What Admissions Committees Are Really Looking For

What Admissions Committees Are Really Looking For Writing a college admissions essay can be a daunting task. Like it or not - its the one part of your college application packet that gets the most attention and often is the most time-consuming. Even with a perfect GPA and academic record, some of the best students fail to get into the top college of their choice because of one reason: They didnt stand out from the crowd of other applicants. With hundreds of other students applying who have equally perfect academic records, how can your admissions essay put you at the front of the line of other qualified students seeing your spot at the college of your choice?Or worse - if your grades are less than stellar, how can you use the opportunity to show the admissions committee that you have more potential than your academic record shows? The answer, of course, is to write an admissions essay that catches their attention. Admissions committees are aware that some of the best potential students might not be good test-takers; they know that the sum of your worth and potential is not only made up of your grades and standardized test scores.The introduction is keyIt goes without saying that your introduction is like meeting someone for the first time - its the first impression thats crucial. For this reason, you should spend the most time arranging and tweaking your introduction, letting the body and conclusion take secondary importance. You need your readers attention, and if you dont get it with the introduction, you wont get it at all.So tell a story, start with a question - find a perfect hook to grab your readers attention. Make your reader want - no, NEED - to read more, out of curiositys sake. When youre writing and planning, keep the following words in mind: unique, engaging, creative, and bold.Look at the two examples below:As a lifelong learner, I realize that education is important to achieve ones goals in life. After graduating high school, I have researched the best option for me to continue my educatio n, and XYZ University is that place.I dont remember much about her, but what I do remember has stuck with me. Often quoting passages from books and stanzas from poems, my Grandmother was a woman who showed me that life without Art, Poetry, Music, and the beauty of Language, is really no life at all.Do you see the difference?Which paragraph was more engaging? Which made you want to read more? If you say the second one, then you can know that youre in good company - thats what the admissions committee wants to see.Imagine that you are the one sitting in an office all day, reading over stacks of essays in order to determine which is the most qualified student. You will read over paragraphs upon paragraphs of accomplishments, community service, and organizational affiliation. The paragraphs will start to all sound the same until suddenly, the opening of an essay breaks the monotony and is a breath of fresh air, with information that shows a particular student is different, and that he or she is able to stand out in a crowd.Make sure that essay is yours.Big words dont mean big thoughtsApplicants who think that using a thesaurus will make their writing shine tend to miss the point of what the admissions committee wants to see. Using difficult words and advanced language is not nearly as important as having a voice that engages your reader. Writers who tend to use a thesaurus sound stuffy, formal, or worse. Remember: impress your audience with your style, not your word choice.Stick with the highlightsIf you have volunteered at 20 different community service events or organizations, dont list them all. Likewise, if you received several academic awards, dont use two paragraphs to discuss it. Generally, admissions committees use some variation of the following approach when writing their essay prompts:Tell us what sets you apart from other applicantsTell us what academic successes youve hadTell us why you want to go to XYZ UniversityTell us what youll have to offer if youre acceptedIf youve had few accomplishments, then focus on the other points. If youve had several accomplishments, this is much more difficult than it sounds. Rarely should you spend more than one paragraph discussing these accomplishments, so determine which ones reiterate the point that youre uniquely qualified. Also, consider using a blanket statement such as, in addition to achieving several awards for academic excellence, I have also been given the opportunity to work with Teach for America as a student mentor. There will most likely be a place on your application to list these awards separately, leaving you more room in your admissions essay to focus on what the committee wants to see.Praise the schoolAdmissions committees tend to be made up of alumni and former faculty members. The politics of who lets whom in the door can be especially difficult at Ivy League schools, or schools with limited space in renowned programs. For this reason - and since you never know who might be reading your essay - make it a point to focus your conclusion on why that particular university is the one for you. Do a little research, find examples of prestigious graduates, and get to know the points that make this particular school/program the best. Conclude your essay with an expression of your desire to be a part of such distinguished alumni. In this case, flattery goes a long way.