College Admissions Essays: Samples, Critiques, and Writing Tips
Here you'll learn strategies for writing stellar college admissions essays, and you'll find critiques of sample essays.
Common Application Short Answer on Entrepreneurship
Common App Short Answer -- Doug writes about a lawn-mowing business he founded for his response to the short answer question on the Common Application. Doug's response if followed by a critique.
Common App Short Answer -- Doug writes about a lawn-mowing business he founded for his response to the short answer question on the Common Application. Doug's response if followed by a critique.
Short Answer Response on Working at Burger King
What is the ideal short answer length on the Common Application? The instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
What is the ideal short answer length on the Common Application? The instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
The 6 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
This list helps you learn the ins and outs of each of the personal essay options the Common Application.
This list helps you learn the ins and outs of each of the personal essay options the Common Application.
Bad Admission Essay Topics
A bad essay topic can have disastrous results when applying to a selective college. Avoid these ten topics...
A bad essay topic can have disastrous results when applying to a selective college. Avoid these ten topics...
Short Answer Mistakes
To make sure your short answer shines, steer clear of these five common problems.
To make sure your short answer shines, steer clear of these five common problems.
Short Answer Length
The Common App instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
The Common App instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
Sample Short Answer on Soccer
Gwen writes about soccer for the short answer section of the Common Application, but her essay has several problems.
Gwen writes about soccer for the short answer section of the Common Application, but her essay has several problems.
Short Answer Essay on Running
This article presents a sample short answer essay (and critique) on running written for the Common Application.
This article presents a sample short answer essay (and critique) on running written for the Common Application.
5 Supplemental Essay Mistakes
College admissions officers see the five mistakes describe here all too frequently...
College admissions officers see the five mistakes describe here all too frequently...
Supplemental College Essay
Supplemental College Essay - This sample supplemental college essay for admissions was written for Oberlin College. The essay provides a strong example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental college essay and a discussion of its strengths.
Supplemental College Essay - This sample supplemental college essay for admissions was written for Oberlin College. The essay provides a strong example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental college essay and a discussion of its strengths.
Supplemental Essay for College Admissions
Sample Supplemental Essay - This sample supplemental essay for college admissions shows a good example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental essay and a discussion of its strengths.
Sample Supplemental Essay - This sample supplemental essay for college admissions shows a good example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental essay and a discussion of its strengths.
College Application Essay - The Job I Should Have Quit
An essay about an ethical dilemma
An essay about an ethical dilemma
College Admissions Personal Essay - Give Goth a Chance
This sample college admissions personal essay - Give Goth a Chance - was written for the Common Application essay option 5. Here you'll find the essay and a critique of the essay.
This sample college admissions personal essay - Give Goth a Chance - was written for the Common Application essay option 5. Here you'll find the essay and a critique of the essay.
Sample Weak Supplemental Essay for Duke University
This sample supplemental essay for Duke University's application makes many common mistakes. Read the essay and a discussion of its problems.
This sample supplemental essay for Duke University's application makes many common mistakes. Read the essay and a discussion of its problems.
Sample College Admissions Essay - Student Teacher
This sample college admissions essay tackles personal essay option number three of the common application--writing about an influential person.
This sample college admissions essay tackles personal essay option number three of the common application--writing about an influential person.
Sample Application Essay - Porkopolis
This sample application essay talks about Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism. Felicity wrote the essay for the Common Application.
This sample application essay talks about Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism. Felicity wrote the essay for the Common Application.
College Admission Essay - Eating Eyeballs
Read Lora's essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of her college search.
Read Lora's essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of her college search.
Common Application Personal Essay Option 1
Before responding to the first essay option on the common application, be sure to consider these 5 tips.
Before responding to the first essay option on the common application, be sure to consider these 5 tips.
Common Application Personal Essay Option 2
5 tips for an essay on an issue and its importance to you
5 tips for an essay on an issue and its importance to you
Common Application Personal Essay Option 3
6 tips for an essay on an influential person
6 tips for an essay on an influential person
Common Application Personal Essay Option 4
7 tips for an essay on a fictional character, historical figure or creative work
7 tips for an essay on a fictional character, historical figure or creative work
Common Application Personal Essay Option 5
5 tips for an essay on diversity
5 tips for an essay on diversity
Common Application Personal Essay Option 6
4 tips for an essay on a topic of your choice
4 tips for an essay on a topic of your choice
Sample College Admission Essay - The Allegany County Youth Board
A sample college admission essay written for the Common Application by a student applying to several highly selective colleges. Here you'll find the essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of the student's college application process.
A sample college admission essay written for the Common Application by a student applying to several highly selective colleges. Here you'll find the essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of the student's college application process.
Essay Essentials
Nearly every college rates the essay as either important or very important in their admissions process. A poorly executed essay can cause a stellar student to get rejected, while an exceptional essay can help a student with marginal scores get accepted. These tips will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of the admissions essay.
Nearly every college rates the essay as either important or very important in their admissions process. A poorly executed essay can cause a stellar student to get rejected, while an exceptional essay can help a student with marginal scores get accepted. These tips will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of the admissions essay.
Got Milk? A Quirky Admissions Essay
High school senior Courtney Duffy chose an unusual focus for her admissions essay: milk. Note how her essay carefully navigates the thin line between being serious and ridiculous. The essay is certainly unusual, but we learn enough about Courtney's passions and interests to prevent the essay from seeming flippant or superficial. Courtney got into her first-choice college: Trinity in Connecticut.
High school senior Courtney Duffy chose an unusual focus for her admissions essay: milk. Note how her essay carefully navigates the thin line between being serious and ridiculous. The essay is certainly unusual, but we learn enough about Courtney's passions and interests to prevent the essay from seeming flippant or superficial. Courtney got into her first-choice college: Trinity in Connecticut.
Choosing an Admissions Essay Topic
Some advice on choosing a topic for your college admissions essay.
Some advice on choosing a topic for your college admissions essay.