Entrance essays are one way for the admissions team at a college or university to get to know you – not just what you say, but by the way you choose to say it. When they’re reading entrance essays, there are certain personal quality traits that they look for. Some examples are:
• Honesty. Yes, of course you want your application to look good. But they can usually tell if you’re just trying to impress them. Schools want people who have character not just individuals who know how to look good. This doesn’t mean you have to put yourself down; it just means that you should approach what you’ve done with a confident yet humble tone.
• The ability to evaluate yourself. Don’t just mention what happened to you; demonstrate your ability to understand what that says about you. Show that you understand what has been formational in your life and how certain things affect you.
• Writing skills. Although some people think, “I’m going to be a coach; I don’t need to know how to stylize an essay,” this statement could not be further from the truth. Establishing a specific tone, writing clearly, intriguing them with your opening and utilizing style will show you to be a good communicator, no matter what you hope to major in.
• Sincerity. Some people think that by gushing over things, they will be able to show their extreme excitement, appreciation, or some other emotion. But they’re wrong. Using a whole bunch of superlatives makes you sound fake. Rather address your issue with a deep yet calm appreciation. Here’s an example: “I have never been so excited in my whole life!” sounds much less genuine than, “The joy I felt caused tears to begin to roll down my cheeks.”