When we talk about essays in US universities, we tend to focus on general hints that are applicable to almost all scenarios. However, there are actually quite a few universities, including both public and private, that do not use the general application and instead ask applicants to respond to their own prompts to write an essay.
Fortunately, these clues are very similar to each other. When we collected them on various sites, including on the pages of admissions committees, we quickly realized that they could lead to some generalizations. We will share them with you in this article.
Essay tips are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the opportunity to share your interests, aspirations, and worldviews, so most inquiries ask about how your experience has affected you or what excites you about your studies or college activities. Below we have collected a lot of examples with analysis that will help you start planning and creating your own good essays.
This list gathers essay tips for major public universities and colleges in the top 50 and other popular schools that have their own unique questions.
- Some students have an experience, personality, interest, or talent that is so significant that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.
- The lessons we learn from the obstacles we face can be fundamental to subsequent success. Tell us about a time when you faced a problem, failure or life problem. How did it affect you and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on what someone has done for you that has amazingly made you happy or grateful. How has this gratitude influenced or motivated you?
- Describe the problem you have solved or the problem you would like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, an exploratory inquiry, an ethical dilemma — anything that makes a personal difference, regardless of scale. Explain the meaning of this to you and what steps you have taken or could take to find a solution.
- Discuss the achievement, event, or realization that triggered the period of personal growth and new understanding of self or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept that you find so appealing that you lose track of time. Why is this appealing to you? Who or what do you turn to when you want to know more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It could be a topic you’ve already written about, or one that responds to another invitation, or one of your own projects.
- Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: the person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your perspective on a specific current event.
- Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
- Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others, when your attention was focused on the greater good. Discuss the challenges and benefits of making your contribution.
- Was there a time when you challenged a long-established or recently accepted belief? How would you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
- What is the most difficult thing about being a student now? The Best What advice would you give to a younger brother, sister or friend (assuming they listen to you)?
