How to Think Like a College Admissions Officer

If you are struggling to come up with ideas for your college admissions essay, a good thing to do is to put yourself in the place of the person who will have to read it. College admissions officers have a desk full of essays to read, so knowing what they are looking for is all about putting yourself in their shoes.

The college admissions officer is going to spend a lot of time feeling bored while reading these essays. Here are three ways to give yours a little extra punch:

  • Write from your own unique perspective – You’ve lived a series of life events that no one else has. So tell your story form your own unique perspective.
  • Have a strong narrative – Storytelling is an art. You have to grab the reader’s attention in the first line and then hold it by maintaining the energy of the essay all the way until it reaches a crescendo in the conclusion.
  • Use your own voice – Try speaking your essay into a transcribing program or record yourself saying it and then type it out. This will allow you to write the way that you speak. A spoken story is often told in a more exciting manner.

Get College Application Support from the Pros

College Planning Source is southern California’s go-to source for college application support. From helping you to know what college admissions officers are looking for to providing insights into when you should be taking each step of the process, we’re here to help. Give us a call today at 858.676.0700 or submit our online contact form to get started.

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