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How to Write College Application Essays

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College Application Essay Fundamentals 

How to prepare to write your essay , how to approach different essay types, how to structure your essay , how to revise your essay, how to find essay writing help , resources for teaching students how to write a college essay, additional resources (further reading).

Of all the materials in a college application, the essay provides the greatest opportunity for you to set yourself apart. Unlike the transcript or resume, the essay is creative and expressive; in it, you can show the admissions counselors who you are and what you can do (that is, how well you can write!). A good application essay should have a memorable main idea, a cohesive structure, and a strong introduction and conclusion. Although essay topics can vary by college, the most common prompts deal with personal experiences and aspirations for the future. This guide   contains a diverse set of resources to help you orient yourself to the college application essay and, ultimately, to write the most competitive essay possible. 

The college application essay is a requirement for admission to almost all institutions of higher learning. Though in some ways it resembles essays you've written in class or on standardized tests, in other ways it's a unique writing exercises with its own particular requirements. Use the resources below to help you understand how the essay should be structured and what kind of content to include. 

"How Long Should College Application Essays Be?" (Learn.org)

This webpage guides you through some basic tips on writing the college essay—including essay length, sticking to the prompt, and maintaining an original tone. 

"College Application Essay" (College Board)

This webpage from the College Board discusses the different types of application essays, what length you should aim for, and most importantly, why colleges value this aspect of the application so much. 

"College Essays, College Applications" (College Board) 

The College Board's website is a great resource for any student looking to apply to college. This webpage contains several links to helpful resources, including sample essays and genuine student interviews. 

"Timeline for College Applications" (College Essay Guy)

This colorful, one-page guide from a college application specialist offers an illustrated timeline for high school students looking to apply for college. 

Before putting your ideas down on paper, it's important to conceptualize your essay, to craft strategically your tone and style, and,  crucially, to choose a topic that suits you and the school to which you're applying. The resources in this section include writing tips, lists of common mistakes you should avoid, and guides dedicated to the college application essay.

How to Plan Your Essay

"3 Common College Essay Mistakes to Avoid" (CNBC)  

This article from CNBC broadly outlines the most common mistakes students make when writing their college application essays. Although these mistakes may seem obvious, even the most experienced writers can fall into these common traps.

"7 Effective Application Tips" (Peterson's)

This article from Peterson's (a company providing academic materials for test prep, application help, and more) lists seven pieces of advice designed to make your writing pop. 

"The Secret to Show, Don't Tell" ( The Write Practice Blog)  

You've heard it before: show, don't tell. This is a great writing tip, but how do you pull it off? Here, the writing blog  The Write Practice  outlines how you can make your writing more descriptive and effective. 

"Passive Voice" (University of North Carolina)  

Avoiding passive construction is a subtle yet effective way to upgrade any piece of writing. Check out this webpage from a university writing center for some tips on recognizing and avoiding passive voice. 

"Using Appropriate Words in an Academic Essay" (National University of Singapore)

There are many ways to upgrade your vocabulary. Often, words can be replaced with more impressive substitutes, phrases can be shortened or lengthened depending on context, and transitions can be used for a smoother flow. The link above expands on these strategies and offers several others. 

How to Brainstorm Topic Ideas

"Bad College Essays: 10 Mistakes to Avoid" (PrepScholar)

This article from a well-known tutoring service and test prep program describes what to avoid when writing your essay. Essays that are too graphic, too personal, or too overconfident are all problematic, and this article explains why. 

"5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic" (CollegeXpress)

Lost on how to choose a topic? This webpage from CollegeXpress outlines five sources of inspiration you can mine for ideas as you're getting started.

"The College Admission Essay: Finding a Topic" (The Choice Blog)

This article from New York Times  blog The Choice  breaks down three essential questions to ask yourself when choosing a topic for your college essay. 

"COLLEGE ESSAY GUIDE: Choosing a Prompt for the Common Application" (YouTube)

In this five-minute video, a Yale student discusses how to choose a college essay prompt and how to approach the essay writing process. His channel is filled with original videos on the college application process. 

"Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises" ( CollegeVine Blog)

Approaching the Common App essay prompts can be difficult. This blog post explains several tactics you can use to narrow down your options, such as writing down a list of your greatest convictions.

"Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When Is It Okay?" (WritingCommons.org)

Most high school students are told to avoid using the first person point of view; this can be confusing when writing college essays, which typically ask what  you  think. This article breaks down when (and why) it's acceptable to write in the first person. 

Although all college essays serve the same purpose - articulating why you should get into a college - they come in different kinds. While topics on the Common Application are relatively consistent from year to year, personal statements and so-called "supplemental essays" vary by institution. Each of these essays requires a slightly different approach. The resources in this section will prepare you to answer the various types of essay prompts you're likely to encounter. 

Common Application Essays

CommonApp.org

The Common Application's official website is the best place to start getting acquainted with the service to which the majority of US colleges and universities now subscribe - a service which allows you to streamline your application process and minimize duplication of materials.

"What's App-enning" Blog (Common App)  

The Common App runs a blog with a wealth of information on common application-related news, including periodic updates on common application essay prompts for each application cycle. You can practice brainstorming with old prompts, or even start preparing your application by looking at this year's prompts.

125 College Essay Examples (PrepScholar Blog)

Here, PrepScholar provides a variety of Common App essays that got their respective applicants into their desired schools. Along with the body text of the essays, the website provides analysis on  what  makes the essays so great. 

A Few Essays That Worked (And a Few That Didn't) (NYTimes Blog)

This article analyzes unsuccessful essays, illuminating the ways in which they fell short. Although you should exercise caution and adjust your approach to your specific school, it's always good to pick up on general things to avoid. 

Personal Statements

What Is a Personal Statement? (PrepScholar Blog)

Although personal statements and Common App essays are similar, not all personal statement essays are administered through the Common App. This article from PrepScholar's blog will provide you with everything you need to know about writing a personal statement.

Examples of Successful Statements (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue OWL online writing lab collate links on this page to several successful personal statement. It can be useful to read successful statements and to consider how and why the statements made an impact on their readers. 

Past Threads on Advice for Writing Your College Essay (Reddit Post)

Although not about the personal statement  per se , this Reddit post has links to several past threads that may be of use to any prospective college applicant. 

What 10 Things Should Your Personal Statement Include? (Which University UK)  

This site outlines ten things to consider when writing a personal statement, including outlining what you will bring to the course, not what the course will bring to you. 

Supplemental Essays

How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays (IvyWise Newsletter)

Supplemental essays can often be challenging, asking a range of questions from the mundane to the oddly specific. This article from college application site IvyWise will break down example prompts to make them more approachable. 

Write Your Supplemental Essays (College Essay Guy)

Looking for a comprehensive guide to supplemental essays? Look no further than this page provided by the "College Essay Guy," who breaks down how to write supplemental essays that ask different kinds of questions. 

An Awesome Guide to the UChicago Supplement (Dyad)

Dyad, a college mentoring service, walks you through how to approach UChicago's supplemental essay question. Although the article is specific to UChicago, it contains general tips that are helpful to any college applicant. 

Reading My Yale Supplement Essay (YouTube)

Josh Beasley is back in this short YouTube video, where he reads the supplemental essay that got him into Yale and extrapolates advice for current and prospective applicants. 

A college application essay (like any academic essay) should have an introduction, a conclusion, and body paragraphs. Additionally, it should have overall coherence (that is, it should make a point) and cohesion (that is, it should flow well from paragraph to paragraph). We've collected the most relevant resources here to help you structure your college essay correctly and efficiently. 

How to Make Your Essay Stand Out 

College Essays That Stand Out From the Crowd (NYTimes)

This NYTimes article includes links to several recent essays that caught the eyes of the admissions readers by taking risks. You can even listen to an essay being read aloud by a current Princeton student.

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays (Gen / Kelly Tanabe)  

If you have some time on your hands, this hefty PDF document contains 50 essays from successful Ivy League applicants. After reading these essays, consider what they have in common and how they might be a model for your own essay.

Make Your Application Essay Stand Out (CampusExplorer.com)

In this article from CampusExplorer, you'll find general tips on how to make your essay more appealing to the admissions readers. The writers include general writing tips as well as more targeted advice for the tone and audience of the application essay.

How to Write a College Application Essay that Stands Out (Boston University)

This short video from BU's own admissions department touches briefly on what impresses their admissions readers, including risk-taking, memorable stories, and honesty. 

Essay Structure (Monash University)

This chart from Monash University visually demonstrates how your content should be organized in order to keep your argument or story on track. 

How to Write an Introduction

How to Start a Personal Statement: The Killer Opening (Which University UK)  

Any good introduction both forecasts what your essay will be about and catches the reader's attention. This page will give you some helpful advice on starting your essay with a bang. 

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly (PrepScholar Blog)

This article from PrepScholar shows you how to "hook" your reader at the start of your application essay with colorful language, a vivid story, and an "insightful pivot" to your main point.

Let Me Introduce Myself (Stanford University)

This article from Stanford U's alumni page details the first-line openings of the essays for some current Stanford undergrads. 

Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays (PowerScore)

In this article, you'll learn five techniques to avoid, as they typically land a college application essay in the "reject" pile; these include beginning with dictionary definitions or famous quotations. 

How to Write a Conclusion 

Ending the Essay: Conclusions (Harvard University)

Harvard's writing center suggests bringing closure to your essay (that is, wrapping up your argument) while still expanding outward to broader applications or insights in your final paragraph.

Concluding Paragraph (Easybib)  

Although you may have used Easybib to make a bibliography before, did you know they have many resources on how to write a good essay? Check out this page for succinct advice on what your conclusion should entail. 

5 Ways to Powerfully End Your College Essay (College Greenlight)

This blog post instructs you to end with action (that is, a story or anecdote) rather than summary, giving you five ways to do this effectively, including addressing the college directly.

How to Write the Best Conclusion for a College Application Essay and Supplement (Koppelman Group)

The Koppelman Group, a college application consulting firm, warns you, above all, not to end "in conclusion" or "to conclude." They also provide targeted advice for the Common App and Supplement essays, respectively. 

No essay is perfect in its first-draft form; college application essays in particular are limited by word counts that can be difficult to meet. Once you've communicated your ideas, you'll want to edit your essay in order to make sure it's the best it can be. You'll also need to cut or add words to make sure it's within the specifications set by the institution. The resources in this section include tips and tricks for revising your college application essay. 

3 Ways to Increase Word Count (WikiHow)

Complete with illustrations, this WikiHow page outlines several ways you might go about substantively expanding your essay. These tips include clarifying points, reworking your introduction and conclusion, adding new viewpoints and examples, and connecting loose threads. 

Admissions 101: What an Essay Word Limit Really Means (Veritas Prep) 

In this blog post, Veritas Prep's college preparation tutors assure you that being a little over or under the limit is acceptable, recommending ways you can think about the word limit's purpose.

College Essay Word Limit - Going Under? (College Confidential) 

In this College Confidential discussion forum, students discuss the possible ramifications of writing under the word limit for a college essay. 

How to Increase Your Essay Word Count (WordCounter)

This article from WordCounter outlines different ways you might go about meeting word count, including addressing different viewpoints, adding examples, and clarifying statements. 

Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admissions Essay (Dummies.com)

This article details how to hit the target word count. Scroll down to the middle of the article for advice on where you should cut words from to meet word count. 

Some Tricks to Reduce Word Count (EastAsiaStudent.net)

This article recommends simplifying your style, deleting adverbs, deleting prepositions, and revisiting connectives and adjectives to reduce word count. 

Advice on Whittling Your Admissions Essay (NYTimes) 

In this New York Times article, Andrew Gelb discusses how to go about cutting down your admissions essay in order to meet the requisite word limit.

How to Shorten an Essay Without Ruining the Content (Quora) 

This Quora post from a concerned student yielded useful community responses on how to effectively shorten an essay without losing the original message. 

Feel like you've hit a wall revising your essay on your own? You're not alone, and there are plentiful resources on the web through which you can connect with fellow college applicants and/or professional tutors. The links in this section will take you to free services for improving your college application essay, as well as two of the top paid writing tutor services.

College Confidential Forums 

College Confidential is a free, public forum in which you can post your essay and receive feedback from current college students, current college applicants, and even teachers or other experienced users. 

/r/CollegeEssays (Reddit)

This subreddit is a great place to look for crowdsourced help on your essay, ask questions about college essays, or even find a private tutor. 

Essayforum.com

Essayforum.com provides another platform for students to share their application essays. Although this link takes you to the site's forum for applicants to undergraduate degree programs, you can submit and review essays in other categories as well.  Varsity Tutors

Varisty Tutors offers tutoring services from freelance tutors based on location. Prices and services vary, but their site is easy to use and there are many tutors available to choose from.

Princeton Review

Princeton Review, one of the largest providers of college preparation tutoring (ranging from standardized test preparation to essay help) offers online essay tutoring services with a free trial period. 

Using in-class time to prepare your students to write college application essays is, of course, rewarding, but can also be challenging. If you're a teacher looking to incorporate the college essay into your curriculum but you're not sure where to start, take a look at the useful resources below.

TeachersPayTeachers

College Essay Writing

This product includes material for more than one full lesson plan, including powerpoint presentations, assessments, and homework on the topic of college essays. 

Narrative Writing Ideas and Prompts

Appealing to students 9th grade and up, this product includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework for developing narrative writing for the college essay process. 

College Essay: Comprehensive 7-Session Workshop Series

This PDF includes entire courses, manuals, and handouts designed to teach students the ins and outs of the college essay process, either in an individual or group setting. 

College Essay Revision Forms & Rubrics

These PDFs provide students with visual organizers and rubrics to assess their own writing and learn how to become better college essay writers. 

Free Resources

Teaching the College Essay (Edutopia) 

Teaching your students about writing the college essay can be incredibly intimidating -- as a teacher, how should you approach the process? This article from Edutopia outlines how to go about introducing the college essay to your students. 

Essay Lesson Plan Ideas for College Applications (EssayHell)

If you're a teacher looking for a concrete lesson plan on college essays, this guide recommends using the first day to discuss the importance of the essay, the second day for brainstorming, and so on. Click on the link above to examine their full guide. 

Help Your Students Write a Killer College Essay (EdWeek Blog)

This blog post goes over various techniques designed to help your students choose an appropriate topic and write their essay with passion. 

The Biggest College Essay Mistakes & How to Fix Them (Talks With Teachers)

Looking to help your students avoid the minefield of mistakes in the college essay field? Check out this post from Talks With Teachers, a journal that shares "inspiring ideas for English teachers." 

Curious to read more about college application essays, or to see fun and unusual examples of what students have written? The articles, blog posts, and books in this section are a good place to start surveying the field.

One Over-the-Top Admissions Essay (Huffington Post)

This piece from the Huffington Post talks about a humorous response to a Stanford supplemental essay topic, the so-called "letter to my future roommate."

College & University - Statistics and Facts (Statista.com) 

In the process of writing your college essay, you may find yourself wondering who exactly goes to college, how many colleges there are in the United States, etc. This site gives the up-to-date statistics for various US demographics, both in aggregate and by university, as well as other information.

Who Made That College Application? (NYTimes)

This piece from the NYTimes outlines the history of the college essay from its origins in the 1800s, to the first "modern" college application, produced by Columbia University in 1919, to the present.  

How They Got Into Harvard (Staff of the Harvard Crimson)

This highly-rated collection of successful Harvard application essays, available on Amazon, is both an entertaining read and an instructive resource for anyone looking for exemplary essays to use as models. 

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College Nut

The Best College Essays on Reddit: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the importance of college essays.

College essays are a crucial component of the college application process. It’s the only opportunity for students to showcase their unique personalities, experiences, and perspectives to the admissions committee. These essays allow admissions officers to get to know applicants on a personal level and make informed decisions about their fit for the university.

The Role of Reddit in College Essays

Reddit is a popular online platform where people share information and have discussions about various topics. In recent years, Reddit has become a go-to destination for college applicants seeking advice on how to write the best college essays. There are numerous subreddits dedicated to college admissions, and in particular, college essays.

Reddit Subreddits for College Essays

r/ApplyingToCollege: This subreddit is a great resource for high school students who are applying to college. It covers everything from college admissions to financial aid, and of course, college essays. Students can ask questions and receive feedback on their essays from other members of the community.

r/CollegeEssayReview: This subreddit is specifically designed for students who are looking for feedback on their college essays. Members of the community can provide constructive criticism, and help students identify areas where they can improve their writing.

r/CollegeEssay: This subreddit is a great place for students to get inspiration for their college essays. Members share their own essays, which can help students get a better understanding of what makes a great college essay.

Examples of Best College Essays on Reddit

The best college essays are those that are unique, compelling, and personal. They tell a story that captures the reader’s attention and leaves a lasting impression. Here are a few examples of best college essays on Reddit:

Example 1: The Art of Being a Sandwich Artist

This essay was written by a student who worked at Subway during high school. The student used their experiences working as a “sandwich artist” to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. The essay was well-written and engaging, and it demonstrated the student’s unique perspective.

Example 2: My Life in a Nutshell

This essay was written by a student who was born with a rare genetic disorder. The student used their experiences growing up with this condition to showcase their resilience and determination. The essay was powerful and moving, and it left a lasting impression on the reader.

Example 3: The Color of My Skin

This essay was written by a student who was the only African American in their high school. The student used their experiences with racism and discrimination to showcase their strength and resilience. The essay was well-written and thought-provoking, and it provided a unique perspective on the challenges faced by minority students.

Tips for Writing the Best College Essays

Writing the best college essay can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Be Yourself: The best college essays are those that are personal and authentic. Don’t try to be someone you’re not.

Tell a Story: The best college essays are those that tell a compelling story. Use your experiences to showcase your unique perspective.

Be Specific: The best college essays are those that are specific and detailed. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points.

Get Feedback: The best college essays are those that have been reviewed by others. Seek feedback from teachers, counselors, or other trusted advisors.

Writing the best college essay is a challenging but rewarding experience. With the help of Reddit and other resources, students can gain the knowledge and skills they need to write an essay that will impress admissions officers. Remember to be authentic, tell a compelling story, and seek feedback from others. With these tips in mind, you can write an essay that will help you stand out from the crowd.

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How to Write the Boston College Essays 2023-2024

Boston College only requires applicants to write one essay, but you may choose from four different prompt options. If you are applying to BC’s Human-Centered Engineering major though, you won’t have the luxury of choosing a prompt and will be required to answer a HCE specific question.

With BC receiving thousands of qualified applicants each year, all with strong test scores and extracurriculars, you will need your essay to stand out and tell a compelling story about yourself in order to impress admissions officers. No matter which prompt you choose, we’ll explain how you can write a great essay to get into Boston College.

Read these Boston College essay examples to inspire your writing.

Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts (400 word limit). Applicants to the Human-Centered Engineering major will select the fifth prompt.

Option 1 (all applicants): Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read and why would this be an important shared text?

Option 2 (all applicants): At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

Option 3 (all applicants): In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

Option 4 (all applicants): Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

Option 5 (Human-Centered Engineering applicants): One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read and why would this be an important shared text? (400 words)

Readers, this one’s for you! This prompt wants to know about the material you consume outside of class to learn more about the topics you find interesting and relevant. The key to making this essay successful is picking the right book, so here are a few things to consider when choosing your selection:

• Who’s the author: It says it right in the prompt: “book by a living author ”. As much as you might find one of Dickens’ novels fundamental to the human experience or Nelson Mandela’s autobiography to be a critical lesson on empathy, you can’t choose authors who are no longer alive.
• How familiar you are with the book: Pick a book you’ve either read recently or that was so impactful you can recall the plot and the deeper meaning of it. You’ll need to be confident about what you are writing, so it’s far better to pick a book that seems less “impressive” or “academic” on the surface that you know and love than a book you picked up last week for the purpose of writing this essay.
• Don’t be basic: There are many impactful books by talented authors in the cultural zeitgeist that will be popular choices for many students. You don’t want your essay to be the tenth one on The Handmaid’s Tale that admissions officers read that day. Try and pick something you wouldn’t be assigned in English class or that you wouldn’t find on New York Times bestseller lists.
• Make it align to you: The most important task when choosing a book is to make sure it relates to you in a way that you can highlight your interests or characteristics in the essay. Although the prompt might seem like it’s about a book, in reality, this essay is still about you. If you love politics, you might choose a politician’s autobiography or a book examining the state of democracy. A student interested in psychology could choose a dystopian novel and explore the psychological mechanisms at play in the society. 
• Does it have a broad appeal?: Yes, your choice should relate to you, but it will also theoretically be read by the entire class, so it needs to have a broader appeal. Does your book highlight societal issues or have inspiring characters that everyone could learn a lesson from? Make sure you are able to demonstrate why this is a book everyone should read, not just people interested in the topic.
• Be judicious: Don’t pick the first book that comes to mind. Take your time in figuring out a list of 10 or so books you think could be good choices and then narrow it down from there. For each book, ask yourself questions like, “What is the core theme of this book?”, “How is society reflected in the ideas of this book?”, “How does this topic relate to me?”, and “Why do I find this author influential?”. Not only will this help you figure out which book speaks to you the most, it will also provide you with a solid basis to start planning out your essay once you choose a book.

Once you’ve picked a book, it’s time to start writing. There are two main points you need to cover in your essay: why this book is meaningful to you and why it would be meaningful for your peers. Your essay needs to be centered around answering these two questions and convincing admissions officers, who might have never even heard of your book, that it has an impactful message.

A natural way to approach your essay would be to open with a hook—maybe a quote from the book, an image of you snuggled up in your reading nook enjoying it for the first time, or a description of the frayed and browning edges and faded cover with a cracked spine from rereading it over and over—then discuss why this book is important to you, and finish with why other people should read it.

Of course, you can change up the structure (creative formats are always welcome when it comes to college essays), but we will go into more detail based on the more traditional approach.

Why Is It Meaningful to You?

As we said above when picking a book, you need to have a personal connection to your novel of choice. Whether you see aspects of your personality in the main character, the subject matter influenced your independent research project, or the author’s depiction of the challenges they have overcome have inspired you to face adversity, you need to show admissions officers why this book is important to you.

Let’s look at an example of how a student might demonstrate their connection to a book:

“ I can’t shoot an arrow. I’m terrible at braiding my hair. I’ll be the first to admit I’d last maybe two hours tops in the Hunger Games, and yet, I am Katniss Everdeen. In a world full of injustice, corruption, violence, and abandoned hope for the future, someone has to take a stand. We might not be fighting for our lives in an arena, but we were fighting for our lives on the streets of Washington, demanding reproductive freedom. I wrote letters to members of Congress, and nothing happened. I posted on social media over and over again, and nothing happened. I cried myself to sleep, terrified of my future resting in the hands of male politicians, and nothing happened. So I spread my wings, took to the streets, and decided to make something happen. Standing side by side with the girls from my Human Rights club, my throat satisfyingly sore from the hours of chanting, I became the Mockingjay. ”

Notice how the focus in this paragraph is on the student and her experience related to the book, rather than on The Hunger Games on its own. If you choose this essay, it’s crucial to remember it still has to achieve the goal of any other college essay: showing admissions officers who you are. 

You don’t just have to write about how you are related to a character to show the admissions committee your interests and personality. A student interested in cell biology might write about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and how they never thought about the origin of cancer cells when they were conducting research. In this example, the student could explain their research and delve into the ethics behind medical research that reading the book opened their eyes to.

Why Is It Meaningful to Society?

The last step in this essay is to pull back from your experience and connection to the book and explain why it would appeal to your peers. A great way to go about this is to find social commentary or critical lessons within the book that would resonate with people your age. 

Maybe a student picked John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down because he admired the way it handles difficult conversations about mental health. Because he’s passionate about mental health, he knows that many teenagers are suffering and could use a healthy depiction of mental health to start conversations and foster community, therefore reading this book would be beneficial.

Another student who suggested Michelle Obama’s Becoming could write about the pressure everyone her age feels as they experience huge life changes and enter a new uncertain time in their life. She might feel that the book’s message that growth is continuous and you shouldn’t be confined by society would resonate with her peers just as much as it did with her.

As long as you are able to connect the ideas in the book to something bigger than yourself, you will be able to demonstrate why it’s important for other people your age to also read it.

At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs. (400 words)

This prompt provides you with an opportunity to try your hand at storytelling. Paint a picture for the reader: who are you talking to, how often do you talk, where are you located, was this a unique conversation or an example of a typical debate between you two? The more your essay reads like a page out of a novel, the better.

You’ll definitely want to include lines of dialogue in this essay, but don’t let the entire thing read like a text message chain. Include supplemental details like you and your partners’ inflections, your body language as you were talking, and what was happening around you. For example, this isn’t revealing much to the admissions committee:

“Yes honey?”

“I got another C.”

Versus this:

“Mom?” A timid voice squeaked out the back of my throat, hoping to go undetected. My mom didn’t even bother to look up from the pile of papers sprawled out in front of her.

“Yes honey?” 

She sounds busy—this can wait. I’ll just tell her tomorrow (or never). But something got the better of me and I sheepishly admitted the truth:

Beyond just the structure, it’s important to consider whom you will pick as your conversation partner. Remember, the prompt is looking for a particular conversation that challenged someone’s perspective, so don’t pick someone you always agree with. It should be someone you know well enough to recreate their side of the conversation—since you likely won’t remember what both of you said word for word.

The conversation you choose can be as serious as challenging a family member’s prejudiced ways or as lighthearted as convincing your friends why Star Wars is better than Star Trek. For this essay, the topic is not as important as how you present the conversation. But how should you present it? 

A basic essay might rehash the language of the prompt, such as: 

“My favorite conversation partner is my dad, because he and I love music. Sometimes, we stay up late talking about different songs of his youth–old songs that I have never heard before. Oftentimes, he will reveal a hidden meaning behind the lyrics.”

While this is answering the prompt, the response is formulaic and could be way more dynamic. Get creative! You could begin with a bold claim about your conversation partner, such as: 

“My father is a good but complicated man who, as of late, seems to only appear at night.”

You could begin with a summary of what you talk about: 

“When I hear the opening power chords of the Eagles’ “The Last Resort,” I hear the voice of my father. It is important to note that my father is not Don Henley, merely a fan, yet his baritone voice narrates the hidden meaning of the lyrics, underscored by Schmit’s bass guitar.”

Or with a strong statement:

“It’s become an unspoken rule–a silent law–to never attempt to initiate a conversation with my father while he is listening to his music. We talk after an album or after a song ends. Monolithic grunts are the only acceptable verbal form of acknowledgement while listening, accompanied by a thumbs up, a fist pump through the silent air, or a mere upward curl of the lips, as if to say, ‘I like this one.’”

After one of these strong beginnings, move into some dialogue and get to a point of conflict. We don’t mean physical conflict, rather where a disagreement in ideas is revealed that shows competing perspectives:

“‘ I don’t know Dad. The Eagles are fine but they’re no Led Zeppelin.’ Uh oh, wrong move. My dad’s head swiveled like an owl eyeing its prey. I braced myself for the onslaught of song titles, Grammy nominations, and band drama headed my way.

‘You’re entitled to an opinion. Just not the wrong one.’ The dangerous glint in his eye should’ve frightened me, but it only egged me on.

‘Seriously?! Stairway to Heaven is the ultimate rock song of the 70s.’

‘Ever heard of something called Hotel California?’ His hands flailed in the air, extenuating his point.”

Notice the effect of realistic dialogue and descriptions? The reader feels like they are standing on that porch watching this argument unfold. You want to draw the reader in with a conversation that feels natural and fitting for the people involved and the topic being discussed.

The admissions committee don’t just want to see conflict, they want to see the way you handle new ideas and approach difficult conversations. This is where you have to demonstrate how either your perspective changed or you changed the other perspective. 

“ After rounds of back and forth, shouting lyrics and Billboard chart numbers at each other, I came up with a better solution. 

‘Ok dad, how about this: We’ll listen to Stairway to Heaven and Hotel California back to back and each pick something good from both songs.’ 

As the opening guitar chords started, I was transported. Except it wasn’t the intro to Stairway to Heaven I know and loved—it was Hotel California! Soon, my head was bopping along to the drum kicks and I found myself singing at the top of my lungs.

‘Welcome to the Hotel California!’ We sang in unison.”

A nice conclusion to this essay should address you or your partner’s new perspective. Maybe you learned a lesson from how you handled disagreement. Or maybe you are looking forward to your next conversation where you can prove your point once again.

In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them? (400 words)

This prompt option is similar to a “ Diversity ” prompt, but you aren’t limited to just discussing racial and ethnic diversity. Anyone who has been stereotyped or judged for something outside of their control before could write a compelling essay to answer this question.

Here are a few ideas of possible essays students could write about in response to the prompt:

• A student faced microaggressions because of the color of his skin
• People assumed a student was LGBTQ+ because they were part of the theater club at their school
• A girl who was called a dumb blonde felt discouraged to answer questions in her math class
• A boy’s teachers assumed he would excel because his older brother was at the top of his class
• A student was subjected to harmful stereotypes because of their religion

As you can see, there are many different avenues to take when answering this prompt. The important thing is to describe how you were defined by a single story, show the impact that had on you, and demonstrate how you overcame or fought back against your single story.

The best way to start this essay is with an anecdote. Place the reader in your shoes so we can understand what you went through. The key is to show the reader with vivid imagery:

“ ‘Adios mama.’ I hung up and slipped my phone back into my bag, only to be greeted by three sneering faces when I looked up again. ‘Hablasss inglesss?’ Their American accents and teasing tone drew out the words so they were barely recognizable to a native Spanish speaker. ‘Tu estás en los Estados Unidos.’ Another boy chimed in over his friends’ snickers.”

Once you’ve established the discrimination you’ve experienced, explain the impact that had on you. Did it mess with your performance in school because you were afraid to be criticized for your accent when you answered a question? Did you feel insecure about your looks and that made you try new hairstyles and outfits until you barely recognized yourself anymore? Did you stop participating in an activity you loved and feel unfulfilled?

It’s really important to go a step beyond the comments and treatments you received from others and explore how you were emotionally and mentally impacted by being siloed into a single story. This is where the depth of your essay will come from and what will distinguish it as either strong or weak.

While this essay does handle challenging topics, it’s not meant to be a depressing recount of discrimination you’ve faced; it’s meant to demonstrate your resilience and ability to overcome a difficult situation. Save at least half of your essay to tell the story of how you fought back and overcame the challenges of being assigned a single story. 

Be as detailed as possible when discussing how you overcame your single story. The admissions committee is curious to see your methods (did you ignore and rise above the comments or talk back and deny them) and your thought processes (what was your motivation behind standing up for yourself, was there a final straw that pushed you over the edge, did you turn to others for advice, etc).

Finally, it’s a good idea to include self-reflection in this type of essay. Consider some of these questions to guide your reflection: How is your unique background an asset? How has your personality been shaped by your experiences? Are you still fighting being assigned a single story? How can you prevent this from happening in the future?

By reflecting on your diversity, you will demonstrate your ability to think critically and show the admissions committee the unique perspective you’ll bring to the school.

Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it? (400 words)

This prompt is a combination of the “ Global Issues ” and “ Why This College? ” essay archetypes. You need to both address a societal issue that is important to you and discuss how the tools and resources at BC will help you solve it. But don’t fret—you can get it all done in 400 words.

You’ll likely want to pick this option if you are civically minded, have experience volunteering or participating in political extracurriculars, or if you are interested in pursuing something in the realm of politics. Here are the steps we recommend to help you write this essay.

Pick an Issue 

The first place to start when brainstorming for this topic is to pick an issue that is near and dear to you. Ideally, this should be something you either have prior experience with from an extracurricular or volunteer work, or it should be a topic that affects you or your community that you can speak extensively about.

Avoid choosing an issue as broad as climate change or world hunger. Instead, narrow these down into more manageable issues like rising sea levels or food deserts in rural communities. By staying focused on a sub-issue, you can really delve into the causes and solutions for that particular topic—resulting in a more cohesive and engaging essay.

Explain Your Connection to the Issue

This part of the essay is incredibly important; it’s basically the “so what?” for why you care about this topic and others should too. It’s a good idea to include an anecdote to demonstrate how you have experienced this issue in your life.

For example, a student who is writing about high incarceration rates in the U.S.might write about friends and community members who have been incarcerated and how angry that made them feel. Another student might choose to write about the issue of deforestation and how he’s been volunteering to plant trees since he was 12 to try and combat the issue.

Whatever your connection is to the topic, make sure that your response covers the personal impact the issue has on you. In the case of the student writing about incarceration, they should definitely describe how members of their community have been affected, but this is their college essay, so we want to know how they have been affected. How do they feel knowing their community is being ravaged by this issue? What did it feel like to lose a friend to the justice system for a crime they didn’t commit? By highlighting the personal effects, you will make your essay stand out.

How Have You Addressed This Issue Already

Since you are picking a local or global issue that is in some way relevant to your life, chances are you’ve probably already taken some action to try and find solutions. Show the admissions committee that you are a driven individual who’s committed to doing good through your past actions.

Include how you collect old computer parts and repurpose them in your repair business to cut down on technological waste. Explain how you organized donation drives at your school and church to collect essentials for Ukrainian refugees. Demonstrate your commitment to improving female literacy through your work as a volunteer tutor at a local children’s center.

Discuss BC Resources

This is where the “Why This College” part of the essay comes into play, and since BC doesn’t give you another opportunity to explain what specific programs and resources appeal to you, make sure to highlight that in this essay.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when discussing college-specific resources

• Do your research: It only takes a bit of your time to look up the special programs, classes, professors, and clubs offered at a school, but it makes a world of difference in making your essay stand out. Demonstrate your interest to the admissions committee by including details you could only find on a specific webpage or by attending an info session.
• Don’t namedrop: Saying you want to work with X Professor or take these three classes is meaningless if we don’t know why. When you are including the names of school-specific opportunities, back it up with details. 
• Connect the resources back to you: How does this professor’s research relate to your interests? How will working in this lab help you get closer to your goals? Make sure that every school opportunity you discuss is tied back to you in some way.
• Less is more: It’s far more effective to find three or four resources at the school that align perfectly with your interests and you can thoroughly explain rather than squeezing five or more in without giving any explanation to their importance.

The resources that you pick should align in some way to the issue you discussed. For instance, if the topic you want ot address is the Black Lives Matter movement, it would be a good idea to say something like, “ The Comparative Social Movements class will help me understand the tactics past movements used to succeed, while helping Professor McGuffey with his research on race, gender, and sex will help me better understand the ways intersectionality defines the Black experience. ”

Wrapping It Up

For an essay about addressing a societal issue, you’ll want to end on a positive note. Show admissions officers that you are forward-thinking and know exactly how you can solve a pressing issue with the resources BC has to offer. 

Option 5: (Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants)

One goal of a jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the common good. human-centered engineering at boston college integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. what societal problems are important to you and how will you use your hce education to solve them (400 words).

In this essay, your primary goal is to explain how you will use Boston College’s engineering education to “serve the Common Good” (i.e. address issues in society). In essence, this prompt is a variation on the “Why This College/Program?” essay.

One important piece of advice is to remember that this essay is about you and the program. Don’t just name aspects of the program you’re excited about; make sure you tie them into your story, values, aspirations, or other qualities.

There’s a lot to consider in this essay, but don’t be intimidated! Dedicating a healthy amount of time to brainstorming and planning will make your essay much stronger. Before you begin to tackle this multifaceted prompt, remember that the structure of your essay doesn’t have to mirror the order in which you brainstorm. 

Start by familiarizing yourself with the goals and requirements of the program. Boston College’s Human-Centered Engineering program is a brand-new, interdisciplinary program that gives students a strong foundation in the liberal arts and rigorously prepares them to engineer solutions to global problems. It requires 120 credits, two-thirds of which must be STEM-focused, and one-third of which must be in the liberal arts and humanities. You can read more about the program on the BC website . 

During the brainstorming stage, pick several specific features of the program that catch your interest: perhaps the idea of working with stakeholder groups on design solutions appeals to your creative quest to solve real-world problems. Or, maybe the idea of a weekly reflection on the ethics of engineering strikes you as an important practice for keeping yourself accountable to a humanistic perspective. You’ll come back to these components of the program once you’ve identified a central problem around which to base your essay.

Next, think about your goals in conjunction with engineering–this is the first stage of framing that central problem for your essay. Why are you interested in engineering, from a human-impact perspective? What broad human issues do you find most urgent? Although the prompt doesn’t ask you to pick just one societal challenge or opportunity to address in your essay, we advise you to choose one central theme around which to base your essay. Boston College’s Human-Centered Engineering program aims to put human concerns at the center of its training. 

To get a better understanding of the program’s objectives, it can help to consider what this program strives not to be (and, by extension, what you should focus on avoiding or going beyond in your essay). One page on the Human-Centered Engineering website highlights a couple of contrasting concepts on engineering’s objectives: 

• “The engineers of the future will be asked to do more than build bridges. We’re educating innovative thinkers whose broad knowledge and passion for helping others will set them apart in whatever career they pursue.” Boston College’s engineering program strives to get at issues that have a greater human impact than functional design.
• “This is not engineering for engineering’s sake—this is engineering for impact.” As a graduate of the program, you’re not just inheriting engineering endeavors passed down for generations. You’re innovating and creating solutions to problems that today’s engineers might not yet know how to approach–hence the emphasis on creativity and humanistic perspective.

At this point, you should identify a pressing global or community-based human problem you’d like to address. This should be the focus of your brainstorming efforts. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a problem to discuss:

• Personal impact. Your essay will be much more cohesive and strong if you choose a topic that has affected you or a community you’re part of. For example, if your family owned a farm in Texas, where droughts are a recurring issue, you might be passionate about finding engineering solutions to the issue of water conservation. By framing the global issue of water shortage around your family’s experience, you can more effectively argue for the human impact of the issue. 
• Breadth. You should choose an example that is broad enough to fall into the category of “societal challenge,” but not too broad. If you choose an example that is too broad or vague, like “world peace,” you will come across as out of touch with the goals of the program. If your first thought was world peace, or some other broad human problem, don’t despair! Focus on finding a more specific concern within that broad context. In the case of world peace, think about a concrete problem that causes wars and disputes between human communities. Maybe it’s access to the internet. Then you can frame this issue as worldwide connectivity and access to technology. You don’t need to know all the details of your solution’s mechanism–that’s the purpose of your education–but your central problem should lend itself to an interdisciplinary, engineering-based solution.
• Current Global Crises. The Human-Centered Engineering website gives you a few ideas for relevant human problems: environment (their example being access to clean water), health (with exposure to air pollution as an example), and energy (exemplified by a shift to renewable energy). It would be a good idea to choose a more specific concern within one of these sectors, but if you have a great idea that isn’t related to any of these ideas, that’s okay! The more creative and specific your idea, the better.

Once you’ve chosen a central problem, go back to the concrete aspects of the Boston College’s program that you found most noteworthy. How can these features support your goals? 

You will probably need to go back to the program website and find some more specific resources that will help you achieve your goals. 

Let’s take access to technology and connectivity as our example. You might point out that the liberal arts core will help you gain empathy and perspective on the issue; there is an abundance of literature and psychological studies on the ways in which being left behind technologically creates tensions and war. 

You might also argue that the weekly ethical reflections will help you consider the human needs that you can address within the issue of access to technology–why should we endeavor to bring up-to-date technology across the globe? 

Lastly, the design-thinking modules with stakeholders will help you learn to work with affected parties to create reliable solutions, and this ability to work with stakeholders means you can customize access to technology based on location and connectivity needs. 

Note that the prompt mentions how the program “strives to develop people who will integrate technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective” to societal problems. Make sure you address how the program will help you develop each of these qualities when it comes to addressing the societal problem you’ve chosen.

Where to Get Your BC Essay Edited 

Do you want feedback on your BC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

More From Forbes

Here’s how forbes got the chatgpt ai to write 2 college essays in 20 minutes.

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Not only does ChatGPT write clear, compelling essays, but it can also conjure up its own personal ... [+] details and embellishments that could up a students’ chance of acceptance and would be difficult to verify.

Forbes’ full conversation with ChatGPT, OpenAI’s newest natural language model, is pasted below. Each of the college admissions essays took less than 10 minutes to complete. Read our story about ChatGPT’s capacity to write college applications here .

Prompt #1, The Common App:

Forbes: Hi GPT, I’d like you to write a college application essay as if you were an 18-year-old high school senior whose parents are from Bangalore, India but who now own a restaurant in Newton, Mass. He is a competitive swimmer, and in 10th grade he broke his shoulder. He is interested in majoring in business. Please make the essay a maximum of 650 words, and write it in response to this prompt: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

ChatGPT: As a competitive swimmer and the son of Indian immigrants who own a restaurant in Newton, Massachusetts, my background and interests make me a unique and valuable addition to any college campus. Growing up in a culturally diverse and economically vibrant community has given me a unique perspective on life and a desire to explore and understand different cultures and industries.

My love for swimming began at a young age, and it has always been a central part of my life. I began competing in local swim meets when I was just nine years old, and by the time I reached high school, I was a member of the varsity swim team. In my sophomore year, I suffered a major setback when I broke my shoulder in a swimming accident. Despite this injury, I was determined to return to the pool and continue competing.

After months of grueling physical therapy and hard work, I was finally able to return to the water. I was not as fast as I used to be, but I was still a valuable member of the team and I continued to improve throughout the season. By the end of my junior year, I was back to my top form and I was able to compete at the state championship meet. My hard work and determination paid off, and I helped lead my team to a second-place finish.

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In addition to my passion for swimming, I have also been deeply influenced by my parents and their experiences as immigrants and small business owners. Growing up, I spent many hours in the restaurant, watching my parents work hard to build a successful business from the ground up. I have seen firsthand the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and I have developed a strong interest in pursuing a career in business.

As a business major, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to start my own business one day, or to help other small businesses succeed. I am excited to explore the diverse opportunities and challenges that a business degree will present, and I am confident that I will be able to make a valuable contribution to the college community.

In conclusion, my background as a competitive swimmer, the son of Indian immigrants, and a member of a thriving business community has given me a unique perspective and a strong set of skills and interests. I believe that I would be a valuable addition to any college campus, and I am excited to explore the opportunities and challenges that a college education will provide.

Forbes: Thanks GPT, this is a great start. Please keep what you have, but add more information about our student's background and work in the restaurant.

ChatGPT: Sure, I can add more information about our student's background and work in the restaurant.

Growing up in a household where my parents owned and operated a successful restaurant gave me a unique insight into the world of business. I often spent my afternoons and weekends working in the restaurant, performing a variety of tasks and gaining valuable experience in the hospitality industry. From a young age, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and customer service, and I have come to appreciate the challenges and rewards of owning and operating a small business.

As I grew older, my responsibilities in the restaurant increased, and I took on more managerial roles. I helped my parents with inventory management, staff scheduling, and customer relations. I also assisted with marketing and advertising efforts, and I helped develop new menu items and promotions. This hands-on experience has given me a strong understanding of the ins and outs of running a business, and it has helped shape my interest in pursuing a career in business.

In addition to my work in the restaurant, my Indian heritage has also had a significant impact on my life. My parents instilled in me a deep appreciation for Indian culture, and I have always been proud of my heritage. I have also been exposed to the challenges and opportunities that come with being a first-generation immigrant in the United States. I have seen firsthand the difficulties that my parents faced as they worked to build a new life in a foreign country, and I have also seen the incredible rewards that come from hard work and determination.

My Indian heritage and my experience in the restaurant industry have given me a unique perspective on life and a strong set of skills and interests. I am excited to bring this perspective to a college campus, and I am confident that I will be able to make a valuable contribution to the college community. Thank you for considering me for admission.

Forbes: Thanks GPT. Please combine your first and second drafts.

My love for swimming began at a young age, and it has always been a central part of my life. I began competing in local swim meets when I was just nine years old, and by the time I reached high school, I was a member of the varsity swim team. In my sophomore year, I suffered a major setback when I broke my shoulder in a swimming accident. Despite this injury, I was determined to return to the pool and continue competing. After months of grueling physical therapy and hard work, I was finally able to return to the water. I was not as fast as I used to be, but I was still a valuable member of the team and I continued to improve throughout the season. By the end of my junior year, I was back to my top form and I was able to compete at the state championship meet. My hard work and determination paid off, and I helped lead my team to a second-place finish.

Growing up in a household where my parents owned and operated a successful restaurant gave me a unique insight into the world of business. I often spent my afternoons and weekends working in the restaurant, performing a variety of tasks and gaining valuable experience in the hospitality industry. From a young age, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and customer service, and I have come to appreciate the challenges and rewards of owning and operating a small business. As I grew older, my responsibilities in the restaurant increased, and I took on more managerial roles. I helped my parents with inventory management, staff scheduling, and customer relations. I also assisted with marketing and advertising efforts, and I helped develop new menu items and promotions. This hands-on experience has given me a strong understanding of the ins and outs of running a business, and it has helped shape my interest in pursuing a career in business.

Prompt #2: University of Wisconsin-Madison supplemental essay

Forbes: Thanks GPT. I have another one for you. This time, please write a college application essay to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in response to this prompt: "Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (80-650 words)" Write as if your intended major is Business Administration and Marketing, you love Badgers football, and you work part-time at your family's restaurant.

ChatGPT: I decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison because it is a top-ranked university with a strong reputation for its business and marketing programs. As an aspiring business major, I am excited about the opportunity to study at such a prestigious institution and learn from some of the best minds in the field.

I am also excited about the potential to explore the many different facets of business and marketing through a variety of courses and extracurricular activities. I have always been interested in the world of business, and I am eager to gain a deeper understanding of the theories and practices that drive the field.

In addition to my interest in business, I am also drawn to Wisconsin-Madison because of its vibrant campus community. I am a big fan of Badgers football, and I can't wait to experience the energy and excitement of game days at Camp Randall Stadium. I am also looking forward to exploring the many other opportunities that Wisconsin-Madison has to offer, such as clubs and organizations, student events, and recreational activities.

I am also drawn to Wisconsin-Madison because of its strong sense of community. As a student who works part-time at my family's restaurant, I know the value of hard work and collaboration. I am excited to be part of a community of students and faculty who share my passion for learning and success.

Overall, I am confident that the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the perfect fit for me. I am excited about the opportunity to study business and marketing at a world-class institution, explore the many extracurricular opportunities on campus, and be part of a vibrant and supportive community. I am eager to begin this new chapter of my academic journey and contribute to the success of Wisconsin-Madison.

Forbes: Great, thank you. Please include more detail about why our student wants to study business, perhaps by including a story about a challenge they faced or skill they learned at their restaurant job.

My interest in business was sparked at a young age, when I began working at my family's restaurant. I started out as a dishwasher, but over time, I was given more responsibilities and opportunities to learn. I quickly became fascinated by the many different aspects of running a successful business, from managing finances and inventory to marketing and customer service.

One of the biggest challenges I faced at the restaurant was helping to increase sales during slow periods. I was given the task of coming up with a marketing strategy to attract more customers, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to put my ideas into action. I researched the competition and identified our unique selling points, and I developed a marketing plan that included promotions, discounts, and special events.

The marketing plan was a success, and we saw a significant increase in sales during the slow periods. I was thrilled to have made a real contribution to the success of the business, and I was grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow.

I am excited to continue exploring the world of business and marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am eager to learn from experienced professionals and gain a deeper understanding of the theories and practices that drive the field. I am confident that this knowledge and experience will prepare me for a successful career in business and help me to make a positive impact in the world.

Forbes: Great! But let’s add back in the parts about our student’s love for Badger football. Please also make the essay longer, about 500 words.

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