With the intense competition for entry into Americas top schools, the college application essay is more important than ever. Although most students dread this assignment, it is the best way to distinguish yourself from other candidates, let the school get to know you, and add a personal touch to your application. Winning admission is about more than just GPA, class rank, and SAT scores. Universities are looking to build a student body with diverse talents, personality, and character. There is no better way to showcase these qualities than the college essay.
The first step in writing a winning essay to understand what admission boards are really looking for. Many students mistakenly believe that there is a correct answer to the essay questionthat colleges are expecting the student to espouse a particular point of view. However, the exact opposite is usually true. It is not so much what you say, but how you say it that matters. Is the writing original? Is the thesis well developed and logically supported? Is the writing grammatically correct and stylistically pleasing? These are the questions the essay reader is likely to have foremost in his/her mind.
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