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Tips for Writing College Essays

• The best essays begin with a “hook” to catch the reader’s interest.
• To hold the reader’s interest, work toward your best point, not away from it.
• The college essay is not the place to show off your vocabulary.
• Now and then, stop fussing over details and inspect your essay as a whole.
• Brevity works best. Never use two words when one will do.
• 
  Show more than you tell. Use words to make the reader “see.”Active verbs pump life into your writing.
• Sentence variety keeps readers awake, alert, and interested.
• A balance of short and long sentences works best.
• Use transitional words to lead your reader through your essay.

The Final Check

Does the essay sound like you?
Have you used plain words?
Have you used exact language?
Does your essay have focus?
Are all the parts in harmony?
Is each sentence accurately worded?
Have you trimmed needless words?
Do you show more than you tell?
Have you used active verbs?
Is your language fresh?
Do you include verbal surprises?
Are your sentences varied?
Is sentence length balanced?

This material was taken from Writing a Successful College Application Essay: The Key to College Admission, by George Ehrenhaft. Published by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.