what do colleges look for in a good application essay?
Lies that make you look good.
The college essay provides a chance to let your personality shine through, so let it shine! Tell a single story, a narrative concerning one of your deep-seated passions, something that urges you to salivate. Write about how this passion undeniably changed your life. Look at it from an admissions officer's point-of-view: you're reading thousands of essays. Stand out. You don't want to read something boring about SAT scores... (That's NOT what the essay is for, you've submitted that info elsewhere.) Be confident that your final product will make them utter "damn, we need to admit this kid."
Do not list things. Choose one important trait to base your essay on, and tell a story- like an actual story, with dialogue and everything. Finally- do you have fun reading this essay? The essay should be an enjoyable read.
^ I second gandalfwiz.
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