Fixing Common College Application Essay Errors
During the college application season, applicants are asked to write essays as a part of their written interview. These essays are based upon 8 possible topics that the student is free to choose from to respond to. Although, there are universities and colleges that sometimes choose the common app for the students or have a totally separate set of common app topics for the student to respond to. While these essays should be a breeze for students to write since this is just another form of an interview, their tendency when writing these essays are to exaggerate or create elaborate responses which end up not helping them to respond to the given prompt.So, what are these common problems and how do you solve it? Read on to find out.
Grades in relation to a chosen major
Under the extenuating circumstances, students who are applying for admission to a college major that his high school grades say he doesn't qualify for, this is the student's chance to explain why he thinks he will be able to complete this major when he clearly has a weakness in the area of learning.Solution: Explain that you have an ability to perform well in related tasks outside of the classroom. Detail the reasons why you did not perform well in those classes but add how you have developed your skills in the area beyond the learning corridors of the school.
Constantly changing fields of interest
As a high school student, you are expected to enroll in a regular series of classes. However, the academic achievers tend to go for AP classes instead. Just to better prepare themselves for college. Normally, students who enroll in AP classes never look back. So, when a student goes from regular to AP to regular classes, college reviewers will view you as an indecisive student who is not prepared for college life.
Solution: Consider the reasons why you kept switching around. Do you think the reasons are strong enough to justify your actions? If so then what could potentially be a problem for your written interview could very well be spun into a positive character depiction on your part.
The dreaded word, "Suspension!"
Did you tend to get sick for no reason? Did you not get along with your classmates? Ever get picked up for buying alcohol underage? Yep, these are problems that you won't be able to easily explain or justify to the reviewer.
Solution: Use these events to explain a growing experience on your part. If you can explain this as the event depicting a moral maturity or a sense of personal growth, then you can again, spin a negative into a positive experience for yourself that the reviewer can appreciate.
Missing out on school
While students are allowed an acceptable number of intermittent sick days, missing out on school for months at a time is a different story. If you have had a serious reason for missing out on school, you need to inform the reviewer. Anything from moving around because of your parent's profession to getting sick and needing medical treatment are things the reviewer needs to know about because these events affected your GPA and as such, needs to be addressed.
Solution: Let the reviewer know that during this time, you still focused on improving yourself academically. Focus on depicting activities related to your college interests which assures the reviewer that you are prepared to take on the challenges of the course curriculum.
Academic Integrity
While you want to portray yourself as a super student, no reviewer will believe that you completed a complex project all alone. Be truthful in all your presentations. Bear in mind that your essays need to fall in line with the possible comments of your teachers and principal when they write your recommendation letter.
Solution: Focus on your actual participation in the project and explain why your work was important to the completion of the objectives.
Over-described accomplishments
Some students think that embellishing on their accomplishments as a student or as a volunteer helps their case with the reviewer. They forget that the reviewer is going to double check the information that is being presented. The reviewer will not take your word for it. If you happen to have presented an exaggerated version of the truth, your application will be affected negatively.
Solution: Always be honest. Do not make yourself sound better in any scenario than you were. Honesty is very important in college applications. Don't waste it.
The common app essay will be your chance to create a first impression upon the reviewer. It is important that you treat this like a formal one on one interview. Be honest, don't lie, don't exaggerate. Put your true self out there for the consideration of the reviewer and admissions committee. That is the way to develop the best common app response essay, regardless of the topic you choose to respond to.