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How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?

What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.

Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.

Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.

How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.

650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.

On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.

Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.

Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.

For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.

Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.

If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).

In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.

While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .

Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.

Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.

Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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How Long Should a College Essay Be? | Word Count Tips

Published on September 29, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, if you write too little, it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.

Table of contents

Word count guidelines for different application types, how to shorten your essay, how to expand your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Each university has a different suggested or required word count depending on which application portal it uses.

Some application portals will allow you to exceed the word count limit, but admissions officers have limited time and energy to read longer essays. Other application portals have a strict limit and will not allow you to exceed it.

For example, in the Common App , the portal will not allow you to submit more than 650 words. Some colleges using the Common App will allow you to submit less than 250 words, but this is too short for a well-developed essay.

For scholarship essays , diversity essays , and “Why this college?” essays , word count limits vary. Make sure to verify and respect each prompt’s limit.

Don’t worry too much about word count until the revision stage ; focusing on word count while writing may hinder your creativity. Once you have finished a draft, you can start shortening or expanding your essay if necessary.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

On some application portals, you can exceed the word limit, but there are good reasons to stay within it:

• To maintain the admissions officer’s attention
• To show you can follow directions
• To demonstrate you can write concisely

Here are some strategies for shortening your essay.

Stay on the main point

It’s good to use vivid imagery, but only include relevant details. Cut any sentences with tangents or unnecessary information.

My father taught me how to strategically hold the marshmallow pierced by a twig at a safe distance from the flames to make sure it didn’t get burned, ensuring a golden brown exterior.

Typically, my father is glued to his computer since he’s a software engineer at Microsoft. But that night, he was the marshmallow master. We waited together as the pillowy sugary goodness caramelized into gooey delight. Good example: Sticks to the point On our camping trip to Yosemite, my family spent time together, away from technology and routine responsibility.

My favorite part was roasting s’mores around the campfire. My father taught me how to hold the marshmallow at a safe distance from the flames, ensuring a golden brown exterior.

These college essay examples also demonstrate how you can cut your essay down to size.

Eliminate wordiness

Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay. If a word doesn’t add value, cut it.

Here are some common examples of wordiness and how to fix them.

Use a paraphrasing tool

If you want to save time, you can make use of a paraphrasing tool . Within the tool you can select the “short” mode to rewrite your essay in less words. Just copy your text in the tool and within 1 click you’ll have shortened your essay.

If you’re significantly under the word count, you’re wasting the opportunity to show depth and authenticity in your essay. Admissions officers may see your short essay as a sign that you’re unable to write a detailed, insightful narrative about yourself.

Here are some strategies for expanding your essay.

Show detailed examples, and don’t tell generic stories

You should include detailed examples that can’t be replicated by another student. Use vivid imagery, the five senses, and specific objects to transport the reader into your story.

Reveal your feelings and insight

If your essay lacks vulnerability or self-reflection, share your feelings and the lessons you’ve learned.

Be creative with how you express your feelings; rather than simply writing “I’m happy,” use memorable images to help the reader clearly visualize your happiness. Similarly, for insight, include the follow-up actions from your lessons learned; instead of claiming “I became a hard worker,” explain what difficult tasks you accomplished as a result of what you learned.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

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.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

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How important is the college essay

How important is the college essay.

Bonus Material: 30 College Essays that Worked

If you’re getting started with the college application process, you’ve probably already given some thought to the application essays you’ll have to write. 

But a lot of students wonder how much these essays actually matter: do admissions counselors really care what you write here, or does everything come down to grades and test scores anyway?

In this post, we’ll explore how important the college essay is depending on the kind of university you’re applying to and the overall strength of your application–all backed up by data from polls of admissions officers. Knowing how the college essay factors into your overall application can help you approach it more strategically, maximizing your chances of earning an acceptance. 

Download 30 College Essays That Worked

Jump to section: How do colleges evaluate your application? How do colleges weigh the essay? Selective vs less selective schools “Strong” vs “weak” applications: strategies Next steps

How do colleges evaluate your application?

We’ve got a dedicated post just on this very question that you can check out here , but for now you should now that, at selective schools, the process will most likely resemble some version of these four steps:

Applications are organized primarily by geographical area and sent to the readers who work specifically on applications from that area. 

• Individual reads

Depending on school, between 1 and 3 people will individually read over your application, usually taking notes and usually giving your application one of our recommendations: Accept, Likely Accept, Likely Deny, Deny.

Note that this can vary a lot from school to school: a very selective school is much more likely to immediately put lots of applicants into the “Deny” pile while putting very, very few into the “Accept pile” initially. 

After a series of individual reads, the application is discussed briefly by an admission 

committee that reviews the notes from individual readers and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of your application. 

• Final decision

This varies quite a bit by school. Some schools make a decision by majority vote; others leave the decision up to the most senior member of the committee. 

How do colleges weigh the college essay?

Naturally, an exact number can be hard to come by. However, a recent poll of admissions officers taken by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling is indicative of the application essay’s importance: 

Source: NACAC 2018-2019 Counseling Trends Survey

While the four top categories are essentially quantitative, the next three aren’t: Positive Character Attributes and Essay or Writing Sample, and Student’s Demonstrated Interest are all expressed through your essays!

Even though the “Essay or Writing Sample” is only one category here, remember that your “positive character traits” are going to be most evident in your personal statement. And your “demonstrated interest” will be evident in each school’s supplemental essays. 

Looking at the numbers, 70.3% of polled admissions officers give your character moderate or considerable importance. What’s especially interesting is that, when it comes to SAT/ACT scores, 82.8% of admissions officers give them the same level of importance. While that’s certainly higher, it’s surprisingly close!

Viewed this way, your personal statements and supplemental essays can have a lot of influence on multiple elements of your application–not only on how admissions committees view your writing, but, far more importantly, how likely they are to think you’re someone with a positive character who’s legitimately interested in attending their school. 

If you want to read more about exactly what kind of topics you should focus on to make sure your college essay conveys those positive character attributes, you should check out our post on the Diamond Strategy here. 

There’s another factor to consider here: the application essay is the part of your application over which you have the most immediate control. 

By the time you’re applying to college, your grades are already mostly set in stone. Your standardized test scores, depending on your timeline, may also already be locked in. But the application essay is something you have full control over: you get to decide how much you invest into it, and you get to decide when it’s “good enough.”

Regardless of where you are in the college application process, our comprehensive, free guides can walk you through how to brainstorm your college essay and how to write it to maximize your chances of admission. 

Take a look below for 30 real essays that worked, ones you can use as inspiration. You’ll be able to tell that the writers of these essays took them seriously–and were rewarded with admission into schools like Princeton. 

Selective vs less selective schools 

Though the exact importance of the college essay at any given school is going to be murky, there are some general trends that hold true. 

One major one is that selective schools with fewer overall applicants will value the application essay more. 

According to the NACAC Admissions Trends survey , compared to less selective colleges, “more selective colleges also rated more highly the essay writing sample, counselor and teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, and work.”

In part, this is practical: large, less selective schools (for example, most state universities) simply have too many applicants and not enough resources to meticulously debate the merits of your essay. For them, it’s most often a numbers game: if your stats are good enough and there are no red flags, you’ll quickly be sorted into the “Accept” pile. If your stats are far below the benchmark, odds are you’ll simply be denied.

At elite, selective colleges (Ivy Leagues, for sure, but also many of those smaller schools whose acceptance rates are below 30%), the situation is totally different. Fewer applicants and more resources mean that these schools can spend more time with each application. 

More importantly, because these schools essentially get their pick of the best applicants in the country, they’re often in search of ways to decide among them. Because most applicants to these top-tier schools will all have stellar grades and near perfect test-scores, those quantitative aspects of the application don’t serve to distinguish one applicant from another–they’re really more like prerequisites. 

So, if a school like Princeton is looking at thousands of applications with similar (amazing) grades and similar (amazing) test scores, what do they look at? Extracurriculars, certainly, but also those intangible things like “character” and “demonstrated interest.” In other words: your essay. 

In those situations, the essay may become even more important in the application process than the statistics cited above suggest. This of course assumes that your test scores and GPA are strong enough to make the cut: most evidence suggests that a strong essay won’t, on its own, be enough to save an otherwise weak application.

“Strong” vs “weak” application: strategies. 

The other key factor to consider is your relative strength as an applicant for any given university. 

Let’s take a hypothetical student with a 3.9 unweighted GPA and 1550 SAT who took tons of AP classes. If this student applies to a university like York College, which had an average GPA of 3.02 and SAT of 1055 for the incoming class of 2026, their essay isn’t going to matter very much. Their stats are so comparatively high that, whether the essay is mediocre or amazing, it’ll make little difference. 

Witn one caveat: a personal statement that raises serious red flags can disqualify even that stellar applicant from a less-selective school like York. That kind of college essay is rare, but it’s worth mentioning that a really, really terrible college essay can sink the application of any candidate. 

But let’s say that same student now applies to Duke University, with an acceptance rate under 10%, an average SAT of 1510, and an average GPA of 4.19 for the class of 2026. Now, this student’s amazing academic accomplishments are more or less just par for the course: they won’t automatically be rejected, but nobody on the admissions committee is going to be blown away by their score or grades either. 

Here, the essay (along with extracurriculars and other factors) can serve as the deciding factor between similar, extremely qualified candidates. In this case, the student needs a college essay that makes them stand out. 

All other things being equal, a well-written, safe essay that is perfectly okay but not memorable won’t help the student in the admissions process. It might not literally “hurt” them, but it will have been a wasted opportunity to impress admissions officers. In cases like these–where a student is an average or below average applicant at a highly selective school–it generally benefits to take risks, aiming for a college admissions essay that is unusual, unexpected, and memorable. 

Note: when it comes to schools like Ivies, basically nobody is a “strong” applicant by their numbers. At best, you’ll be an average (for the school) applicant who’ll get a fair and thorough consideration. But never expect that your test scores or grades will be enough to impress admissions committees at the highest tier of selective universities. 

So, your overall application strength and the schools you’re applying to can actually significantly affect your college essay strategy. 

• If your goal is to get into an ultra-selective school, you can’t waste the opportunity presented to you by the college essay. Your application essay should take risks and be inventive (along with being a compelling piece of writing that shares something crucial about yourself). If you’re in this category, we highly recommend reading our guide on “How to write a college essay” . And you should definitely read through these 30 real essays that worked to get a feel for what kind of risks you should be taking. CU link]
• If your goal is to get into a less selective (above 30% acceptance) where your stats are significantly stronger than that of the average applicant, the college essay will likely matter less for you. You can get by with just a “fine” college essay.
• If you’re applying to a less selective school where your stats are not much stronger than that of the average applicant, there’ll be more importance placed on your essay. Once again, that means you’ll be well-served by taking risks and putting as much effort and time into your essay as possible. 

Of course, as we’ve suggested before, even a strong applicant can ruin their chances with a particularly bad essay. What’s the best way to avoid falling into that trap? We can pair you with a college essay expert who can help you walk the line between an appropriately risky college essay and a dangerous one. 

At the end of the day, there’s no scenario where a strong, creative college application essay is a bad thing. Given the insane competitiveness of college admissions now, you should be maximizing every opportunity to favorably impress college admissions committees. 

And that means taking the time to really perfect your college admission essay. In addition to our free resources and guides on how to do so, we offer live, personalized support from tutors who have themselves gained admission to elite schools like Princeton. Our essay tutors know what works because they’ve done it themselves. 

In the meantime, check out our whole series of posts on college essay writing (linked below) and download our collection of 30 college admissions essays that can help you figure out what the perfect college application essay looks like. 

  Download 30 College Essays That Worked

Top College Essay Posts

• 14 Best College Essay Services for 2023 (40 Services Reviewed)
• Qualities of a Successful College Essay
• 11 College Essays That Worked
• How to Answer the UC Personal Insight Questions
• How Colleges Read your College Applications (A 4-Step Process)
• How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays
• The Diamond Strategy: How We Help Students Write College Essays that Get Them Into Princeton (And Other Ivy League Schools)
• What is the College Essay? Your Complete Guide for 202 4
• College Essay Brainstorming: Where to Start
• How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays
• How to Format Your College Essay

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Just how important is a college admissions essay?

by: Venkates Swaminathan | Updated: May 5, 2024

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It’s a question any person involved in college applications gets asked a lot. Whether you’re applying to a selective private university or a state school, how much difference does a great college admission essay make? And what really makes for a great essay?

So here’s an answer. For college admissions, with some exceptions, the biggest factors are test scores and transcripts. Universities are always looking first for students who will be able to do the work they require. That means looking for students who have taken, and succeeded at, challenging academic courses in high school. It means students who have sufficiently high test scores on standardized tests . For most students, there isn’t really a substitute for showing you you can excel with a challenging course load .

There are exceptions, of course. Top athletes, musicians, actors, artists — all are examples of the exceptions. The criteria are often relaxed if you show some extraordinary ability at something the school really wants.

But for virtually every selective school, there are more students who meet the academic criteria than they can admit. And that is where the college essay comes in. A great essay can help set you apart from all the others who might get in. And unlike your grade on a Calculus course, a great college essay isn’t an objective evaluation, it’s a subjective decision. Different admissions officials at different schools will make different decisions.

That’s because what makes a college essay great isn’t based on what you learned in English class. A great college admission essay might not get a good grade in school. Here’s what college officials are looking for:

• Is it authentic and interesting? College admissions officials are looking for an essay that really shows who you are. As Parke Muth, who served at the admissions office for the University of Virginia, and read thousands of essays, put it : “I wanted to hear and see and touch and smell and feel the world you are in.”
• Does it stand out? Admissions officials read dozens of essays each day, so make sure yours stands out. The standard five-paragraph essay you wrote in high school doesn’t. So use literary devices (like one-sentence paragraphs, starting at the high point of your story, or dialogue) to set it apart. Pick a subject that is unusual, interesting, and personal, and isn’t just meant to “impress” someone (and yes, that means you shouldn’t write yet another essay about a community service trip to Honduras).
• Does it tell a compelling story about you that shows how you’d fit into the school’s community? Different universities value different kinds of students. Some value creative minds, some value students who care about causes and communities, some value students who are passionate about their culture or religious faith. Depending on where you’re applying, make sure your essay shows the admissions official how you’d fit in.
• Does it read like an adult wrote it? Too many students outsource their essay to an adult. A parent or a coach writes it for them, so they can write an “impressive” essay. But admissions officials can tell . It is the killer mistake, so don’t make it.

A great college essay is critical if you’re applying to selective schools. There are many students with your grades and test scores. Make sure you tell a story that sets you apart.

How to get started writing a great essay? One way is to take a course on writing great narrative essays. You can also work with a coach, or a writing instructor. But the best way to learn how to write is to do it. Write mock essays; practice; revise; write more. The more you write, the better you’ll be at it.

The good thing is, whether you use an essay for college or not, learning how to write is a crucial skill for success in the workplace and in life. So it’s great to build the skill early, and you can use it to be successful wherever you go to college.

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How to Write a College Application Essay That Makes an Impression

If you’re under the impression that grades and standardized test scores are the only admissions criteria that really matter, think again. While it is true that these types of hard factors carry significant weight throughout the admissions process, well-written essays that reveal your true personality are also extremely important.

When it comes time to start writing your personal statement and supplements, you need to work diligently and develop several drafts so you can create content you are genuinely proud of.

Keep reading to learn more about the importance of application essays and what you can do to stand out!

How Important Is the College Essay?

Your academic performance in high school indicates how well you might do in your college coursework, but it doesn’t paint the entire picture. College essays are critical because the admissions committee at most institutions, particularly more selective colleges, want to know more about you beyond grades and test scores. They want to know how you’ll fit into the campus culture, so your essay is an opportunity to share what makes you unique — your experiences, personality, perspectives, values, interests, and activities beyond the classroom.

What if essay writing isn’t one of your strengths? It’s a good idea to practice your essay writing skills before you even start applying to colleges by reading as much narrative nonfiction as you can. You can also find online courses on Coursera and other websites that focus on memoir and personal essay writing. You can also get help with developing your writing skills through tutoring at IvyWise.

Do College Essays Matter More Than GPA? 

Grades are the most important factor that admissions officers consider when evaluating applications. However, grades and GPA alone don’t guarantee admission. Each school has its own rubric for evaluating applications, and both your GPA and college essay are typically components of this rubric. Great grades can get you to the “let me think about it” pile, but a dull and uninspired essay can bring your rubric score down. However, a stellar essay can set you apart from other applicants who are similar to you academically, which can help the admissions committee narrow the field.

Thousands of students with similar GPA, course rigor, and test scores apply to the same colleges every year. It can be hard to stand out with the sheer number of candidates with similar academic qualifications. This is where other components of your application will come in, such as your college essay, that could tip the scales in your favor. While a great GPA is important, it doesn’t necessarily make you stand out. Other soft factors, like your essay, will.

How Important Is It to Be Unique in College Essays? 

Teenagers have such limited life experience that it’s not easy to be truly unique in college essays. Instead, focus on being authentic. Your essay should be an expression of your authentic voice—which in itself is unique. Keep in mind that admissions officers evaluate thousands of applications each year. You’re unlikely to write about something they haven’t read before. Choose a topic based on what you want the admissions officers to know about you— not what you think will impress them or be “different.” Often students trying to be unique in their essays—like writing in a poetic structure or in a weird voice—come off as disingenuous. Write an essay about a topic that will give them a good idea of who you are and how you will contribute to the school both inside and outside of the classroom.

Of course, a lot of things make you unique, and you can’t write about them all. Doing some research on what to write in a personal statement can help you focus on what will impress the admissions committee.

How Important Is Grammar in Writing College Essays? 

Strong essays also tend to be relatively free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes because they demonstrate your attention to detail. You aren’t expected to be perfect, but it helps to know some common grammar and spelling mistakes to avoid in essays .

Proofreading is essential to catch avoidable errors, especially since you can’t always rely on spell or grammar check to catch all your mistakes. And a second pair of eyes never hurts. You may find it helpful to ask someone else to proofread your essay.

4 College Essay Tips From IvyWise’s Admissions Counselors 

#1 demonstrate your interest.

In addition to a personal statement, many colleges include supplemental essay questions in their application. These supplements can be the perfect opportunity to articulate why you are interested in a specific school and demonstrate your knowledge of the institution. Some colleges may explicitly ask students why they are interested in their institution while other universities may include less direct prompts that focus on long-term goals and ambitions. Regardless of the nature of the question, applicants should strive to tailor their responses to the university they are applying to and weave in school-specific details that highlight their knowledge about programs and opportunities on campus.  

#2 Add Personality to Your Application

Every applicant is more than the sum of their grades, test scores, and extracurricular involvements . College application essays give students the opportunity to reveal who they truly are and the personality traits that set them apart. Consequently, students shouldn’t be afraid to use their own authentic voices in their essays and let their unique character shine through. Many essay prompts focus on moments of growth and self-discovery, which can provide applicants with an opportunity to discuss the personal experiences that have defined them and helped them grow. Instead of striving to write something that sounds academic, focus on creating compelling essays using your own authentic voice. It can be helpful to read your essay drafts out loud in order to ensure your words sound like something you would really say.  

#3 Reveal Something New About Yourself

Application essays can be the perfect place to reveal something new about yourself or discuss something that is not obvious elsewhere in your application. Students may wish to consider drafting personal statements about experiences that aren’t highlighted in their resume or transcript. For example, instead of writing about scoring the winning goal, a star athlete may choose to focus on an experience outside of their chosen sport, since it is likely that this extracurricular activity is referenced throughout their application. A student like this may choose to focus on what they learned from a summer job , a volunteer experience that changed their perspective, or a personal challenge that enabled them to grow.  

#4 Articulate Your Impact on Campus

Admissions officers are looking to admit applicants who will become active participants on campus . Take advantage of personal statements and supplements to convey not just who you are now, but what you wish to achieve. For school-specific supplements, applicants may wish to highlight the groups and programs that they are eager to join if admitted. Similarly, students may choose to weave in details about their future goals and ambitions in a personal statement, which can help give admissions officers a sense of the impact they wish to make.

• Learn how to brainstorm for essay ideas .
• Record an outstanding college essay video with these 6 video essay tips .
• Don’t fall for these 5 college essay myths .
• Use these resources for your college essay to help you excel.

College Supplemental Essay Tips for Particular Selective Schools  

• How to write the Brown supplemental essay
• How to tackle Yale supplemental essay
• How to write the NYU supplemental essay
• What strategy to use for Columbia University supplemental essays
• What to write in the Princeton supplemental essays

The Latest Essay Prompts 

Many colleges and universities require you to respond to one of the personal statement prompts on the Common Application. These may change each year, but the Common App essay prompts from the 2023-24 admissions cycle can give you some idea what to expect. You are asked to respond to your chosen prompt in 250-650 words, so it helps to be concise and focused.

The supplemental essay prompts will differ depending on the schools you apply to. Some schools provide quirky college essay prompts , but that’s good news. It means you’re encouraged to be creative! Plus, unique prompts can make the admissions process a little less daunting. However, you should still take all essay prompts seriously regardless of how unconventional or easy they seem. Take your time and provide a thoughtful response that gives the admissions committee insight into who you are.

Given the importance of college essays, students should start drafting their pieces well in advance. If you are currently working on application essays and looking for expert guidance, our team of college admissions counselors can help you find your voice. Schedule your Initial Consultation to speak to one of our experts.

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Home » IvyWise College Admissions Blog » College Admission Advice » College Application Tips » How to Write a College Application Essay That Makes an Impression

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Why College Essays Matter and How to Make Yours Stick Out

By Eric Eng

As you submit your college applications, you may start to wonder, “why do college essays matter?” This question makes sense when you think about all the application materials high school students have to submit. From completing an application and compiling a resume to getting letters of recommendation and high school transcripts, the list of items is long and even longer for certain schools and even different programs at the same school.

For example, in addition to all the regular application materials, USC requires students to respond to four additional essay prompts beyond the standard prompts on the Common App . Other schools require a personal statement or a statement of purpose, an autobiographical statement, or a diversity statement. These additional essays increase both the writing requirement and the importance of the essay to your overall application.

How important are college essays?

When applying for highly competitive schools, as many as 20 academically-excellent students might be vying for the same spot you are applying for. That means that admissions officers absolutely need the essays to truly assess whether each applicant will be an appropriate fit for the school. The essay is your primary opportunity to express yourself, share your unique life experiences, and give them a glimpse into your paradigms and perspectives.

Based on the admissions review process at the top 250 schools in the US, the essay accounts for one-fourth of your overall application score or rating. Other parts of the application account for more, like extracurriculars making up almost one-third, or less, your grades and transcript account for 20 percent, your test scores making up 15 percent, and your letters of recommendation and interviews contributing to the final 10 percent.

These percentage breakdowns make it clear that your essays are worth more than both your grades, your test scores, your letters of recommendation, and your interviews. Only extracurricular involvement accounts for more in the total rating of your application for admission. You don’t have to ask why do college essays matter. They are clearly just as important as the leadership roles and activities outside of academics you participate in, but even more important than your GPA and test scores.

How do you make yourself stand out in colleges?

As you write and revise your essays, you will undoubtedly want to know what you can do or how you can make yourself stand out to colleges. Your essays are one of the primary ways to do this. Any student can earn a high GPA or study for a high test score. Earning leadership roles while impressive is something other students are capable of as well.

But, the experiences you have, the opinions and perspectives that have been shaped as a result, are what you truly bring to colleges that is unlike any other student. Other high schoolers may have had your experiences of overcoming a difficult childhood or living with an inherited disease, but how you have dealt with those life experiences is unique only to you.

Your college essays are one of the ways you can also think about how you can make your essay more personal. Thinking about how and why your essays matter is a good way to approach the prompts you’ll need to respond to for each school. Despite common practices, there are four other factors that impact why your college essays matter: school size and type, your academic profile, your desired major, and whether test scores are optional.

1. School size and type.

Larger public schools tend to receive more student applications for admissions than private schools. At the same time, they may also have fewer admission officers available to review the increased number of applications.

As a result, large public schools tend to use screening methods for candidates to whittle their numbers down during subsequent rounds. The screen methods may include using minimum GPA and test scores in the first round, extracurricular activities and transcripts in the second round, and then more closely reviewing the essays of students in the third and final round.

Even if everything else is strong, your offer of admission may come down to how strong your essay is compared to other students in the third round of the application review. But, on the other hand, having a strong transcript with strong test scores and an impressive leadership record, then a less than stellar essay may or may not detract depending on how strongly the essay weighs for each admissions officer.

At more selective private schools, the essay would be considered holistically in the first round along with all the other application materials. More selective schools likely receive more highly-qualified applicants with equally impressive academic and extracurricular involvement, so using the essay as a sort of tie-breaker becomes a way to narrow the final group of admitted students down to the available slots.

On the opposite end, smaller schools, like liberal arts or science colleges, may receive fewer applications, so they can spend more time and resources evaluating each individual application. That means that the essay can be more closely scrutinized during every round of the application review process as an indicator of a student’s potential to succeed at the college.

Top-ranking private schools like the Ivy Leagues, and the public and “hidden” Ivies also utilize a holistic approach, despite the number of applications they receive. Their admissions process evaluates the entirety of the students’ background and characteristics for students who are already the cream of the crop. Essays become one more way to differentiate the students from each other and add an added layer of information beyond what’s in the rest of their application. There isn’t a GPA high enough to overcome a poor or substandard essay in these cases.

2. The value of your academic profile.

If you know you are a student who is not as competitive, applying to a reach school, and not bringing the highest grades and test scores, then having a strong essay becomes imperative to even be noticed among more qualified applications. But, do not think that writing a good essay can overcome poor grades or low test scores that are way below the average of the admitted class. Highly selective schools may admit students with lower than the average but this is rare enough to be something you should not expect or depend on.

But, for students who submit an impressive student profile with the typical high GPA, high test scores, and highly involved activities list, the essay may have a much smaller impact when compared to the overall application being of outstanding quality. This is a student who has already proven their ability to be successful. But, this type of student should still endeavour to submit an impressive essay that is worthy of being admitted into their highly-selective dream college.

It would be a terrible mistake to downplay the college essay , even for students with excellent profiles. The college essay always matters, especially for top candidates applying to competitive schools. You could even end up having the opposite effect of a poorly-written essay negatively impacting what would otherwise have been an application worthy of admission.

3. Your desired major.

Depending on the major to which you are applying, you’ll need to incorporate your personal interests, skills, talents, and achievements. Based on your desired major, the essay will become more or less important. For example, if you are applying to a writing major, like creative writing, English, or journalism, then your essay would need to reflect your interest and skills in writing.

Admissions officers would naturally expect you to be creative with writing and have a strong grasp of using language to express your voice and showcase your personality. It might be disappointing and result in rejection to find that a student applying for a writing major would submit a hastily written, unedited, or uninspired college essay.

On the other hand, students applying for math or engineering majors may receive some leeway when it comes to the writing of their college essays as their major depends less on writing. STEM majors may be judged less harshly on writing errors by admissions officers but even still, these students should have their essays reviewed by others to help overcome their weaknesses.

4. Test scores optional

As more and more schools give students the option to omit standardized test scores, the college essay becomes more important and matters more. The 15 percent of your application’s rating that comes from the test score is automatically eliminated when you opt-out of submitting test scores.

That means that every other piece of the application is worth more, though the increase may not be spread evenly among all parts. It’s possible that all 15 percent will go toward the essay, thus making it the most important part of your application. Or, it could be divided between extracurriculars, essays, and transcripts. Regardless, not having test scores with your application will naturally increase how much attention is paid to your college essay.

How do you make your college essay stand out?

When you work with our college admissions experts at AdmissionSight, you’ll likely be asking questions like, “How do you make your college essay stand out?,” and “How do you make your college essay more personal?” We can help you answer these questions.

Write using a realistic style and tone that is your own and not what you think admissions officers want to hear. Use diction that’s appropriate for the situation, and that comes from the real you and your real personality.

Don’t submit an English essay. You can use the writing skills that you’ve learned throughout high school, but remember that a college essay is different from a typical five-paragraph essay. You have more freedom and creativity to write however you feel. Don’t stick to the introduction-thesis-body paragraphs-conclusion formula, as this is not what admissions officers are looking for.

Use your own life for specific details and particular stories. Describe stories of overcoming challenges or implementing a change with concrete examples that incorporate sensory details. You want the admissions officers to feel as though they have gone through the experience. Entice them in a way that helps to give them a reprieve and a reward from thousands of other applications they’ll have to review.

Don’t lie, misinform, or plagiarize. Many schools use an automatic anti-plagiarism program that catches plagiarism quickly. This is a guaranteed way to have your application rejected. Copying someone else’s essay and presenting it as your own is unethical and basically, an academic infraction that would prevent you from achieving your academic dreams.

Stay away from doing anything dishonest. It would be better to submit a less-than-perfect college essay that you wrote yourself than to submit one that you copied from the internet or had someone else write for you.

Think carefully about whether you need to reference or include your Covid-19 experiences to explain any related academic, financial, or medical issues you’ve had to deal with. However, keep in mind that many students will take on this topic as well. It can very easily become repetitive and overdone for admissions officers who have to read so many of these essays.

Try to make sure that you balance talking about the pandemic with discussing other aspects of your life that are relevant, so that that experience doesn’t completely take over your essay.

Don’t use your college essays to simply regurgitate what you have included on your resume. The admissions officers will have access to your resume when reviewing your essays. They do not need you to repeat those details. Instead, discuss the less obvious events that explain what’s listed on your resumes, such as the work and effort you put in to become editor of your school newspaper or captain of your football team.

Demonstrate your interest in the school through your own research into the college, its history, the programs and majors it offers, and its student life. Use your essay to explain why you are a good fit for the school based on your research into the parts that are most relevant to you, such as their religious traditions or their offering of a unique and rare major that few other schools have.

Don’t be too arrogant or a braggart. If you write that you’re the fastest runner in your school, then you should be prepared to discuss why you have the 10th fastest time compared to other runners in your last competitive race.

Take some time away from your essay after you’ve written your first draft. You’ll want to give yourself enough time to go through several drafts of revising and editing. The time away will help to come back with more critical eyes and help you decide if you need to show the essay to someone else, like your college counselor or your college admissions expert.

Don’t write your essay about other people. You may be tempted to write about your parents as role models or your grandparents as inspiration, but this would be the wrong strategy to take. Your college essay may feature details about your family or other people in your life, but it should always circle back to you, how the relationship impacts you and pushes you to achieve more. The college essay is a great time to build confidence and demonstrate your self-esteem.

Make sure you actually answer all parts of the questions contained within the prompts. Check that you are answering the right question that you intended and that you haven’t accidentally combined elements from the other prompts. You’ll want to directly address the prompt throughout your essay.

Don’t procrastinate. You might think you have more time than you do, and before you know it, the deadline has arrived. Avoid waiting until the last minute to start your essays. You’ll want to give yourself a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on your writing speed and how quickly editors get back to you.

You’ll need plenty of time to reflect on feedback you receive, incorporate new revisions, and complete a final reading before submitting. You’ll also want to avoid the potential for application websites crashing, which has happened to the Common App website when too many students were trying to submit their applications on the deadline.

Be vulnerable and introspective. Admissions officers see enough students that are arrogant and pompous. Aim to be a student who has a healthy but humble appreciation for their own talents and skills, but who is ready to learn more and become a contributing member of a college community. These are the students admissions officers clamor to admit.

Don’t be repetitive. If you’ve already discussed your academic experiences in one essay, pick a different topic for other essays. Your goal is to illustrate who you are beyond the transcript, beyond the test scores, and beyond your surface-level background information.

Proofread and check for spelling errors one final time before submitting. You can even try reading your essays out loud to listen for errors. Admissions officers can excuse one or two typos but an essay that is riddled with mistakes shows poor execution and does not bode well for your application.

Essay Writing with AdmissionSight

Most students need direction and guidance in getting started writing their college essays. We can help you discover why college essays matter and what to do about them for your own applications. Contact AdmissionSight today to be paired with your personal college admissions expert.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how much do college essays matter.

Hi all, I'm a junior and I've started thinking about my college essays. I've heard some people say that essays can make or break your application, but is that really true? How important are they in the overall admissions process? I'm feeling a bit anxious about this.

Hey there! I can understand why you might be feeling anxious about your college essays, but don't worry too much. While it's true that essays can play a significant role in the admissions process, they're just one part of your overall application. Admissions officers look at a variety of factors, like your GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and more. Essays give you a chance to showcase your personality and share your voice in a way that grades and test scores can't. They can definitely help you stand out from other applicants, especially if you have a compelling story to tell or a unique perspective. However, a less-than-perfect essay won't necessarily ruin your chances of getting into a good school. Just try to be genuine, thoughtful, and well-organized in your writing, and don't be afraid to ask for help from teachers or friends if you need it. Good luck with your essays, and remember: this is just one step in the exciting journey of your college application process!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Yes! Many students have similar grades, test scores, and activities. Your college admission essay is the place to show what's unique about your character and personality.

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Supplemental Essays: How Important Are They?

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Supplemental essays can be the difference between an acceptance to your dream school or a rejection. These essays allow you to “speak” to the admissions readers like nothing else. After you read our article, you will be motivated to send in your very best supplemental essays for each and every college that requires them. Let’s get started! 

Purpose of supplemental essays

The purpose of supplemental essays is to provide alternative opportunities for applicants to reveal details about themselves that have not been mentioned in their application. Supplemental essay prompts often ask “why” the applicant decided to apply to a particular school. This is one way to let schools know that you are truly interested and that it is the right fit for you. 

How important are supplemental essays? 

Supplemental essays are very important because they can tip the scales in your favor!  First, consider that every college and university has some kind of admissions requirements. Usually, they decide whether to accept, or not to accept, an applicant based on all of some combination of the following factors: 

• AP or IB classes
• SAT or ACT scores
• Recommendation letters
• Supplemental essays 
• Extracurriculars
• Demonstrated interest

Typically, universities weigh these factors according to their own formulas to help determine whether or not to accept an applicant. It is completely up to the particular university to determine which factor should carry the most weight. Some schools put considerable weight on supplemental essays in order to get a more holistic sense of “who” an applicant is. 

Students are more than GPAs and SATs

Factors such as GPA or SAT scores do not always give admissions officers a good sense of who you are as an applicant. Therefore, supplemental essays provide another means for the admissions officer to get to know you and your interests. 

In fact, many colleges have begun to include more fun and creative supplemental essay questions. They do this to get to know their applicants on a more personal and less superficial level. Therefore, it is in your best interest to take supplemental essays seriously and try your best to impress the university you are applying for. 

How to do well on a supplemental essay

Writing a good supplemental essay can be the key to admission to a school you really want to attend. Follow the tips and guidelines below and be sure that you are putting your best foot forward!

Do your research!

Supplemental essay prompts usually have something to do with the educational institutions you are applying to. Therefore, it is critical that you complete some focused research prior to answering any supplemental essay. 

Research includes looking on the school website and social media channels to find out specific details about the: 

• Organizations

Once you have completed adequate research, use this research to your advantage. You should name drop specific details when applicable. These might include mentioning a particular professor or class in your response to demonstrate how much you connect with the school.

Most likely, this will give you a leg up against other applicants who give generic answers. The school will take note that you truly want to attend their institution based upon your knowledge for their niche opportunities. 

Check for silly mistakes

It can be so easy to go auto-pilot when responding to supplemental essay prompts.This might sound like a given, but  it is important that you check over your work thoroughly before submitting it to a college or university. You can easily check for mistakes by reading your essay out loud or asking a trusted family member or friend to read your essay. 

Do not repeat yourself

It is so important that you are not repeating yourself, either within the supplemental essay or within your application as a whole. For example, if your Common App essay details your relationship with playing soccer, do not write about soccer for a supplemental essay!

Being mindful of being repetitive  ensures that you can show the most well-rounded version of yourself while highlighting  every aspect of your personality and interests. Colleges do not want to read about the same thing over and over! Rather, they want to get a good sense of who their future students might be. 

Follow the word count

Most supplemental essays typically have a word count for applicants to follow. Staying within the prescribed word limit ensures that there are no issues with your application. If you go over the word count, there is a chance that a school will stop reading your essay or not even read it in the first place. If your essay is too long, try to take out transition words and look for places where a sentence is not necessary. 

Related: How to write 250 and 500 word essays

Be authentic

Being authentic is the absolute most important tip to follow when writing supplemental essays. Schools want to get a sense of who their applicants are, in fact, that is the main reason for supplemental essays! Being true to yourself and your story allows you to highlight personal strengths and quirks. In addition, if you are not sincere with information on your supplemental essays, it can be quite detrimental to your chances of acceptance. 

Related: How to write about yourself

What should a good supplemental essay reveal about you? 

A good supplemental essay should touch on the following points: 

• Provide more information about you
• Demonstrate your interests and expertise
• Show what you will bring to the campus environment
• Set yourself apart from other applicants

Common supplemental essay prompts

“why us” essay.

The most common supplemental essay prompt you will come across is the “Why us?” Universities want to know why they are a good fit for the applicant. Therefore, it is important that you select universities that are the right match for you to begin with. You can find this out by doing adequate research on the school to find out the specific programs and aspects that most align with your interests. 

“Why this major?” essay

Sometimes, applicants are asked to declare a major or apply for a specific college within a university. Some supplemental essay prompts ask applicants to describe their interests and future goals when it comes to their intended field of study. 

The community impact essay

This prompt asks you to describe how a community or experience has impacted you or how you have impacted your community. Ultimately, this supplemental essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to make a positive impact on your community. 

Also see: How to respond to the Common App essay prompts

Final thoughts

We hope that you now understand why supplemental essays are so important! They are often the part of your application that allow you to elaborate on what makes you you! Ultimately, you want to show the best side of yourself to all schools you apply to. By writing fantastic supplemental essays, you are putting your best self forward.  A good supplemental essay can be the difference between an acceptance or a rejection letter from your dream college. Therefore, wow them with your very best writing and authenticity!

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Does your College Essay really Matter? How important it is

Importance of college essay

Essays are one of many components of a college application. While writing a good essay is vital, it will not get you into college on its own. A fantastic essay will not compensate for an arrogant personality or poor statistics.

On the other hand, a poor essay may cast doubt on whether you are a good fit for the institution.

While various elements may determine the relative importance of essays, you should always do your best.

So, it is critical to read these responses knowing that you should still produce a well-thought-out essay that gives a clear picture of yourself.

How Much Does a College Essay Matter

Ideally, a college essay matters as it presents your capacity to write and make academic arguments by following instructions. The essay is required for college admission and contributes to your overall application mark.

However, the extent to which it influences your final application depends on the school you want to join and your profile.

You know a good GPA, strong standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities are crucial for your college application.

What about the essay, though? What difference does it make to your overall academic profile? If you are applying to universities, you’ll need to write an engaging college application essay.

A recent survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling showed the application essay plays a significant or fairly important part in admission choices for 56.4 percent of admissions counselors.

Your essays often account for 25 percent of your whole application for writing at the top 250 schools. This is only slightly below the 30 percent figure for extracurricular activities.

Essays outperform the 20 percent for grades and coursework, the 15 percent for test scores, and the 10 percent for recommendations and interviews.

Hence, the essay is a crucial component of the college application process. The essay allows the applicant to show off their writing style and highlight a key feature or aptitude in any other part of the application.

Optional essays may assist institutions in distinguishing between individuals who have similar qualifications. Writing the optional essay displays initiative and commitment to attending.

Furthermore, a powerful optional essay provides the admissions officer with additional information to consider in their selection.

Importance of Writing a College Essay to the College

The essay can vary in importance depending on the college. The grade and academic rigor are the most crucial aspects of any application. If you meet the requirements, the essay can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

In the application procedure, the essay is essential. This may be your only chance to demonstrate who you are, what you stand for, and your areas of interest.

The essay is different from the rest of the application, which consists of statistical data. It allows you to think creatively and tell the Admissions Representative why you are a good fit for the program.

Choose an essay topic that makes sense to you from the many options available. Maybe you would want to talk about a time when you helped your athletic team win a big game.

Perhaps you would like to elaborate on a mission trip you took to China. Even better, you may want to discuss about video games .

Remember to be creative with whatever theme you select!

It isn’t a text message, so make sure you use proper grammar and punctuation. It is also vital to remember that your essay should stay under the word limit. Usually, it is between 250 and 500 words.

Keep in mind that Admissions Representatives have a lot of applications to read, so you want to stand out while also engaging them in a short amount of time.

How Important is the College Essay to Students

The essay gives you a voice and a great opportunity to shine! One of the most crucial parts of a student’s college application is the personal statement.

It tells admissions officers about you as a person, your values and beliefs, and if you’d be a good fit for the school. Thus, while the essay is crucial, your GPA, standardized testing, and extracurricular activities are the most important.

It is especially true if you’re applying to institutions that adopt a holistic admissions method, such as top public universities.

This is your chance to give your application the third dimension. Speak to the admissions officers in a way that goes beyond your grades and test results. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 It is critical to be true to yourself when writing the essay, rather than the person you believe the admissions officers want. Summer is a great time to develop topics and go through numerous revisions before submitting your final essay with your application.

Tips to Pass and Make your College Essay Count

Tips for an outstanding college essay include:

1. Write about a Topic that is Meaningful to you

It may be a memory, a person, or a book—anything that has influenced your life.

2. Recount, but also Reflect!

Anyone can write about their game victory or their summer in Rome. You must provide more than a play-by-play or itinerary while recalling these occurrences. Describe how the experience influenced you and what you gained from it.

3. Be Humorous

An admissions officer will never overlook a student who can make them chuckle. But be cautious. What you find amusing and what an adult working in a college finds amusing are likely to disagree. Avoid one-liners, limericks, and anything else that isn’t appropriate.

4. Get Started as Soon as Possible and Compose Multiple Revisions

Set it aside for a few days and then return to it. Consider yourself in the position of an admissions officer.

5. No Duplicating Content

Your statement or application essay should not contradict or repeat any other component of your application. This isn’t the place to brag about your achievements or talk about your grades or exam results.

6. Answer the Question 

Don’t use an answer from another program to answer a similar question.

7. Have at Least one more Person Proofread your Essay

The best person to talk to is a teacher or a college counselor. Thoroughly check the essay to ensure it is devoid of spelling and punctuation issues before you submit it.

James Lotta

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College Application Essays Don’t Matter as Much as You Think

Correction appended, November 14.

Parents: sit down before you read this. Kids: deep breaths. You know that beautifully crafted, deeply felt, highly unusual college application essay you’ve been polishing? It might not make a difference for your college admission chances.

Stanford sociologist Mitchell Stevens spent 18 months embedded with admissions officers at an unnamed top-tier liberal arts college and found that, even in cases where students were within the admissible range in terms of scores and grades, officers rarely looked to the personal essays as a deciding factor. He wrote about his experience for The New Republic , and here’s the most interesting part:

Yet even in these middling cases, personal essays rarely got even cursory attention from admissions officers. There were simply too many files to consider in too small a time frame, and too many other evaluative factors that mattered much more. How likely was an applicant to accept our offer of admission? Had we already accepted anyone from his or her remote zip code? Had the applicant received any special endorsement from a college alumnus or a faculty member? Did someone in the office owe a favor to the applicant’s guidance counselor? Those are the questions that get debated before a verdict is reached. But during the hundreds of deliberations I sat in on over two admission cycles, I literally never heard a decision made on the basis of a personal essay alone.

The good news? Three former admissions officers I spoke to told me that, contrary to Steven’s observations, officers read every essay that comes across their desks. “We definitely read the essays,” says Joie Jager-Hyman, president of College Prep 360 and former admissions officer at Dartmouth College. “You don’t do that job unless you enjoy reading the essays. They’re kind of fun.” Elizabeth Heaton, senior director of educational counseling at admissions-consulting firm College Coach, and former admissions officer at the University of Pennsylvania, says she took notes on every single piece of writing a student submitted, whether she advocated for them or not.

The bad news? No matter how gorgeous your prose is, you can’t get into college based on the strength of your essay alone. “No-one ever gets into college because you write a great essay,” Heaton says. “You can not get in because you write a really bad one.”

And even Joan Didion herself wouldn’t get into college on her writing skills if she had lackluster grades or scores. The officers told me they did sometimes look to the essays to explain weaknesses in the application (like if there was a year of bad grades that coincided with an illness,) but they said that kind information was usually best kept in the “additional information” section of the application.

Some officers recalled moments when they were so moved by an essay that they advocated for the student to be admitted despite other weaknesses on the application, but none had ever recalled a time where that strategy had worked. “There were a couple of incidents were I really wanted to admit a student and recommended that they move forward because their writing and personal qualities were so interesting, but I was not successful,” says Shoshana Krieger, a counselor for Expert Admissions who formerly worked in the admissions office at the University of Chicago and at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. “There are certain cases where if a student is simply too far off academically, it’s then just not going to make a difference.”

“I never saw a phenomenal essay suddenly make up for everything” Heaton agreed. “These days, there’s just so little wiggle room to be able to make that call.” She also noted that it looks suspicious when a kid with mediocre grades and scores submits a spectacular essay, and raises doubts that the student might not have written it herself.

Later in his piece, Steven notes that the college essay may be more of a psychological outlet than a practical asset in the college application process, since it’s one of the only things that’s still in the applicant’s control during the fall of their senior year (most of their transcript and scores are already behind them.) Joie Jager-Hyman said she agreed with that assessment. “There’s so much anxiety right now in the air,” she said. “It’s the thing they feel like they have power over.” She also noted that focus on the essay could help kids become better writers in the long-run, even if it might not necessarily make or break their college admissions chances, and “that’s not totally a bad thing.”

So even if all the revising and nitpicking on the college essay may not help your kid get into college, it will almost certainly make him or her a better writer. So don’t put away that red pen yet.

Correction: The original version of this post misstated the location of Trinity University in Texas. It is in San Antonio.

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How much do essays really matter???

I'm running out of time to write my personal statement and supplementals by November 1st.

I know I will be able to write something mediocre by then, but it definitely will not be great, so I was wondering how important the essays are if everything else on my application is pretty good. (I'm planning on applying as a CS major to a bunch of state flagships/pretty selective schools.) My sister told me I should be fine, but I was wondering what all of y'alls opinions were.

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Is getting a college degree outdated?

The converging trends of a competitive labor market, ballooning university tuitions, new online learning alternatives, and fast-changing job roles has created a tipping point in the perceived value of college degrees. The percentage of jobs requiring a college degree fell from 51% in 2017 to 44% percent in 2021. And according to Gallup, the percentage of U.S. adults ages 18 to 29 who view college education as “very important” dropped from 74% to 41% in just six years. What does this mean for you?

• In today’s fast-changing world, a university degree isn’t the only road to success. In fact, data shows that only 25% of college graduates would choose to pursue the same educational path if they could do it again.
• On top of that, 41% say they would instead get a certificate that would instantly qualify them for an in-demand job.
• Whether you’re considering college, about to graduate, or already have your degree, many more options exist for finding success than ever before.
• Just be sure to give yourself practical experiences. That’s the key to continuous learning, and which can open the door to your next opportunity.

Twenty-one-year-old Eyal Bloom had almost zero business experience and only a high-school diploma. Nothing on her résumé said she could lead a remote project team with members in the United States, India, and Africa. But by applying what she learned leading a small unit when in the military, Eyal has done just that in her role at San Francisco-based startup Praxie.com.

• Soren Kaplan is a co-founder of Praxie.com , author of Experiential Intelligence , and an affiliate at the Center for Effective Organizations at USC’s Marshall School of Business.

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Get Accepted: What Is A Good GPA For Getting Into College?

Updated: Nov 9, 2023, 1:10pm

The higher your high school grade point average (GPA) is, the easier it will be to gain admission to the college of your choice. That’s a simple fact. However, the college admissions process is more nuanced than that. Standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and the rigor and variety of your high school classes all play a role in whether you will be admitted. But as more colleges and universities go test-optional , your GPA remains one of the most important factors in the admission process.

Read on to learn more about the role GPA plays in the college admissions process and then contact your admission counselor for more assistance.

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What Are the GPA Requirements for College?

Each college sets its own requirements and expectations for GPA. ACT® reports that the average high school GPA has risen from 3.22 in 2010 to 3.39 in 2021, demonstrating a trend of grade inflation. As a result, the value of a GPA is not as clear-cut as many students would like.

Most community colleges only require a high school diploma or GED® certificate for admission. If you want to attend a four-year school, however, having a GPA higher than 3.0 is ideal. Schools with more mid-level admissions selectivity may set minimum GPA requirements, usually asking for a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Surprisingly, highly selective Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Yale do not list minimum GPA requirements, but you usually need a 4.0 GPA or higher to get into one of these universities.

Wondering how you can do better than a 4.0 GPA? That’s where weighted GPAs come in. We’ll explore that more in the next section.

How Do Colleges Calculate High School GPA?

Calculating GPA can be both straightforward and complex. The traditional GPA is calculated on a four-point scale that converts grades such as A, B, C, D and F into scores of 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0, respectively, and divides the total score by the number of graded classes.

However, because classes like Advanced Placement® (AP) and honors courses are considered more academically rigorous, many high schools give extra weight to those grades. Weighted GPA scales exceed a 4.0. If your high school weights AP class grades with an extra point, for example, a B in that class would be worth a 4.0 rather than a 3.0. An A would be worth a 5.0.

Colleges may require applicants to self-report their grades and provide transcripts. Even so, every college’s admission board will calculate each applicant’s GPA according to their own scale.

A holistic GPA includes grades from every high school course you took, but there are other ways to calculate your GPA. Some colleges may exclude your electives and look just at your grades earned in core courses such as English, math, science and social studies. Other colleges may look more intently at your math and science courses, especially if you’ve applied for an engineering program or another STEM major.

What Is a Good GPA To Get Into College?

A “good” GPA for college admission depends on which college you’re applying to. Like we discussed above, if you want to get into an Ivy League university, your GPA should probably have a minimum 4.0 GPA. But most schools are not that selective.

To see how your GPA stacks up against the competition, research admissions data for your prospective colleges. The College Board provides a college search tool that allows you to view typical GPA ranges for most admitted students at a given college. You’ll see what percentage of admitted students had a GPA of 3.75 and above, 3.50 to 3.74, 3.25 to 3.49 and so on.

Can You Get Into College With a Low GPA?

If you don’t feel particularly confident about your GPA, there are other ways to make your college application stand out. You can still get into college with a lower GPA, but you’ll have to give extra care to other parts of your application. Here’s what to do.

Aim for High Standardized Test Scores

Although many colleges and universities no longer require applicants to submit SAT® or ACT® scores , scores are still welcome, and high scores can give your application a boost.

Colleges see high SAT scores , for example, as an indication that a student can excel in college-level classes regardless of their high school grades. High scores on either the SAT or the ACT can sway a college admissions board to look more favorably upon a low GPA.

Write a Memorable College Essay

Crafting a college essay that stands out involves writing skills, creativity and vulnerability. In some ways, the essay may be the hardest part of the application process since it’s not based on quantitative numbers like your GPA or AP exam scores.

The essay gives you a chance to show colleges who you are in your own words. And if your GPA misses the mark because you faced personal challenges that prevented you from doing well in your high school classes, the essay gives you a chance to explain your circumstances.

For students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, the essay has taken on even greater weight after the U.S. Supreme Court banned the use of race-based affirmative action in the college application process. The college essay is your chance to discuss how personal identity markers such as race might have contributed to your academic journey.

Commit to Your Extracurriculars

As numbers-driven as the college admissions landscape can be, admissions boards still want to know about each applicant’s passions. When students invest their time and energy in extracurricular activities , they showcase their interests outside of class.

Whether they partake in the Spanish Honor Society or the lacrosse team, students can use extracurriculars to showcase their strengths. By committing to a club or sport for several years, and by taking on leadership roles, students demonstrate their potential to become reliable leaders in and beyond college.

Apply to Less Competitive Colleges

Given that there are nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics , you have plenty of schools to choose from. Be realistic about your chances of admission to your schools of choice based on your GPA and overall high school performance. Make sure to apply to at least a couple of schools that you’re confident will admit you.

Prestigious public universities and student-focused liberal arts colleges are increasingly seen as desirable options for incoming college students who want a solid education without constantly worrying about maintaining a perfect GPA.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About College GPA Requirements

What gpa do you need to get into college.

Though some individual colleges set minimum GPA requirements, there is no overall minimum GPA for college. Even if you have a lower GPA, you can gain admission to a good college.

Can a 2.5 GPA get you into college?

Yes, if you apply to a less selective college or a college with open admissions. Most community colleges, for example, require just a high school diploma or a GED certificate for admission. Many public and private universities set more relaxed admissions policies as well.

What GPA do most colleges require?

A general rule of thumb is that a 2.0 GPA, or a “C” average, is required for admission to most colleges and universities. This minimum GPA can also be a requirement for financial aid, scholarships and graduation. Keep in mind that different colleges set different minimum GPA policies, and many colleges do not require any particular minimum GPA.

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Real Teenagers, Fake Nudes: The Rise of Deepfakes in American Schools

Students are using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of their classmates..

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A disturbing new problem is sweeping American schools: Students are using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of their classmates and then share them without the person depicted even knowing.

Natasha Singer, who covers technology, business and society for The Times, discusses the rise of deepfake nudes and one girl’s fight to stop them.

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Natasha Singer , a reporter covering technology, business and society for The New York Times.

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Using artificial intelligence, middle and high school students have fabricated explicit images of female classmates and shared the doctored pictures.

Spurred by teenage girls, states have moved to ban deepfake nudes .

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Natasha Singer writes about technology, business and society. She is currently reporting on the far-reaching ways that tech companies and their tools are reshaping public schools, higher education and job opportunities. More about Natasha Singer

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