College Essay Boot Camp

What I found most challenging about writing a college essay was trying to find a way to tell exactly who I am and what I value in 600 words or less. This felt like a very daunting task but I through this process I have learned how to write a solid essay about myself. I think where I grew the most was in my ability to show not tell in an essay. The first draft of my essay had many cases where I would simply say I did something or felt some way instead of using words and images to evoke that feeling in the reader. An example of this was, ”Later that day, I realized why this quote meant so much to me.” This sentence didn’t have the impact I wanted it to have on my reader. I found that writing this way my essay did not have a strong impression on my reader. I asked my brother to read my essay and he gave me many helpful tips. The one that helped the most was to tell a story to get a message across. Taking that quote I had before, I decided to tell it using a story. I thought about the exact moment I had this realization and told that story. I changed it to, “As I boarded the number 99 Tri-Met Portland city bus to go to my aunt’s house, I saw a homeless man asking for change on the street. Suddenly I realized why this quote meant so much to me.” By telling it this way it paints a picture for the reader and gives them context to hold on to. This way of writing made my essay much more meaningful. Overall my writing has improved through this process and I know how to write something that is impactful. 

My College List:
Western Washington University 
Colorado State University 
Montana State University 

My Essay Prompt:
 Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.