General Essay Information: College Admissions Essay Help

Greater Admissions Competition

Across the country, record numbers of high school seniors are applying for a predetermined number of slots in the freshman classes of colleges and universities. By the end of the 20th century, 78 percent of colleges reported an increase in the number of applicants. According to the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, total college enrollment will continue to increase through 2016.

The actual number of applications that students are submitting is also rising, due to three significant factors. First, most schools now prefer (and some demand) the online submission of applications, which is often easier for students to complete. Second, the number of schools accepting the Common Application continues to rise. These factors make it much easier for students to apply to multiple schools. Instead of painstakingly filling out separate paper applications for each school, computer generated and submitted forms need only be completed once and tweaked slightly for each additional college.

Another factor is often referred to as the snowball effect. Because there are more students applying to more colleges, anxiety about getting accepted increases. This anxiety results in students applying to even more colleges in an effort to increase their chances of acceptance. The magic number of applications, according to conventional wisdom, used to be six. In the past, students were advised to apply to schools as follows: two reach schools—ones they wanted to attend but whose usual admissions standards were set above their grades and test scores; two safety schools—which were considered easy to be accepted by; and two other schools at which the probability of acceptance fell somewhere in the middle of those extremes.

However, as the number of students applying to schools increased, the rule of six became obsolete. According to UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute, the number of students applying to seven or more schools is currently around 20 percent, double what it was in 1990. Of course, all those applications have made it easier for schools to become more selective, rejecting many more students than they used to. So students respond by submitting even more applications, and the cycle continues.

Increasing Importance of the Essay

The National Association of College Admissions Counselors reports that the essay continues to gain in importance as a key admissions decision factor. Almost 25.8 percent of admissions counselors surveyed report the essay to be a considerable decision factor, a 100 percent increase since 1993. Over 64 percent report that the essay was a considerable or moderate factor, exceeding teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, class rank, and the interview.

Because of increased competition and the likelihood that many of a school's applicants have very similar grades and test scores, it's important to have a part of your application that really stands out. What makes you stand out in high school—being the captain of the soccer team, student government president, or editor of your school newspaper perhaps—probably won't give you much of a true distinction in college admissions. Remember, there are over 40,000 public and private secondary schools in the country, which means that there are thousands of team captains, class presidents, and newspaper editors. Therefore, your essay is the perfect vehicle to express your unique personality and take on life—something that is uniquely yours!

Even schools that say grades and test scores are the most important admissions criteria can end up making key application decisions based on the essay. Consider that hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants to the same schools that you are applying to will have near identical grades and test scores. How do admissions committees make their decisions then? They use the essay as a tip factor: all other things being equal, they consider whose essay is better than the rest. In this scenario, it can easily become the reason for accepting or rejecting your application.

You're In The Driver's Seat

Here's something to consider: at this point in your academic career, your essay is the only piece of the admissions puzzle left which you've got complete control over. You can't go back and change your grades or recalculate your class rank. You've probably already taken the SAT or ACT. Your recommendations are likely completed. However, your essay has yet to be written. Use this opportunity to highlight something on your application that only got a brief mention, show admissions officers how much you want to attend their school(s), and explain what you'll bring to the school community that very few other students will.

Your essay can also balance your grades and test scores, especially if they fall below the median reported by the school(s) you're applying to. If this is the case, you'll need something on your application that makes you stand out from the crowd and helps to make up for any shortcomings. A great essay can do just that, within reason.

Many admissions departments use a rating system that separates academic achievement from personal, and the two scores are both considered. Boosting your personal rating will obviously improve your overall chances—but it won't produce a miracle. As college counselor Susan Goodkin explains:

"The students who will be helped most by a strong essay are the ones in the middle. If you're applying to a school that admits mostly students with 4.0s and near perfect test scores, and your numbers are much lower, an essay wont do much for you. The numbers will be the deciding factor. But if you're in the middle range, a great essay can really help."