does the college essay really matter

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How Important is the College Essay?

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You know it’s important to have a high GPA, strong standardized tests scores, and extracurricular activities for your college application. But what about the essay? Just how much does it really matter to your overall academic profile? 

The essay is always important, but just how much it will influence your overall application varies by the school to which you are applying, as well as your individual profile. We’ll break it down further in this post.

At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews. 

Now that many schools are going test-optional or test-blind , however, this breakdown changes slightly. In these situations, test scores no longer account for 15%, meaning that other portions of your application, including essays, are given more weight and consideration.

You might be surprised to learn that essays are that important, but keep in mind that at top schools, there are at least 4 academically-qualified candidates for every open spot. To truly assess an applicant’s fit with the school, admissions officers need the essays. Essays are your one opportunity to share your voice, your unique experiences, and your perspective.

While there is a general breakdown as to how important essays are, their actual influence will vary based on several factors:

1. School size and type

Huge public schools tend to have more applicants than private schools, as well as limited resources with which to evaluate candidates. State schools tend to screen candidates first using GPA and test scores, before reviewing extracurricular activities and essays. At these schools, essays matter less if you have particularly strong academics. The more selective the school, however, the more important essays are. For instance, essays likely matter more at UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan compared to the University of Nebraska or University of Arizona. This is because more selective schools often have more qualified applicants, so essays are used kind of as a tie-breaker. 

In contrast, smaller colleges, especially liberal arts schools, tend to take a more holistic approach to evaluating candidates, since these colleges tend to be more self-selective and receive fewer applications. Therefore, they can devote more time and resources to each individual application.

Top private schools like the Ivies and similar-tier colleges also prefer to use a holistic approach when evaluating students, seeking to understand the candidate and their background as a whole. At top-tier colleges, many of the candidates are already excellent students who have stellar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, so essays provide an additional way to differentiate candidates and understand their entire profiles and personalities. As a result, essays are extremely important at these schools, even for those with stellar academics.

2. The strength of your profile

If you are a “borderline” candidate, with good but less-competitive grades and test scores, a strong essay could push you into the admitted pool. However, your essay is unlikely to compensate for grades and test scores that are too far below average, since academics are the primary basis of evaluation.

For the student who otherwise presents an outstanding profile, with a high GPA, competitive test scores, and stellar extracurricular activities, the essay may have a smaller impact on your overall application, because you have already demonstrated your ability to succeed. However, you should still aim to write a strong essay, especially if your dream colleges are highly-selective. 

Under no circumstances should you ever “blow off” your college essay. Even if the rest of your profile makes you a top candidate for competitive colleges, your essay always matters. In fact, your essay could end up hurting an application for an otherwise strong candidate if it appears hastily written or not well thought-out.

3. Your intended major

Factoring in your particular interests, talents, and intended major makes the importance of the essay even more nuanced. If you intend to study a humanities subject such as Journalism, Creative Writing, or English, and list writing-oriented extracurricular activities (such as your school newspaper) on your application, your essay needs to reflect your talent and chosen major. If colleges see that your focus is writing and receive a poorly-written or uninspired essay, they will be confused — and may wonder how well you understand your own strengths.

On the other hand, if your focus is clearly on a subject in which writing personally and creatively is not as essential, such as STEM, admissions committees may provide a little more leeway and judge your essay a little less harshly. You still need to present a well-written and carefully-considered essay, of course. If you know writing is somewhat of a weakness, have teachers, guidance counselors, friends, and family members read it and offer feedback. However, colleges will generally understand that your talents lie elsewhere.

4. Test-optional/Test-blind policies

When colleges go test-optional or test-blind , standardized test scores are given less or no consideration in the admissions process. This means that the other aspects of your application will be more important. So, if you’re planning on applying to schools with test-optional or test-blind policies, keep in mind that your essays will be given even more consideration. Alternatively, if you’re applying to a school where standardized tests are required, your essays may be weighted slightly less.

In either case, you should be making sure your essays are as strong as possible. As schools are increasingly turning test-optional and test-blind in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, admissions processes are constantly changing in unpredictable ways. Your essays are the most personalized part of your application and are your chance to tell admissions officers your unique story. So, make sure that your essays are in great shape and are conveying your personality in an authentic and interesting way.

Essays are an extremely important part of the college admissions process. While certain factors may impact the relative influence of essays, you should always put in your best effort. 

If you’re looking for more help on how to write a strong essay, check out these posts:

How to Write the Common App Essays (with Examples!)

How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay

How to Write the “Why This College” Essay

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? It’s always useful to have another set of eyes look at your essays to make sure they are in great shape. No matter where you are in the writing process, you can check out our Peer and Expert Essay Review to get some insight into how to improve your college essays! 

With our free peer review, you can have others take a look at your essay and provide useful feedback. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. Alternatively, try out our paid expert essay review to get expert advice and detailed tips on what to improve in your essays!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

College Application Essays Don’t Matter as Much as You Think

Correction appended, November 14.

Parents: sit down before you read this. Kids: deep breaths. You know that beautifully crafted, deeply felt, highly unusual college application essay you’ve been polishing? It might not make a difference for your college admission chances.

Stanford sociologist Mitchell Stevens spent 18 months embedded with admissions officers at an unnamed top-tier liberal arts college and found that, even in cases where students were within the admissible range in terms of scores and grades, officers rarely looked to the personal essays as a deciding factor. He wrote about his experience for The New Republic , and here’s the most interesting part:

Yet even in these middling cases, personal essays rarely got even cursory attention from admissions officers. There were simply too many files to consider in too small a time frame, and too many other evaluative factors that mattered much more. How likely was an applicant to accept our offer of admission? Had we already accepted anyone from his or her remote zip code? Had the applicant received any special endorsement from a college alumnus or a faculty member? Did someone in the office owe a favor to the applicant’s guidance counselor? Those are the questions that get debated before a verdict is reached. But during the hundreds of deliberations I sat in on over two admission cycles, I literally never heard a decision made on the basis of a personal essay alone.

The good news? Three former admissions officers I spoke to told me that, contrary to Steven’s observations, officers read every essay that comes across their desks. “We definitely read the essays,” says Joie Jager-Hyman, president of College Prep 360 and former admissions officer at Dartmouth College. “You don’t do that job unless you enjoy reading the essays. They’re kind of fun.” Elizabeth Heaton, senior director of educational counseling at admissions-consulting firm College Coach, and former admissions officer at the University of Pennsylvania, says she took notes on every single piece of writing a student submitted, whether she advocated for them or not.

The bad news? No matter how gorgeous your prose is, you can’t get into college based on the strength of your essay alone. “No-one ever gets into college because you write a great essay,” Heaton says. “You can not get in because you write a really bad one.”

And even Joan Didion herself wouldn’t get into college on her writing skills if she had lackluster grades or scores. The officers told me they did sometimes look to the essays to explain weaknesses in the application (like if there was a year of bad grades that coincided with an illness,) but they said that kind information was usually best kept in the “additional information” section of the application.

Some officers recalled moments when they were so moved by an essay that they advocated for the student to be admitted despite other weaknesses on the application, but none had ever recalled a time where that strategy had worked. “There were a couple of incidents were I really wanted to admit a student and recommended that they move forward because their writing and personal qualities were so interesting, but I was not successful,” says Shoshana Krieger, a counselor for Expert Admissions who formerly worked in the admissions office at the University of Chicago and at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. “There are certain cases where if a student is simply too far off academically, it’s then just not going to make a difference.”

“I never saw a phenomenal essay suddenly make up for everything” Heaton agreed. “These days, there’s just so little wiggle room to be able to make that call.” She also noted that it looks suspicious when a kid with mediocre grades and scores submits a spectacular essay, and raises doubts that the student might not have written it herself.

Later in his piece, Steven notes that the college essay may be more of a psychological outlet than a practical asset in the college application process, since it’s one of the only things that’s still in the applicant’s control during the fall of their senior year (most of their transcript and scores are already behind them.) Joie Jager-Hyman said she agreed with that assessment. “There’s so much anxiety right now in the air,” she said. “It’s the thing they feel like they have power over.” She also noted that focus on the essay could help kids become better writers in the long-run, even if it might not necessarily make or break their college admissions chances, and “that’s not totally a bad thing.”

So even if all the revising and nitpicking on the college essay may not help your kid get into college, it will almost certainly make him or her a better writer. So don’t put away that red pen yet.

Correction: The original version of this post misstated the location of Trinity University in Texas. It is in San Antonio.

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How to Write an Impressive College Application Essay

IvyWise Live: Catch Their Eye: How to Write Compelling College Application Essays

Join IvyWise college admissions experts to learn how you can showcase your best self when applying to college. They will cover:

• Each step of the Common App, including the activities section and the optional community disruption question.
• How to stand out to admissions officers when applying with the Common App.
• Tips for brainstorming essay topics, beginning the first draft, word choice and tone, editing the final personal statement essay.
• How to use supplemental essays to demonstrate interest in each college on your list.

College application essays are a critical aspect of the admissions process, offering an opportunity to showcase your individuality beyond the standard application forms and test scores. A well-crafted essay can highlight your unique personality, experiences, and aspirations, providing college admissions officers with a more holistic view of who you are. 

That said, many students find writing college essays to be one of the more challenging parts of the application. Keep reading for tips on how to make your college essays stand out.   

How to Write an Impressive College Application Essay: Table of Contents  

What Is a College Essay?  

Why colleges ask for supplemental essays  , when to start writing your college essay  .

• How Important Is It to Be Unique in College Essays?  

How to Format Your College Essay  

• How Important Is Grammar in Writing College Essays?   

What Makes a Great College Essay: Tips from IvyWise’s Admissions Counselors  

The latest essay prompts   .

•   Need Help with Your College Essay  

The college admissions essay is designed to give admissions officers insight into your character, experiences, and motivations. Unlike standardized test scores and transcripts , which provide quantitative data, the college essay allows students to showcase their unique voice, creativity, and personal journey. It often addresses prompts that encourage reflection on significant life events, personal growth, or aspirations, enabling you to highlight what makes you a compelling candidate for admission. 

How Important Is the College Essay?  

Your academic performance in high school indicates how well you might do in your college coursework, but it doesn’t paint the entire picture. College essays are critical because the admissions committee at most institutions, particularly more selective colleges, want to know more about you beyond grades and test scores. They want to know how you’ll fit into the campus culture, so your essay is an opportunity to share what makes you unique — your experiences, personality, perspectives, values, interests, and activities beyond the classroom. 

What if essay writing isn’t one of your strengths? It’s a good idea to practice your essay writing skills before you even start applying to colleges by reading as much narrative nonfiction as you can. You can also find online courses on  Coursera and other websites that focus on memoir and personal essay writing. You can also get help with developing your writing skills through tutoring at IvyWise. 

Do College Essays Matter More than GPA?   

Grades are the most important factor that admissions officers consider when evaluating college applications. However, grades and GPA alone don’t guarantee admission. Each school has its own rubric for evaluating applications, and both your GPA and college essay are typically components of this rubric. Great grades can get you to the “let me think about it” pile, but a dull and uninspired essay can bring your rubric score down. However, a stellar essay can set you apart from other applicants who are similar to you academically, which can help the admissions committee narrow the field. 

Thousands of students with similar GPA, course rigor, and test scores apply to the same colleges every year. It can be hard to stand out with the sheer number of candidates with similar academic qualifications. This is where other components of your application will come in, such as your college essay, that could tip the scales in your favor. While a great GPA is important, it doesn’t necessarily make you stand out. Other soft factors, like your essay, will. 

In addition to the personal statement, which is submitted to each school you apply to, many colleges include supplemental essay questions in their application.  Why do supplemental essays matter?   These supplements are the perfect opportunity to articulate why you are interested in a specific school and demonstrate your knowledge of the institution.  

Some colleges may explicitly ask students why they are interested in their institution while other universities may include less direct prompts that focus on long-term goals and ambitions. Regardless of the nature of the question, applicants should strive to tailor their responses to the university they are applying to and weave in school-specific details that highlight their knowledge about programs and opportunities on campus.  

College Supplemental Essay Tips for Particular Selective Schools   

• How to write the  Brown supplemental essay  
• How to tackle  Yale supplemental essay  
• How to write the  NYU supplemental essay  
• What strategy to use for  Columbia University supplemental essays  
• What to write in the  Princeton supplemental essays  
• How to craft a winning Why Dartmouth essay  

Applying to other schools? We have  more tips for supplemental essays.  

The  Common App essay prompts are released every year well ahead of the August 1 opening date. Additionally, many colleges and universities announce their  supplemental essay prompts in July. We recommend students begin writing their essays during the summer before the rigors of senior year. This gives you plenty of time to draft, revise, get feedback, and proofread before it’s ready to submit.  

How Important Is It to Be Unique in College Essays?    

Teenagers have such limited life experiences that it’s not easy to be truly unique in college essays. Instead, focus on being authentic. Your essay should be an expression of your authentic voice — which in itself is unique. Keep in mind that admissions officers evaluate thousands of applications each year. You’re unlikely to write about something they haven’t read before. 

Choose a topic based on what you want the admissions officers to know about you, not what you think will impress them or be “different.” Often students trying to be unique in their essays — like writing in a poetic structure or in a weird voice — come off as disingenuous. Write an essay about a topic that will give them a good idea of who you are and how you will contribute to the school both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Of course, a lot of things make you who you are, and you can’t write about them all. Doing some research on  what to write in a personal statement can help you focus on what will impress the admissions committee. 

While the content of your essay is important, you also need to think about how to format it properly. By following these guidelines, you can present a polished essay. 

• Font and Size : Use a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in 12-point size. Avoid formatting, such as italics, bold, underlines, emojis, and all caps.  
• Margins : Set one-inch margins on all sides of the document. 
• Spacing : Use 1.5 or double spacing to improve readability. 
• Indentation : Indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch. 
• Title : Include a title if the application instructions require it, centered at the top of the first page. 
• Header : Some colleges may request your name and application ID in the header of each page. Check specific application instructions for details. 
• Length : Adhere to the word limit specified in the prompt, typically around 250-650 words. 
• File Format : Submit the essay in the required format, often a PDF or Word document, to preserve the formatting. 

How to Start Your College Essay

A compelling essay starts with a “hook” that draws the reader in and sets the tone for the rest of your essay. You might begin with an engaging story, a vivid description of a scene, or a personal anecdote that relates to the main theme of your essay, but keep it brief. Other strategies include using a meaningful quote, a thought-provoking question, or an intriguing statement that sets up the central idea of your essay.  

How Long Should Your Essay Be  

While the  college essay writing process is mostly about authenticity and creativity, you generally will have to stick to a word limit. The Common App essay has a limit of 650 words. Most supplemental essays will be shorter than 650 words, but it depends on the school you’re applying to.  

How to End the Essay  

Ending your college essay on a strong note is crucial as it leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Here are some suggestions: 

• Reflect on your journey. Summarize how the experiences you’ve discussed have shaped you and your aspirations. Reflect on personal growth and how these insights have prepared you for college. 
• Look to the future. Connect your past experiences and current achievements to your future goals. Explain how the college you’re applying to fits into your plans and how you hope to contribute to their community. 
• Circle back. Revisit an anecdote, quote, or question from your introduction to create a sense of cohesion and closure. This can highlight your main theme and underscore your narrative. 
• Close with an impactful statement. End with a strong, memorable statement that summarizes your main message or leaves the reader with something to ponder. 
• Express gratitude. Convey genuine appreciation for the opportunity to share your story and excitement about the potential to join the college community. 

Ensure your conclusion reinforces the key points of your essay and leaves the reader with a clear understanding of your character, goals, and why you are an excellent fit for the college. 

How Important Is Grammar in Writing College Essays?   

Strong essays also tend to be relatively free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes because they demonstrate your attention to detail. You aren’t expected to be perfect, but it helps to know some common grammar and  spelling mistakes to avoid in essays . 

Proofreading is essential to catch avoidable errors, especially since you can’t always rely on spell or grammar check to catch all your mistakes. And a second pair of eyes never hurts. You may find it helpful to ask someone else to proofread your essay. 

To create a compelling essay, focus on authentic storytelling, clearly articulate your passion for the specific college or program, and demonstrate how your goals align with the institution’s values and opportunities. Thorough research, genuine enthusiasm, and a reflective approach are key elements that can transform your essay into a memorable and impactful narrative. Here are some additional  college essay tips . 

# 1 Add Personality to Your Application  

Every applicant is more than the sum of their grades, test scores, and  extracurricular involvements . College application essays give students the opportunity to reveal who they truly are and the personality traits that set them apart. Consequently, students shouldn’t be afraid to use their own authentic voices in their essays and let their unique character shine through. 

Many essay prompts focus on moments of growth and self-discovery, which can provide applicants with an opportunity to discuss the personal experiences that have defined them and helped them grow. Instead of striving to write something that sounds academic, focus on creating compelling essays using your own authentic voice. It can be helpful to read your essay drafts out loud to ensure your words sound like something you would really say.    

#2 Reveal Something New About Yourself  

Application essays can be the perfect place to reveal something new about yourself or discuss something that is not obvious elsewhere in your application. Students may wish to consider drafting personal statements about experiences that aren’t highlighted in their resume or transcript. 

For example, instead of writing about scoring the winning goal, a star athlete may choose to focus on an experience outside of their chosen sport, since it is likely that this extracurricular activity is referenced throughout their application. A student like this may choose to focus on what they learned from a summer job, a  volunteer experience   that changed their perspective, or a personal challenge that enabled them to grow.  

#3 Articulate Your Impact on Campus  

Admissions officers are looking to  admit applicants who will become active participants on campus . Take advantage of personal statements and supplements to convey not just who you are now, but what you wish to achieve. For school-specific supplements, applicants may wish to highlight the groups and programs that they are eager to join if admitted. 

Similarly, students may choose to weave in details about their future goals and ambitions in a personal statement, which can help give admissions officers a sense of the impact they wish to make. 

Read more: 

• Learn how to  brainstorm for essay topics.  
• See  10 college essay dos and don’ts  

Many colleges and universities require you to respond to one of the  Common App essay prompts . You are asked to respond to your chosen prompt in 250-650 words, so it helps to be concise and focused. This personal statement is sent to all the colleges you apply to through the Common App.  

You may be required to respond to school-specific  supplemental essay prompts as well. Some schools provide quirky college essay prompts, but that’s good news. It means you’re encouraged to be creative! Plus, unique prompts can make the admissions process a little less daunting. However, you should still take all essay prompts seriously regardless of how unconventional or easy they seem. Take your time and provide a thoughtful response that gives the admissions committee insight into who you are.  

Need Help with Your College Essay  

Given the importance of college essays, students should start drafting their pieces well in advance. This can be one of the most daunting parts of your college application, which is why it can be beneficial to seek expert guidance. All IvyWise college admissions counselors have direct experience in admissions at some of the most selective colleges and universities in the U.S. They have read thousands of college essays and know what makes students stand out.     

If you are currently working on application essays and looking for expert guidance, our team of college admissions counselors can help you find your voice.  Schedule your Initial Consultation to speak to one of our experts. 

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• 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts
• Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2023-24
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Home » IvyWise College Admissions Blog » College Admission Advice » College Essays » How to Write an Impressive College Application Essay

LESS COLLEGE STRESS CONSULTING [email protected]

• Aug 29, 2020

Do Essays Really Matter? What I Learned from a Panel of Admissions Officers

I asked admissions officers from Vanderbilt, Denison, the Universities of Richmond, Miami, Delaware, and Marist and Gettysburg Colleges on how much--or how little attention--essays receive in admissions decisions at a virtual breakout panel at the Independent Education Consultants Association Conference in July. We discussed the value of the Common Application essay, college-specific “Why Us?” and diversity supplements, as well as the optional COVID-19 essay, at length. While there’s a general consensus that the essay will not be the single factor that leads to admission, strong essays absolutely matter.

A general rule: colleges deemed “most competitive” (most unpredictable) value essays as much as rigor, GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and other factors. That means the main, or Common App/Coalition essay, as well as supplements. For highly selective programs within a university, such as the Ross Business School at the University of Michigan, specific supplements are read carefully by a team of admissions professionals. But for all universities, the Why Us? supplemental essays should be written thoughtfully, regardless of how competitive admissions is. This year, many colleges are adding new supplements on community and inclusion to gauge how well students engage with others, especially in diverse environments.

I try to help students and families relax about the obsession with writing essays about unusual topics. The admissions officers concur. They claim to read every essay with positive intentions to admit rather than deny. That being said, a generic essay, or one that’s trying too hard to be different, doesn’t help a student’s application. The shame of this is that no student ever has to write a boring or contrived essay once he or she understands the essay’s purpose and how to approach it.

Another topic admissions officers agree upon is the COVID-19 essay. This extra optional prompt was designed for students who experienced genuine hardship rather than those coping with virtual classes and the common compromises we all had to make during the quarantine. They told us that the COVID essay can get old fast if there are thousands of them to read.

Finally, students who are applying to college test-optionally or with scores that do not represent their true ability should certainly focus on adding essays that truly enhance their applications. In this unpredictable year when applicants have less control, they should use everything in their power to craft essays that reveal the positive character traits that colleges want to add to their communities.

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Why College Essays Matter and How to Make Yours Stick Out

By Eric Eng

As you submit your college applications, you may start to wonder, “why do college essays matter?” This question makes sense when you think about all the application materials high school students have to submit. From completing an application and compiling a resume to getting letters of recommendation and high school transcripts, the list of items is long and even longer for certain schools and even different programs at the same school.

For example, in addition to all the regular application materials, USC requires students to respond to four additional essay prompts beyond the standard prompts on the Common App . Other schools require a personal statement or a statement of purpose, an autobiographical statement, or a diversity statement. These additional essays increase both the writing requirement and the importance of the essay to your overall application.

How important are college essays?

When applying for highly competitive schools, as many as 20 academically-excellent students might be vying for the same spot you are applying for. That means that admissions officers absolutely need the essays to truly assess whether each applicant will be an appropriate fit for the school. The essay is your primary opportunity to express yourself, share your unique life experiences, and give them a glimpse into your paradigms and perspectives.

Based on the admissions review process at the top 250 schools in the US, the essay accounts for one-fourth of your overall application score or rating. Other parts of the application account for more, like extracurriculars making up almost one-third, or less, your grades and transcript account for 20 percent, your test scores making up 15 percent, and your letters of recommendation and interviews contributing to the final 10 percent.

These percentage breakdowns make it clear that your essays are worth more than both your grades, your test scores, your letters of recommendation, and your interviews. Only extracurricular involvement accounts for more in the total rating of your application for admission. You don’t have to ask why do college essays matter. They are clearly just as important as the leadership roles and activities outside of academics you participate in, but even more important than your GPA and test scores.

How do you make yourself stand out in colleges?

As you write and revise your essays, you will undoubtedly want to know what you can do or how you can make yourself stand out to colleges. Your essays are one of the primary ways to do this. Any student can earn a high GPA or study for a high test score. Earning leadership roles while impressive is something other students are capable of as well.

But, the experiences you have, the opinions and perspectives that have been shaped as a result, are what you truly bring to colleges that is unlike any other student. Other high schoolers may have had your experiences of overcoming a difficult childhood or living with an inherited disease, but how you have dealt with those life experiences is unique only to you.

Your college essays are one of the ways you can also think about how you can make your essay more personal. Thinking about how and why your essays matter is a good way to approach the prompts you’ll need to respond to for each school. Despite common practices, there are four other factors that impact why your college essays matter: school size and type, your academic profile, your desired major, and whether test scores are optional.

1. School size and type.

Larger public schools tend to receive more student applications for admissions than private schools. At the same time, they may also have fewer admission officers available to review the increased number of applications.

As a result, large public schools tend to use screening methods for candidates to whittle their numbers down during subsequent rounds. The screen methods may include using minimum GPA and test scores in the first round, extracurricular activities and transcripts in the second round, and then more closely reviewing the essays of students in the third and final round.

Even if everything else is strong, your offer of admission may come down to how strong your essay is compared to other students in the third round of the application review. But, on the other hand, having a strong transcript with strong test scores and an impressive leadership record, then a less than stellar essay may or may not detract depending on how strongly the essay weighs for each admissions officer.

At more selective private schools, the essay would be considered holistically in the first round along with all the other application materials. More selective schools likely receive more highly-qualified applicants with equally impressive academic and extracurricular involvement, so using the essay as a sort of tie-breaker becomes a way to narrow the final group of admitted students down to the available slots.

On the opposite end, smaller schools, like liberal arts or science colleges, may receive fewer applications, so they can spend more time and resources evaluating each individual application. That means that the essay can be more closely scrutinized during every round of the application review process as an indicator of a student’s potential to succeed at the college.

Top-ranking private schools like the Ivy Leagues, and the public and “hidden” Ivies also utilize a holistic approach, despite the number of applications they receive. Their admissions process evaluates the entirety of the students’ background and characteristics for students who are already the cream of the crop. Essays become one more way to differentiate the students from each other and add an added layer of information beyond what’s in the rest of their application. There isn’t a GPA high enough to overcome a poor or substandard essay in these cases.

2. The value of your academic profile.

If you know you are a student who is not as competitive, applying to a reach school, and not bringing the highest grades and test scores, then having a strong essay becomes imperative to even be noticed among more qualified applications. But, do not think that writing a good essay can overcome poor grades or low test scores that are way below the average of the admitted class. Highly selective schools may admit students with lower than the average but this is rare enough to be something you should not expect or depend on.

But, for students who submit an impressive student profile with the typical high GPA, high test scores, and highly involved activities list, the essay may have a much smaller impact when compared to the overall application being of outstanding quality. This is a student who has already proven their ability to be successful. But, this type of student should still endeavour to submit an impressive essay that is worthy of being admitted into their highly-selective dream college.

It would be a terrible mistake to downplay the college essay , even for students with excellent profiles. The college essay always matters, especially for top candidates applying to competitive schools. You could even end up having the opposite effect of a poorly-written essay negatively impacting what would otherwise have been an application worthy of admission.

3. Your desired major.

Depending on the major to which you are applying, you’ll need to incorporate your personal interests, skills, talents, and achievements. Based on your desired major, the essay will become more or less important. For example, if you are applying to a writing major, like creative writing, English, or journalism, then your essay would need to reflect your interest and skills in writing.

Admissions officers would naturally expect you to be creative with writing and have a strong grasp of using language to express your voice and showcase your personality. It might be disappointing and result in rejection to find that a student applying for a writing major would submit a hastily written, unedited, or uninspired college essay.

On the other hand, students applying for math or engineering majors may receive some leeway when it comes to the writing of their college essays as their major depends less on writing. STEM majors may be judged less harshly on writing errors by admissions officers but even still, these students should have their essays reviewed by others to help overcome their weaknesses.

4. Test scores optional

As more and more schools give students the option to omit standardized test scores, the college essay becomes more important and matters more. The 15 percent of your application’s rating that comes from the test score is automatically eliminated when you opt-out of submitting test scores.

That means that every other piece of the application is worth more, though the increase may not be spread evenly among all parts. It’s possible that all 15 percent will go toward the essay, thus making it the most important part of your application. Or, it could be divided between extracurriculars, essays, and transcripts. Regardless, not having test scores with your application will naturally increase how much attention is paid to your college essay.

How do you make your college essay stand out?

When you work with our college admissions experts at AdmissionSight, you’ll likely be asking questions like, “How do you make your college essay stand out?,” and “How do you make your college essay more personal?” We can help you answer these questions.

Write using a realistic style and tone that is your own and not what you think admissions officers want to hear. Use diction that’s appropriate for the situation, and that comes from the real you and your real personality.

Don’t submit an English essay. You can use the writing skills that you’ve learned throughout high school, but remember that a college essay is different from a typical five-paragraph essay. You have more freedom and creativity to write however you feel. Don’t stick to the introduction-thesis-body paragraphs-conclusion formula, as this is not what admissions officers are looking for.

Use your own life for specific details and particular stories. Describe stories of overcoming challenges or implementing a change with concrete examples that incorporate sensory details. You want the admissions officers to feel as though they have gone through the experience. Entice them in a way that helps to give them a reprieve and a reward from thousands of other applications they’ll have to review.

Don’t lie, misinform, or plagiarize. Many schools use an automatic anti-plagiarism program that catches plagiarism quickly. This is a guaranteed way to have your application rejected. Copying someone else’s essay and presenting it as your own is unethical and basically, an academic infraction that would prevent you from achieving your academic dreams.

Stay away from doing anything dishonest. It would be better to submit a less-than-perfect college essay that you wrote yourself than to submit one that you copied from the internet or had someone else write for you.

Think carefully about whether you need to reference or include your Covid-19 experiences to explain any related academic, financial, or medical issues you’ve had to deal with. However, keep in mind that many students will take on this topic as well. It can very easily become repetitive and overdone for admissions officers who have to read so many of these essays.

Try to make sure that you balance talking about the pandemic with discussing other aspects of your life that are relevant, so that that experience doesn’t completely take over your essay.

Don’t use your college essays to simply regurgitate what you have included on your resume. The admissions officers will have access to your resume when reviewing your essays. They do not need you to repeat those details. Instead, discuss the less obvious events that explain what’s listed on your resumes, such as the work and effort you put in to become editor of your school newspaper or captain of your football team.

Demonstrate your interest in the school through your own research into the college, its history, the programs and majors it offers, and its student life. Use your essay to explain why you are a good fit for the school based on your research into the parts that are most relevant to you, such as their religious traditions or their offering of a unique and rare major that few other schools have.

Don’t be too arrogant or a braggart. If you write that you’re the fastest runner in your school, then you should be prepared to discuss why you have the 10th fastest time compared to other runners in your last competitive race.

Take some time away from your essay after you’ve written your first draft. You’ll want to give yourself enough time to go through several drafts of revising and editing. The time away will help to come back with more critical eyes and help you decide if you need to show the essay to someone else, like your college counselor or your college admissions expert.

Don’t write your essay about other people. You may be tempted to write about your parents as role models or your grandparents as inspiration, but this would be the wrong strategy to take. Your college essay may feature details about your family or other people in your life, but it should always circle back to you, how the relationship impacts you and pushes you to achieve more. The college essay is a great time to build confidence and demonstrate your self-esteem.

Make sure you actually answer all parts of the questions contained within the prompts. Check that you are answering the right question that you intended and that you haven’t accidentally combined elements from the other prompts. You’ll want to directly address the prompt throughout your essay.

Don’t procrastinate. You might think you have more time than you do, and before you know it, the deadline has arrived. Avoid waiting until the last minute to start your essays. You’ll want to give yourself a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on your writing speed and how quickly editors get back to you.

You’ll need plenty of time to reflect on feedback you receive, incorporate new revisions, and complete a final reading before submitting. You’ll also want to avoid the potential for application websites crashing, which has happened to the Common App website when too many students were trying to submit their applications on the deadline.

Be vulnerable and introspective. Admissions officers see enough students that are arrogant and pompous. Aim to be a student who has a healthy but humble appreciation for their own talents and skills, but who is ready to learn more and become a contributing member of a college community. These are the students admissions officers clamor to admit.

Don’t be repetitive. If you’ve already discussed your academic experiences in one essay, pick a different topic for other essays. Your goal is to illustrate who you are beyond the transcript, beyond the test scores, and beyond your surface-level background information.

Proofread and check for spelling errors one final time before submitting. You can even try reading your essays out loud to listen for errors. Admissions officers can excuse one or two typos but an essay that is riddled with mistakes shows poor execution and does not bode well for your application.

Essay Writing with AdmissionSight

Most students need direction and guidance in getting started writing their college essays. We can help you discover why college essays matter and what to do about them for your own applications. Contact AdmissionSight today to be paired with your personal college admissions expert.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Want to write a college essay that sets you apart? Three tips to give you a head start

1. Keep it real. It’s normal to want to make a good impression on the school of your choice, but it’s also important to show who you really are. So just be yourself! Compelling stories might not be perfectly linear or have a happy ending, and that’s OK. It’s best to be authentic instead of telling schools what you think they want to hear.

2. Be reflective . Think about how you’ve changed during high school. How have you grown and improved? What makes you feel ready for college, and how do you hope to contribute to the campus community and society at large?

3. Look to the future. Consider your reasons for attending college. What do you hope to gain from your education? What about college excites you the most, and what would you like to do after you graduate? Answering these questions will not only give colleges insight into the kind of student you’ll be, but it will also give you the personal insight you’ll need to choose the school that’s right for you.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how much do college essays really matter.

Hello everyone, I've been stressing over my college essays recently, and I'm curious how much they actually matter in the admissions process. Are they just one aspect of the application that doesn't hold much weight, or do they really play a significant role in determining if I get accepted? Any info or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi there! It's completely normal to feel stressed about your college essays, as they're definitely an important part of the application process. Though it's true that they're just one aspect of your application, their significance shouldn't be underestimated.

Your essay allows the admissions officers to see a side of you that goes beyond grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. It's a chance for them to learn about your personality, values, and motivations. This personal insight can often be the deciding factor between two applicants who might be similarly qualified on paper.

To give you an example, my child's essay focused on overcoming biases and negative assumptions people made about them based on their background. Their story not only showcased their resilience, but also their dedication to promoting understanding between different communities. The essay ended up being a key factor in admissions officers' decision to offer them a spot at a competitive university.

So, while there are certainly other aspects of your application to consider, do give your essay the time and effort it deserves. It could really make all the difference! Good luck!

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The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

College Essays

Figuring out your college essay can be one of the most difficult parts of applying to college. Even once you've read the prompt and picked a topic, you might wonder: if you write too much or too little, will you blow your chance of admission? How long should a college essay be?

Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.

How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit

You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis (for example, a 10-page paper). While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font.

In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.

College essay prompts usually provide the word limit right in the prompt or in the instructions.

For example, the University of Illinois says :

"You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Each response should be approximately 150 words."

As exemplified by the University of Illinois, the shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all!

Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

How Flexible Is the Word Limit?

But how flexible is the word limit? What if your poignant anecdote is just 10 words too long—or 100 too short?

Can I Go Over the Word Limit?

If you are attaching a document and you need one or two extra words, you can probably get away with exceeding the word limit by such a small amount. Some colleges will actually tell you that exceeding the word limit by 1-2 words is fine. However, I advise against exceeding the word limit unless it's explicitly allowed for a few reasons:

First, you might not be able to. If you have to copy-paste it into a text box, your essay might get cut off and you'll have to trim it down anyway.

If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you.

Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process. You need to follow directions to get your letters of recommendation, upload your essays, send supplemental materials, get your test scores sent, and so on and so forth. So it's just a good general rule to follow whatever instructions you've been given by the institution. Better safe than sorry!

Can I Go Under the Word Limit?

If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it's probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to.

However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways. So if you're writing 300 words for an essay with a 500-word limit, ask yourself: is there anything more you could say to elaborate on or support your points? Consult with a parent, friend, or teacher on where you could elaborate with more detail or expand your points.

Also, if the college gives you a word range, you absolutely need to at least hit the bottom end of the range. So if you get a range from the institution, like 400-500 words, you need to write at least 400 words. If you write less, it will come across like you have nothing to say, which is not an impression you want to give.

What If There Is No Word Limit?

Some colleges don't give you a word limit for one or more of your essay prompts. This can be a little stressful, but the prompts generally fall into a few categories:

Writing Sample

Some colleges don't provide a hard-and-fast word limit because they want a writing sample from one of your classes. In this case, a word limit would be very limiting to you in terms of which assignments you could select from.

For an example of this kind of prompt, check out essay Option B at Amherst :

"Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay."

While there is usually no word limit per se, colleges sometimes provide a general page guideline for writing samples. In the FAQ for Option B , Amherst clarifies, "There is no hard-and-fast rule for official page limit. Typically, we anticipate a paper of 4-5 pages will provide adequate length to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Somewhat longer papers can also be submitted, but in most cases should not exceed 8-10 pages."

So even though there's no word limit, they'd like somewhere in the 4-10 pages range. High school students are not usually writing papers that are longer than 10 pages anyways, so that isn't very limiting.

Implicit Length Guideline

Sometimes, while there's no word (or even page) limit, there's still an implicit length guideline. What do I mean by this?

See, for example, this Western Washington University prompt :

“Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?”

While there’s no page or word limit listed here, further down on page the ‘essay tips’ section explains that “ most essay responses are about 500 words, ” though “this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit.” This gives you an idea of what’s reasonable. A little longer or shorter than 500 words would be appropriate here. That’s what I mean by an “implicit” word limit—there is a reasonable length you could go to within the boundaries of the prompt.

But what's the proper coffee-to-paragraph ratio?

Treasure Hunt

There is also the classic "treasure hunt" prompt. No, it's not a prompt about a treasure hunt. It's a prompt where there are no length guidelines given, but if you hunt around on the rest of the website you can find length guidelines.

For example, the University of Chicago provides seven "Extended Essay" prompts . You must write an essay in response to one prompt of your choosing, but nowhere on the page is there any guidance about word count or page limit.

However, many colleges provide additional details about their expectations for application materials, including essays, on FAQ pages, which is true of the University of Chicago. On the school’s admissions Frequently Asked Questions page , they provide the following length guidelines for the supplemental essays: 

“We suggest that you note any word limits for Coalition or Common Application essays; however, there are no strict word limits on the UChicago Supplement essays. For the extended essay (where you choose one of several prompts), we suggest that you aim for around 650 words. While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we're only human and cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention indefinitely. For the “Why UChicago?” essay, we suggest about 250-500 words. The ideas in your writing matter more than the exact number of words you use!”

So there you go! You want to be (loosely) in the realm of 650 for the extended essay, and 250-500 words for the “Why UChicago?” essay.

Help! There Really Is No Guidance on Length

If you really can't find any length guidelines anywhere on the admissions website and you're at a loss, I advise calling the admissions office. They may not be able to give you an exact number (in fact, they probably won't), but they will probably at least be able to tell you how long most of the essays they see are. (And keep you from writing a panicked, 20-page dissertation about your relationship with your dog).

In general, 500 words or so is pretty safe for a college essay. It's a fairly standard word limit length, in fact. (And if you're wondering, that's about a page and a half double-spaced.) 500 words is long enough to develop a basic idea while still getting a point across quickly—important when admissions counselors have thousands of essays to read!

"See? It says 500 words right there in tiny font!"

The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?

The best college essay length is usually pretty straightforward: you want to be right under or at the provided word limit. If you go substantially past the word limit, you risk having your essay cut off by an online application form or having the admissions officer just not finish it. And if you're too far under the word limit, you may not be elaborating enough.

What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is a pretty safe approximate word amount for a college essay—it's one of the most common word limits, after all!

Here's guidance for special cases and hunting down word limits:

If it's a writing sample of your graded academic work, the length either doesn't matter or there should be some loose page guidelines.

There also may be implicit length guidelines. For example, if a prompt says to write three paragraphs, you'll know that writing six sentences is definitely too short, and two single-spaced pages is definitely too long.

You might not be able to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you could still hunt them up elsewhere on the website. Try checking FAQs or googling your chosen school name with "admissions essay word limit."

If there really is no word limit, you can call the school to try to get some guidance.

With this advice, you can be sure you've got the right college essay length on lockdown!

Hey, writing about yourself can even be fun!

What's Next?

Need to ask a teacher or friend for help with your essay? See our do's and dont's to getting college essay advice .

If you're lacking in essay inspiration, see our guide to brainstorming college essay ideas . And here's our guide to starting out your essay perfectly!

Looking for college essay examples? See 11 places to find college essay examples and 145 essay examples with analysis !

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Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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Does your College Essay really Matter? How important it is

Importance of college essay

Essays are one of many components of a college application. While writing a good essay is vital, it will not get you into college on its own. A fantastic essay will not compensate for an arrogant personality or poor statistics.

On the other hand, a poor essay may cast doubt on whether you are a good fit for the institution.

While various elements may determine the relative importance of essays, you should always do your best.

So, it is critical to read these responses knowing that you should still produce a well-thought-out essay that gives a clear picture of yourself.

How Much Does a College Essay Matter

Ideally, a college essay matters as it presents your capacity to write and make academic arguments by following instructions. The essay is required for college admission and contributes to your overall application mark.

However, the extent to which it influences your final application depends on the school you want to join and your profile.

You know a good GPA, strong standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities are crucial for your college application.

What about the essay, though? What difference does it make to your overall academic profile? If you are applying to universities, you’ll need to write an engaging college application essay.

A recent survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling showed the application essay plays a significant or fairly important part in admission choices for 56.4 percent of admissions counselors.

Your essays often account for 25 percent of your whole application for writing at the top 250 schools. This is only slightly below the 30 percent figure for extracurricular activities.

Essays outperform the 20 percent for grades and coursework, the 15 percent for test scores, and the 10 percent for recommendations and interviews.

Hence, the essay is a crucial component of the college application process. The essay allows the applicant to show off their writing style and highlight a key feature or aptitude in any other part of the application.

Optional essays may assist institutions in distinguishing between individuals who have similar qualifications. Writing the optional essay displays initiative and commitment to attending.

Furthermore, a powerful optional essay provides the admissions officer with additional information to consider in their selection.

Importance of Writing a College Essay to the College

The essay can vary in importance depending on the college. The grade and academic rigor are the most crucial aspects of any application. If you meet the requirements, the essay can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

In the application procedure, the essay is essential. This may be your only chance to demonstrate who you are, what you stand for, and your areas of interest.

The essay is different from the rest of the application, which consists of statistical data. It allows you to think creatively and tell the Admissions Representative why you are a good fit for the program.

Choose an essay topic that makes sense to you from the many options available. Maybe you would want to talk about a time when you helped your athletic team win a big game.

Perhaps you would like to elaborate on a mission trip you took to China. Even better, you may want to discuss about video games .

Remember to be creative with whatever theme you select!

It isn’t a text message, so make sure you use proper grammar and punctuation. It is also vital to remember that your essay should stay under the word limit. Usually, it is between 250 and 500 words.

Keep in mind that Admissions Representatives have a lot of applications to read, so you want to stand out while also engaging them in a short amount of time.

How Important is the College Essay to Students

The essay gives you a voice and a great opportunity to shine! One of the most crucial parts of a student’s college application is the personal statement.

It tells admissions officers about you as a person, your values and beliefs, and if you’d be a good fit for the school. Thus, while the essay is crucial, your GPA, standardized testing, and extracurricular activities are the most important.

It is especially true if you’re applying to institutions that adopt a holistic admissions method, such as top public universities.

This is your chance to give your application the third dimension. Speak to the admissions officers in a way that goes beyond your grades and test results. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 It is critical to be true to yourself when writing the essay, rather than the person you believe the admissions officers want. Summer is a great time to develop topics and go through numerous revisions before submitting your final essay with your application.

Tips to Pass and Make your College Essay Count

Tips for an outstanding college essay include:

1. Write about a Topic that is Meaningful to you

It may be a memory, a person, or a book—anything that has influenced your life.

2. Recount, but also Reflect!

Anyone can write about their game victory or their summer in Rome. You must provide more than a play-by-play or itinerary while recalling these occurrences. Describe how the experience influenced you and what you gained from it.

3. Be Humorous

An admissions officer will never overlook a student who can make them chuckle. But be cautious. What you find amusing and what an adult working in a college finds amusing are likely to disagree. Avoid one-liners, limericks, and anything else that isn’t appropriate.

4. Get Started as Soon as Possible and Compose Multiple Revisions

Set it aside for a few days and then return to it. Consider yourself in the position of an admissions officer.

5. No Duplicating Content

Your statement or application essay should not contradict or repeat any other component of your application. This isn’t the place to brag about your achievements or talk about your grades or exam results.

6. Answer the Question 

Don’t use an answer from another program to answer a similar question.

7. Have at Least one more Person Proofread your Essay

The best person to talk to is a teacher or a college counselor. Thoroughly check the essay to ensure it is devoid of spelling and punctuation issues before you submit it.

James Lotta

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how much does the essay REALLY matter ?

<ol> <li><p>I hear some people say that great college app essays are written by smart students who would have gotten into their schools even without the essays. so this basically tells me that if we don’t have great stats and great EC’s the essay won’t even matter so much as to helping our chances of admission.</p></li> <li><p>on the other hand, some people say that students can literally “write their way into college.” to me, this means that someone with maybe average to slightly above average stats and EC’s can write an amazing essay and get into good schools.</p></li> </ol>

<p>i don’t know which side to trust. I have average gpa (low for some schools I’m applying to), pretty high SAT, good but not spectacular subject tests/ec/volunteer, etc.</p>

<p>i’m hoping number one isn’t too true…</p>

<p>I’m going to vote for “neither”. These 2 views represent a black-and-white view of the world, typical of some HS students, in which a great essay either matters not at all, or overides a bunch of mediocre factors.</p>

<p>At the most selective schools, every factor contributes. You might as well debate which leg of a chair holds you up. A great essay can compensate for a slight deficiency in an area, but don’t gloss over the world “slight”. An average person with stellar essays still gets the thin envelope. A strong person who has scores or a GPA a bit under those of the admitted students may be able to make it up on the essays. </p>

<p>And to look on the other side, a student otherwise equal to those getting in but who sends in lousy essays they didn’t spend a lot of time working on (or perhaps aren’t capable of writing better) just wrote themselves out of an admission decision. Top schools get enough apps from strong in all the app areas students that they don’t have to acept someone who bombs on the essays.</p>

<p>Unless your schools say how much weight they give to essays, the only thing you know is that you will have the best chance if you do everything as well as you can.</p>

<p>Essays are incredibly important at colleges with a sub 25% acceptance rate. These schools get lots of qualified candidates and differentiate them through essays and a few other things.</p>

<p>At the majority of colleges they are not important at all as long as they are reasonably well written.</p>

<p>In general, the more competitive a school is, the more important essays are.</p>

<p>It seems like it would be much easier to reject a set of scores and a laundry list of activities than a person with a clear, interesting voice well-presented throughout the application.</p>

<p>Yes, but no one is paying much attention to the essays if your stats are not there.</p>

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Do 'Why Us' Essays really matter?

My friend brought up an idea that I thought was interesting. Basically, he believed that colleges only have "Why Us" essays to weed out applicants who clearly didn't try to research their school. That there's only so good a why us essay could get and as long as it mentions some specific programs and stuff, you should be fine. I've been thinking about this because my GT supp wasn't terrible, but it seemed a bit generic. Like I had an extracurricular that sparked a passion and then I talked about things I want to do at GT and why. Is it fine that it's not that personal?

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Hindus in Bangladesh Face Attacks After Prime Minister’s Exit

There has long been a perception that the Hindu minority supports Sheikh Hasina, who resigned her post and fled the country after a popular uprising.

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By Saif Hasnat and Qasim Nauman

Saif Hasnat reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Hindus in Bangladesh, perceived by many to be supporters of the prime minister who was ousted in a popular uprising, braced for violent reprisals on Wednesday as the rudderless country awaited the formation of a new government after a month of unrest .

The former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled Bangladesh on Monday after a violent crackdown failed to quell a nationwide movement against her government. As thousands of protesters celebrated her ouster that afternoon, reports began to emerge of retaliation against members of Ms. Hasina’s party, the Awami League, and against those seen as her allies, including the Hindu minority.

In addition to the party’s offices and the homes of its members, the rioters targeted Hindus, torching their homes and vandalizing temples, according to witnesses and local media. Fears of more attacks were amplified in the absence of a government and with law enforcement retreating from sight in many parts of the country.

In addition to the almost 300 people killed during the government crackdown, at least 60 were killed in the violence that erupted on Monday in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Reliable details about the attackers and victims were not immediately available.

Prionthi Chatterjee, a Hindu student in Dhaka, the capital, said Muslims had attacked her family at their home in the southern Bagerhat region, killing her father and leaving her mother with head injuries.

“My father was an innocent teacher,” she said in a phone interview, adding that her parents tried to call the army and the police for help but that no one responded. Details about the episode could not be independently verified.

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