In our How to Write Exemplary Application Essays blog series, you’ll learn how to create exemplary essays by analyzing sample successful application essays.
In the last post, we shared tips on how to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to create that first draft. Now it’s time to revise and edit; outstanding essays are not sprung into the world on the first draft. Here’s how to edit and polish until your essay shines:
Step 1: First, let your essay sit for a day or two, particularly after an intensive writing session. You’ll return to your document with fresh eyes, and undoubtedly find ways to strengthen it immediately. One of the most common problems plaguing these types of essays is bland, forgettable writing. When you return to your essay, if you spot any writing as generic as in the next sentence, you have work to do:
“Although I have been responsible for a lot of exciting projects, I want to move into management, which may not happen on my current path.”
What kind of projects? What made them exciting? Why wouldn’t a management path be open to the writer? Let’s resuscitate this prose by adding appropriate details.
“My role as a product manager for a mid-sized giftware business has allowed me to develop my creativity as well as communication and market research skills. As exciting as it has been to have been involved in the planning and release of our innovative kitchen giftware, whose designs are based on famous Impressionist paintings, I want to move more into management, which seems unlikely at this family-owned and managed company.”
Adding details takes more room, but it makes your essay come alive. It’s also better to write about fewer examples and flesh each out in greater detail than to write a laundry list of either accomplishments or character traits you feel you possess. “Show, don’t tell,” remains a cardinal rule in writing.
Step 2: Ditch the passive voice – this will further enliven and tighten your writing.
“Negotiations over the extent of the website design were carried out by a team of managers and myself, representing the technical team.”
This passive construction is five words longer and drags a bit. Move the “doer” of the action to the head of the sentence for a resulting sentence that makes you sound like a leader:
“I represented the technical team in negations with management over the extent of the website design.”
Step 3: Read your essay aloud. Reading your work silently to yourself is quite different than actually hearing the words out loud. When you listen to your essay, you’ll likely catch small mistakes that you inadvertently missed during the editing process, and hear phrasing that you can strengthen.
Step 4: Make sure your essay achieves the job you set out for it. Do you sound like the irresistibly focused, thoughtful, and energetic individual you want to sound like? Make sure that the voice you created on the page resonates positively.
Summary Tips:
• Wait a day after writing a draft, so you can return to it with a fresh perspective.
• Look for instances of bland writing or passive voice, then replace with writing that is specific and active.
• Read your essay aloud so you can hear the voice you have created. Does it meet your goals? If not, keep revising and enlist an experienced editor to help get you to the finish line.
Work one-on-one with an expert who will walk you through the process of creating a slam-dunk application when you check out our catalog of application services. Our admissions consultants have read thousands of essays and know the exact ingredients of an outstanding essay.
Related Resources:
• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Personal Statement, a free guide
• 3 Tips for Showing Strengths in Your Application Essays
• Bring Your Personal Statement to Life With Vivid, Active Verbs
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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