I don't think contractions are necessarily a no go, especially if you have a reason to use them. These essays are not, in fact, meant to be laborious and formal. These aren't academic essays or official letters or even business memos, where it would not make sense to use contractions or colloquial language. Here, you're trying to show them your voice, and if your voice comes through better with contractions (without undermining your authority), then so be it.
That said, I've used contractions in mine, but I've done so sparingly. If I used a contraction or two every sentence, it would start to stand out. But when it's used only occasionally (once a paragraph or so), it can increase the effect of a sentence. I think people who aren't truly comfortable with writing tend to lean toward formalism because they think it makes them sound better (maybe it does), but I'd say there's no need for a blanket no contractions rule.
But I'm no expert. Anyone have any opinions from the admissions people or admissions consultants themselves?
Worth a look:
using-contractions-in-essays-39871.html#p276846Finally, AlexMBA's (admission consultant) thing on writing:
what-is-good-writing-78273.htmlQuote:
And the last one for writing from a subjective viewpoint (first person narrative) is SINCERITY. Tonally, it's got to sound like a real person, not a robotic PR release. Aim for a lack of formality without being casual.
Your essays may not sound like the stylized writing you are used to at work, but believe me it will be miles better than the overwhelming majority of sh*t you'll see in powerpoint presentations, website copy and business correspondence. Corporate speak makes it harder to separate the clueless, incompetent, and spineless from the knowledgeable, talented and ethical - that's why it can be an invaluable "cover your ass" dialect in a bureaucracy.
The question is whether using a handful of contractions simply lacks formality (good) or sounds casual (bad).