow your story to look ahead to the future and give the admissions counselors a sense of who you will be in college.
Go back and edit
Check over your writing for grammar, spelling and other errors. Read it out loud or ask a friend or family member to read it over to get a new perspective.
With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to a successful college essay. Starting to write early is a good idea, as it gives you time to set your draft aside and return to it with fresh eyes. Remember, this is your chance to tell your story and introduce yourself to the admissions counselors, so be yourself and let your writing and story be as unique to you as possible!
