college essay essentials

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College essay essentials : a step-by-step guide to writing a successful college admission essay

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• College essay

How to Write a College Essay | A Complete Guide & Examples

The college essay can make or break your application. It’s your chance to provide personal context, communicate your values and qualities, and set yourself apart from other students.

A standout essay has a few key ingredients:

• A unique, personal topic
• A compelling, well-structured narrative
• A clear, creative writing style
• Evidence of self-reflection and insight

To achieve this, it’s crucial to give yourself enough time for brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through every step in the process of writing a college admissions essay.

Table of contents

Why do you need a standout essay, start organizing early, choose a unique topic, outline your essay, start with a memorable introduction, write like an artist, craft a strong conclusion, revise and receive feedback, frequently asked questions.

While most of your application lists your academic achievements, your college admissions essay is your opportunity to share who you are and why you’d be a good addition to the university.

Your college admissions essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s total weight一and may account for even more with some colleges making the SAT and ACT tests optional. The college admissions essay may be the deciding factor in your application, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

What do colleges look for in an essay?

Admissions officers want to understand your background, personality, and values to get a fuller picture of you beyond your test scores and grades. Here’s what colleges look for in an essay :

• Demonstrated values and qualities
• Vulnerability and authenticity
• Self-reflection and insight
• Creative, clear, and concise writing skills

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

It’s a good idea to start organizing your college application timeline in the summer of your junior year to make your application process easier. This will give you ample time for essay brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

While timelines will vary for each student, aim to spend at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing your first draft and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Remember to leave enough time for breaks in between each writing and editing stage.

Create an essay tracker sheet

If you’re applying to multiple schools, you will have to juggle writing several essays for each one. We recommend using an essay tracker spreadsheet to help you visualize and organize the following:

• Deadlines and number of essays needed
• Prompt overlap, allowing you to write one essay for similar prompts

You can build your own essay tracker using our free Google Sheets template.

College essay tracker template

Ideally, you should start brainstorming college essay topics the summer before your senior year. Keep in mind that it’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic.

If you want to write about a common essay topic, such as a sports injury or volunteer work overseas, think carefully about how you can make it unique and personal. You’ll need to demonstrate deep insight and write your story in an original way to differentiate it from similar essays.

What makes a good topic?

• Meaningful and personal to you
• Uncommon or has an unusual angle
• Reveals something different from the rest of your application

Brainstorming questions

You should do a comprehensive brainstorm before choosing your topic. Here are a few questions to get started:

• What are your top five values? What lived experiences demonstrate these values?
• What adjectives would your friends and family use to describe you?
• What challenges or failures have you faced and overcome? What lessons did you learn from them?
• What makes you different from your classmates?
• What are some objects that represent your identity, your community, your relationships, your passions, or your goals?
• Whom do you admire most? Why?
• What three people have significantly impacted your life? How did they influence you?

How to identify your topic

Here are two strategies for identifying a topic that demonstrates your values:

• Start with your qualities : First, identify positive qualities about yourself; then, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.
• Start with a story : Brainstorm a list of memorable life moments; then, identify a value shown in each story.

After choosing your topic, organize your ideas in an essay outline , which will help keep you focused while writing. Unlike a five-paragraph academic essay, there’s no set structure for a college admissions essay. You can take a more creative approach, using storytelling techniques to shape your essay.

Two common approaches are to structure your essay as a series of vignettes or as a single narrative.

Vignettes structure

The vignette, or montage, structure weaves together several stories united by a common theme. Each story should demonstrate one of your values or qualities and conclude with an insight or future outlook.

This structure gives the admissions officer glimpses into your personality, background, and identity, and shows how your qualities appear in different areas of your life.

Topic: Museum with a “five senses” exhibit of my experiences

• Introduction: Tour guide introduces my museum and my “Making Sense of My Heritage” exhibit
• Story: Racial discrimination with my eyes
• Lesson: Using my writing to document truth
• Story: Broadway musical interests
• Lesson: Finding my voice
• Story: Smells from family dinner table
• Lesson: Appreciating home and family
• Story: Washing dishes
• Lesson: Finding moments of peace in busy schedule
• Story: Biking with Ava
• Lesson: Finding pleasure in job well done
• Conclusion: Tour guide concludes tour, invites guest to come back for “fall College Collection,” featuring my search for identity and learning.

Single story structure

The single story, or narrative, structure uses a chronological narrative to show a student’s character development over time. Some narrative essays detail moments in a relatively brief event, while others narrate a longer journey spanning months or years.

Single story essays are effective if you have overcome a significant challenge or want to demonstrate personal development.

Topic: Sports injury helps me learn to be a better student and person

• Situation: Football injury
• Challenge: Friends distant, teachers don’t know how to help, football is gone for me
• Turning point: Starting to like learning in Ms. Brady’s history class; meeting Christina and her friends
• My reactions: Reading poetry; finding shared interest in poetry with Christina; spending more time studying and with people different from me
• Insight: They taught me compassion and opened my eyes to a different lifestyle; even though I still can’t play football, I’m starting a new game

Brainstorm creative insights or story arcs

Regardless of your essay’s structure, try to craft a surprising story arc or original insights, especially if you’re writing about a common topic.

Never exaggerate or fabricate facts about yourself to seem interesting. However, try finding connections in your life that deviate from cliché storylines and lessons.

Admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and they typically spend only a few minutes reading each one. To get your message across, your introduction , or hook, needs to grab the reader’s attention and compel them to read more..

Avoid starting your introduction with a famous quote, cliché, or reference to the essay itself (“While I sat down to write this essay…”).

While you can sometimes use dialogue or a meaningful quotation from a close family member or friend, make sure it encapsulates your essay’s overall theme.

Find an original, creative way of starting your essay using the following two methods.

Option 1: Start with an intriguing hook

Begin your essay with an unexpected statement to pique the reader’s curiosity and compel them to carefully read your essay. A mysterious introduction disarms the reader’s expectations and introduces questions that can only be answered by reading more.

Option 2: Start with vivid imagery

Illustrate a clear, detailed image to immediately transport your reader into your memory. You can start in the middle of an important scene or describe an object that conveys your essay’s theme.

A college application essay allows you to be creative in your style and tone. As you draft your essay, try to use interesting language to enliven your story and stand out .

Show, don’t tell

“Tell” in writing means to simply state a fact: “I am a basketball player.” “ Show ” in writing means to use details, examples, and vivid imagery to help the reader easily visualize your memory: “My heart races as I set up to shoot一two seconds, one second一and score a three-pointer!”

First, reflect on every detail of a specific image or scene to recall the most memorable aspects.

• What are the most prominent images?
• Are there any particular sounds, smells, or tastes associated with this memory?
• What emotion or physical feeling did you have at that time?

Be vulnerable to create an emotional response

You don’t have to share a huge secret or traumatic story, but you should dig deep to express your honest feelings, thoughts, and experiences to evoke an emotional response. Showing vulnerability demonstrates humility and maturity. However, don’t exaggerate to gain sympathy.

Use appropriate style and tone

Make sure your essay has the right style and tone by following these guidelines:

• Use a conversational yet respectful tone: less formal than academic writing, but more formal than texting your friends.
• Prioritize using “I” statements to highlight your perspective.
• Write within your vocabulary range to maintain an authentic voice.
• Write concisely, and use the active voice to keep a fast pace.
• Follow grammar rules (unless you have valid stylistic reasons for breaking them).

You should end your college essay with a deep insight or creative ending to leave the reader with a strong final impression. Your college admissions essay should avoid the following:

• Summarizing what you already wrote
• Stating your hope of being accepted to the school
• Mentioning character traits that should have been illustrated in the essay, such as “I’m a hard worker”

Here are two strategies to craft a strong conclusion.

Option 1: Full circle, sandwich structure

The full circle, or sandwich, structure concludes the essay with an image, idea, or story mentioned in the introduction. This strategy gives the reader a strong sense of closure.

In the example below, the essay concludes by returning to the “museum” metaphor that the writer opened with.

Option 2: Revealing your insight

You can use the conclusion to show the insight you gained as a result of the experiences you’ve described. Revealing your main message at the end creates suspense and keeps the takeaway at the forefront of your reader’s mind.

Revise your essay before submitting it to check its content, style, and grammar. Get feedback from no more than two or three people.

It’s normal to go through several rounds of revision, but take breaks between each editing stage.

Also check out our college essay examples to see what does and doesn’t work in an essay and the kinds of changes you can make to improve yours.

Respect the word count

Most schools specify a word count for each essay , and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit.

Remain under the specified word count limit to show you can write concisely and follow directions. However, don’t write too little, which may imply that you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.

Check your content, style, and grammar

• First, check big-picture issues of message, flow, and clarity.
• Then, check for style and tone issues.
• Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Get feedback

Get feedback from 2–3 people who know you well, have good writing skills, and are familiar with college essays.

• Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your content, language, and tone.
• Friends and family can check for authenticity.
• An essay coach or editor has specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and can give objective expert feedback.

The checklist below helps you make sure your essay ticks all the boxes.

College admissions essay checklist

I’ve organized my essay prompts and created an essay writing schedule.

I’ve done a comprehensive brainstorm for essay topics.

I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me and reveals something different from the rest of my application.

I’ve created an outline to guide my structure.

I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of telling.

I’ve shown positive traits and values in my essay.

I’ve demonstrated self-reflection and insight in my essay.

I’ve used appropriate style and tone .

I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

I’ve revised my essay , checking my overall message, flow, clarity, and grammar.

I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

Congratulations!

It looks like your essay ticks all the boxes. A second pair of eyes can help you take it to the next level – Scribbr's essay coaches can help.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

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College Essay Essentials 1st Edition A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay

• Author(s) Ethan Sawyer
• Publisher Sourcebooks

Print ISBN 9781492635123, 149263512X

Etext isbn 9781492635130, 1492635138.

• Edition 1st
• Available from $ 14.99 USD SKU: 9781492635130

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College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay 1st Edition is written by Ethan Sawyer and published by Sourcebooks. The Digital and eTextbook ISBNs for College Essay Essentials are 9781492635130, 1492635138 and the print ISBNs are 9781492635123, 149263512X. Save up to 80% versus print by going digital with VitalSource. Additional ISBNs for this eTextbook include 9781492635147.

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Let the College Essay Guy take the stress out of writing your college admission essay. Packed with brainstorming activities, college personal statement samples, and more, this audiobook provides a clear, stress-free road map to writing your best admission essay.

Writing a college admission essay doesn't have to be stressful. College counselor Ethan Sawyer (a.k.a. The College Essay Guy) will show you that there are only four (really, four!) types of college admission essays. And all you have to do to figure out which type is best for you is answer two simple questions:

With these questions providing the building blocks for your essay, Sawyer guides you through the rest of the process, from choosing a structure to revising your essay, and answers the big questions that have probably been keeping you up at night: How do I brag in a way that doesn't sound like bragging? And how do I make my essay, like, deep?

College Essay Essentials will help you with:

• The best brainstorming exercises
• Choosing an essay structure
• The all-important editing and revisions
• Exercises and tools to help you get started or get unstuck
• College admission essay examples

Packed with tips, tricks, exercises, and sample essays from real students who got into their dream schools, College Essay Essentials is the only college essay guide to make this complicated process logical, simple, and (dare we say it?) a little bit fun. For high school counselors and college admission coaches, this is an essential audiobook to help walk your students through writing a stellar, authentic college essay.

Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©2016 Ethan Sawyer (P)

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College Admission and Essay Essentials Book Set: College Application Resources for Teens Paperback – September 29, 2020

You can get into the perfect school! Let the College Essay Guy take the stress out of writing your college admission essay and give you direction on every part of the admissions process.

College Essay Essentials Packed with brainstorming activities, college personal statement samples and more, this book provides a clear, stress-free roadmap to writing your best admission essay.

Writing a college admission essay doesn't have to be stressful. College counselor Ethan Sawyer (aka The College Essay Guy) will show you that there are only four (really, four!) types of college admission essays. And all you have to do to figure out which type is best for you is answer two simple questions:

• Have you experienced significant challenges in your life?
• Do you know what you want to be or do in the future?

With these questions providing the building blocks for your essay, Sawyer guides you through the rest of the process, from choosing a structure to revising your essay, and answers the big questions that have probably been keeping you up at night: How do I brag in a way that doesn't sound like bragging? and How do I make my essay, like, deep?

College Essay Essentials will help you with:

• The best brainstorming exercises
• Choosing an essay structure
• The all-important editing and revisions
• Exercises and tools to help you get started or get unstuck
• College admission essay examples

Inside College Admission Essentials you'll find: - Advice and insight from a team of counselors, advisors, and deans of admission - Interactive exercises that quickly and easily provide the best content for your application - Access to a massive database of online resources, including organizational tools and in-depth guides - Guidance for veterans, students with learning differences, LGBTQ+ students, students interested in women's colleges or HBCUs, and more

Ethan Sawyer (the College Essay Guy), along with dozens of top admission experts, will help you stand out by showing colleges and universities how your values and your drive will change you, your alma mater, and the world.

Packed with tips, tricks, exercises, and sample essays from real students who got into their dream schools, College Essay Essentials is the only college essay guide to make this complicated process logical, simple, and (dare we say it?) a little bit fun. And College Admission Essentials will walk you through every step of the process of getting into your top picks. The perfect companion to The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2020/2021 . For high school counselors and college admission coaches, this is an essential book to help walk your students through writing a stellar, authentic college essay.

• Language English
• Publisher Sourcebooks
• Publication date September 29, 2020
• Dimensions 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 172824000X
• ISBN-13 978-1728240008
• See all details

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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks (September 29, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 172824000X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728240008
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
• #29 in Teen & Young Adult College Entrance Aids
• #285 in College Guides (Books)
• #428 in College Entrance Test Guides (Books)

About the author

Ethan sawyer.

Ethan Sawyer is a nationally recognized college essay expert and sought-after speaker. Each year he helps thousands of students and counselors through his online courses, workshops, articles, and books, and works privately with a small number of students.

Raised in Spain, Ecuador, and Colombia, Ethan has studied at seventeen different schools and has worked as a teacher, curriculum writer, voice actor, motivational speaker, community organizer, and truck driver. He is a certified Myers-Briggs® specialist, and his type (ENFJ) will tell you that he will show up on time, that he'll be excited to meet you, and that, more than anything, he is committed to—and an expert in—helping you realize your potential.

A graduate of Northwestern University, Ethan holds an MFA from UC Irvine and two counseling certificates. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife and their amazing daughter.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Tips for crafting a flawless college essay that stands out among the competition.

Welcome to the ultimate guide for mastering the art of crafting a stellar college essay. The college essay is your opportunity to showcase your unique personality, experiences, and aspirations to admissions officers. It is a chance to go beyond your grades and test scores and truly make a lasting impression.

With this comprehensive guide, you will learn the essential steps to follow in order to create an outstanding college essay that stands out from the rest. From brainstorming and outlining to drafting and revising, we will take you through each stage of the essay writing process, providing tips and strategies along the way.

Whether you’re a high school senior gearing up for application season or a junior looking to get a head start, this guide is your go-to resource for crafting a compelling and persuasive college essay that highlights your strengths and passions. Let’s dive in and discover the key elements of a successful college essay!

The Best Tips for Drafting a Winning College Essay

Writing a college essay can be a daunting task, but with the right approach and mindset, you can craft an outstanding piece that showcases your unique voice and experiences. Here are some tips to help you draft a winning college essay:

• Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay. Procrastination can lead to a rushed and less polished final product.
• Choose a compelling topic: Select a topic that is meaningful to you and allows you to showcase your personality, values, and experiences.
• Show, don’t tell: Use vivid details, examples, and anecdotes to bring your essay to life. Show the reader who you are through your experiences and actions.
• Be authentic: Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be honest and genuine in your writing, and let your true self shine through.
• Follow the prompt: Make sure you understand the essay prompt and address it directly in your response. Don’t stray off topic or ignore the guidelines given.
• Revise and edit: Take the time to review and revise your essay multiple times. Look for clarity, coherence, grammar, and punctuation errors. Consider seeking feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers.
• Stay true to yourself: Don’t write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Be true to your own voice, experiences, and perspectives.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a compelling and memorable college essay that stands out to admissions officers. Good luck!

Understanding the Prompt and the Audience

When crafting your college essay, it is crucial to carefully analyze and understand the prompt provided by the college or university. The prompt is your guide to what the admissions officers are looking for in a strong essay. Take the time to dissect the prompt, identify key themes, and ensure that your essay directly addresses the prompt in a meaningful way.

Additionally, consider your audience when writing your college essay. Remember that the admissions officers reading your essay are looking for insight into who you are as a person and what you can bring to the campus community. Tailor your essay to resonate with the values and goals of the institution to which you are applying, and consider how you can make a personal connection with your readers through your writing.

• Thoroughly analyze the prompt to understand what is being asked of you.
• Consider the values and goals of the institution and align your essay accordingly.
• Think about how you can make a personal connection with the admissions officers through your writing.

Gathering Ideas and Outlining Your Essay

Before you start writing your college essay, it’s important to gather ideas and create an outline. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Brainstorm: Start by brainstorming potential topics for your essay. Consider your personal experiences, interests, and goals.
• Research: Conduct research on the topics you’re considering. This will help you gather more information and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.
• Outline: Once you have a clear idea of what you want to write about, create an outline. Outline the main points you want to cover in your essay and the structure you plan to follow.
• Organize: Organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical order. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your essay flows smoothly from one point to the next.

By gathering ideas and outlining your essay before you start writing, you’ll have a clear roadmap to follow and will be better prepared to craft an outstanding college essay.

Developing Strong Body Paragraphs

When writing a college essay, it is essential to have strong body paragraphs that support your thesis statement and provide evidence to back up your claims. Each body paragraph should focus on a single point or idea and be organized in a clear and logical manner.

1. Topic Sentence: Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point you will be discussing. This sentence should be clear and concise, outlining the focus of the paragraph.

2. Supporting Evidence: After the topic sentence, provide evidence to support your argument. This can include examples, statistics, quotes, or personal anecdotes. Make sure to cite your sources properly.

3. Analysis: After presenting your evidence, analyze how it relates to your thesis statement and supports your argument. Explain the significance of the evidence and how it strengthens your position.

4. Transitions: Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs. Transitions help guide the reader through your essay and make your argument more cohesive.

5. Conclusion Sentence: End each body paragraph with a concluding sentence that summarizes the main points and reinforces the paragraph’s relevance to the overall argument.

By developing strong body paragraphs, you can effectively convey your ideas and persuade your audience of your thesis statement. Remember to maintain a clear structure and provide compelling evidence to support your claims.

Highlighting Your Accomplishments and Values

When crafting your college essay, it’s important to showcase your accomplishments and values in a compelling way. Highlight the achievements that best represent your skills, talents, and character. Whether it’s academic honors, leadership roles, community service, or personal growth experiences, select the accomplishments that demonstrate your dedication and passion.

Additionally, don’t forget to weave in your core values and beliefs throughout your essay. Share the principles that guide your actions, the causes that matter to you, and the impact you hope to make in the world. By incorporating your values into your writing, you can provide insight into your character and perspective.

Editing and Revising for Clarity and Impact

Once you have completed your initial draft of the college essay, it is essential to allocate time for editing and revising to ensure that your essay is clear, impactful, and error-free. Here are some tips to help you refine your writing:

• Read Aloud: Reading your essay aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and unclear ideas. This method can also help you catch grammatical errors and typos that you may have missed during silent reading.
• Focus on Clarity: Make sure that each paragraph and sentence clearly conveys your intended message. Ensure that your ideas flow logically and coherently throughout the essay, providing smooth transitions between different sections.
• Check for Consistency: Verify that your essay maintains a consistent tone, style, and voice. Make sure that your language aligns with the overall theme and purpose of the essay, avoiding any sudden shifts in tone that may confuse the reader.
• Trim Excess Words: Remove any unnecessary words or phrases that do not add value to your essay. Aim for concise and precise writing that conveys your ideas effectively without unnecessary verbosity.
• Seek Feedback: Share your essay with trusted peers, teachers, or mentors to receive constructive feedback. Consider their suggestions for improvements and revisions, incorporating valuable insights to enhance the overall quality of your essay.
• Proofread Carefully: Before finalizing your essay, carefully proofread it for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Double-check formatting, citation styles, and any specific requirements provided by the college or university.

By dedicating time to edit and revise your college essay, you can elevate the clarity, impact, and overall quality of your writing, increasing your chances of capturing the attention of admissions officers and presenting a compelling portrayal of yourself.

Perfecting Your College Essay with Finishing Touches

After you have written and revised your college essay, it’s time to focus on the finishing touches that will make your essay truly outstanding. Pay attention to the following details to ensure your essay is polished to perfection:

By paying attention to these finishing touches, you can elevate your college essay from good to great and impress admissions officers with your attention to detail and polished writing skills.

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