first impressions count essay

The introductions you write to your essays are the ‘first impressions’ your lecturer will have of your work. If they are well organised and clear it makes the right impression – i.e. that you have understood the topic. Write a good introduction and you have taken the first step towards a good grade.

1. Know your audience. When going to an internship interview, a job talk or a networking event, first Google the people you'll be meeting to identify their research and other interests, says Alexander Todorov, PhD, a psychology and public affairs professor at Princeton University.

First impressions are manifested not only in perceivers’ explicit reactions but also in their spontaneous inferences. Implicit measures aim to capture the spontaneous impressions that are typically invisible to the perceivers — impressions they have formed without any awareness or intention.

First impressions determine how we handle the next step of getting to know the other person as the example of psychologist Solomon Asch has demonstrated. The experiment only highlights first impressions in a controlled environment, however, the reality governing first impressions is much complex.

First impressions count. So, it's important when writing essays not to lose marks by not creating a good first impression. If an essay 'looks the part', it has a chance of being marked more favourably than one that looks like it was churned out the night before the deadline.

When it comes to human perceptions, first impressions count. Customers will size up the way staff look in just a few seconds, and that few seconds will colour their attitudes from then on. Those few seconds can be so important that big companies are prepared to invest years, and millions of pounds, getting them right.

Write one long paragraph. Structure your ideas into clearly defined sections and it will pay off—an introduction, middle, and a conclusion will help admissions officers to understand your points as they read through quickly.

First impressions are made almost instantly, and they stick for a lifetime (but you can slowly alter them). To make the best first impression in almost any situation, you’ll want to: Make...

Positive first impressions lead to social cohesion; negative first impressions lead to biases and social prejudice.

Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. Read our guide to the UC personal insight questions for more tips on writing strong essays for each of the prompts. Essay #1: Leadership.