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College Application Essays

Prepare for writing essays
Essay advice - General
The best essays to write
Don't just write your essays, "Show" your essays
Answer the "Why?" in your essay
Support your college application strategy
Recommended essay format
Brainstorming and writing
WARNING! Make sure your essay is yours
Online essay assistance
Summary of essay guidelines

Writing Winning Essays Using Detailed Descriptions

 

Detailed descriptions include details that make admission officers say, “I want to have this kid over for lunch” or ”I want to have this kid in my class.”  Your essays should have solid details about the writing topic - the who, what, where and when.  For example, if during your volunteer activities, you buy ice cream for your favorite elementary school student that you’re tutoring, don’t say, “I buy ice cream for one of my students.”  Instead, make your essay come alive by writing, “About once a month I treat Johnny to the local ice cream shop after our afternoon tutoring session.  Johnny is usually tired after our session but is always excited to take a stroll to the 31 Flavors™ to get his favorite mint chip ice cream cone.  We talk along the way and we get to know each other a little better each time we share some cold, tantalizing ice cream.  It is definitely a fun and rewarding outing, and I think it helps me communicate with Johnny during our academic lessons.” 

 

Winning essays involve the reader. 

 

To write a “winning essay”, you can use:           
           
Detailed descriptions.

Detailed step-by-step actions leading to the significant event or thesis of your essay.

Conversations with actual quotes from people in the conversation.