- Naperville Central High School
- Applying to College
- College Essays
College and Career Resources
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College Essays
Out of all of the components of a college application, the essay portion is probably the most time-consuming. It is also one of the most powerful components of an application as you have the opportunity to show a side of yourself that might not otherwise be seen in the application. You may come across two different types of essays in the process: the personal essay and supplemental essays. No matter the prompt, the endgame is always the same; the essay should be about YOU!
The personal essay is the most universal essay. There may be a required prompt or you may get to choose from a prompt. Both the Common App and the Coalition App have personal essays embedded in their application and you are able to choose which prompt you will answer.
Common App Personal Essay Prompts
Coaltion App Essay PromptsBe sure to follow the guidelines for word count in all essays you write.
Some colleges may not want a main personal essay and may ask you a different question related to your major or why you want to attend the institution. Other schools may have upwards of ten short supplemental essays. You can find what a college requires on their admissions website, but often times will not know all of the writing that is required until you start the application.
Essay FAQs
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What should I write about?
The essay ultimately needs to be about you and there should be some nuggets of information about you that is learned from the essay that cannot be found elsewhere in your application. Therefore, the options for how to get there seem almost limitless, which is daunting. Try a few of these brainstorming activities to get your creative juices flowing. Ethan Sawyer, aka The College Essay Guy, has great FREE resources on his website not only for brainstorming, but for writing an essay and to read samples. Check out his website here.
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Should I have someone proofread my essay?
Yes, absolutely! You can have multiple people read your essay, but remember, sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen results in too much feedback. The essay still needs to have elements of you and your writing in it. Mrs. Corder, College and Career Counselor, can proofread your essay. Make an appointment with her here. Some students ask a close family friend or trusted adult to read their essay as well as they can tell you what they learned about you from reading your essay. Another tip: read your essay aloud to yourself.
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Can I use humor in my essay?
Be cautious about using humor in a college essay. If you are not naturally funny, your college essay may not be the best place to start experimenting. Also, remember there will be various types of people reading your essay at different institutions. These people do not know you and may have varying opinions on what is funny and what is not.
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Can I write about another person who has shaped me in my essay?
Yes, but be sure the essay's focus is still on you. A good general rule of thumb is to keep the information about the other person to around 1/4 to 1/3 of your essay. The remainder of the essay needs to be about you. Colleges want to accept you to their college, not your hero.
