5 Tips for Writing an MSU Admissions Essay (2023)

FAQs

How do you start a college essay prompt #5? ›

The fifth prompt option for the Common App essay is as follows: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice. People in admissions often say that a great essay is one where it feels like the student is right there in the room, talking authentically to the admissions committee!

The application essay is your opportunity to impress an admissions officer with your determination and existing knowledge of your chosen subject. Make sure it reflects all of your skills and ambitions, and show how your chosen program will help you achieve future goals.

In your application essay, admissions officers are looking for particular features: they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

The very first sentence of your essay should be the “hook” or “grabber.” This sentence “hooks” readers or “grabs” their attention, making them want to read more. This first sentence should provide rich details, engage a reader's curiosity, or otherwise stand out from the rest.

There's one golden rule for a great introduction: don't give too much away. Your reader shouldn't be able to guess the entire trajectory of the essay after reading the first sentence. A striking or unexpected opening captures the reader's attention, raises questions, and makes them want to keep reading to the end.

The prompt reads as follows: ​​Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Despite the prompt being very open ended, it doesn't mean that you can just write about anything.

They look for depth in various disciplines (e.g., 4th year of a foreign language, 5th year of math, etc.) and challenging courses (Honors or AP's in some subjects). Grades in these classes represent the next most important criteria for admission. At highly selective colleges, SAT or ACT tests can be very important.

Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

How should I start my essay? ›

Your opening paragraph should introduce the subject matter and the points you intend to make. They should give some background to support the thesis statement you'll make at the end of the introduction.

The format of a 500-word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about 75-125 words, and it consists of 3-5 well-written sentences. If you are writing a story or personal anecdote, the formatting can be more like a novel than a news article. It is ok to use 10% less or more words.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of applicants, admissions officers consider both “hard factors” (such as grade point average and test scores) and “soft factors” (such as essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest).

Yes, every college essay is read if the college has asked for it (and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college's review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.

It's important to express your gratitude to the board of admissions. After stating your intent to enroll, thank the recipient for sending the letter and for taking the time to read your message.

The short answer is yes; there is nothing grammatically wrong with starting a sentence with a conjunction like but, and, or or.

What is a sentence starter? Sentence starters are the words or phrases that introduce the rest of the sentence, typically set apart by commas. The words that start a sentence are some of the most important in writing: They introduce what the sentence is about so the reader knows what to expect.

What are college essay hook sentences? ›

Be sure to use exactly the same first, middle and last name (e.g. your full middle name or an initial) on Naviance and the Common App, to be sure all your college materials are connected properly.

You'll be asked to share some basic information about one or more parents, including your parent's occupation and job title, and the education level they received. If your parent attended college, you'll need to know the name and location of the college they attended, as well as what degree they received and when.

The Common App essay prompt number six is as follows: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Good grades, a challenging high school curriculum, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and a strong essay are a few key factors admissions officers assess. Each university may emphasize different elements of the application process.

They take into account more than your GPA and test scores. Your character and the personal qualities you can bring to a college are important, too. That's why you need to think about your goals, accomplishments, and personal values. Then, you can figure out how you can best express those in your applications.

ACT / SAT Test scores

No matter which you take (colleges don't actually prefer SAT or ACT scores over the other) higher test scores will increase your acceptance odds. Not only that, but ACT / SAT scores can also qualify you for scholarships and certain forms of financial aid.

But all the same, it's not a good idea to ask about the school's party culture or anything related to drugs and alcohol. Questions that make you seem uninterested. Don't ask admissions officers questions that compare them to other schools.

What is a red flag for admissions officers? ›

What is an application red flag? Simply put, it's something on a college application that can make an admissions officer second guess how qualified an applicant is or if they're a good-fit for the school. A red flag can be as serious as a disciplinary infraction, or as simple as not following application directions.

Factors That Most Affect Admission Decision. Many small, selective colleges pay greater attention to personal statements and essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, leadership experiences, and the individual talents of applicants. They typically offer the chance for a face-to-face interview.

Every admissions office has a goal for the number of essays that must be read during any given week. However, college admissions officers and admission readers may read approximately 50 applications per day, spending approximately 15 minutes per application.

Example: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen” said Michael Jordan, arguably the best player to ever play in the NBA. Here, Jordan talks about how people want, dream, wish, and pray that they will one day make it to the big stage.

A college essay is absolutely a way to introduce yourself to the college, but it shouldn't be taken so literally. Rewriting your application in the form of an essay is a waste of valuable time, for both you and the college admissions officer. Instead, focus on a unique way to introduce yourself.

Hello, everyone! My name is _____________ and I'm from ____________. I'm currently studying ____________ at _____________, and I hope to become ___________ one day. I'm really passionate about ___________, and I'm always looking for new ways to learn and improve my skills.

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice. People in admissions often say that a great essay is one where it feels like the student is right there in the room, talking authentically to the admissions committee!

How do I make my college essay stand out at least 6 tips? ›

Courses and Grades

A student's grades in college-preparatory classes remain the most significant factor in college admission decisions.

The very first sentence of your essay should be the “hook” or “grabber.” This sentence “hooks” readers or “grabs” their attention, making them want to read more. This first sentence should provide rich details, engage a reader's curiosity, or otherwise stand out from the rest.

In a college essay, you can be creative with your language. When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you.

Don't use all caps to emphasize words.

Use italics instead (or even better, use Word Choice). Otherwise, it may SEEM LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING.

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.