College Essay Tips + Writing your Best College Essay | Real Advice from Harvard Admissions

Harvard College Admissions & Financial Aid

10 Nov 202104:21

Summary

TLDRAndrea, a Harvard psychology student, shares her insights on crafting the perfect college essay. She emphasizes the importance of choosing a unique topic that reflects personal traits, encourages breaking free from traditional essay structures, and advocates for free-form writing to capture one's authentic voice. Andrea also stresses the necessity of multiple drafts and proofreading, suggesting seeking feedback from trusted individuals. She invites prospective students to reach out to the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council for further guidance.

Takeaways

🎓 Andrea is a junior at Harvard studying psychology and will guide viewers on writing the college essay.
📝 The college essay should be unique and personal, not just a quirky or funny story to fit a stereotype.
🚀 The essay topic can be anything, as long as it fits within the 650-word limit and showcases the writer's personality or story.
🤔 Andrea suggests asking oneself what makes them happy to write, as this can help identify a strong essay topic.
📉 Breaking away from traditional essay structures, like the five-paragraph format, can lead to a more authentic and engaging college essay.
💡 Tools like word webs can help brainstorm and organize ideas for the essay in a free-form manner.
✍️ It's important to write multiple drafts, starting with rough ones, to refine the essay to its best form.
🔍 The essay should reflect the writer's authentic voice and perspective, allowing the admissions office to understand the person behind the application.
👀 After drafting, seeking feedback from trusted individuals like teachers, family, or friends is recommended to improve the essay.
📑 The final submission should be the writer's own work and something they are proud of, even if it means revising or starting over.
🔄 The college essay writing process is iterative, and it's normal to go through several drafts before achieving the final product.
📧 For further questions or advice, prospective students can reach out to the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council for guidance and insights.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by Andrea?
-The main topic of the video is about writing the college essay, focusing on choosing a topic, drafting, and proofreading the essay.
Why is the college essay different from other essays Andrea has written in the past?
-The college essay is different because it allows for more freedom in terms of topic choice and structure, and it does not adhere to the traditional five-paragraph essay format.
What is the 650-word limit imposed on the college essay?
-The 650-word limit is a restriction set by the college application for the length of the essay, requiring students to be concise and focused in their writing.
What is Andrea's advice on choosing a topic for the college essay?
-Andrea suggests choosing a topic that is a specific story or trait about oneself that one is proud of and enjoys writing about, as it will make the essay more authentic and engaging.
What is the significance of writing bad drafts first according to Andrea?
-Writing bad drafts first is significant because it allows the writer to get their ideas down and then refine and improve upon them, leading to a better final product.
Why is it important for the college essay to sound authentic?
-It is important for the college essay to sound authentic because it helps the admissions officer understand the student's personality, voice, and unique perspective on the world.
What is the role of structure in writing the college essay draft?
-The role of structure is to guide the writer in organizing their thoughts and ideas in a coherent manner, while still allowing for a more free-form approach than traditional essays.
What tools does Andrea suggest for encouraging free-form writing?
-Andrea suggests using tools like word webs to free associate ideas related to the topic, and writing down all potential ideas to reference and revise later.
What does Andrea recommend for proofreading and submitting the college essay?
-Andrea recommends asking a trusted person for feedback and advice, ensuring the submitted work is the student's own, and being open to revising and improving the essay through an iterative process.
How can prospective students get more advice on the college application essay or process?
-Prospective students can reach out to the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council through their website for advice and to hear about the experiences of current students.
What is the final piece of advice Andrea gives to viewers regarding the college application process?
-Andrea's final piece of advice is to engage with the content, ask questions, and not hesitate to reach out to the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council for more information and support.