It would have been much easier for universities to simply rank students according to GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities and send out acceptance letters to those who had the highest qualification. Regardless of that, they still choose to go through the long and tiring process of looking over each admission essay to choose their ideal student body.
If you wonder why, it’s simply because, in the end, it is the individuals who attend college and not their test scores, resumes, or certificates of achievements. For this reason, students who make sure to submit their best college application writing are always the ones chosen by universities.
If you present a strong profile, with competitive test scores, a high GPA, and excellent extracurricular performance, the essay is unlikely to have a major impact on your application because you have already demonstrated your ability to succeed. However, you still should aim to write a persuasive essay. It not only complements the talent you have already conveyed through your profile but also impresses the admissions committee. based on
So, how important are admission essays to different colleges?
Most public schools and flagship universities, such as the University of California and the University of Massachusetts, receive more applications than any private school. Also, they often have limited resources to evaluate each candidate, which means that these colleges screen applicants based on their GPA and test scores before reviewing extracurricular performance and essays. So, if you are a “borderline” student with good but less-competitive grades, a strong essay can push your application into the pool of accepted when it comes to these universities. However, your essays are unlikely to compensate for below-average test scores and grades, since the first and foremost bases of evaluation are the quantitative aspects of your application.
On the contrary, smaller colleges, especially liberal arts schools like Amherst College or Wellesley College, have a more holistic approach to the admission process. It is because these colleges often have a selective admission process and receive fewer applications. Therefore, they dedicate more time and resources to each candidate.
Top private schools, like Ivy League and similar tier universities, also prefer a holistic selection procedure. When evaluating applicants, they demonstrate an interest in every student’s individuality as the students who apply there already showcase excellent academic backgrounds and non-scholastic performance. Therefore, essays are the additional and often critical differentiating factor in understanding a candidate’s profile and personality.
What do well-written essays add to a candidate’s application?
Whichever college you are applying to, by no means should a college essay be taken lightly? Even if your profile is enough to make you one of the top candidates for the best universities in the country, your essay always adds value. If the essay and profile don’t complement each other, the admissions officer can lose faith and reject your application.
Factoring in your interests, skill sets, and intended major adds weight to your essay. For example, if you are applying to arts programs like creative writing, languages, or journalism, mention linguistic-oriented works in your college essay, such as an interesting article you wrote for your school newspaper. Your essay needs to reflect your talent for your chosen major. If colleges see that your area of focus in the application is writing but receive a poorly-structured and uninspired essay, they will be confused. They might wonder how well you understand your capabilities and if you would be a good fit for their kind of college environment.
On the other hand, if your focused subject doesn’t require creative writing skills, such as medicine or mathematics, admission committees often provide leeway and judge your essay accordingly. However, you still need to present a thoughtful and carefully written essay. If you know your writing isn’t that strong, seek help from your teachers, guidance counselors, friends, and family members. Make them read your essay, ask for feedback, and improve accordingly.
In a nutshell, just as with all other components of your college application, your essay writing process matters a great deal. Always keep in mind to what degree your essay might affect your likelihood of acceptance and check how much value various colleges place on essays during the admissions process. Whatever you write in your essay will reflect on you as an individual, so make sure to put your best foot forward.
