College Admission Essays: Ten Myths about the College Essay

Writing Style Doesn't Matter

“It’s what you say, not how you say it.” Heard that one before? This concept is a close relative of the also untrue “It’s the thought that counts.” (Right, like I don’t care that you gave me an almost dead bouquet of flowers for my birthday instead of the CD player you purchased for your other best friend.) Of course the admissions committee is interested in what you have to say, and you should expend plenty of time and care choosing a topic for your essay.  But how you express yourself is also important. You’ll have to write tons of papers in college and graduate school, and the institution wants to know that your skill level is up to par. So don’t skimp on the writing effort. Draft and redraft until you’ve got a logical, focused, creative piece. And (she said in her sternest English-teacher tone) check your grammar and spelling. They do matter.

Finding the Right Topic Is No Big Deal

The flip side of the preceding myth is that the topic of your essay is not important. “You can write about anything as long as you write well.” Not exactly. True, zillions of topics are possible winners, depending upon how you handle them. But the admissions committee wants to see something of significance to you. If your essay leaves them scratching their heads, asking, “Why did this applicant tell me all this stuff?” you’re in trouble. And if you can’t figure out why you told them all that stuff, you’re in bigger trouble. Bottom line: Spend more than a couple of nano-seconds selecting a topic that reveals an important aspect of your experience or personality.

Focusing on a Certain Topic Guarantees Admission

This myth is more persistent than the aforementioned “Elvis is still alive” theory and just as silly: Write about your mother and they’ll definitely take you. Hahvah wants something with a lot of book titles in it. Agonia accepts only people who mention current events . . . especially wars . . . they love wars. Nope! No shortcuts here! You have to discover and develop your own topic and write it well. Accomplish that task, and you’ve taken your best shot. Then you’ll either get in or you won’t. The application process has no guarantees at all, ever, for anyone, and people who tell you something different are indulging in wishful thinking.

Discussing Any Topic Is Okay

Okay, this is a myth that comes close to the truth. But only close. If you handle a topic properly, nothing is an automatic rejection. However, warning flags may go up if the admissions committee reads about unresolved problems that are likely to cause trouble for you — and for the college — as you move on to the next level of study. So if you haven’t managed to finish even one homework assignment all year, if you have a persistent desire to cut class, or if something even more serious impedes your academic or personal life, seek help from a guidance counselor or trusted adult. And until you’ve got the situation under control, write about something else.

Following Instructions Isn't Important

Tempted to show your creativity by ignoring the word limit or specified format? Bad idea. No matter how many friends tell you that “they don’t really mean it when they say 500 words or less,” follow the instructions. Yes, your ten-page essay may land on the desk of an indulgent reader who has a couple of hours to kill before the mall opens, but it’s more likely to be perused by a tired, over-burdened reader who has to plow through a couple of hundred submissions before the mall closes. Also, ignoring their requests tells the admissions committee that you have a tough time obeying rules — not a good message to send to people who may want to ask you to attend class, keep the dorm clean, and do the assigned reading.

Talking about Ordinary Lives Is a No-No

Spreading faster than a computer virus is the myth that near-death experiences and starvation-level poverty are prerequisites for the college essay. Uh uh. A regular, happy life with non-psychotic parents and an average trip through high school also make the grade, at least in terms of essay material. The secret is that most applicants, generally young adults or late teens, haven’t had very many newsworthy experiences. But if you write about your own life honestly and thoughtfully, with the details only you can provide, you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Using Scholarly Language Is Impressive

When the admissions committee reads the essay, they want to meet a real person, not some souped-up version of a dictionary/encyclopedia merger. Nor do they want to see your latest research paper (unless of course they specifically request it) or a book report. So don’t plug in every word tested on the last SAT and ACT. Don’t twist normal verbal expression into some tortured pattern that appears intellectual. Sound like yourself (the “company’s here” version, not the “food-fight” version of your personality) in your application essay.

Writing One Essay Is Enough

You can — and should, in the interest of maintaining sanity — adapt one essay for several different applications. But if you try to squeeze an essay about a current issue into a slot the college has earmarked for a description of your views on art, you may be in trouble. I say “may” because censorship/funding of the arts is always in the news, and an essay about that current issue works well for the artistic-viewpoint question. However, if you wrote about soybean tariffs, you can’t make that essay relate to art. Bottom line: Don’t take shortcuts. Adapt where logic decrees you may do so, but write something new when nothing else will do.

Seeking Help from Lots of People Is a Good Idea

Many applicants, nails bitten to blood level and anxiety risen to stratospheric heights, look for help with their admission essays.  But don’t go overboard on the help aspect. First of all, some “help” crosses the line into academic dishonesty. Secondly, if too many people read and comment on your essay, you’ll go crazy sorting through conflicting advice. Choose one helper — a teacher, college advisor, or parent — and ignore everyone else.

Formatting Your Essay into the Standard Five Paragraphs Does the Trick

The standard five-paragraph composition is the workhorse of high school academics; it gets you through history essays, English reports, and a host of other assignments. However, it does not serve you well for an admission essay. Why? Because an admission essay is not homework. It’s an attempt to show the admissions committee that you’re ready for higher level work. Also, your life won’t fit neatly into the five-paragraph pattern. A bit more creativity is necessary!