Getting into college is not exactly an easy thing to do. Although it is an important factor, getting good grades does not automatically qualify you. Universities often base their acceptance decision on many factors, and not all of them are equally picky.
If you are planning to get into one of the most prestigious universities like Stanford, then you have to be really prepared so that you present yourself in a way that draws positive attention to your application.
Stanford is one of the pickiest universities when it comes to accepting students. It receives thousands of applications on a yearly basis, but only accepts a few. One of its acceptance parameters is the supplemental essay.
Below are some tips to help you with writing the essay:
Do Not Repeat Yourself
You may be asked to write things that sound similar to you, like speaking about personal experiences. Although questions might seem the same, be aware of repeating yourself and writing about the same experiences over and over again. Other than making it boring to read, it will also give an impression that you do not have much experience to share, and that is not an impression you would want to give.
Speak From Your Heart And Out Of Experience
The officers reading your application do not want to spend their time reading the same words over and over again. One of the ways you can make your essay stand out is by making it personal. No one has lived your experience but you, and only you can say what you have learned from it and how it helped you grow. They are experts, and they know how to differentiate between clichés and words that come from the heart, even if they sound like a cliché.
No Time To Ramble
Stanford supplemental essays have word limits. To be able to stick to it, you have to be very careful with the words you choose and be to the point. Do not waste your word limit rambling on unnecessary information. Think of it as having to tailor your tweets to fit into the 140 words, but in a much more professional way.
Use Guidance Services
It’s important that you look for some guidance to help you really ace the essay. You’ll be able to find a reliable website that can give you Stanford essay help so that you can be sure that you’re executing it correctly. Such websites are experts and offer you samples of articles that were accepted into the university before. This can give your application the boost it needs.
Show Them That You Have What They Are Looking For
To stand out you must have the skills and the potential admission officers are looking for. They want to accept a student who is committed and up to the challenge. A student who knows how to manage his/her time and be as productive as they can be.
Make sure that all these skills show in your answers as much as possible. Do not mention them directly but rather weave them into your personal experiences.
Be Careful Not To Brag
There is a fine line between knowing your worth and bragging too much about your abilities. Admission officers receive many applications, they want to know how good you are and why you think you deserve the spot, but make sure you do not sound condescending on your application. Show them you stand out without trying to undermine the rest of the applicants.
Do Your Homework
This applies to university applications as well as applying for jobs in the future. When answering questions about why you are applying to Stanford make sure you show them that you have done your homework; that you know the names of professors and what areas of research are they working on.
Many students want to go to Stanford just to have the name written in their resumes. Be that one student who knows what Stanford can actually offer him/her.
The university you end up going to will have a huge impact on your future. Start working on your application as early as possible. If you fill your life with experiences that you are passionate about and that mean a lot to you, then writing about them should not be as difficult as you think.
Self-confidence is highly needed when applying to college, it will make you prepare your application with ease and comfort. Panicking, however, will make you fall into pits you wouldn’t have fallen into otherwise.
You have come so far, we are sure you can make it and be accepted in the college of your dreams. Good luck!