How to Write Great Essays

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Exit essays are typically written for people you know, such as the English teachers in your
high school. You might even know one or more of them quite well. But don’t let that fact
influence the tone of your essay. It is a serious assignment with high stakes attached. Now
is not the time to be silly or otherwise informal. Aim for a balance between formality and
informality, and keep in mind the following advice given for applications essays.
It’s not easy to describe typical admissions directors. Most schools hire a mix of young
and old, scholastic and athletic, alumni and not, conservative and liberal. What they have
in common is an ability to spot good writing, and a willingness to make a connection with
their applicants. Your job is to try to appeal to one or more of them.
College admissions committees are usually made up of between ten and twenty people.
There is a Dean, or Director of Admissions, who leads a team of Assistant or Associate Direc-
tors. Some schools even hire senior interns, who are still working toward their degrees, to
evaluate applications.
The committees vary a great deal in their makeup. Most schools now attempt to provide
a diverse group, employing women and minorities. Each admissions director is typically in
charge of a geographical area of the country, or of the world if the school draws or wants
to draw international students. They travel to those areas to attend college fairs, conduct
interviews, and speak at secondary schools. They are available to applicants to answer ques-
tions and give a better idea of what the school is like (especially if they are an alumni/ae).
When applications are submitted, the work of the committee goes into high gear. Some
schools receive thousands of applications for a few hundred spots. Others are less selective,
but still must evaluate each application they receive. Everyone on the committee gets hun-
dreds of essays to evaluate, meaning they spend an average of two to three minutes read-
ing each one.
Admissions directors do not read with a highly judgmental eye, ready to circle every dan-
gling participle or toss your essay if they find an unclear pronoun reference. Instead, they
read to find essays that they connect with. The connection is a feeling he or she gets from