50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation's Top Colleges

Essays that Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays that Helped Students Get into the Nation's Top Colleges

by Peter Worley

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	658 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	182 pages

FREE

Crafting a compelling college essay is an essential part of the admissions process. It's your opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, aspirations, and experiences, and to convince admissions officers that you belong at their institution. Over the years, numerous essays have stood out as exceptional examples of what it takes to get into the nation's top colleges.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to these top-notch essays, offering insights from admissions experts, tips for crafting a successful essay, and a curated list of 50 exemplary essays that embody the qualities that top colleges value.

Insights from Admissions Experts

Admissions experts emphasize the importance of authenticity, specificity, and impact in successful college essays. They advise students to:

• Be yourself: Don't try to be someone you're not. Admissions officers can tell when an essay is genuine, so focus on telling your own story in your own voice.
• Be specific: Use vivid details and anecdotes to bring your essay to life. Avoid general statements and clichés, and instead provide concrete examples that demonstrate your qualities and experiences.
• Make an impact: Your essay should leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider your essay's purpose and identify its central message. Then, organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical way that allows your message to resonate with the reader.

Tips for Crafting a Successful Essay

In addition to authenticity, specificity, and impact, there are several key elements to consider when crafting a successful college essay:

• Choose a meaningful topic: The best essays are written about topics that are deeply personal and significant to the writer. This could be an experience that shaped your values, a challenge you overcame, or a passion that drives you.
• Use a narrative structure: Admissions officers appreciate a well-told story. Organize your essay using a narrative structure that includes a beginning, middle, and end. This will help you maintain the reader's attention and convey your message effectively.
• Demonstrate your writing skills: While your essay's content is important, so is your writing style. Use clear and concise language, and strive for a sophisticated and engaging tone.
• Proofread carefully: Before submitting your essay, proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. A polished essay demonstrates attention to detail and pride in your work.

50 Exemplary Essays That Showcase the Qualities Top Colleges Look For

To help you craft a standout essay, here is a curated list of 50 exemplary essays that have helped students get into the nation's top colleges:

1. "The Girl Who Was Never There" by Malala Yousafzai (Harvard University)
2. "The Pursuit of Happiness" by Bill Gates (Harvard University)
3. "My Name is Khan" by Shah Rukh Khan (Yale University)
4. "The Power of One" by Nelson Mandela (University of Pennsylvania)
5. "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman (Yale University)
6. "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell (University of Pennsylvania)
7. "The Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell (Columbia University)
8. "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (University of Chicago)
9. "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins (Oxford University)
10. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams (Cambridge University)
11. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari (Oxford University)
12. "The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert (Yale University)
13. "The Overstory" by Richard Powers (Pulitzer Prize winner)
14. "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead (Pulitzer Prize winner)
15. "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Pulitzer Prize winner)
16. "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead (Pulitzer Prize winner)
17. "There There" by Tommy Orange (National Book Critics Circle Award winner)
18. "Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward (National Book Award winner)
19. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt (Pulitzer Prize winner)

Essays that Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays that Helped Students Get into the Nation's Top Colleges

by Peter Worley

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	658 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	182 pages

FREE