The Application Essay Formula

Rachel Hanson, Contributing Writer

Updated: 11/19/2008

Applying to a college can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are applying to multiple schools, the long list of items that has to go with each application to each university can become overwhelming in no time at all. For many students about to embark on a college education in the form of a bachelor degree, the most difficult item on the list of application materials is the application essay. If this has you worried too, take a deep breath, know that you're not alone on this, and begin slowly; in most cases, writing the essay can break down to a few simple formulas.

The Prompt

An important thing to remember before sitting down to write college application essays is that you should have a really good idea where you're going with your essay before you start writing it. Read the prompt for the essay many times and let the topic sit in your mind for a while. Mull it over until something pops into your head that's worth writing about. In most instances, something essay-worthy will pop into your head if you give your mind enough time to digest the essay prompt itself. A college application essay is much easier to write when the idea is already completely formed in your head.

The Formula

Imagine that the essay prompt is something along the lines of ‘Where do you see yourself in 15 years?' Take this prompt and imagine what an admissions officer wants to hear. If your wildest dream is to become a rock star and you're applying for a pre-med bachelor degree, it's clear that the admissions officer does not want to read a two page college application essay all about your future life as a rock star.

While this goes without saying, what the admissions officer DOES want to hear is a bit more elusive. Admissions officers want to hear about a well-rounded life in which one is using the college degree that was earned at their university. You don't have to portray yourself as the youngest CEO of a huge corporation, in fact, you probably won't want to portray yourself that way in your 15-years-into-the-future essay; admissions officers are looking for level-headed, goal-oriented students.

In this case, an admissions essay should focus on what you would like to be doing in 15 years. You should tell the degree that you earned and what it qualified you to do, whether you went on for a Master's degree or some other professional degree, where you worked and what your life is like. Again, making your life well-rounded, without becoming a cliché with a daughter, a son, a live-in nanny, a dog and cat in the suburbs, will appeal to the admissions readers more than an over-the-top successful business story. Appeal to the admissions officers as people, not as resume readers

Sound confident and goal-oriented in your essay. Tell a story that is convincingly realistic and one in which the reader can see a clear beginning, middle and end. Write your life story how you'd enjoy hearing it in a movie instead of writing ABOUT your life story. Of course, your essay should tell a lot of things, but it is also important HOW it is all told; the more enjoyable the reading is, the more likely the admissions officer is to put yours in a pile to take a second look at instead of immediately rejecting it.

Lastly, and hopefully this goes without saying, make your essay visually attractive. Follow the guidelines for margins, font size and spacing, and re-read your essay at least five times checking for spelling and grammar mistakes as well as making sure your essay reads well. Don't be afraid to spend lots of time on the essay; the essay is an important application piece alongside your grades and SAT scores.

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