Writing a College Essay: Make a Match with the University

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Write a College Essay that Shows Why You Applied to Your Chosen College

An often overlooked aspect of writing college application essays is taking the college itself into consideration. In my work with teens as a College Coach, I walk students through exercises that help them internalize their decision to apply to a particular school, and then counsel them to let that inform their essays.

While your essay might be on any number of topics, customizing it to the school of your choice will not only attract admissions officers to your application, but it will also help you solidify your belief that this school will be a good fit for you.

How Do I Write a College Essay That Gets Noticed?

Before you choose your essay topic, spend some time going beyond the university catalog and into the school’s core values and mission. Think about issues that are important to you, and look into press releases and statements to see if the school’s values are in alignment with your own. For example, if you feel strongly about green energy, you may want to find out how the institution is updating to solar technologies, encouraging more efficient energy consumption within buildings, and incentivizing green modes of transportation. There may also be theories and methods within your field of study that convey the department’s narrow or broad approach to subject matter.

If you have had the opportunity to tour the college or participate in informal interviews, go over your notes to see what recurring values or themes were shared by the school’s representatives and students. Research the school’s president and board of trustees to see how their backgrounds and activities shape the school. Review the list of campus organizations, read an issue of the student newspaper, and even take a look through the endowment scholarships to get a sense of how the university operates in the world.

Once you have a strong sense of the school’s worldview, pause to consider if it’s in alignment with your own. Whether it is or isn’t, are there any non-negotiables? Are there any challenges to your way of thinking that you see as an opportunity for exploration and growth? Does it appear that you will have a place in this environment?

Considering all of these things before you begin writing your essay will put you on the path to a strong piece of work that conveys connection and belonging to the admissions officers who read it. This is not to say that you should attempt to simply parrot all of the college’s language and core values. Admissions officers will identify those attempts quickly and not look kindly on them. The goal is to look at what’s important to the institution, look at what’s important to you, and see where all of those values match. Once you discover the aspects where you are in strong alignment with the school, write to those perspectives.

College Essays That Get Attention

Doing this groundwork before choosing your essay topic should make that task much easier. You now have a sense of the values and beliefs that you want to express, so think through your experience to discover how they have played out over your life. Once you find the right connection, you have your topic. Keep your goals in mind as you write, and your final essay should send a message to the admissions office that you are a serious student who knows why their university is the best fit for your undergraduate education.

If the work of writing your application essays is daunting, it doesn’t need to be! Add an expert to your team to take the stress out of this process. I have walked alongside many teens who are every bit as nervous as you to create an effective application strategy to get into their school of choice. Contact me today to schedule a free strategy session. I’d love to help you achieve your college goals.

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