advice for freshman essay

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Health & Nursing

Courses and certificates.

• Bachelor's Degrees
• View all Business Bachelor's Degrees
• Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Healthcare Administration – B.S.
• Human Resource Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Marketing – B.S. Business Administration
• Accounting – B.S. Business Administration
• Finance – B.S.
• Supply Chain and Operations Management – B.S.
• Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree (from the School of Technology)
• Health Information Management – B.S. (from the Leavitt School of Health)

Master's Degrees

• View all Business Master's Degrees
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MBA Information Technology Management
• MBA Healthcare Management
• Management and Leadership – M.S.
• Accounting – M.S.
• Marketing – M.S.
• Human Resource Management – M.S.
• Master of Healthcare Administration (from the Leavitt School of Health)
• Data Analytics – M.S. (from the School of Technology)
• Information Technology Management – M.S. (from the School of Technology)
• Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed. (from the School of Education)

Certificates

• Supply Chain
• Accounting Fundamentals
• View all Business Degrees

Bachelor's Preparing For Licensure

• View all Education Bachelor's Degrees
• Elementary Education – B.A.
• Special Education and Elementary Education (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
• Special Education (Mild-to-Moderate) – B.A.
• Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
• Mathematics Education (Secondary)– B.S.
• Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Biological Sciences) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)– B.S.
• View all Education Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Education Degrees

• Educational Studies – B.A.

Master of Science in Education Degrees

• View all Education Master's Degrees
• Curriculum and Instruction – M.S.
• Educational Leadership – M.S.
• Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed.

Master's Preparing for Licensure

• Teaching, Elementary Education – M.A.
• Teaching, English Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
• Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Science Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Special Education (K-12) – M.A.

Licensure Information

• State Teaching Licensure Information

Master's Degrees for Teachers

• Mathematics Education (K-6) – M.A.
• Mathematics Education (Middle Grade) – M.A.
• Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• English Language Learning (PreK-12) – M.A.
• Endorsement Preparation Program, English Language Learning (PreK-12)
• Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Physics) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Biological Sciences) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)– M.A.
• View all Technology Bachelor's Degrees
• Cloud Computing – B.S.
• Computer Science – B.S.
• Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
• Data Analytics – B.S.
• Information Technology – B.S.
• Network Engineering and Security – B.S.
• Software Engineering – B.S.
• Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
• Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration (from the School of Business)
• View all Technology Master's Degrees
• Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
• Data Analytics – M.S.
• Information Technology Management – M.S.
• MBA Information Technology Management (from the School of Business)
• Full Stack Engineering
• Web Application Deployment and Support
• Front End Web Development
• Back End Web Development

3rd Party Certifications

• IT Certifications Included in WGU Degrees
• View all Technology Degrees
• View all Health & Nursing Bachelor's Degrees
• Nursing (RN-to-BSN online) – B.S.
• Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S. (Available in select states)
• Health Information Management – B.S.
• Health and Human Services – B.S.
• Psychology – B.S.
• Health Science – B.S.
• Healthcare Administration – B.S. (from the School of Business)
• View all Nursing Post-Master's Certificates
• Nursing Education—Post-Master's Certificate
• Nursing Leadership and Management—Post-Master's Certificate
• Family Nurse Practitioner—Post-Master's Certificate
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner —Post-Master's Certificate
• View all Health & Nursing Degrees
• View all Nursing & Health Master's Degrees
• Nursing – Education (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S. (Available in select states)
• Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S. (Available in select states)
• Nursing – Education (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Leadership and Management (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Master of Healthcare Administration
• MBA Healthcare Management (from the School of Business)
• Business Leadership (with the School of Business)
• Supply Chain (with the School of Business)
• Accounting Fundamentals (with the School of Business)
• Back End Web Development (with the School of Technology)
• Front End Web Development (with the School of Technology)
• Web Application Deployment and Support (with the School of Technology)
• Full Stack Engineering (with the School of Technology)
• Single Courses
• Course Bundles

Apply for Admission

Admission requirements.

• New Students
• WGU Returning Graduates
• WGU Readmission
• Enrollment Checklist
• Accessibility
• Accommodation Request
• School of Education Admission Requirements
• School of Business Admission Requirements
• School of Technology Admission Requirements
• Leavitt School of Health Admission Requirements

Additional Requirements

• Computer Requirements
• No Standardized Testing
• Clinical and Student Teaching Information

Transferring

• FAQs about Transferring
• Transfer to WGU
• Transferrable Certifications
• Request WGU Transcripts
• International Transfer Credit
• Tuition and Fees
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

Other Ways to Pay for School

• Tuition—School of Business
• Tuition—School of Education
• Tuition—School of Technology
• Tuition—Leavitt School of Health
• Your Financial Obligations
• Tuition Comparison
• Applying for Financial Aid
• State Grants
• Consumer Information Guide
• Responsible Borrowing Initiative
• Higher Education Relief Fund

FAFSA Support

• Net Price Calculator
• FAFSA Simplification
• See All Scholarships
• Military Scholarships
• State Scholarships
• Scholarship FAQs

Payment Options

• Payment Plans
• Corporate Reimbursement
• Current Student Hardship Assistance
• Military Tuition Assistance

WGU Experience

• How You'll Learn
• Scheduling/Assessments
• Accreditation
• Student Support/Faculty
• Military Students
• Part-Time Options
• Virtual Military Education Resource Center
• Student Outcomes
• Return on Investment
• Students and Gradutes
• Career Growth
• Student Resources
• Communities
• Testimonials
• Career Guides
• Skills Guides
• Online Degrees
• All Degrees
• Explore Your Options

Admissions & Transfers

• Admissions Overview

Tuition & Financial Aid

Student Success

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Military and Veterans
• Commencement
• Careers at WGU
• Advancement & Giving
• Partnering with WGU

Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors

• Classroom Strategies
• See More Tags

By Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed.

Let your students hear from the seniors who've been there and done that.

After hearing "I wish I'd known this when I was a freshman!" countless times by the end of the school year, my senior class decided they wanted to leave behind some real advice for high school freshmen. Here are some of the great insights they shared.

Get a Planner

If I didn't have a planner, I would have never made it through high school. I had a hard copy planner, and physically writing down my events and assignments helped me to stay organized. I could see everything I needed to do. I think it also makes a good impression when you're talking to people and you pull out a planner. —Samantha, headed to Centre College

Understand Procrastination

Don't deny that you are going to procrastinate. Procrastination  is  a part of the high school experience. However, with good friends, a good support network, and a good head on your shoulders, you can turn procrastination into action. The pressure you put on yourself will mirror the pressure you'll experience in college and at work, and that will help you deal with high-stress situations in the future. —Scott, headed to Boston College

Keep It Real

Be realistic about your future decisions. If you want to head to a top college, you need to start thinking and working for that immediately. And while that includes getting good grades, it's not just about grades. You also have to be involved and take leadership positions because at the end of the day, that's what makes you stand out. —Alondra, headed to University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Stay Focused

My advice for high school freshmen would be to keep your focus on the future—especially if you feel like your high school might not be the best experience, the way I did. I had a hard time making friends, and I now realize you aren't in high school to make friends; you're there to begin making a name for yourself. Drama and problems with other students are so common, and although it's way easier said than done, you have to ignore it. If you have one or two friends, well, that's way better than a whole group you can't relate to. To this day, I look at lowerclassmen oddly because so many of them care about "getting lit" and going to parties. I want to tell them, "Hey! That's not important." Lastly, understand the social hierarchy of high school is absolutely wrong. Right now, it's "Who's cool?" and things like that, but, in the end, the hierarchy that matters is your class rank. It's so crucial that you stay high up in that ranking if you plan on going to college. —Tahj, taking a gap year to work

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Try classes and programs that you might not normally be interested in. I took AP Calculus for two years, and math is  not  my thing, but I learned so much from the experience. I learned that I might not be good at math, but I  am  a hard worker, and I passed the class and actually got a 4 on the exam. —Gianni, headed to Hamilton College

Make Yourself at Home

When getting to understand the importance of high school or trying to get comfortable with yourself and classes, don't be afraid to open yourself up to new classes or establish relationships with your teachers. Getting familiarized with how high school works or why it matters to you can be overwhelming. Take a step back and see the environment of high school in a different perspective, and then think of ways it can fit with your interests and future goals. Surround yourself with supportive people who can help guide you with comfort and advice. —Domenic, headed to community college

Get Involved

Join clubs in which you have a common interest and shared values with other students. Don't be afraid. Don't think people are better than you. Don't be afraid to  talk  to people and develop friendships. —Ralph, headed to Bucknell University

Make Useful Connections

Reach out to people for mentoring and for internships. I learned that people want to help teenagers by providing opportunities for them. You just have to ask. —Vincenzo, headed to Babson College

When I was in 8th grade, a friend from the high school told me I would absolutely  need  to work hard from the minute I entered high school. I listened. So many of my friends fell behind freshmen year because it was so different from middle school. But I was ready because I got that advice, and I worked hard from day one. So listen to me, and you'll be all set. —Edi, headed to Holy Cross College

My advice for high school freshmen is to be present and live in the moment. Before you know it, high school's over, and you can't go back. There are no do-overs. Live during your high school years so you have no regrets. —Riad, undecided

These are great tips for incoming high schoolers. Do your experienced students have anything else to add? Let us know in the comments!

Ready to Start Your Journey?

HEALTH & NURSING

Recommended Articles

Take a look at other articles from WGU. Our articles feature information on a wide variety of subjects, written with the help of subject matter experts and researchers who are well-versed in their industries. This allows us to provide articles with interesting, relevant, and accurate information. 

{{item.date}}

{{item.preTitleTag}}

{{item.title}}

The university, for students.

• Student Portal
• Alumni Services

Most Visited Links

• Business Programs
• Student Experience
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Student Communities

HIGH SCHOOL

• ACT Tutoring
• SAT Tutoring
• PSAT Tutoring
• ASPIRE Tutoring
• SHSAT Tutoring
• STAAR Tutoring

GRADUATE SCHOOL

• MCAT Tutoring
• GRE Tutoring
• LSAT Tutoring
• GMAT Tutoring
• AIMS Tutoring
• HSPT Tutoring
• ISAT Tutoring
• SSAT Tutoring

Search 50+ Tests

Loading Page

math tutoring

• Elementary Math
• Pre-Calculus
• Trigonometry

science tutoring

Foreign languages.

• Mandarin Chinese

elementary tutoring

• Computer Science

Search 350+ Subjects

• Video Overview
• Tutor Selection Process
• Online Tutoring
• Mobile Tutoring
• Instant Tutoring
• How We Operate
• Our Guarantee
• Impact of Tutoring
• Reviews & Testimonials
• Media Coverage
• About Varsity Tutors

My advice to an incoming High School Freshman by Meaghan

Meaghanof Cincinnati's entry into Varsity Tutor's November 2014 scholarship contest

My advice to an incoming High School Freshman by Meaghan - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

Dear Future Freshman, My advice to you in this new chapter of your life is do your very best. Always do your homework and go to class. Don't sweat the small stuff. In High School make sure to be true to yourself, and follow your heart. It's okay if you're not an athlete or the most popular person in school. Life isn't a popularity contest. Learn to not care what people think about you.

You should always take school seriously. No one ever tells you how hard it is out in the real world. Ever since you are little you always want to be older. It isn't until you're that you realize how much better off you were in High School. You should try and make it the best four years that you can. Also don't worry so much about boys/girls. You have your whole life to find someone. Don't feel pressured to find someone in High School. Never let someone pressure you into anything you don't want to. Whether it be alcohol, drugs, or sex. If someone is bullying you online, or at school always tell someone.

In conclusion, don't be too scared going into your Freshman year. Everyone else has insecurities. Even the most popular kids in school. Learn to embrace your quirks and love yourself no matter what. Good luck!

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

College admissions

Course: college admissions   >   unit 4.

• Writing a strong college admissions essay
• Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes
• Brainstorming tips for your college essay
• How formal should the tone of your college essay be?
• Taking your college essay to the next level
• Sample essay 1 with admissions feedback
• Sample essay 2 with admissions feedback
• Student story: Admissions essay about a formative experience
• Student story: Admissions essay about personal identity
• Student story: Admissions essay about community impact
• Student story: Admissions essay about a past mistake
• Student story: Admissions essay about a meaningful poem

Writing tips and techniques for your college essay

Pose a question the reader wants answered, don't focus exclusively on the past, experiment with the unexpected, don't summarize, want to join the conversation.

• Upvote Button navigates to signup page
• Downvote Button navigates to signup page
• Flag Button navigates to signup page

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

18 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College

Students should follow these steps so they're ready when classes begin.

Getty Images |

• Be ready before classes start.

Transitioning from high school to college  can be a big change for students, with many moving away from family and friends for the first time. For those stressing over this new life chapter, there are ways to prepare before classes begin. From researching academic supports to practicing time-management, the following tips can help incoming freshmen get organized and build a foundation for college success.

• Be prepared to be treated as an adult.

The transition from high school to college is more than just a move to a higher level of education. In many ways, it signifies the change from childhood into adulthood. And although students may not feel quite like adults, that's how colleges and universities will treat them, says Josh Stern, vice president for student services and dean of students at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. Mail and information surrounding grades and financial aid will go to students instead of parents or guardians, he says. Students "need to understand that mom and dad, or their parents or supporters, might not be getting that information," Stern says. "They really need to know how to navigate planning their schedule, when the bills are due and how to access their grades."

• Embrace time-management tools.

College offers a sense of independence that many students didn't have in their high school years, when teachers and parents kept them on track for graduation. Balancing the academic and social demands of college can be a challenge for even the most diligent students. But there are plenty of digital tools designed for students, and a little organization can go a long way in making sure time is used wisely. Smartphone apps and tools can help students limit time on entertainment and social media and maintain their study schedules. "I always encourage students to think about things that help them maintain their focus, have a little bit of self-care, but also to have fun," Stern says. "They need time to blow off steam, to take care of stress, and there’s lots of resources on campuses to help them do that."

• Make a plan for communicating with your parent or guardian.

Going off to college isn't just an adjustment for students. It can often be a challenge for parents and guardians, particularly those with first-generation college students. Striking the right balance between letting students be independent and maintaining parental responsibilities can be tough. Students and parents should determine plans for how and when to communicate, especially as it relates to important matters like grades, bills and financial aid. "It’s important that they have a conversation with their parents about how often they’re going to be in touch, not just to ask for money or to come home to do laundry,” Stern says. "What are the parents' expectations for their student in terms of communication and sharing information?"

Getty Image |

• Read as much as possible.

College coursework consists of substantially more reading than is required in high school. Students should start getting used to the increased workload by reading books during high school and the summer before college . While many students read for pleasure over the summer, some colleges assign a specific book to incoming classes to read prior to the start of the semester, which may then be discussed in introductory courses and other forums. Students looking for a good read should check out some of the common reading programs used at colleges across the nation, including multiple New York Times bestsellers and books grappling with societal and political issues.

(Getty Images) |

• Research possible college majors.

At most colleges, freshmen don't need to know right away which college major they will pursue. But students should start thinking about it in preparation for selecting courses. Those interested in prelaw and premed, for example, should learn more about those tracks if their college offers them. Experts encourage students to explore academic advising programs at their respective schools to understand what classes are needed to complete requirements for majors or minors and ultimately their path to graduation day.

• Build a manageable course schedule.

While some colleges have students set up their freshman year class schedule at orientation, others do so during the summer. Students who are hoping to graduate early, or who have extra requirements due to their major, may feel compelled to take a heavy course load. But for the average student, it's best to stay within the recommended number of credits and courses per semester, says Sara Harberson, founder of college consulting firm Application Nation. That number will vary, but she says any more than five courses per semester can create a significant challenge. "The college recommends a certain number and a certain number of credits for a reason,” she says. “All the students who take more than that really do struggle for the most part academically, and then it cuts into everything else they want to take advantage of on that college campus – the social opportunities and the extracurricular opportunities."

• Think carefully about what's needed for your dorm or apartment.

While some students who attend college locally may elect to live at home, many will move into on-campus dorms or apartments. The living situation will determine what to bring, but a little preparation will go along way. For instance, the air conditioning in some dorms might not be as strong as some students are used to at home, so bringing a small fan is a good idea, says Connie Horton, vice president for student affairs at Pepperdine University in California. Dorm rooms might also offer a smaller space than at home, so that should also be a consideration. Roommates should coordinate o avoid bringing two of any items when only one is needed, like a refrigerator or microwave. But still bring enough to make your living space personal, Horton says. That can include throw pillows, blankets or photos. Doing so can bring some familiarity and help you feel more comfortable and at home, she says.

• Stay connected through your school email and student portal.

Important information regarding campus life, classes or on-campus opportunities might come through email during the summer, so activate your school email account as soon as possible and be sure to check it. Most colleges also have a self-service portal that contains all the information a student will need regarding schedules, credits, financial aid, academic advising and other important info. Don't wait until the school year starts to use it. "Learning how to navigate the internal mechanisms of the university and how they communicate is really important," Stern says. "Since students really live in that digital space, it’s a lot easier to navigate if they familiarize themselves with it over the summer prior to starting school."

• Polish your people skills.

College pushes students to develop strong communication and people skills . From group projects to communicating with professors, an ability to convey ideas clearly and work collaboratively will serve students well. That includes dealing with social issues. Many students will find themselves working closely with people from different backgrounds and life experiences, so they should consider taking advantage of diversity and inclusion workshops or books. “Part of learning as an adult is learning to have relationships and conversations with neighbors, colleagues and all kinds of ... (people) that are very different from you," Horton says. "So this is a good time to practice that."

Knowing how to work well with others will also come in handy when it's time to apply for jobs and internships during school and after graduation.

• Make a plan for managing your money.

The independence that college brings can sometimes get students in trouble financially. Students should speak with their parents or mentors about finances and create a budget, says Jennifer Seitz, director of education for Greenlight, a family-based financial planning app. Because expenses can add up, it’s prudent to look for ways to save money, she says. Local restaurants and businesses often offer discounts to college students, so make a list of places to go to save money on food, clothes, textbooks or other items. Also be mindful of spending and plan to be more selective about how and where to spend. While it might feel hard in the moment to skip out on an impromptu food run with friends, saving that for a more meaningful occasion may be best, she says. “Know where you want to prioritize some of that discretionary spending,” she says.

• Weigh getting a job freshman year.

College is expensive, and costs go beyond tuition and fees. Day-to-day expenses make up a significant chunk of a student's college budget. A part-time job can alleviate budget strains, but also take time away from classes. Some students may be eligible to participate in the federal work-study program , and college financial aid offices can help answer questions before the semester begins. Finding a job in their desired field of study can also help students gain valuable career experience. Before making the decision to work as college freshmen, students should talk to their families about financial expectations. “You want to prioritize and focus on your studies, but you also want to be able to meet your financial needs," Seitz says. "It’s important to find a position that’s flexible with your school schedule."

• Keep in touch with the financial aid office.

If a family's financial situation changes in the months before freshman year, there are options to get more help to pay for college. The website of the Federal Student Aid office notes that students or families that have had their income affected by a loss of employment, a reduction of work hours or various other factors may be eligible for additional funds to pay for college by writing an appeal letter . Stay in touch with the financial aid office and ask for more financial support if it's needed.

• Refresh yourself on difficult concepts from high school.

Many college courses build on previous knowledge, and professors assume students enter their classroom with mastery, or at least competent understanding, of material covered in high school. This is particularly true in math and foreign language courses, says Colleen Paparella, founder of college admissions consulting firm DC College Counseling. If there's content students are still unsure about or need more practice with, they should spend some time over the summer before freshman year studying, she says. “It’s going to be hard to go to the next level of Spanish in college if they didn’t fully grasp what they were supposed to have learned in AP Spanish in high school,” Paparella says.

• Know how to stay safe on campus.

Campus safety is a concern for many students, so researching a college's procedures ahead of time can help them feel safe. Students should practice common sense by being aware of their surroundings and learning about how their college handles safety issues, including sexual assault. Both parents and students should take time before the semester begins to become familiar with campus safety resources and procedures. Families unsure of how to gauge campus safety can use these 6 questions as a starting point to understand what to look for and expect when their student heads off to college in the fall. "Whether you go to college in a major city or you go to college in a very rural area, be aware of your surroundings," Harberson says. "On campus, it’s almost like you have to have eyes in the back of your head. I don’t think it’s just reserved for students who go to college in an urban area."

• Prepare for how to deal with social pressure around alcohol or drugs.

Away from home, students may find it easier to slip into unhealthy behaviors, including around alcohol and drugs. That is particularly true during freshman year, when parties and other social events are aplenty. Students should be mindful of these pressures and recognize that what may feel like minimal participation at first can quickly spiral into academic and legal problems, Horton warns, saying students should begin with the end in mind. “It is the beginning of adulthood. They are on their own," she says. "Yet, they’re still needing a little help in making healthy choices sometimes. Just think through basics like drink refusal strategies, stuff like that.”

• Make the most of orientation activities.

Orientation typically begins in the weeks and sometimes months before classes start and can be a great way for students to get acclimated and ask plenty of questions . Realize that everyone is trying to make friends and adjust to a new environment, so don't be shy. After orientation, many schools offer unique first-year experiences that help students further connect with their classmates and college community. Attending these sessions can help students meet new friends and "get ahead of the curve" before the school year starts, Harberson says. "They understand the campus. They understand the buses. They understand where things are. They get a feel for college classes. I see that as a huge advantage going into college."

• Research ways to get involved.

College provides a number of opportunities for students to explore existing interests or embark on new hobbies. Whether it's joining a musical ensemble or organizing around social issues, many schools make it easy to get involved. Having a plan of action before arriving will help students select meaningful activities and ensure they don't miss important sign-up dates or meetings once school starts. Use social media to discover clubs or organizations you might like to join, then reach out via email, Paparella says. Look for ones that seem active and inclusive. “Once students get onto campus, they can go to some of these activities and already have an idea in mind of what they’d like to sign up for,” she says.

• Know where to go for academic help.

Incoming freshmen should be aware that colleges offer a range of ways to get academic help. Many schools have writing centers dedicated to helping students with essays and research papers . Students having difficulty in a class or who just want to speak with a professor one-on-one should take advantage of open office hours. School libraries can also offer knowledgeable staff and study resources to help students. These options can be especially valuable for international students who might be struggling with English language skills or students who need accommodations . Be proactive in reaching out to the necessary offices if you need support, Harberson says. "Most colleges and universities are doing a really great job with those."

Find more resources for college success.

The college journey doesn't end after freshman year, and U.S. News has a wealth of information on everything from finding scholarships to how to write a resume for opportunities like internships. You can also get the latest news by following U.S. News Education on social media, including  Facebook and Twitter .

Tips for a successful freshman year

More From U.S. News

Find Free College Textbooks

10 Unexpected College Costs

Student Housing: On Campus or Off?

2024 Best Colleges

Search for your perfect fit with the U.S. News rankings of colleges and universities.

You May Also Like

Should students submit test scores.

Sarah Wood May 13, 2024

Poll: Antisemitism a Problem on Campus

Lauren Camera May 13, 2024

Federal vs. Private Parent Student Loans

Erika Giovanetti May 9, 2024

14 Colleges With Great Food Options

Sarah Wood May 8, 2024

Colleges With Religious Affiliations

Anayat Durrani May 8, 2024

Protests Threaten Campus Graduations

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 6, 2024

Protesting on Campus: What to Know

Sarah Wood May 6, 2024

Lawmakers Ramp Up Response to Unrest

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 3, 2024

University Commencements Must Go On

Eric J. Gertler May 3, 2024

Where Astronauts Went to College

Cole Claybourn May 3, 2024

Would you like to explore a topic?

• LEARNING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Or read some of our popular articles?

Free downloadable english gcse past papers with mark scheme.

• 19 May 2022

How Will GCSE Grade Boundaries Affect My Child’s Results?

• Akshat Biyani
• 13 December 2021

The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today

• Joseph McCrossan
• 18 February 2022

How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students

• June 2, 2022

• What is an essay? 

What makes a good essay?

Typical essay structure, 7 steps to writing a good essay, a step-by-step guide to writing a good essay.

Whether you are gearing up for your GCSE coursework submissions or looking to brush up on your A-level writing skills, we have the perfect essay-writing guide for you. 💯

Staring at a blank page before writing an essay can feel a little daunting . Where do you start? What should your introduction say? And how should you structure your arguments? They are all fair questions and we have the answers! Take the stress out of essay writing with this step-by-step guide – you’ll be typing away in no time. 👩‍💻

What is an essay?

Generally speaking, an essay designates a literary work in which the author defends a point of view or a personal conviction, using logical arguments and literary devices in order to inform and convince the reader.

So – although essays can be broadly split into four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive – an essay can simply be described as a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. 🤔

The purpose of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question and to persuade the reader that your position is credible, believable and reasonable. 👌

So, a ‘good’ essay relies on a confident writing style – it’s clear, well-substantiated, focussed, explanatory and descriptive . The structure follows a logical progression and above all, the body of the essay clearly correlates to the tile – answering the question where one has been posed. 

But, how do you go about making sure that you tick all these boxes and keep within a specified word count? Read on for the answer as well as an example essay structure to follow and a handy step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay – hooray. 🙌

Sometimes, it is helpful to think about your essay like it is a well-balanced argument or a speech – it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question in a coherent manner. ⚖️

Of course, essays can vary significantly in length but besides that, they all follow a fairly strict pattern or structure made up of three sections. Lean into this predictability because it will keep you on track and help you make your point clearly. Let’s take a look at the typical essay structure:  

#1 Introduction

Start your introduction with the central claim of your essay. Let the reader know exactly what you intend to say with this essay. Communicate what you’re going to argue, and in what order. The final part of your introduction should also say what conclusions you’re going to draw – it sounds counter-intuitive but it’s not – more on that below. 1️⃣

Make your point, evidence it and explain it. This part of the essay – generally made up of three or more paragraphs depending on the length of your essay – is where you present your argument. The first sentence of each paragraph – much like an introduction to an essay – should summarise what your paragraph intends to explain in more detail. 2️⃣

#3 Conclusion

This is where you affirm your argument – remind the reader what you just proved in your essay and how you did it. This section will sound quite similar to your introduction but – having written the essay – you’ll be summarising rather than setting out your stall. 3️⃣

No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. 👍

#1 Make sure you understand the question

#2 complete background reading.

#3 Make a detailed plan 

#4 Write your opening sentences 

#5 flesh out your essay in a rough draft, #6 evidence your opinion, #7 final proofread and edit.

Now that you have familiarised yourself with the 7 steps standing between you and the perfect essay, let’s take a closer look at each of those stages so that you can get on with crafting your written arguments with confidence . 

This is the most crucial stage in essay writing – r ead the essay prompt carefully and understand the question. Highlight the keywords – like ‘compare,’ ‘contrast’ ‘discuss,’ ‘explain’ or ‘evaluate’ – and let it sink in before your mind starts racing . There is nothing worse than writing 500 words before realising you have entirely missed the brief . 🧐

Unless you are writing under exam conditions , you will most likely have been working towards this essay for some time, by doing thorough background reading. Re-read relevant chapters and sections, highlight pertinent material and maybe even stray outside the designated reading list, this shows genuine interest and extended knowledge. 📚

#3 Make a detailed plan

Following the handy structure we shared with you above, now is the time to create the ‘skeleton structure’ or essay plan. Working from your essay title, plot out what you want your paragraphs to cover and how that information is going to flow. You don’t need to start writing any full sentences yet but it might be useful to think about the various quotes you plan to use to substantiate each section. 📝

Having mapped out the overall trajectory of your essay, you can start to drill down into the detail. First, write the opening sentence for each of the paragraphs in the body section of your essay. Remember – each paragraph is like a mini-essay – the opening sentence should summarise what the paragraph will then go on to explain in more detail. 🖊️

Next, it's time to write the bulk of your words and flesh out your arguments. Follow the ‘point, evidence, explain’ method. The opening sentences – already written – should introduce your ‘points’, so now you need to ‘evidence’ them with corroborating research and ‘explain’ how the evidence you’ve presented proves the point you’re trying to make. ✍️

With a rough draft in front of you, you can take a moment to read what you have written so far. Are there any sections that require further substantiation? Have you managed to include the most relevant material you originally highlighted in your background reading? Now is the time to make sure you have evidenced all your opinions and claims with the strongest quotes, citations and material. 📗

This is your final chance to re-read your essay and go over it with a fine-toothed comb before pressing ‘submit’. We highly recommend leaving a day or two between finishing your essay and the final proofread if possible – you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, allowing you to return with a fresh pair of eyes and a more discerning judgment. 🤓

If you are looking for advice and support with your own essay-writing adventures, why not t ry a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. 🎒

Popular posts

• By Guy Doza

• By Akshat Biyani

• By Joseph McCrossan
• In LEARNING TRENDS

4 Surprising Disadvantages of Homeschooling

• By Andrea Butler

What are the Hardest GCSEs? Should You Avoid or Embrace Them?

• By Clarissa Joshua

More great reads:

Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

• May 26, 2023

15 of the Best Children's Books That Every Young Person Should Read

• By Sharlene Matharu
• March 2, 2023

Ultimate School Library Tips and Hacks

• By Natalie Lever
• March 1, 2023

Book a free trial session

Sign up for your free tutoring lesson..

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

5 Tips for Incoming High School Freshmen

Do you have a plan for applying to college?

With our free chancing engine, admissions timeline, and personalized recommendations, our free guidance platform gives you a clear idea of what you need to be doing right now and in the future.

Starting high school can be exciting, stressful, and at times, overwhelming. It’s also a time you should be exploring, trying out new opportunities, and making the most of your experiences. Here are five tips for starting off high school on the right foot.

Find Your Niche

Now that you’re older, you have more flexibility as to how you spend your time. Search for groups and activities that align with your interests. Not sure where to start? Try out different clubs at your school. Check out How to Determine Which Clubs to Join: A Guide for Freshmen for ideas.

Joining different clubs and trying out activities will allow you to meet new, like-minded people. It will also help you hone your area of specialization , or area that aligns with your interests and talents and path you want to pursue. This can guide your academic and career focus.

Try New Opportunities

In a similar vein, freshman year is a great time to try out new things. While every year matters, this year is lower stakes than the other high school years. Even if you’re not sure if you’ll like something, try it out and see. You can always cull your list of activities later. Read A Guide to Extracurricular Activities for Grade 9 for more advice.

If you have choices in what courses to take, explore your options in this area as well. For instance, there might be an elective that interests you. Think about getting a job or internship as well; that will give you real-world experience early on.

Get Organized

You may have heard that your grades don’t matter this year, but that’s not really true. While it is true that colleges won’t pay as much attention to this year as other years, you should get into the habit of studying and being productive now. That way, you’ll be in good shape later on. For advice on developing good studying and organization habits, read Eight Tips to Use Your Time Efficiently and Stay Organized in High School .

Being organized will also help you manage your stress. Consider using planners and calendars to make sure you’re on top of everything you need to do.

Think About the Future

It’s not too early to think about college. You don’t need to start filling out applications, of course, but you should be setting goals . Think about the path you need to take to achieve these goals. Set incremental “sub” checkpoints to help you achieve your larger aspirations. For instance, if you’re hoping to become the editor of your school newspaper, consider the steps you need to take to get there, such as attending meetings, writing killer articles, and bonding with and learning from the current editor and the newspaper’s advisor.

Use Your Support System

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from parents, teachers, guidance counselor, older students, and even peers. If you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, it can be helpful to talk to someone for support and guidance.

Take some time to get to know your teachers. You’ll probably have more than you did in middle school, and your teachers, in turn, probably have many students. Developing connections with your teachers can be a substantial addition to your support system, since it will give you another resource for academic help. Additionally, when it comes to ask teachers for college recommendations, your teachers will be able to speak to your character, not just the papers you’ve written.

It’s also important to develop a relationship with your guidance counselor. Make sure you introduce yourself and check in occasionally , so your guidance counselor really gets to know you. Like your teachers, she can be an excellent source of support and will be able to write about you as a person in your recommendation letter.

To Sum It Up…

High school won’t be easy, but try to get the most out of the challenges it brings. Take your time seriously, and create a plan for success. While you’ll face challenges along the way, having a plan, trying out new opportunities, and using your support system will help you manage your time well and prepare yourself for the future.

For more advice, check out:

What to Expect Your Freshman Year of High School

6 Ways for a High School Freshman to Get on Track in the New Year

5 Habits of the Successful High School Student

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Walden University
• Faculty Portal

Undergraduate Writing: Top 10 Writing Tips for Undergraduates

Top 10 writing tips for undergraduates.

Most undergraduate students at Walden have been out of high school or college for several years, so academic writing can feel unfamiliar. Just like anything else, though, writing is a skill you will learn to develop with practice. Below are the Writing Center’s top undergraduate writing tips to help you get started.

1. Plan Your Time

Walden courses are fast-paced, often with a paper assignment due every Sunday night. No matter how hard you try, you cannot write a perfect, polished essay at the very last minute. Schedule studying and writing times throughout the week, taking into account your work and family responsibilities. You might find that writing a little bit each day, in chunks, helps manage your assignment load. For more planning tips and tools, see the Academic Skills Center’s page on Managing Time/Stress and the Writing Center’s Assignment Planner .

2. Know the Academic Writing Expectations (AWE)

The Academic Writing Expectations, AWE, document lists the writing expectations for each undergraduate course level. In early courses, you practice writing compelling sentences and paragraphs and integrating evidence. Later on, you learn more about citations and references in APA style, as well as essay-level skills. Consult the AWE comparison document for your current course level.

• Comparison of AWE Expectations by Course Level (PDF)

3. Use the Assignment Instructions and Rubric

Within your courses, there are several powerful tools to help focus and develop your writing. First, the assignment instructions give you important information about the length of the assignment and the topics you should cover. Use these instructions as an outline as you are writing. Second, the rubric tells you how your work will be assessed. If a certain part of the assignment is worth more points on the rubric, you know you should devote a lot of attention to it. For more tips on writing and revising using your assignment materials, listen to this podcast episode or view our Revising webinar .

4. Get Comfortable With Writing

At Walden, most communication with peers and professors occurs in writing. You are also assessed on your writing via discussion board and essay assignments. This attention to writing can be scary, especially for students who have been away from an academic setting for some time. You might need to start journaling or find a writing buddy to feel more comfortable. See our Writing Through Fear blog post for more tips.

5. Read Your Professor's Feedback

One of the fundamental ways to learn is through the written feedback from your professor. This might seem like a simple statement, but some students do not ever access this written feedback, and so they miss out on a valuable opportunity. When you receive your grades in Canvas, click on the individual assignment title to bring up the professor’s general comments. In those comments, you should see your attached submission with specific feedback embedded. Read our page on Using Feedback for more tips and download a feedback journal as a way to keep track of suggested improvements.

6. Make an Argument

In most assignments, you need to discuss a topic and have a reason for discussing that topic. Rather than just summarizing, you need to analyze and convince your reader of something. For example, if your topic is electric cars, your purpose might be to convince the reader that electric cars are an efficient alternative to gas cars. This means that every paragraph will be part of your overall goal to argue this point. Kayla explores the importance of argument in her blog post Argue Is Not a Dirty Word .

7. Practice Academic Integrity

As an academic writer, you use information from books, journal articles, and trusted websites to support your argument. To present this information ethically and with integrity, you need to give credit to the original source. At Walden, students give credit through APA citations in the text. Citations should accompany any ideas, information, or phrasing from others. You will gain familiarity with citing sources as you progress through your program; for now, see our  Using and Crediting Sources playlist  for an overview.

8. Organize Your Ideas

All of your discussion posts and papers should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. An introduction provides background on the topic and includes your thesis statement. In essence, the introduction prepares the reader for all of the main points you will be making in the body. The body is where you develop your argument, paragraph by paragraph . Your conclusion acts as a summary and helps the reader understand the significance of the information presented.

9. Develop an Academic Voice

A formal, direct, and precise voice is expected in college-level writing. This means that you should avoid informal language such as colloquialisms, slang, metaphors, clichés, and jargon, as well as questions and contractions. Instead of having a conversation with the reader, you are an authority building an argument. The reader needs to trust in you.

10. Revisit Grammar and Sentence Structure

Because the goal of academic writing is to clearly communicate, you should ensure that your writing follows proper American English grammar and sentence structure rules. Otherwise, a reader might become confused. The Grammar page of our website provides explanation on many common grammar concerns. You might also find Grammarly helpful; Grammarly is an automated program that identifies potential sentence errors and offers revision tips.

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

• Previous Page: Conclusion Paragraph Sample
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services
• Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

Find the right college for you.

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

Related Articles

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

College admission committees sift through thousands of college essays each year. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

Pamela Reynolds

When it comes to deciding who they will admit into their programs, colleges consider many criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more colleges are no longer considering test scores.

Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for “test-blind” admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we’ll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We’ll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s genuinely important to you and not a subject you’ve chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You’ll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer’s attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that’s not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don’t Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.

The most engaging writing “shows” by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people’s lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

Explore Harvard Summer School’s College Programs for High School Students

Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you’ve had some time to forget what you’ve written. Often, you’ll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer’s tip : Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don’t Repeat

If you’ve mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don’t repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you’ve answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups—a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

“While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would,” the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here’s our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

Experience life on a college campus. Spend your summer at Harvard.

Explore Harvard Summer School’s College Programs for High School Students.

About the Author

Pamela Reynolds is a Boston-area feature writer and editor whose work appears in numerous publications. She is the author of “Revamp: A Memoir of Travel and Obsessive Renovation.”

How Involved Should Parents and Guardians Be in High School Student College Applications and Admissions?

There are several ways parents can lend support to their children during the college application process. Here's how to get the ball rolling.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines

Personal insight questions

• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan
• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

Download our worksheets:

• English [PDF]
• Spanish [PDF]

Daniel Wong

50 Words of Wisdom Every Student Needs to Hear

Updated on January 31, 2023 By Daniel Wong 60 Comments

I completed my formal education some years ago.

Thinking about the 17 years I spent in school, I realise that I would have had a more fulfilling time if I’d been wiser.

It takes time to acquire wisdom. To help students through this process, I decided to write this article, in which I’ll share 50 words of wisdom every student should hear.

If you apply the advice in this article, I’m confident that you’ll become a happier and more successful student.

(Download the free PDF below to learn 10 bonus tips.)

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus  10 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

1. Don’t take your parents for granted. Your parents may nag you, and you may feel as if they don’t understand you. But they love you unconditionally, so appreciate them as often as you can.

2. Getting a bad grade isn’t the end of the world. In a few years, you won’t even remember most of your grades. If you get a bad grade , learn from your mistakes and prepare better for the next exam.

3. Use the Internet as a tool for education more than entertainment. The Internet can keep you entertained for hours. But with sites like Udemy , Udacity and How Stuff Works , the Internet can also make you a far more educated person.

4. Stress is a fact of life, but it should never become a way of life. This means that it’s normal to feel stressed and tired once in a while. But if you feel stressed and tired almost every day, then you need to reevaluate your life to see what you ought to be doing differently.

5. Learn to manage your money. As a student, you probably don’t have tons of money. That’s a good thing, because you can learn to spend, save, invest and give with little risk. Learn money management skills while you’re still young!

6. Make sleep a priority. Research has proven that sleep is essential for health and brain function . Make it a priority to get eight hours of sleep a night , and you’ll be a happier and better student.

7. Ask for help when you need it. There’s no shame in asking for help. If you can’t find the answer on Google, don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or parents. They’ll be more than willing to assist you.

8. Write things down. Your brain isn’t a perfect storage device, so write things down. Use a notebook or an app like Google Keep to ensure that you don’t forget anything important. If you write things down, you’ll be a more organised and effective student .

9. If you need motivation to study, go to the library. When you’re surrounded by people who are studying, you’ll feel inspired to study . Don’t underestimate the effect your environment has on your motivation. This study tip is extremely valuable!

10. Learn to embrace challenges rather than avoid them. Choose to see challenges as fun opportunities to learn. Even if you can’t overcome the challenge, you would have still grown as a person.

11. Don’t blame others. I used to blame my teachers, parents and peers for almost every problem I faced. Don’t be like me. The sooner you stop blaming others, the sooner you’ll learn to take full responsibility for your life.

12. Go to every single class. If the class is boring, see it as an opportunity to improve your ability to focus . If the class is about a topic you’ve learned before, see it as an opportunity to review the information.

13. Be grateful. Grateful students are happy students. No matter what situation you’re in, there’s always something to be thankful for: school, friends, family, food, health, nature, technology, etc.

14. Don’t take shortcuts. It’s tempting to take shortcuts, but resist the urge to do so. The more shortcuts you take, the less you’ll learn and the less you’ll grow as a person. Don’t shortchange yourself.

15. Be kind to yourself. Do you ever tell yourself that you’re lazy, ugly, dumb or irresponsible? Would you ever say those things to your best friend? Be kind to yourself, and learn to become your own best friend. In fact, research has proven that self-compassion is a key component of success .

16. Spend more time thinking about others than yourself. If you spend most of your time thinking about yourself, you’ll be unhappy. No matter how many good things there are going on in your life, you’ll be tempted to ask yourself questions like “Why can’t I be as popular as her?” or “Why are my parents so strict?” Instead, focus on helping others and you’ll be a happier student.

17. Say no without feeling guilty. Leading an effective student life is all about knowing what your priorities and values are. If there are activities or opportunities that aren’t aligned with your priorities, say no with confidence.

18. Don’t rely on others for things that are your own responsibility. I used to rely on others to remember things or run errands on my behalf. But I now realise that this was irresponsible behaviour. Don’t rely on other people for things that you should handle yourself.

19. Exercise regularly. Exercise is good for your body and your brain . So if you think you don’t have time to exercise, you actually don’t have time not to exercise. Exercise will make you a healthier and more effective student.

20. Don’t try to remember things; make them impossible to forget. One of the most important traits to develop when you’re in school is dependability . To become a dependable student, make it impossible to forget things, e.g. submitting homework, bringing a textbook to school, asking your parents to sign a consent form. Use a diary, sticky note or app to ensure that you don’t forget.

21. Ask yourself throughout the day, “What’s important now?” We often do what we feel like doing at the moment – even if that behaviour isn’t in our long-term interests. To fight this tendency, ask yourself, “What’s important now?” The answer will usually be clear.

22. Look for the good in every situation. For example, I once read about a woman who was exhausted after working at a restaurant for 14 hours straight in a day. She exclaimed, “I’m tired, but it feels so good to have spent all my energy doing something meaningful like work!” With an attitude like that, you’ll be a winner in life for sure.

23. Celebrate the successes of others. Your life as a student may feel like a competition, but it isn’t. Celebrate the accomplishments and successes of your peers, and don’t be a sore loser.

24. Don’t feel as if you need to have it all figured out. As a teenager, I used to think that I would have everything figured out by the time I finished school. But I still don’t feel as if I have everything figured out, and I don’t think I ever will. Life is a continual journey of learning and maturing – learn to enjoy the journey!

25. Spend time with people who have the same (or similar) values and goals as you. All of us are influenced greatly by the people we surround ourselves with. Choose to surround yourself with people who will inspire you to become a better person and student.

26. No experience in life is wasted. To paraphrase Tony Robbins, cultivate the belief that life is happening for you, not  to  you. If you believe that life is happening for your good, you’ll be able to see even challenges and frustrations in a positive light.

27. Don’t expect to become an educated person just by going to school. School is a crucial part of your education, but it’s just one part. Why? Because there are many skills you won’t master through formal education alone, e.g. persuasion, negotiation, design thinking, adaptive thinking. Take a proactive approach toward learning these types of skills through these must-read books for students , videos, online courses and real-world experiences.

28. Say “thank you” and “sorry” often. Don’t just say these words for the sake of saying them. If you mean it when you say “thank you” and “sorry”, you’ll build stronger relationships with both your friends and family.

29. Don’t worry about being popular or cool. Popularity is overrated. Responsibility, duty, excellence, kindness, courage and generosity aren’t – so focus on these instead.

30. Be curious. For most of my life as a student, I only learned information that was going to be tested on the exam. But later on, when I became a curious student who wanted to learn about all kinds of things, I started to enjoy school more. Not only that, I started to enjoy life more, because I realised that there’s so much beauty in the world around us. Start becoming more curious today!

31. Every choice you make shapes your character, so choose wisely. As a student, you make hundreds of choices every day: what to eat, how to spend your money, who to talk to, what clothes to wear, how hard to work, etc. Every decision shapes your character and destiny, so don’t take it lightly.

32. 90% of success is doing what others aren’t willing to do. Most students aren’t willing to do the extra assignment, proofread the essay one more time, put their tablet away when it’s time to focus, or delete the distracting apps on their phone. Be the student who is willing to do those things – and more. If you adopt this mindset in life, you’re almost guaranteed to become successful.

33. You’re never too young to make an impact. As a student, I thought of myself as a “kid” who couldn’t make an impact. But just look at these children and teenagers who are making huge contributions to the world. No matter how old you are, believe you can contribute, and start small in whatever way you can.

34. Assume the best of others. Many disagreements arise because we assume the worst of others. We assume that others are selfish and inconsiderate. But this is rarely true. If you assume the best of others, you’ll make an effort to understand their perspective. This, in turn, will enable you to resolve conflicts more quickly.

35. Invest in the relationships that matter most. Relationships must be nurtured – this takes time. List the people who mean the most to you. Make an intentional effort to invest in these relationships, at least on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

36. The grass isn’t greener on the other side; the grass is greener where you water it. (This is my shortened version of a quote from Robert Fulghum.) Do you ever think to yourself, “If only I went to a different school… If only I were born in a different city… If only I were better-looking…”? If so, remember that the grass is greener where you water it. “Water the grass” by choosing to have a positive attitude and by taking action, instead of complaining.

37. Everything worth doing takes time and effort. This applies to grades, relationships, career, character, and more. If you want to go somewhere meaningful and rewarding in life, there are no shortcuts.

38. Compliment others sincerely. Do this as often as you can, preferably daily. This is a simple way to appreciate others and make their day just a little bit brighter.

39. Forgive others and yourself. If you do this, you won’t be filled with anger and resentment. If you extend forgiveness freely, your life will be more peaceful and joyous.

40. To be successful, you must learn how to deal with negative emotions. When you’re feeling frustrated, angry, disappointed or sad, you’re more likely to make bad decisions. You can’t avoid all negative emotions, but you can learn to manage them so they don’t derail you.

41. Become reasonably good at public speaking. I’m not saying that everyone should become a professional speaker. But I am saying that over the course of your life you’ll have many opportunities to speak in public. So you might as well become proficient at it sooner rather than later (or never).

42. Attitude matters more than intelligence or talent. As Zig Ziglar once said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Intelligence and talent play a part in how successful you become as a student and in life. But attitude matters much more. Start cultivating a positive and resilient attitude today.

43. Be present. When I was a student, I spent far too much time thinking about my past mistakes and worrying about the future. I spent far too little time in the present: living in the moment, appreciating the small things, being 100% focused, seeing the beauty in what I was learning, cherishing relationships. Wherever you are, be present.

44. Show your parents respect and appreciation. This might be hard for you to do, especially if you think your parents are unreasonable or overbearing. But I encourage you to do it anyway. First of all, it’s the right thing to do. Second of all, when parents don’t receive respect and appreciation from their children , they tend to become even more unreasonable and overbearing. So it’s in everyone’s best interests that you show your parents respect and appreciation.

45. Fear should usually be seen as a signal to advance, not retreat. Most of the time, when we feel afraid our life isn’t actually in danger. Common fears include public speaking, failure, rejection, and the fear of learning . As such, fear should usually be seen as something to move towards, because in doing so you’ll experience personal growth.

46. Don’t watch TV. Studies show that watching too much TV is linked to depression. Watching some TV won’t hurt you, but if you decide not to watch TV at all, you’ll have more time for meaningful and productive activities. If you need to de-stress, check out this list of science-backed ways to do so.

47. Pay attention in class. If you do this, you won’t need to spend so much time studying because you would have already understood most of the concepts taught in class. If you have trouble paying attention, I recommend that you improve your focus gradually. For example, you could start by setting a timer for 10 minutes, as a reminder that you’ll pay attention for just 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes are up, you can allow yourself to be distracted for a minute or two before you start another 10-minute “focus session”. Every day, increase the length of the “focus session” by one minute.

48. When faced with a problem, ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do now to improve the situation ?” I’ve underlined those three words/phrases for good reasons. When you focus on just one thing you can do, you won’t feel overwhelmed. When you focus on what you can do now , you’ll be more motivated to take action right away. And when you focus on what you can do now to improve the situation , you’ll almost certainly be able to think of at least one productive action to take. Ask this powerful question whenever you’re faced with a problem, and you’ll become a more effective student and person.

49. Looking successful is different from being successful. Looking successful is about prestige, popularity, status and accomplishments. Being successful is about purpose, relationships, character and contribution. As a student, ensure that you’re working towards being successful, not just looking successful.

50. Focus on progress, not perfection. There’s no such thing as a perfect student. After all, we’re flawed human beings. If you aim to achieve perfection, you’ll be disappointed, and you may lose motivation. On the other hand, if you focus on progress, you’ll realise that getting better is its own reward. This is the key to being an effective, fulfilled student.

I don’t claim to be the wisest person around, but I hope you’ve found this article useful.

(Download the free PDF below to learn 10 additional tips.)

It took me many years to learn these lessons , and I know I still have much more wisdom to acquire.

Don’t feel as if you need to put all the tips into practice right away. Instead, revisit this article periodically and focus on just one tip a week.

It will make a huge difference in the long run. Wishing you all the best!

If you like this article, please share it with your friends.

November 29, 2017 at 4:07 pm

really useful tips to all people not only to students.

November 29, 2017 at 4:30 pm

Thank you Devika. Glad you like the article.

September 16, 2018 at 12:28 pm

I loved these inspirational and very helpful quotes!!

May 28, 2021 at 11:40 pm

Hellow! I’m 25- year- old University-going boy. I have grown in a very disturbing atmosphere at home but I have never spoken about it openly. But today I have gathered enough courage to seek your advice and guidance.

I’m the eldest son of the family and I have a younger brother who is 20 years old. We belong to nzena class family.

Although it might seem my parents do not discriminate between me my jnr brother but their behaviour speaks otherwise. They are already grooming my jnr brother to take care of the family business when he grows up and therefore, they have planned where he would be sent for higher studies which of course is some fancy University abroad. But when it comes to my studies, which I’m very good at, my parents have this attitude that study as much as you want, but one day you will get a good job and live your life’. They never mind spending on me, and luxurious items that I want. But when it comes to studies, their attitude is totally different. After completing my schooling, which l did with HND second class lower, I wanted to take up engineering because I want to be engineer.

I am really very frustrated at their attitude and there have been days when I had told them about my feelings. How I feel by cheated or how they discriminate between me and my brother. They think that I am over-reacting and pay no attention to what I said. Please tell me how do I make my parent realise that they are wrong? How do I tell them that I want to build a career

January 23, 2023 at 3:50 pm

understand that ur family can’t be you ur bro or sis can’t be you so be self made person whatever they av they search for there own and you can search for your be independent person and follow ur dreams ,,,,,,,,,

November 29, 2017 at 5:01 pm

Daniel, very insightful and practical. It is uplifting and takes us in right direction. Thanks for such wonderful messages.

November 29, 2017 at 5:17 pm

You’re most welcome, Prassad!

May 15, 2023 at 12:32 am

These is just the perfect words that I have been looking for to share with my students

I will be glad to get more helpful quotes from you

November 29, 2017 at 6:17 pm

Very Helpful, Thanks alot!

November 29, 2017 at 6:31 pm

You’re welcome, Aisha.

November 30, 2017 at 12:35 am

really helpful…thank you Daniel.

November 30, 2017 at 8:52 pm

You are welcome, Ray.

November 30, 2017 at 9:02 pm

Thanks a lot it was very helpful.

December 1, 2017 at 9:11 am

I’m glad you liked the article, Emagurehor.

December 2, 2017 at 2:14 pm

Thanks for the words! It is insightful!

December 2, 2017 at 2:23 pm

You’re welcome, Julian!

October 5, 2019 at 4:14 am

As a student I will say a big thank you to you because this really makes me to be a happy student .

December 3, 2017 at 6:18 pm

Great article!! thanks!!

December 4, 2017 at 9:32 am

It’s my pleasure!

December 4, 2017 at 2:17 am

Thank you Daniel.I really liked the article. I’m the mother of a 12yr old girl and I felt that these words of wisdom can do her a world of good if she is willing to have the time and patience to read,understand and apply them in her life. And I’m learning too!!

December 4, 2017 at 9:33 am

Thanks, Sujata. I hope your daughter manages to apply the principles.

December 14, 2017 at 8:39 am

Great Article. I got many things.Thank you for sharing this.

December 14, 2017 at 9:13 am

You are welcome, Ayeshani.

December 16, 2017 at 3:57 pm

Thank you. Your posts r just awesome.they inspire me a lot.thnx

December 16, 2017 at 4:45 pm

You’re welcome!

June 17, 2020 at 1:24 am

September 4, 2018 at 12:11 pm

It’s really useful thanku so much! Now I’ve learnt many life lessons and I would definitely appreciate what I have now

October 7, 2018 at 1:13 am

Thank you mor and more. for your efforts to share us this AMAZING article. actualy it’s changed my life when I read it.

March 1, 2019 at 3:49 am

thanks alot you motivate the life of every student

March 7, 2019 at 7:53 pm

thank you so much i love it …..

March 14, 2019 at 3:50 pm

I think I am in love with these words thank you for sharing

March 21, 2019 at 4:33 pm

I Love This..Thanks

May 17, 2019 at 11:43 pm

Thanks your words are very inspiring to me.

May 23, 2019 at 1:19 pm

I’m so inspired the message is so marvelous I’m moved and it’s easy to follow the tips on a daily basis thanks so much.

June 3, 2019 at 6:00 pm

I was trying it in 3 times I like the Explanation of it

June 30, 2019 at 9:13 pm

Great work Daniel !

Thanks for sharing.

October 15, 2019 at 6:00 am

October 19, 2019 at 5:44 pm

All tips is very important and is words that need very person who have real aim, or real future.

October 29, 2019 at 5:39 pm

Thanks for those wonderful wisdom words. May Almighty God bless you.

December 1, 2019 at 5:54 am

Indeed sir, your messages have been helpful in my life. You indeed help me to focus on the progress and not d results. Thanks a lot sir and keep helping by sending more!

December 9, 2019 at 9:38 am

This is great information – really good tips for life in general. We are always students in life….constantly learning and growing (and hopefully evolving) Thank you for your service

December 22, 2019 at 4:47 am

Thank you for those words. They were really inspiring; they even gave me more motivation to be persistent toward my goals. May God bless you.

January 25, 2020 at 4:29 am

Thanks sir this is a great worlds that can change person over night

March 3, 2020 at 3:13 am

Thank you Sir for those wise tips . This has truly been an eye opener , I cannot wait to share this with everyone..

July 27, 2020 at 5:28 pm

I am inspired by you

October 15, 2020 at 5:11 am

This quote teach us a lot of lesson thank you sir. I love this wise words.

February 20, 2021 at 9:39 pm

Excellent tips! Thank you so much!

February 24, 2021 at 3:55 am

Thank you very much

March 19, 2021 at 10:27 pm

Thank you, I learned many things

March 21, 2021 at 3:39 pm

I think these are the best tips and advice. I was invited to motivate students but I had no content. But this answered everything.

June 13, 2021 at 12:27 pm

I really appreciate this… It will help me together with my fellow students and friends whom I will share with.. Thank you so much for your advice😍

September 12, 2021 at 11:29 pm

Was reading your 50 words of wisdom every student needs to hear in preparation for a talk to welcome new students to our institution. Found them very meaningful and apt for new comers to the college. would like to know more about your affiliation and growth as a motivational author more that the description given as a learning a teen expert. wishing you the very best for publishing more of your thoughts that would motive young minds.

September 28, 2021 at 6:43 pm

Very useful really. Thank you so much indeed

May 9, 2023 at 11:44 pm

Thank you so much I am writing a speech for a school project and you really inspired me!

May 21, 2023 at 11:32 pm

I really like this because is gave my students confidence

June 7, 2023 at 3:42 pm

Thank you for this Mr. Daniel Wong. Can I use this to inspire my students?

June 7, 2023 at 3:48 pm

You’re welcome. Yes, sure. Please just let your students have the link to the article too so they know where to find it online.

October 31, 2023 at 1:10 am

This article is very inspiring

April 15, 2024 at 10:36 pm

Thanks a lot this has been of much help to me. May God bless you Mr.Mr . Daniel Wong

May 2, 2024 at 5:05 am

Thanx am a fm2 stdent i promise to follow the advice byeee

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search Nitro

Popular on nitro.

• $2,000 Nitro Scholarship
• $1,000 Scholarship
• Scholarship Database
• Scholarship Guides

Enter the $2,000 Nitro Scholarship now! Apply in 3 Minutes!

48 Useful Tips to Prepare for Freshman Year of College

If you're a high school senior or a recent graduate, you’re likely starting to prepare for your college career. This is an incredibly exciting time in your life, as you’re going to be on your own for the first time.

But starting school — whether it’s community college, trade school, or a four year university — is also nerve wracking. So, we’ve prepared a list of our top 48 tips for incoming college freshman.

Money saving tips

As you start your college experience, you’re going to find you need to budget. The phrase “broke college students” exists for a reason.

Taking some time to follow these money saving tips can help you out greatly. You may be able to save some money on tuition or find on-campus resources you may not have known about before.

1. Keep scouting for scholarships

A lot of folks only think of school funding options when the bills are almost due. But many scholarships, like the Nitro Scholarship , are available year-round.  

And because you’ll be applying at off-peak times, you’ll have less competition from other students, and therefore a higher chance of snagging those funds. Every scholarship dollar you earn is a one less dollar tacked onto your student loans . 

2. Use the resources you're paying for

le. Everything you see on your campus is paid for, in part, by your tuition dollars. In that way, not taking advantage of campus resources is like leaving money on the table. You’ve already paid for it. Why not use it? 

Free gym memberships, free movies, free lectures, free resume editing, free, free, free. But you know nothing is actually free. You’re paying for it. So go ahead and use it!

See also:  65 Sweet Deals and Discounts You Can Get With Your College ID

3. Leave your car at home

 c If you're living on campus, don't bother with a car unless you absolutely need it, say to get to a job.

Most college campuses with dorms are designed to be walkable and that's especially so these days as colleges compete with each other to be more sustainable. With buses, bikes, college shuttles, and car shares, there are lots of options to get you where you need to go.

Why fiddle with the cost of parking, insurance, and gas when most of the time your car will sit parked anyway?

4. Comparison shop for your books

There's no reason to spend a fortune on your college textbooks with so many options at your disposal. 

These days, you can comparison shop online, buy your books used, or even rent them. Take a look at all of your options before you start forking over hundreds per textbook.

See also:  What Can I Use My Financial Aid For?

5. Take advantage of free pizza

Lots of clubs and organizations offer free pizza if you attend their informational session. What's not to like about free food? You might even find out about cool programs or opportunities in the process.

6. Consider a small part-time job, especially in your field

Believe it or not, taking on a small, part-time job can have beneficial effects on students, but within reason.

Studies have found that students who work 12 hours or less each week actually do better in school than their peers who don't work, perhaps because the extra obligation forces them to focus and stick to a schedule.

Regardless, working can be beneficial to more than just your wallet—just remember to practice moderation. If you sign yourself up for too many hours at work, your grades will likely suffer as a result.

7. Avoid credit cards

The minute you turn 18, you become fresh meat for the credit card industry, especially if you're in college.

Credit card companies bombard college campuses with credit card offers, hoping young students with no financial experience will sign up, unable to resist the temptation of quick money. But credit card debt can pile up quickly and destroy your credit if you aren't careful.

Don't sign up for any credit card offers you receive until you are completely sure you understand how it works and are fully equipped to manage it responsibly. (And don't just take the salesperson's word on how easy and great it is. Their job is to get you to sign up.)

Better yet: Take a personal finance course or read books on the topic (there are plenty that aren't snooze-fests)  and learn how to use credit cards responsibly and to your advantage.

8. Pay a bit towards your student loans

It's tempting to sign that promissory note and forget about your loans for the rest of the semester. 

If you've got a part-time gig and you have a little money coming in, why not kick at least some of it toward any of your student loans that are accruing interest? Making interest-only payments can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan, and allow you to get out of debt faster.

It doesn't have to be a ton — just $10 a month or a chunk of your summer earnings will help whittle down that balance and make your student loan payments that much smaller after you graduate. 

9. Scrutinize financial offers and quick-cash work

There are a surprisingly large number of jobs available for college students to earn some quick cash.

Some are legitimate, like selling programs for football games or doing experiments for the psychology department. But not all financial offers have your best interests at heart. Be wary of signing your name away for a "free gift."

And while selling your plasma may seem like an easy way to make a buck, make sure you're not doing so at the expense of your well-being.

See also:  What Is A Work-Study Program In College?

10. Get to know the dining hall options

When you're living on campus, sometimes the food options can get monotonous, to say the least.

If you're tired of turkey sandwiches, try other locations on campus. These days, campuses offer a lot of different styles of food to cater to all kinds of students. Depending what resources you have in your room, consider cutting down on your meal plan and buying more groceries you can eat in your dorm, like frozen dinners or PB&Js.

11. Take your bike

Faster than walking and better for the environment and your bod, biking is a great and efficient way to get around campus.

If you already have one at home, take that baby to college with you!

Tips for making new friends freshman year

Another big stress point for incoming students is finding a new group of friends. Follow these tips to learn more about student organizations and other ways to make friends your freshman year.

1. Join clubs

Speaking of friends, get out there and make some!  Find a club, group, or activity that's your vibe and get involved.

Sitting in your dorm room gets boring after a while. Plus, for many people, the friends they make in college are friends they have for the rest of their lives.

Find people that make you feel like yourself and like you belong.  Setting up that social network is vital to combatting loneliness and homesickness in your first year of college.

2. Avoid a really serious relationship

(I know, I know. Just hear me out.)

More than any other time in your life, college is  your time to learn about yourself . It's a time to explore possible career paths, friends, and interests. A time to go on road trips and explore new places and people.

College students in serious, long-term relationships, rightly so, devote a lot of time to their significant other. But that time and mental energy has to come from somewhere. When you’re spending time with your partner, you’re less likely to be spending that time forging new friendships, trying new things, or just generally focusing on your own needs.

Only you can know what is right for you, but if you’re in a relationship or considering one, remember to prioritize time for yourself, your interests and, most of all, your studies.

3. Be candid with your roommate(s)

You have to see this person every single day. You also want your room to be a refuge and a place to relax and unwind. But you can’t do that if there’s tension between you and your roommate or roommates.

Set your expectations up front. Establish a way of communicating to each other when you need privacy, quiet, support, or space.

When a disagreement arises between you, as they tend to do with most roommates eventually, the most important thing to do is talk through it.  You could even try texting or emailing if face-to-face is too uncomfortable for you.

Whatever you do, don't let issues fester. The longer a problem builds up, the bigger the fallout will be when things inevitably come to a head.

4. Leave your dorm room

If you're new at college and struggling to adapt to a new social scene, you're not alone. Not by a long shot.

It's tempting when you're going through a transition to isolate yourself and stick to the comfort of your dorm. But keeping yourself roped off is one of the worst things you can do. Isolation is self-perpetuating.

You need friends to help keep you happy and motivated for school. But you'll never be able to meet people who can help if you don't leave your room.

And remember: You're not the only one! There are probably others that feel just like you do. Seek them out and you can lean on each other as you get adjusted to college life.

See also:  The Introvert’s Guide to Dorm Living

5. Split a ride home

Traveling can be expensive and inconvenient ... and if your hometown is off the beaten path, it can be even harder to find a way to get home without keeping a car on campus.

Look for ride-share bulletin boards in dining halls or the student union building and grab a ride with someone else who is heading in that direction.

Also, get to know acquaintances that live in nearby towns and offer to split gas. Who knows? You could make a good friend in the process.

6. Scope out next year’s living situation

If you're thinking about moving off campus or just changing dorms, start looking and planning sooner rather than later.

Avoid a stressful, last-minute decision in the spring—have several good options in mind and a roommate set up way before the time comes to commit to housing for the next year.

See also:  Is Off-Campus Housing a Good Idea?

Tips for creating your college packing list

Your packing list for college is probably pretty long, but there are some things you may find useful that you won’t think of. After all, your dorm room is often fairly small in size, so you may need to get smart with the things that you decide to bring.

Here are our top tips for creating your college packing list.

1. Say it with me: smart storage

College dorms, especially at older schools, were designed in an era where people had less ... stuff.

Nowadays, you have to be strategic if you want to fit all your shoes, books, snacks, notes, laundry detergent, shower caddy, and all those other must-haves  into your room.

If you're in a dorm with shared bathrooms, or your bathroom is small and shared by multiple people, also consider that you may need to set aside space to get ready in your room.

Luckily, finding solutions isn't hard. Most big-box retailers have a plethora of specialty dorm items, including bed lifts to maximize under-the-bed storage, gadgets to create over-the-door storage space, and even slim hangers to maximize closet space. 

2. Shower shoes (trust us)

Foot fungus isn't fun. All it takes is a cheap pair of flip flops to prevent an irritating case of athlete's foot.

Buy some. Wear them. You're welcome.

3. Eye masks, ear plugs, and fans

You'll have a lot on your plate, so you're going to need your beauty rest. But your sleep schedule may not coincide with that of your roommate or neighbors.

Learn how to sleep no matter the conditions. If your roommate wants to keep the lights on to read, block it out with a sleep mask. If your neighbor is blasting their tunes while you're trying to nap ahead of a big exam, block the sound with a fan, a white noise machine, and/or ear plugs. 

Do whatever you have to do to ensure you can recharge and get some sleep whenever you need to.

4. Get a good pair of walking shoes

College s College students have busy lives and college campuses require a lot of walking, which means a little injury like a blister or an ankle sprain can make everyday life a total slog. Invest in a quality pair of supportive sneakers to keep your feet healthy and keep you moving forward. 

Whatever footwear you choose, you might want to bring along some blister bandages. Yes, they exist! (And they are awesome.)

College study tips

Of course, the entire reason you’re going to college in the first place is to study. While having fun is important, you’ll need to map out some time to dedicate to homework, exams, and other coursework you may have.

Here are our top tips for mapping out study time and remaining diligent with due dates so you can get good grades.

1. Go to class

Skipping class is easy to do when you’re on your own—but there are some very important reasons to make sure you go.

The first reason is that ditching can hurt your GPA. Some professors take attendance and include it as part of your grade.

But it’s bad to skip even your huge, lecture hall classes.  Going to class means learning things that aren’t in your textbook. And even if they aren’t taking formal attendance, professors know generally who shows up to class and who doesn’t.

As you'll see further down the last, forging relationships with your professors could lead to other important career help down the line. 

2. Get to know your professors

Professors are gatekeepers on the road to professional success.  For starters, asking for help on class material means you're likely to do better on exams and get better grades. Obv.

Professors are also the people who could offer you part-time work to collaborate on research with them. You can pick up valuable skills and knowledge from them that aren’t taught in any class.

Local employers also often reach out to professors looking for promising students to recruit after graduation. If you get to know your professor, you're more likely to come to mind when those employers come calling. 

Professors are more than likely going to be the source of your letters of reference, too.  If you’re considering graduate school, you’ll want glowing letters of recommendation from your professors as part of your application package.

Do the work now to earn that reputation. Go to class. Reach out when you have questions. Go to office hours, even if just to chat and get to know their field of study a bit more.

3. Actively develop the habit of working ahead

Give your future self a break.   If nothing on Netflix looks good, why not just pick up your textbook instead?  

Getting a head start on work means less stress and higher quality work. Those who put their work off are more likely to have multiple assignments competing for their attention at the same time.

And if an emergency pops up, you’ll have the freedom to tackle it without having to worry about sacrificing your grades.

But seriously, Future You really wants you to go ahead and just read that chapter now.

4. Seek out your adviser

If you’re having any problems with your coursework, don’t be shy.  Reach out to your adviser to set up a meeting to talk.

They know the campus resources best and can tell you about tutoring centers, websites, methods of learning, and other professional resources to help you succeed in your studies.

5. Make a weekly schedule

Schedules are absolutely key to staying on task and meeting all of your obligations. It’s much easier to make it to the gym every week if you’ve carved out a certain time of the week to do so.  

The best thing about schedules is they're self-perpetuating. Once you’re in the habit, it’s a whole lot easier to just stick to your schedule, get things done and keep on going.

See also:  15 Things College Students Can Do Now to Build Better Money Habits

6. Get a study buddy

Making friends with the people in your class is helpful for multiple reasons. If you're sick and need someone to take notes for you, you'll have someone you can rely on. And when it comes time to study for exams, you can cross-reference your notes to gain a larger understanding of the materi al. A study group or buddy is a great way to level up your study habits.

Finally, if you understand the material better than your classmate, explaining a concept to them has been proven to help you learn the material even better than just studying it alone.

7. Know your procrastination triggers

Another way to help you focus on your studies is to know your procrastination triggers and head them off at the pass.

If your BFF usually texts you in the evening, but you've got a big paper due the next day, tell them you're putting your phone on silent to study and set up a time to catch up later.

If you often find yourself going for snacks and drinks when you study, stock up and be prepared before you start your study session.

And if your attention span just can't handle reading 100 pages in one sitting, accept that and plan for it. Start reading ahead a few days in advance and chip away at it over time.

Whatever stops you from studying, give some thought to why that is and look for workarounds to keep you focused.

8. Find a favorite study nook

Another way to get the maximum amount of studying done is to find a favorite study nook.

Some people like to be in a busy central building with noise around them and plenty of opportunities to chat with friends and take a break. Other people need the absolute quiet and solitude of the library stacks in order to be able to focus. Figure out how you work best and seek out a spot that you can rely on whenever you need to do work.

9. If you’re undecided, reach out to career services

Lots Lots of students enter school not knowing what career path they want to choose. That's OK! College is a great place to explore your interests and find a field that matches your talent and skills.

But you don't want to take too long to decide. The longer you wait to declare, the more classes you'll need to take to catch up to other students in the major. 

If you fall behind and don't graduate on time, it could mean spending thousands extra on tuition. So plan a visit to career services. They can help you narrow down your choices, as well as point out some options you may not have been aware of. 

10. Don’t give up on the classes you want

A lot of people assume that if a class is full in the online registry, there is no way to get into it. But that's not always the case.

The first thing you'll want to do is continuously check the website throughout the summer up until the first day of class to see if there is an opening. Even if the registar shows 0 available slots, try to add the class anyway.

Sometimes the registrar's website will only update once a day at midnight. That means if another student drops the class at 10 a.m., it won't be reflected online until midnight. The only way to be sure is to keep trying to add it.

Even if you can't add yourself online, attend the first class of the semester and talk to the professor. Some are willing to sign a permission slip to add you to the class manually. Other times, especially in larger classes, students will drop from the class due to conflicts or financial issues, freeing up slots for you.

Bottom line: don't assume you have to settle. Be proactive and try for the classes you really want.

11 . Read the syllabus and put important dates in your calendar immediately

Syllabi can be rather dry documents, but they contain a lot of vital information about your classes and the professors teaching them.

Read them carefully and make sure you fully understand the policies about absences and late work so you'll know the consequences of missing your class obligations.

Plus, a major pet peeve of professors is when students ask a question that's already on the syllabus.  Don't risk giving your professor the impression you're careless or haven't been paying attention.

Taking a few minutes at the beginning of the semester to read the syllabus and mark big assignment dates in your calendar is just one more way to prevent a headache later in the year.

12. Investigate all the available classes

Website design. Pottery. French. Canoeing.   There's a lot to learn at school beyond the requirements for your major.

When you're on a college campus, you have experts in a number of different fields available to you simply by taking a class or attending an on-campus event.

Don't just take the easiest course options you can find. If your school requires a physical education credit, take the chance to learn a sport you've always wanted to try.  If you need to take an art class, scan all the options and don't be afraid to try something unique.

13. Read your written assignments out loud

A little trick of the trade from a writing professional: Read your writing out loud.

Reading things out loud makes your brain slow down and process your ideas and words in a different way. When you're forced to actually speak the words, you're more likely to catch missing words, errors in verb tense, and fragmented sentences.

14.  Map out your classes before the first day of school

The first day of class is a busy, whirlwind of a day. You're finalizing your course schedule, making sure you have all your supplies, and trying to make new friends.

Make things easier on yourself and map out your route before you leave your room.

Knowing where you're going, as well as where you might grab lunch or a snack between classes, helps you to focus on everything else without feeling overwhelmed.

Tips for time management and reducing stress

If you're worried about feeling stressed during the school year, you're not alone. Any transition can be hard and starting college is no different. Between challenging college classes, making new friends, and living on your own for the first time, it can be difficult.

Luckily, there are some ways you can help reduce stress and get better at time management. This will set you up for success throughout your college career and allow you to develop habits that will help you in the future.

1. Try the Pomodoro method (or another productivity system)

Time Time management is a core skill that every industrious adult needs to have and everyone has their own way of developing it.

One common technique is the Pomodoro method . Using a timer and a piece of paper, you commit to working for 25 minutes before taking a break for 5. The cycles repeat four times until you take a longer break.

While many people swear by the method, it's by no means the only one out there. Research different ways to increase your productivity and manage your time to maximize the results of your study sessions.

2. Create a stress-relieving toolbox

College has a lot of moving pieces to juggle and even your most zen friends can get frazzled when exam time rolls around. Know what activities best help you to de-stress and recharge at the busiest times of your semester.

Whether it's reading a fun book, talking to friends, listening to YouTube videos of falling rain , or taking things out on a punching bag, you need to be able to release that energy so you can refocus.

3. Exercise

This may be news to you, but exercise is actually good for you!  But seriously, whether it's running, sports, yoga, dance, or something else entirely, exercise has multiple benefits specific to college students.

Getting your blood pumping keeps your brain sharp for studying and learning. And staying at peak health means you're less likely to get sick or injured and miss out on classes.

It's also a great way to burn off some steam after a difficult exam, a fight with your roommate, or to just relax and allow your mind to focus on something that's not school for a little while.

4. Ask for help

On a personal level, if you’re having any trouble at all, reach out and ask someone for help.

If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, go see the folks at your campus counseling center. If you’re having problems with your roommate, reach out to your RA. If you're having trouble paying for college, talk to your school's financial aid office.

Don’t isolate yourself and don’t try to solve it alone. There are people that can—and want—to help you. You just have to seek them out!

5. Call home

It's important to ease your transition from home to college by keeping in contact with your family.

Your family knows you best and can help to support your in your studies and make sure you're taking care of yourself when you're first out on your own. Besides, mom and dad probably miss you just a bit, too!

Safety tips for your college campus

While college campuses tend to be safe places, you should still take extra steps to ensure you feel safe during your time there. Here are our top tips for on campus safety.

1. Don’t walk around campus alone at night

College campuses tend to be safe places, but there's no reason to take needless risks if you don't have to. Find a friend or campus safety worker who is willing to accompany you when you have to walk home late at night.

If you're an evening runner, consider getting a companion to run with.

2. Take your keys anytime you leave your dorm room

Consider this scenario: You go to take a shower, leaving your keys in the room. Your roommate doesn't realize you're in there and leaves, locking the door. Now you're locked out of your room in a towel, with your shower shoes and caddy, but no keys.

Bottom line: Always take your keys.

3. Use the buddy system on weekends

If you're going out to a party or new place or meeting new people, go with someone you trust and look out for each other.

If you have friends 21 and over who drink, keep an eye out to make sure they don't consume too much and they're making healthy decisions. And if you're consuming a beverage, alcoholic or not, don't let it out of your sight. If you do, don't drink it.  Unfortunately, there are all too many stories of students who were unwittingly drugged at parties. 

Other top tips to set you up for college success

There are a few things we suggest doing that didn't quite fit into the other categories. The kind of small, but significant things that can make your time in college go more smoothly. So, our final few college tips for incoming freshman include the following.

1. Do your laundry on weekdays

Laundry is a pain in the butt.

Most people tend to do their laundry on weekends when they have the most free time, so you'll avoid a lot of hassle and competition for machines if you do your washing on a weekday.  Laundry time is also a great time to multitask, so plan to do homework or catch up on reading assignments while you're at it.

Another reason to avoid peak weekend times: If you start the washer, leave to do something else and come back to put your clothes in the dryer, you might find that someone has left them on top of the machine or worse, in a puddle of bleach.

2. Make sure you’re feeding your body healthy fuels

Your brain needs nutrients to  digest and store all this knowledge you're gaining in school. Make sure it's functioning at tip-top shape.

Stay hydrated. If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Get a reusable water bottle and take it with you everywhere you go. Make sure the foods you eat are wholesome and varied. Prioritize proteins, "good" fats, vegetables, whole grains and fruits. (Most of the time. It's college—you're not going to get through it without the occasional treat.)

And make sure to have healthy, power-packed snacks on hand like wasabi almonds, a granola bar, or pre-made avocado toast.

See also:  5 Ways to Maximize Your College Meal Plan

3. Stay positive

College is a huge change: The classes are harder. You're on your own. Your surroundings are new. Your friends are different. Your family may be far away.

Learning to develop resilience is a key step in increasing your emotional intelligence. It's a skill you'll need for the rest of your life. But that doesn't mean you don't have the tools to handle it. If you've made it to college, you've already shown you've got the goods to succeed. Have faith, keep it at it, and be proactive.

If you need help staying positive, seek out friends, a counselor, or even an online outlet that resonates with you and lifts you up.

Do whatever you have to do to stay in a positive mindset and keep putting in effort towards your degree. It will pay off in the long run.

4. Make the choices you want to make

You’re an adult now. Wear the clothes you want. Try being a vegetarian. Cut off all your hair. Grow your hair super long. Read books you're not used to reading. Try listening to music you might assume you don't like. 

Prioritize your time like it's a precious resource. Spend it on activities you want to be doing. Get to know your own likes and dislikes.

College is a time of investing in and redefining yourself. As you get older your job, partner, kids, and other life obligations will inevitably make it harder to spend your time freely. Now, while you've got the time, make the most of it.

5: Finally ... have fun!

If you're off to college soon, you'll likely have heard a million college graduates talking wistfully about how much they loved college and how excited they are for you. 

There's a reason for that. College is awesome.

Remember: You only go to college once. Enjoy your time and get everything you can get out of it.

Get more advice for college planning with Nitro

Starting the college planning process early is incredibly important. With so many new experiences happening at once, you’ll want to be prepared. From the time you start your college apps to when you start repaying your student loans post graduation, Nitro College offers great resources to help you out along the way.

Discover more tips and tricks for every aspect of college student life including scholarship resources, student loans, and financial aid. You can also apply for Nitro's $2,000 No Essay Scholarship in just a few minutes.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

Best College Essay Help — 2024

May 10, 2024

In today’s hyper-competitive admissions landscape, the stakes have never been higher, and college essays are more important than ever. They’re also more scrutinized and more mysterious than ever. On one hand, students are told to “be themselves” and “tell their stories.” On the other, they’re receiving messaging that certain stories might not be the right ones to tell . It makes sense, then, why college essay coaches and essay consulting businesses are seemingly everywhere, and why a quick search of “college essay help” yields a dizzying number of options. But does the college essay really require professional guidance? And if you do need assistance, how do you even begin to differentiate providers?

Firstly, we want to make one thing clear: there are many outstanding college essay coaches who bring a high level of expertise to the table. That said, we believe our approach to college essay coaching is the “best” for many types of students, offering an optimal balance of hands-on guidance and autonomy. Our students work hard, and their results speak for themselves .

Wondering what sets College Transitions apart from other online essay coaching services? In today’s post, we’ll discuss our essay coaching model, our coaching staff, and our essay coaching philosophy.

Ready to speak with a College Transitions counselor about college essay help?

Fill Out a Free Consultation Request

Why procure college essay help?

See if any of the following sound familiar:

• Does a blank page send you into a panic mode?
• Are you struggling to think of a topic (or narrow them down)?
• Do you have trouble with a specific part of the writing process, like brainstorming or revision?
• Does the number of essays you’ll need to write sound completely overwhelming to you?
• Have you received so many pieces of advice about the college essay that your head is spinning?
• Are you trying to revise your essay but aren’t sure what to do next?
• Are you an excellent writer who wants to take your work to the next level?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you will likely benefit from professional assistance. Although stellar resources abound online for free (which you should absolutely take advantage of), none of those resources are going to be tailored to your specific needs . Thus, if you’ve taken your essay writing process as far as you can on your own, enlisting an essay coach could save you hours of time, lower your stress level significantly, and even enable you to enjoy the writing process.

What is College Transitions’ essay coaching philosophy?

At the core of our essay coaching philosophy is the belief that you should emerge from the college essay process as a stronger writer and thinker. We want our students to produce essays that complement and strengthen their applications and leave our program with new writing skills that will benefit them in college and beyond.

Why College Transitions essay coaching?

Facts: The best college essays tell a compelling story, demonstrate one or more positive attributes, and are written in your authentic voice. Although this may sound like a tall order, it’s one that we at College Transitions are no stranger to fulfilling.

How do we accomplish this? By supporting your unique needs and giving you the tools that you need to produce your best possible work, whether that’s close attention to your ideas, a deep dive into narrative structure, detailed grammar explanations, or all of the above. Accordingly, we assess ability level at the beginning of the process and aim to push you to the next level in your writing.

Best College Essay Writing Help – Continued

Although the essay process will be tailored specifically to each student, you can expect that:

• Your coach will deliver feedback in a way that lets you make your own decisions and retain your authentic voice. They’ll accomplish this by focusing on areas of concern step-by-step, asking open-ended questions, and aiming to be in a conversation with you about your writing.
• Your coach will provide thoughtful, actionable suggestions related to three major areas: content, structure, and syntax.
• Your coach will guide you through a brainstorming process before you start writing.
• Your coach will help you understand each college’s prompts and tailor your essays accordingly.
• Your coach will be highly responsive, responding to any emails in 24 hours and providing written feedback on submitted essays within two days.
• Your coach will be in frequent communication with you throughout the essay writing process to help you stay on track for your deadlines.

Who are College Transitions’ essay coaches?

College Transitions’ essay coaches are highly trained professionals who have at least four to five years of teaching or tutoring experience at the high school and/or college level. The vast majority of our coaches have worked with students on their writing for between ten and fifteen years in a diverse array of roles, from classroom instructors and writing center consultants to private tutors, editors, and curriculum designers.

Every one of our coaches holds at least a bachelor’s degree, and nearly all hold master’s or doctoral degrees in English, writing, or education. Many of our coaches are also published writers or researchers, and our staff includes award-winning novelists, journalists, short story authors, and poets.

Most importantly, our coaches are experts in both teaching and supporting college essays. College essays are a very specific type of personal writing that require a special type of knowledge and guidance. As such, we ensure that our coaches are familiar with college essay conventions and are adept at guiding all skill levels to their best possible work.

Our Collaborative Approach

For years, we’ve taken a team-based approach to the college admissions process. Such a collaborative approach enables students to benefit from the expertise of at least two professionals: an admissions counselor and an essay coach. They work together to ensure that all parts of your application are as strong and cohesive as possible.

Moreover, you’ll work with the same primary counselor and essay coach for the duration of the college admissions process. Our coaches work with individual students rather than individual essays, which enables your coach to become deeply familiar with your story, your writing style, and your unique circumstances.

Why does this make a difference? Getting to know you will enable your coach to provide personalized, thoughtful suggestions, whether that is reminding you of an experience that could be a great topic for a supplemental or noticing patterns that deserve further attention.

The Benefits of Our Virtual Model

We work with all our students 100% virtually and one-on-one in a model that we have honed relentlessly over the past decade. We deeply understand that building trust in a remote environment requires responsiveness, a value that is at the core of our counseling and essay coaching services. Accordingly, our essay coaches tailor the entire process to your needs, whether that means facilitating weekly video chats, helping you organize a writing schedule, or being a “hands-off” presence who is there to assist if and when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions — College Essay Help

Do you offer “essay-only” coaching packages.

Yes! In addition to several types of counseling & essay coaching packages, we also offer essay-only support.

Do you write essays for students?

Absolutely not. Not only is this unethical, it’s detrimental to your admissions prospects. Admissions officers can easily spot essays written by parents, professionals, and AI software. If they do, you likely have little to no chance of acceptance at that particular university.

With an appropriate level of guidance, College Transitions students choose their own topics and write and revise their own essays. Moreover, they tend to become more independent as the process moves along. This level of choice and autonomy should be standard for any solid essay coaching provider.

How many drafts do students typically complete of each essay?

It depends, but most students complete 5-8 drafts of their Common Application personal statement and 2-4 drafts of each supplemental essay.

Do you only work with specific types of students?

We work with all types of students! Our students hail from every region of the country, apply to a diverse range of colleges, and hail from myriad backgrounds and identities. We also regularly work with students who are high-achieving, neurodiverse, or English language learners.

Best College Essay Writing Help — Final Thoughts

We sincerely believe that you will find the best college essay coaches for your needs right here at College Transitions. Again, we invite you to get to know us more through our website and/or by filling out a Consultation Request .

• Uncategorized

This article was a collaborative effort of multiple members of the College Transitions writing/research team.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

Free All-in-One Office Suite with PDF Editor

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android

Select areas that need to improve

• Didn't match my interface
• Too technical or incomprehensible
• Incorrect operation instructions
• Incomplete instructions on this function

Fields marked * are required please

Please leave your suggestions below

• Quick Tutorials
• Practical Skills

How to Use Track Changes in Word for Your Essay? [For Students]

My essays and assignments were far from perfect, but I managed to get through them thanks to teachers who pointed out my mistakes. After correcting those errors, I had to send the revised versions for review, making sure to highlight where I made changes. If you need to highlight changes in your document to help your teacher or reviewer track your revisions, I'll show you how to track changes in Word for students.

How to Compare and Highlight Differences in Two papers?

Students often share group project documents to collaborate on adding their parts or revising the content. But what if you forgot to enable the "Track Changes" feature? Fortunately, WPS Writer, a free office suite solution, offers a "Compare" tool. This tool allows students to compare the original document with the revised version to track or acknowledge any changes made. The tool is very straightforward, so let's simplify the steps for comparing documents.

Step 1 : Let's open the original or updated document in WPS Writer.

Step 2 : Go to the "Review" tab in the toolbar and click on the "Compare" button.

Step 3 : Select "Compare..." from the drop-down menu.

Step 4 : The Compare dialog will open. First, browse and upload the original and revised documents by clicking on the "Folder" icon.

Step 5 : Once the documents are selected, click on the "More" button for advanced settings.

Step 6 : In the "Comparison settings" section, choose what to include in the comparison.

Step 7 : In the "Show changes" section, select how to view differences and where to display them in the document.

Step 8 : After exploring advanced settings, click "OK" to proceed.

Step 9 : And here we have the comparison details. It appears that my group member decided to remove some words from a passage that I wrote.

Comparing documents is useful in academic settings as it allows you to learn more in a group setting. Just like how I reviewed the changes made by my group members and tried to understand their purpose, which helped me learn from my mistakes. Additionally, comparing documents can help track changes made by group members at a glance, saving time compared to scrolling through the entire document.

Word is a great tool, especially for students who need to write essays. However, if you want to ensure compatibility across devices—whether mobile, Windows, or Mac—WPS Office is a better choice. It's a free office suite that works with all Word document versions and can even convert your papers to PDF without compromising the original formatting.

How to Use Track Changes in Word for Revising Your Essay?

When writing an essay and you want to draw attention to a specific part, especially one that marks a significant change or correction, highlighting is an effective method. By highlighting, you can ensure that your reader or reviewer notices the changes quickly, making it easier to identify key sections of your work. This is particularly useful when collaborating with teachers or peers for feedback and revisions. Follow these steps to learn how to track changes in Word.

Step 1 : Firstly, let's open the report document in WPS Writer to make some revisions.

Step 2 : Now, to remember the changes made, head to the Review tab and click on the "Track Changes" button. Alternatively, use the shortcut key "Ctrl +Shift + E" to activate this feature.

Step 3 : You'll notice the icon changes color from white to gray, indicating that Track Changes is now active.

Step 4 : Scroll down and make changes in the document; added content will be highlighted in a different color.

Step 5 : Similarly, if content is removed, it will be struck through to highlight the changes

Step 6 : To adjust settings like highlight color or author name, click on the small arrow in the "Track Changes" icon.

Step 7 : Now select "Track Changes Options.." to customize the settings.

Step 8 : Here, you can change how content insertion or deletion is highlighted in the "Markup" section.

Step 9 : In the Balloons section, users can choose whether revisions appear inline or in a separate pane on the right side of the WPS Writer interface.

Step 10 : Once changes are made, exit the Track Changes option dialog by clicking "OK".

Step 11 : Furthermore, click on the small arrow in the Track Changes icon and select "Change username".

Step 12 : Here, students can update the username, ensuring it reflects their preference. Sometimes, your nickname may be shown based on your email ID, so it's possible to change it if needed.

As a student, particularly when tackling projects and theses, the ability to track changes over time is crucial. WPS Writer excels in this area.  When I receive feedback from instructors, I utilize the "Track Changes" feature. This allows me to easily see their suggestions and incorporate them into my work while retaining a record of the original text. The "Compare" feature comes in handy when collaborating with classmates. It helps us effectively visualize and merge changes made by different team members.  Overall, WPS Writer's constant evolution provides a comprehensive set of features and tools that streamline my workflow and simplify academic life.

Use AI Tools to Perfect Your Paper

As a student, you might wish things were a bit less tedious so you could focus on your studies instead of worrying about the tiny details. This is where WPS Office can make a huge difference. It not only saves you from the hassle of manual tasks like formatting and highlighting, but also provides the tools to create, edit, and organize your work efficiently. Whether you're preparing a thesis, crafting an assignment, or writing an essay, WPS Office has you covered.

WPS AI takes this further by offering assistance to correct grammar and spelling errors, ensuring your document looks professional and polished. It can even generate paper outlines and suggest topic ideas, giving you a head start on your assignments. With these capabilities, you can let WPS Office handle the heavy lifting while you concentrate on creating meaningful content. It's an invaluable tool for students who want to focus on the quality of their work without getting bogged down in the technicalities.

To ensure your thesis or assignment is error-free, let's utilize WPS Writer's AI Spell Check feature.

Step 1 : Open your document and activate the "AI Spell Check" option located at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2 : If you see a word or phrase highlighted with a colored line, simply click on it.

Step 3 : A panel for WPS AI Spell Check will appear on the right side, offering suggestions.

Step 4 : Review the suggestions provided and select the most suitable one.

Besides WPS AI Spell check, WPS Writer's AI feature is an excellent tool for tackling projects. It assists in creating detailed outlines, offering valuable assistance from start to finish. Let's delve deeper into its capabilities.

Step 1 : First, open WPS Office and click "New" on the left side.

Step 2 : Then, select "Docs" to start a new document.

Step 3 : Now, click "WPS AI" at the top right.

Step 4 : A panel for WPS AI will appear on the right.

Step 5 : With WPS AI, I usually share project details and let it create an outline for me.

Step 6 : After getting the outline, I review it and make any changes needed. Finally, I click "Insert" to add it to my document and format it the way I like.

Bonus Tips: How to Convert Word to PDF without losing Format

WPS Office goes beyond traditional word processing software.  It offers a comprehensive set of PDF tools that empower students to efficiently manage their documents.  Fueled by advancements in AI, WPS PDF delivers an increasingly immersive learning experience.

Students can leverage WPS Writer to meticulously format their work.  With the seamless conversion to PDF offered by WPS Office, all those formatting efforts are preserved, ensuring a polished final product.  Furthermore, the versatile WPS PDF tools allow for further manipulation and management of these documents.

Here's a simple way for students to convert their papers to PDF using WPS Writer:

Step 1 : Open your paper in WPS Writer and click on the Menu button at the top left corner.

Step 2 : Then, select the "Export to PDF" option from the menu.

Step 3 : In the Export to PDF dialog box, choose "Common PDF" from the "Export Type" dropdown, and then click "Export to PDF" to convert your Word document to PDF .

FAQs about Remove Page Breaks in Word

1. can everyone see the tracked changes in word.

Yes, by default, the tracked alterations are visible to all individuals who access the document. However, you have options to control visibility. You can safeguard the tracked changes with a password or limit editing to specific users, ensuring that only authorized individuals can see or modify the tracked modifications. This feature is particularly beneficial for maintaining confidentiality and control over sensitive information within your document.

2. What is the purpose of using track changes in Word for essays?

Tracking changes in Word serves multiple functions when working on essays:

Revision Tracking: It records all modifications made to the document.

Collaboration: It enables collaboration among peers or instructors.

Feedback: It allows others to give feedback on the essay's content and structure.

3. What is the significance of using WPS Office for demonstrating track changes in Word?

Employing WPS Office to demonstrate track changes in Word holds significance due to its compatibility across various devices and operating systems, including mobile phones, Windows PCs, and Mac computers. It ensures that students can effectively engage with the track changes feature regardless of the device they are using.

Highlight And Track Your Change With WPS Office

When you're tracking errors and correcting them in your work, you would want to highlight the changes to ensure your teacher notices and gives you credit for the corrections and of that you must know how to track changes in Word for students. WPS Office is an excellent choice for students, offering intuitive tools to make highlighting and tracking changes simple. It's designed with students in mind, making it easier to get your work done efficiently. Download WPS Office today to streamline your editing process and ensure you earn those extra marks for your efforts.

• 1. 10 Best Excel Task List Templates: Track Your Tasks Like a Pro
• 2. How to Double Space in Word for Your Essay: A Guide for Students
• 3. 10 Free Project Tracker Excel Templates: Track Your Projects with Ease
• 4. How can we close Track Changes
• 5. How to Turn off Track Changes in WPS Office (Step-by-Step)
• 6. How to Do Hanging Indent in Word for Your Essay? [For Students]

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

The Best College Is One Where You Don’t Fit In

By Michael S. Roth

Mr. Roth is the president of Wesleyan University.

This time of year, college campuses like the one where I live fill up with high school seniors preparing to make what feels like a momentous choice. The first imperative is to find a school that they can afford, but beyond that, many students have been advised to find one where they can see themselves. Too often, they take this to mean finding a place with students like them, even students who look like them — a place where they will feel comfortable. I can’t tell you how many families have described driving many hours to a campus somewhere and having their daughter or son say something like: “We don’t need to get out. I can tell already this isn’t for me.”

“How about the info session?” the patient parent asks.

Choosing a college based on where you feel comfortable is a mistake. The most rewarding forms of education make you feel very uncomfortable, not least because they force you to recognize your own ignorance. Students should hope to encounter ideas and experience cultural forms that push them beyond their current opinions and tastes. Sure, revulsion is possible (and one can learn from that), but so is the discovery that your filtered ways of taking in the world had blocked out things in which you now delight. One learns from that, too.

Either way, a college education should enable you to discover capabilities you didn’t even know you had while deepening those that provide you with meaning and direction. To discover these capabilities is to practice freedom, the opposite of trying to figure out how to conform to the world as it is. Tomorrow the world will be different anyway. Education should help you find ways of shaping change, not just ways of coping with it.

These days, the first thing that campus visitors may notice are protests over the war in Gaza. These will be attractive to some who see in them an admirable commitment to principle and off-putting to those who see evidence of groupthink or intimidation. Any campus should be a “ safe enough space ,” one free of harassment and intimidation, but not one where identities and beliefs are just reinforced. That’s why it’s profoundly disturbing to hear of Jewish students afraid to move about because of the threat of verbal and physical abuse. And that’s why it’s inspiring to see Muslim and Jewish students camped out together to protest a war they think is unjust.

Refusing to conform can mean being rebellious, but it can also mean just going against the grain, like being unabashedly religious in a very secular institution or being the conservative or libertarian voice in classes filled with progressives. I recently asked one such student if he perceived any faculty bias. “Don’t worry about me,” he replied. “My professors find me fascinating.” Some of the military veterans who’ve attended my liberal arts university have disrupted the easy prejudices of their progressive peers while finding themselves working in areas they’d never expected to be interested in.

Over the years, I’ve found nonconformists to be the most interesting people to have in my classes; I’ve also found that they often turn out to be the people who add the greatest value to the organizations in which they work. I’m thinking of Kendall, a computer science major I had in a philosophy class whom I saw on campus recently because she was directing an ambitious musical. When I expressed my admiration at her unlikely combination of interests, she was almost insulted by my surprise and enthusiasm. Had I really stereotyped her as someone not interested in the arts just because she excels in science?

Or take the student activist (please!) who a couple of years after leading a demonstration to the president’s office made an appointment to meet with me. I was worried about new political demands, but she had something else in mind: getting a recommendation for law school. I could, she reminded me with a smile, write about her leadership abilities on campus. And I did.

Of course, even students who refuse to fall in with the herd should learn how to listen and speak to it and to various groups different from their own. That’s an increasingly valuable capacity, and it will help them make their way in the world, whatever school they attend, whatever their major.

Side by side, students should learn how to be full human beings, not mere appendages, and this means continually questioning what they are doing and learning from one another. “Truly speaking,” Ralph Waldo Emerson said about a century ago, “it is not instruction, but provocation, that I can receive from another soul.” That’s why the colleges — large public institutions or small faith-based colleges or anything in between — that nurture and respond to the energies of their students are the ones that feel most intellectually alive.

So, what makes a school the right one? It’s not the prestige of a name or the campus amenities. First and foremost, it’s the teachers. Great teachers help make a college great because they themselves are never done being students. Sure, there are plenty of schools filled with faculty members who think alike, who relish the bubble of fellowship in received opinion. A college can make being weird or radical into adolescent orthodoxy. These places should be avoided. By contrast, there are colleges with great teachers who practice freedom by activating wonder, a capacity for appreciation and a taste for inquiry — and who do so because they themselves seek out these broadening experiences. You can feel their own nonconformity as they try to provoke their students away from the various forms of received opinion.

Finding the right college will often mean finding these kinds of people — classmates and mentors, perpetual students who seek open-ended learning that brings joy and meaning. That’s what young people checking out schools should really be looking for: not a place merely to fit in but a place to practice freedom in good company.

Michael S. Roth is the president of Wesleyan University. His most recent books are “ The Student: A Short History” and “ Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist’s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness on College Campuses.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Global site navigation

• Celebrity biographies
• Messages - Wishes - Quotes
• TV-shows and movies
• Fashion and style
• Capital Market
• Celebrities
• Family and Relationships

Local editions

• Legit Nigeria News
• Legit Hausa News
• Legit Spanish News
• Legit French News

Expert Tips for Excelling in WASSCE English Essay Writing

• The West African Senior School Certificate Examination will start this month, May, and candidates have been worrying about what else remains for them to note in the dying minutes
• Regardless of department, all students will take English Language as it is the country's official language
• One of the most easily flunk-able parts of the examination is the theory section, where students will be required to choose either an essay or a letter to write

PAY ATTENTION: Leave your feedback about Legit.ng. Fill in this short form . Help us serve you better!

After the nation was left in a state of shock following the mass failure recorded in the recently released results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with less than 500,000 candidates scoring above the average mark of 200, the attention has now been shifted to the impending West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which also bears a lot on how better students are placed in getting admission into Nigerian universities.

NGO to start verifying politicians certificates before election, partners with IPAC

English language is a very crucial and important subject. It is mandatory for all students to register and sit for its examination, regardless of department - be it science, commerce or art - ambition in the future as even students aiming to study Yoruba , Igbo or Hausa language in the University are required to take English test.

The English Language needs extra attention because it dictates the fate of other subjects. One may ace all others, but if English is deficient, the result will be inadmissible anywhere.

Hence, the rationale for the spotlighting. In this piece, tips on how to ace the essay part of the examination will be discussed.

PAY ATTENTION : 2024 Business Leaders Awards - Find Out Business Names in Nigeria Driving Changes

WASSCE's English Language Theory section always has five questions containing essay and letter writing topics, with the students free to choose one of the topics they feel they are most proficient in.

Einstein and anime: Hong Kong university tests AI professors

Below are tips to note to ace essay topics if you are choosing the essay question:

What type of essay

It might be impossible to guess what type of essay will be written for the examination as there are different types. There is a narrative essay, which is always reported in the past, except for where someone is being quoted or special grammatical exceptions like when a verb follows 'to' or the modal verbs.

Argumentative essays or debate questions might require a student to take a stance either for or against a given topic. While partly the same, the latter requires greeting and acknowledgement of the participant.

Barring informal letters , all other forms of essay questions require a heading. Whether it is an expository, argumentative, narrative, or formal essay, the heading is compulsory.

In letters, the heading always comes after the salutation - not before it.

“It is confirmed”: UK embassy sets new visa rules for Nigerian students planning to relocate with family

It is important to note that the question can never be the heading. It is wrong to rewrite the question verbatim as the subject of the letter or essay.

Read the question well

Don't just jump into writing. Read and understand the question thoroughly. Ensure you have gotten all that the examiner is seeking. For the part where you are required to write about causes and effects, don't be too carried away in the causes that you forget the effect part.

Make an Outline

It is very advisable that you jot down points somewhere at the back of your booklets—points that you will later develop when you start writing. Jot the points down in the order you want them in paragraphs, and let them be your guiding light.

Brief Introduction

At most, three paragraphs. The introduction should not be too long. And remember to declare your intention or goal in the introduction.

Soldier, Poet, King quiz meaning: What's behind the TikTok quiz?

Body of the paragraph

This is where you start to develop the points you have noted down before you begin the writing. You make it a point per paragraph. All are linked together by conjunctions like firstly, secondly, however, moreover, in conclusion, etc. Also, remember to input the topic sentence in each paragraph. The topic sentence states the key point of the whole paragraph.

This, like the introduction, should be brief and straightforward. Summarise all that you have written in the body of the piece.

Why 84% of candidates getting credits in 5 WAEC subjects

Legit.ng had earlier reported that the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) had said 84.38% of the candidates who sat the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates in Nigeria obtained credits.

The examination body stated that 84% got credits and above in a minimum of any five WAEC subjects.

PAY ATTENTION: Unlock the best of Legit.ng on Pinterest! Subscribe now and get your daily inspiration!

Source: Legit.ng

• Campus News
• Campus Events
• Devotionals and Forums
• Readers’ Forum
• Education Week
• Breaking News
• Police Beat
• Video of the Day
• Current Issue
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• The Daily Universe Magazine, December 2022
• The Daily Universe, November 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, October 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, September 2022 (Black 14)
• The Daily Universe Magazine, March 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, February 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, January 2022
• December 2021
• The Daily Universe Magazine, November 2021
• The Daily Universe, October 2021
• The Daily Universe Magazine, September 2021
• Pathway to Education: Breaking Ground in Ghana
• Hope for Lahaina: Witnesses of the Maui Wildfires
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
• The Black 14: Healing Hearts and Feeding Souls
• Camino de Santiago
• A Poor Wayfaring Man
• Palmyra: 200 years after Moroni’s visits
• The Next Normal
• Called to Serve In A Pandemic
• The World Meets Our Campus
• Defining Moments of BYU Sports
• If Any of You Lack Wisdom

Beat the heat: Five tips to stay cool and stylish this summer

Staying cool in the summer and dressing modestly can be a challenge for BYU students because of their aim to adhere to the Honor Code and other religious practices. 

As temperatures rise and summer approaches, it’s time to swap out warm winter clothes for cool summer clothes, or maybe even go shopping.

Below are five tips to enjoy soaking up the summer sun without all the sweat.

Tip 1: Wear loose clothing

It’s no secret that when a person gets hot, they sweat. The main function of sweat “is to control body temperature,” according to Better Health.

The most efficient way this can be done is through air blowing against the skin, causing sweat to evaporate faster which cools down the body.

This means that the looser clothes fit, the cooler a person will feel. 

A classic oversized T-shirt will do the job just fine, but sometimes that can be a little boring. Try looking for loose T-shirts with a little extra detail, a ruffled sleeve or fun pattern can add a lot to an outfit.

When choosing pants, look for wide leg, loose fitting or baggy style pants.

Tip 2: Look for light colors

During the summer months, it’s best to stay away from darker colors such as black.

It is a scientific fact that dark colors absorb more solar energy than light colors do. That solar energy is then converted into heat. The darker clothes are, the hotter they can get. 

Summer colors are summer colors for a reason. Look for white and pastel colors to stay cool.

Tip 3: Choose the right fabric

Different fabrics are made for different temperatures. Thick fabrics such as wool, fleece and thick cotton are made for cooler weather, not the hot summer months.

Choose fabrics that are lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying. Linen is extremely breathable, making it a good option for those humid summer months. 

Linen is also “a comfortable material for summer because of its high moisture absorptivity,” Jintu Fan , professor of fiber science at Cornell University, explained.

Cotton can be a good option as well, as long as it is thin. Cotton is soft, lightweight and breathable, making it a comfortable option to preventing overheating.

Another good fabric choice is bamboo, which may surprise some people. Bamboo is a highly breathable and moisture wicking fabric, making it a great option for summer.

Tip 4: Keep your hair up

For those with long hair, another way to beat the heat is to put it up. Examples of easy, out of the way hairstyles include braids, ponytails, messy buns and claw clips.

This allows more airflow to reach the back of the neck, helping to keep body temperature down.

Tip 5: Wear sandals

Last but not least, wear open-toe shoes.

“Feet are at the end of our limbs and don’t have much muscle (which produces heat) which means that they cool down much more than other regions of the body,” Jim Cotter, professor of sports and science at the University of Otago, said.

Keeping those toes out in the open can help the body stay cool.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Inside provo’s electronic music scene, ukraine war zone volunteer shares experience, recent uvu graduate diagnosed as autistic shares her story.

Four Students Win Seventh Annual KBHF Essay Contest

Four high school students from across Kansas have won $500 each in the seventh annual Kansas Business Hall of Fame essay contest. The contest was open to students in Grades 9 through 12 in Kansas with entries from homeschooled students also accepted.

Original essays were based on research of a Kansas Business Hall of Fame honoree inducted into one of two categories: Historical or Contemporary. Inductees can be found at www.ksbhf.org . Students could read about the inductees and choose one that inspired them. They were encouraged to use their own personal thoughts and views that best pertained to the theme and themselves. Sixty-six entries from 14 Kansas high schools were judged by a panel of business professionals and business faculty.

Below are the four winning authors and the KBHF inductee they wrote about:

• Addilyn Bruns, freshman, homeschooled, Topeka, inductee Arthur Capper
• Aubryn Garriott, senior, Olpe High School, inductee Bill Kurtis
• Lucy Krebsbach, freshman, homeschooled, Meriden, inductee Charles Walker
• Benjamin Soyka, senior, Leavenworth High School, inductee Warren Augustine Bechtel

The prize money totaling $2,000 was graciously donated by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Winning authors were mailed or presented their certificates.

Dr. James Leiker, KBHF Board Chair, said, “The Kansas Business Hall of Fame is proud to honor these students and their instructors, who, through these essays, help us better understand the rich tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation that our state has fostered.”

The winning students will be invited to the KBHF Induction Ceremony on Thursday, June 13, in Cremer Hall on the campus of Emporia State University, where they will receive their prizes.

The KBHF Board would like to thank the following judges: Susan Elliott, Beth Ginter, Paul Grimes, Sherriene Jones-Sontag, Connie Lindell, Jeff Muldoon, John Rich, Butch Sim, Ed Bashaw and Jim Shepherd.

About the Kansas Business Hall of Fame: Housed in Emporia State University’s School of Business Cremer Hall, the Kansas Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders who have added to the prestige and growth of Kansas. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame shares these stories of success and innovation through representative displays. The Hall of Fame creates an awareness and appreciation of Kansas' rich heritage of business leadership. The Board is made up of individuals from all over the state of Kansas with representatives from universities, community colleges, and private and public businesses. For more information, please go to www.ksbhf.org .

Check out all of our feeds. Find the one for you. We have it all.