What do I need to pay attention to when submitting a college application essay?

The suffocating early application has come to an end, and regular applications are coming one after another. One essay after another, it really puts a lot of pressure on applicants. In such stressful times, students want to write the perfect essay, but they can also make fatal mistakes that can really shatter their college dreams.

Well, don't scare everyone, say something useful! Business Insider recently spoke with Abby Siegel, a 19-year college counselor, who shared seven of the most common application mistakes that students should avoid when applying

1.The reasons for choosing a university are not convincing. Students should not say that they chose a certain university just because of the class size, the student-to-faculty ratio, or whatever.

The answer is too general, there are many, many schools with small classes. The unique reasons why they want to attend a certain university should be unearthed to prove that they really know and really like it.

2.Forget proofreading. Students should proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Own application essays. You can ask teachers, parents, and advisors to have a look.

3.Failure to take advantage of opportunities to adequately explain extracurricular activities. The activity section of the CA system has specific restrictions on characters, and despite the limitations, students should not miss this opportunity to describe their extracurricular activities.

"Additional information" should be used to replenish it!

4.Even though the school didn't ask for it, a low score was submitted. The requirements of each school are different, and it should be understood that not all schools require standardized grades, and many schools are now "test optional".

Of course, there are also schools that require the submission of every test score. If you do well, it is naturally advantageous to submit your scores, but if your grades are not satisfactory, you should make sure that the school you are applying to has clear instructions for submitting your scores, and do not send low scores at will.

5.Submit your application on deadlines. It is highly recommended that students submit their applications earlier than the deadline, as submitting by the deadline will have a negative impact.

Admissions officers will think that the student is lazy, not motivated enough, or understand that the school you are applying to is not your first choice.

6.Neglecting opportunities outside of the application system to show your passion for the school. U.S. universities have begun to look for other areas to demonstrate an applicant's enthusiasm for the institution, such as a student's social page.

They can notice if you're their follower or not, and if they've liked it.

7.At the last minute, ask the teacher for a recommendation. Students should give enough time to the teacher they are recommending.

Each school requires applicants to write essays on a prescribed topic. Some schools are merciful and only need to submit one article, some are more cautious and ask for two, and some are insatiable, represented by the California Institute of Technology, to submit three! One is about the development of academic interests, the other about personality, and the other about "writing something interesting"!

The point of writing an application essay is to help the admissions committee get acquainted with you through the coursework, academic grade, test scores, and other aspects beyond objective data. It will also prove your ability to organize your thoughts, express yourself in words. This shows that the application essay is important.

The admissions committee says it's not important, claiming that the application essay is just a part of the application, not the only basis for admission, and that it should be written in a relaxed manner. So, what exactly does it mean and how should it be written?

In order to learn about application essays, you can look for content about application essays on ** in the United States. Some ** specialize in publishing free sample essays, which are the masterpieces of successful applicants. I've read several articles.

After carefully studying the works of my peers, the application essay is no longer so inscrutable in my eyes.

There is a word limit for application essays, which are generally 250 to 500 words. The 500-word article, translated into Chinese, is about 1,000 words. If you can use one word, you don't need two words, and if you can use a short word, don't use a long word, don't be super long.

For applicants who speak English as a foreign language, the most effective approach is to use more verbs and less adjectives and spoken language. "Action" is always the most expressive.

Tip 4: Variety your sentences. Avoid using short sentences throughout, which are concise and fresh, but can be a little naïve when used too much.

Chinese students are no more likely than American students to use language at will, and no one would think that American students don't know how to use long sentences. Chinese students, on the other hand, use long and complex sentences, which is more indicative of their maturity in English.

Tip 5: Article style. The style of the essay should fully reflect your natural style and writing techniques. In short, a successful application essay will put a flesh-and-blood person in front of the reader. That's what the application essay is all about.

Of course, in a thick application package, the application essay is nothing more than a thin page or pages. You can't expect an earth-shattering essay to impress admissions officers and get you into a school you didn't otherwise get into, or you don't have to worry about a bland essay that will turn you off the board and turn you away from a school that is supposed to be a sure thing. It is only for a small number of marginal students who are noncommittal that the application essay will play a decisive role.

1. Logical + concise When describing yourself, you must be logical and use concise language to describe things clearly. For example, if you write about love, American universities love caring students. If you only say that you are loving, but you don't say something concrete, it is very unconvincing.

You need to describe the time and place of the event, the role you played in the activity, your feelings, etc., so that the American university will feel that you are really a participant, not a bystander. Remind everyone that it is best to use the first person when narrating, and the narration should be logical and concise. For example, when he said that he was very organized, he served as the president of the school's art club, and let extroverted and sociable people do the work of coordination and communication according to everyone's situation; Let people who are good at thinking, active thinking, and innovative do the work of preparation and planning; Let the far-sighted and cohesive people do the scheduling of the whole work.

As a result of this arrangement, all members are at their best efficiency. 2. Personality + shining point When American college admissions officers look at students' essays, they are like a grading teacher reading a college entrance examination paper, and they have to read a copy in two or three minutes, so students must usually record more vivid events and use their own experience to move the admissions officer in the essay, that is, to find out the highlights in themselves, so that the admissions officer can have some impressions of studying abroad when they see your essay. Each student has a lot of shining points, such as excellent learning, strong organizational skills, caring, and has participated in many social practices.

Pay attention to "knowing yourself and knowing your opponent". When writing an application, students should inquire about what the school focuses on, whether it is the student's leadership or the student's creativity. When introducing your shining points, you can combine the characteristics and majors of the intended school to show that this major is your interest, and you can also use it to talk about your career plan, so that the admissions officer thinks that you are not only excellent in your studies, but also a student with clear goals and intentions to understand this school.

Third, to be real + to emotional people Because the English level is not up to it, many students will first write Chinese and then translate it into English word by word when writing essays. However, due to the differences between Chinese and English, it is best for students to think about writing in English.