Application essay tutorial: Follow grammar and writing rules
Writing an application essay takes some work. Most students would agree that it’s hard to write because it’s about you. Sometimes writing about yourself can be the hardest topic, even more than something that you know nothing about. An application essay is part of the package you’ll be giving to prospective schools to earn the right to study there. Writing one requires near perfect spelling and grammar, with the best writing you can do. Even though not all programs will require you to be a good writer, it’s a valuable skill to have for applying for school. Even if you’re going into chemistry or art history or something that isn’t English, you’ll still be writing lab reports and papers about art pieces. If you can show the school board that you know what you’re doing and what you want from them, you’re much more likely to be accepted.
Writing Tips for Application Essays
Here are some techniques you should use when writing your essay. Following these will help you polish the work you’ve done, as well as tailor it to the school you’re applying to. Every school does have different guidelines though, so make sure to refer to those first and this list second. These points are in no particular order, so try them at any time throughout your application essay writing process. Use whatever you think you need right now for this essay.
- Use your built in spell checker but remember that it doesn’t catch every mistake
- Have a friend read your essay and get their opinion
- Talk to people who have already been accepted to university (particularly the same school you are applying to) and ask them about their experience with applying
- Read some example application essays online
- Take the time to brainstorm ideas and look for more topics so that you don’t run out of things to say in your essay
- You can go off on a tangent as often as you want or ‘think out loud’ in the first draft because you can always edit those out in the second draft – just get your ideas out first
- Another tip is to go speak with a professor in the department you want to study in, if you can. Talk to him or her about why you want to be in this major and see if they have any advice for showing your passion in the essay
