Personal reflective essays are extremely important when it comes to college admissions. However, most people fail to write one because they do not know what the essay should entail. This is a big mistake and one that could cost them their spot at college.
The first good thing you should do before writing this type of essay is to get a list of questions ready for the admissions officer. The questions will consist of your goals, what you hope to gain from the college, what you hope to contribute to the school, what qualities you are looking for in the college and so on. When you sit down to begin writing the essay, do not feel like there are any rules or regulations you have to follow. Just be yourself and let the words flow out.
Once you have this list in hand, you need to make sure you write it down. Remember, the admissions officer is going to look at it several times during the review period so you want to make sure you get all of your thoughts down on paper before you go to sleep. You will find that as you start your writing, you will find yourself not only remembering it, but you will actually put it down on paper.
The next thing you need to do when you begin your personal reflective essay is start thinking like an admissions officer. The first thing that he or she is going to do is see how much information you are able to give them about yourself and then come up with a sentence or two that will lead them to another part of the document. You are also going to find that these sentences or ideas will help you get a better perspective on the school itself.
For example, if you are applying to a four-year university, you might say something like “The college I attend is a respected institution and offers many opportunities for me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree.” What you are really saying is that your goals and dreams fit well with the college that you attend. The admissions officer might take this to mean that he or she has found you a good match for a career that fits well with the degree program you are going to attend.
The last thing that you need to do when you write a personal reflective essay is to be sure to use your writing skills and write like you were talking to an admissions officer. In other words, don’t be afraid to show some opinions about the college itself. You might write, “I believe the school offers too many majors to handle and is too dependent on technology.”
If you are applying to a community college, you might say that you don’t have a strong desire for a career that will lead you to a more traditional career but you do have a strong desire for a more personal experience at the college admissions office. Maybe you will say, “My main objective is to find a way to connect with others who have a passion for helping others.” That is just one example of how you can use your writing abilities to help you show how you are different from other students.
Remember, you are going to have to use this skill during the writing process. You might even get discouraged when you find that you cannot write like you are talking to a college admissions officer. Keep writing, keep practicing, and always be honest with yourself.