Here is some great advice from the New York Times on reducing the number of words in your common application essay or your college admissions essay.Shorter essays usually make a stronger impression, just like reducing a soup stock gives it a stronger flavor. However, when cutting words, examine the content. Compare this short, but general phrase:“Volunteering to help others is important to me.”with this slightly longer one that says so much more about a student, because it is specific:“I remember when I went to the Flint Homeless Shelter last year, for my weekly two-hour shift serving dinner.”Here is a sample essay that is very effective with only 79 words, from Fiske: Real College Essays that Work:
“Why Yale” by David Roosth
Upon a recent Yale visit, I conversed with a Yale senior in the admissions office about his experiences. He had only two complaints about the university: there were too many student protesters, and the university sands the roads instead of salting them in the winter. I love that Yale is a place where the students are motivated to change the world, and the faculty encourages them to act. Sanding saves the environment. What annoyed this Yale student impresses me.
Ask yourself: “What have I learned about David from this essay?” Then ask yourself: “What will someone learn about me after they read my essay?” They should finish with a clear, positive impression of you.Need more assistance with your college application essay? Write debbie@essaycoaching.com. We educate and motivate. You create.
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