The Ten Most Common Types of College Essays and How to Approach Them
- Academic Interest Essay.
- Community Essay.
- Interest/Activity Essay.
- Personal Challenge Essay.
- Social Consciousness Essay.
- Interpersonal Essay Questions.
- Totally Unique Essays.
- Program Specific Essays.
What are the most common college essay topics?
Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts
- Prompt #1: Share your story.
- Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
- Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
- Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
- Prompt #5: Personal growth.
- Prompt #6: What captivates you?
- Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
- Describe a person you admire.
What kind of essays do colleges want?
As part of the college application process, colleges ask prospective students for a personal essay in order to learn more about them. They want to see context on each student’s background, positive traits that the student could bring to campus, and examples of the student demonstrating those qualities.
What are the 2 main types of college essays?
- 7 Most Popular Types of College Essays. Dec 06, 2016.
- Narrative Essay. A narrative essay is the same as writing a story.
- Descriptive Essay. A descriptive essay is almost like a narrative one.
- Expository Essay.
- Persuasive Essay.
- Argumentative Essay.
- Analytical Essay.
- Report.
What is the most common essay topic?
Common Essay Topics with Subtopics
- Art. censorship of art and artists.
- Business & Money. small vs large business.
- Communication & Personality. technology and communication.
- Crime & Punishment. prisons vs rehabilitation.
- Economics. cash vs credit cards.
- Education. children and education.
- Environment. animals.
- Family & Children.
How do I make my college essay stand out?
A standout college essay has several key ingredients: A unique, personally meaningful topic. A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook. Specific stories and language that show instead of telling.
What should you not write your college essay about?
College Admissions Essay Topics to Avoid
- Summary of your academic and personal achievements.
- A sports-related obstacle or success.
- An immigration story.
- Tragedies you’ve experienced.
- Overcoming a challenging course.
- Someone you look up to.
- A volunteer experience.
- Moving to a new home.
Do colleges really look at essays?
Yes, every college essay is read if the college has asked for it (and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college’s review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.
What traits should I show in a college essay?
Here are 9 character traits that colleges often cite when they describe what they are looking for in students.
- Curiosity.
- Persistence.
- Risk-taking.
- Compassion.
- open-mindedness.
- Social Consciousness.
- Creativity.
- Collaboration.
What makes a great college essay?
Telling Your Story to Colleges
The best way to tell your story is to write a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you. Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through. Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of college essays, most of which are forgettable.
What are the 7 types of essay?
The 7 most common types of essay writing
- Narrative. Narrative essays are traditionally intended to tell a story based on the writer’s real-life experiences.
- Descriptive. Descriptive essays essentially paint a picture of something.
- Expository.
- Persuasive.
- Compare and contrast.
- Reflective.
- Personal.
What are the 6 types of essays?
There are 6 Types of Essays…
- Narrative Essay.
- Descriptive Essay.
- Expository Essay.
- Argumentative Essay.
- Reflective Essays.
- Proverb Essays.
What kind of writing is done in college?
Academic writing refers to writing produced in a college environment. Often this is writing that responds to other writing—to the ideas or controversies that you’ll read about. While this definition sounds simple, academic writing may be very different from other types of writing you have done in the past.
What are 3 good topics for an essay?
Some great ideas for your essay topic are:
- Your favorite childhood memory.
- Most recent travel experience.
- The death of a friend or relative that influenced you.
- The loss of a pet that changed your life.
- Your best friend and how you met.
- Your first time on a plane.
- The first book you read.
- The worst memory you have.
What are some common essays?
These are probably the most common types of essays you will come across and are a common format of essay required in exams.
The Expository Essay
- Academic Essay;
- Persuasive Speech; and.
- Five Paragraph Essay.
What is the best topic for essay writing?
Essays Topics About Yourself
- My Family.
- My Best Friend.
- My Hobby.
- My Mother.
- My Father.
- My Favourite Teacher.
- My Aim In Life.
- My Favourite Game – Badminton.
How long are college essays usually?
The primary essay for your college application, often called a personal statement, is typically around 400-600 words. The Common App personal statement — which is used as the primary application essay by more than 800 colleges — must be 250-650 words.
When should I start writing my college essay?
Aim to start your college essays during the summer before your senior year. After all, once senior year is under way you’ll also have to juggle coursework and other commitments, so having a draft or two completed will put you in the best possible position to submit polished, compelling essays.
What makes you a strong candidate for college essay?
Whether reflected in the essay or the thoughtful confluence of the academic course load and extracurricular activities, a successful applicant should highlight an ability to overcome obstacles and garner results. It’s about proving you can produce outcomes, both on the part of the student and the university.
Can you curse in a college essay?
Avoid swearing in a college essay, since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.
Should I talk about mental health in my college essay?
If you are going to discuss your depression, anxiety, or other mental condition in your application, do so in a strategic manner for the purpose of illuminating otherwise unexplained inconsistencies in your academic record.