Tips for the College Application Essay
College Essay Notes
From How to Write a Winning College Essay Application
By, Michael James Mason
(Highly recommend buying a copy of this book)
Five elements of a good college essay:
1. Something to grab the reader’s attention
2. Simplicity
3. Realism
4. Sincerity
5. Surprise
As you craft your personal essay, think about the questions and statements below to prompt you. Fit the content to the question your chosen university asks you.
1. Who are the five people who have most influenced you?
2. What do you read?
3. List three virtues that you admire and respect.
4. Discuss three significant lessons you have learned.
5. Tell us about three memorable experiences you have had.
6. Discuss a failure that taught you something.
7. Respond to three quotes that mean something to you.
8. Remember your greatest success.
9. Name five things that you know.
10. Discuss your definition of happiness.
11. What do your parents remember about you?
12. What are your earliest memories?
13. What is an education supposed to provide?
14. List and describe five special things about you.
15. What is your “one sentence philosophy of life”?
16. What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
17. What makes the world go round?
18. Picture five places you’ve been that impressed you the most.
19. What is your favorite social activity?
20. What is your favorite intellectual or artistic activity?
21. Describe yourself to a stranger.
22. Tell the story of a fear you conquered.
23. Discuss three goals that you have in life.
24. List ten things you like and ten things you don’t like at all.
25. What do your friends say that they like most about you?
26. What question have you always wanted answered and why?
