EssayMasters logo

Sample college application essays

The essay portion of a college admission application is an important step in applying to school; it provides something test scores and GPAs can't: an honest look at who you are as a person and why you deserve to be accepted. Writing it, then, requires ample preparation and one of the best ways to prep for this is to read same college admission essays. It provides valuable experience in a variety of ways.

Figuring Out What Works

Sample college admission essays give applicants a chance to figure what to write and what to avoid. For example, a student may wish to write about a particular hardship in life which he or she has overcome. If the hardship is truly a unique test of spirit, it will reflect well in the paper; if it's a lackluster and common event (like breaking a leg during a ski trip) it may actually hurt the applicant. It's hard to see the line when you're only looking at your own idea. Reading sample admission essays give students a chance to image themselves as the judges of others' essays and ask questions like: does this sound persuasive and does it stand out above the crowd?

Recognizing Common Mistakes

There are some mistakes that are common. People write "cite" instead of "site", or spell "hummus" when they mean "humus". These are the kind of errors that are easy to miss, even when reviewing your paper multiple times. Often students are reminded that they should go the extra mile with grammar and spelling, but putting that advice to practice is difficult. Reading sample college admission essays provide an opportunity to observe not only which errors might be most common (and thus, things to look out for), but also to appreciate the importance of good grammar and provide enough willpower for yet another read-through.

Understanding the Structure

Reading sample college application essays are also an excellent way to understand the structure of an admission essay. Many essays written in college prep classes emphasize scholarly format in writing, which avoids pronouns, personal experience, and is structured along a quote-commentary-commentary format. This structure is not applicable to a college admission essay, which is based on just the opposite (personal experience being the crux). Well-done samples provide an education in format. It becomes easier to properly arrange your own argument after getting an approximation about how other people are talking about themselves.

Softening the Edge

Finally, reading sample college essays can provide a calming, confidence-boosting function for a weary student who has been told that everything is riding on a 500-word essay. How so? Staring at a blank computer screen for hours can make the experience feel daunting. Taking time out to review same essays reminds you that other people have been through the same experience and came out pretty well. If they can do it, so can you!