College essay writing can be one of the most stressful parts of applying to college, especially when you have to write several essays over the course of your applications. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone; this guide will give you 7 helpful tips that will make college essay writing easier on your time and stress levels.
1) Don’t procrastinate
Procrastinating will only make your life more difficult and you will be more likely to turn in a less-than-perfect essay. The best way I avoid procrastination to write my essay is by starting early. Start writing drafts for all of your essays, especially the longer ones that require research, right now. You’ll feel much better when it’s time to start writing and you won’t need as much time to do it. Ask friends or family members for help: Don’t underestimate the help you can get from people who know you well or have experience with college essays. They may have some good ideas on how to improve your work or even point out something important that you missed.
2) Do your research
Research is important. Many students have said that researching was the most time-consuming part of their essay writing process, but it also helped them come up with a lot of ideas for their essay. If you can’t find any research sources on your topic, then try doing a search for essays that are written about similar topics. These sources will provide you with more information on what the readers might be looking for in an essay and what they’ll want to know about your topic before reading it.
3) Develop a thesis
Developing a thesis is the first step in creating an essay. Your reader should know what your essay is about by the end of the introductory paragraph. What’s more, you should have given them at least one strong reason why they should continue reading it.
4) Outline your essay
Outline your essay. The introduction should include the thesis, and explain the argument you’re making in a clear, concise way. The body should be divided into three paragraphs: one for your topic sentence, one for your evidence supporting your point, and one for your conclusion (where you restate your thesis). Your concluding paragraph can also be used as a ‘call to action’–a way of telling people what they can do with what you’ve just told them. Finally, make sure that it’s proofread before submitting!
5) Write in your own voice
Writing in your own voice is important because admissions officers want to get an idea of what type of person you are. The best way to do this is through essays that sound like they were written by a real human, not a robot! Admissions officers want students who will add value to the community. If you can show them that you’re a thoughtful and interesting person with whom it would be enjoyable to spend time, then there’s a good chance that you’ll get in.
6) Edit and proofread your essay
Editing and proofreading your essay is one of the most important steps in the writing process. The more you edit and proofread your essay, the better it will be. Use a spelling and grammar checker as well as a friend or family member who can give you an honest opinion on your work. When editing, ask yourself if what you’re writing is relevant and well-organized. After that, be sure to cut out any unnecessary words or phrases from your work so that you can get down to what’s really important.
7) Seek feedback from others
Feedbacks can be essential in improving your writing. Just make sure you know what type of feedback is being given before deciding if it is a helpful critique or not. There are some people who have no idea how to give a good critique and will either tell you that everything is perfect, which may not always be the case, or they will provide extremely rude and unhelpful comments. Always take feedback with a grain of salt and try to use the advice for what it’s worth.