how to write a short essay for a college application
TRANSCRIPT
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How to Write a Short Essay for
College Applica7ons
Essay Hell’s Tips and Advice for Cra6ing Essays Under 400 words
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Wri7ng Something Short
Can Be Harder Than Wri7ng Something
Long.
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The trick is to focus what you have to say.
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Most supplemental essays required by colleges are short.
Most are between 50 and 400 words: about one or two paragraphs
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The University of California changed its required admissions essays
to four, short essays (each less than 350 words)
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Read the prompt (the ques7on) closely.
Prompts tell you exactly what they want to learn in your essay.
O6en, it’s more than one thing.
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Start your essay with a specific example of the main point you want
to make in your essay.
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Don’t start with a sweeping, open-‐ended, broad general statement.
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Sample Prompt for Short Essay: Tell about a talent you have.
Do this: In the middle of Shubert’s Concerto No. 4, I glanced out at the audience and saw their concern that I might miss a note. I took a deep breath, spread my fingers over the keys and dove back into the piece with renewed intensity. Not this: I have always loved playing the piano and seemed to have a gi6 for it at an early age. My favorite part is playing recitals and I have won many awards for my performances.
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It’s best to start with a specific example of your point so you can “show” the reader
instead of just “tell” the reader.
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Just SHOW one piece of a moment or experience...
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… instead of TELLING everything about it at once.
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AYer star7ng with one specific example or “7me” that illustrates your main point, then go on to explain what it meant to you.
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This approach works for all essays:
Prompts such as: • Describe your favorite subject.
• Tell us why you are a fit for our school.
• What is the one thing that sets you apart from other candidates?
• Write about your greatest passion.
• Share a 7me that you faced a problem.
• Talk about one of your extra-‐curricular ac7vi7es or interests.
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Brainstorm Your Ideas First
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Then Narrow Them Down By Picking One Specific Example
Describe the moment, incident, experience or “Sme” in a couple sentences.
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The Example Will Be Your Introduc7on
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Use the Rest of Your Essay to Explain the
Meaning of that Example
• Describe the broader context or background • Explain how you felt and what you did • Directly answer the quesSon in the prompt • Include something you learned • Share why you believe it maVered or had value
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Make Only One Main Point in Your Short Essay
• Don’t try to cram in too much informaSon
• Only include ideas that support the one point
• Trust that one point answers the quesSon
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Concluding
• End on a broad note • Reflect on how you will apply what you learned to your future goals
• You don’t need a formal summary paragraph • Go out posiSve and forward-‐looking
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Go Ahead and Write It Long
Then Go Back and Trim It Under the Word Count
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Proof It Closely and
Make Sure It Answers the Prompt
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Congratula7ons! You now know the Big Secret
to wriSng effecSve short essays: Start with a Specific Example of your main point!
GOOD LUCK!
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For More Wri7ng Tips and Advice
on College Applica7on Essays
Click Below to Visit:
www.EssayHell.com