A school essay is an important part of any high-school education. It teaches students the skills they need to succeed in college and life. It is also a great way for students to explore their passions and become well-rounded individuals.
While the school essay is a challenging part of the application process, there are many things that you can do to make it easier for yourself. One of the most important things is to choose a topic that is relevant to your personal experiences and interests. This will help you write an essay that will stand out from the rest and impress admissions counselors.
It is also a good idea to start writing early on in order to give yourself plenty of time to revise your essay. It is also helpful to have a teacher, parent, or college student read over your essay for you and provide feedback. Finally, you should always include a strong conclusion that will leave readers thinking about the point of your essay.
One of the most common mistakes that students make in their school essay is choosing a topic that is too narrow. This can lead to an essay that is boring and difficult to read. Likewise, it is also important to avoid topics that have already been written about extensively by other students. For example, an essay about the Covid-19 pandemic would likely have been covered by several other applicants and would not be as interesting to read.
The school essay is a chance for students to share something about themselves that is not included in their application or on their resume. As a result, students often have trouble deciding what to write about. Many students turn to their teachers for help, but it is important to remember that the essay should be the student’s own work. Teachers can help with brainstorming ideas and advising on structure, but they should not write the essay for the student.
When choosing a topic for the school essay, it is best to focus on the most significant experience or achievement. However, it is also important to avoid overstating an accomplishment. Admissions counselors have read thousands of essays and can easily spot an overstatement. Moreover, overstating an accomplishment can make the essay sound unauthentic.
It is also important to remember that the school essay is a chance for students to show what makes them unique and special. As a result, it is important to choose an experience or accomplishment that demonstrates your strengths and skills. For example, if you are applying to an engineering program, it would be a good idea to focus your essay on an experience that shows your ability to solve problems and think critically.
Lastly, it is also important to keep in mind that the school essay is not a place to discuss racial identifiers. Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action, students should refrain from including racial identifiers in their school essay, as this can make an applicant seem unauthentic.
