The 5 Key Elements of a Powerful College Application Essay

Welcome back to the pod, in this episode I discuss the most effective structure for a compelling personal statement! After reviewing 10+ college application essays for students getting into engineering programs at Purdue, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and much more I have gotten a good idea of what works and what doesn’t in an effective essay. So, stay tuned and feel free to skip ahead using the timestamps below! PS: I review admissions essays, so DM us @that_stem_girlie on Instagram for more details!

Timestamps:

0:57 - Debunking the most common misconception

2:13 - the 2 most important parts of essay - “Passion and Personality”

4:04 - Begin with a story

9:20 - Have a clear thesis statement

12:30 - My Hourglass Essay Structure

14:21 - How important is grammar and spelling?

18:08 - The nuanced tone

21:44 - Get your essays reviewed by me!

22:10 - How tone should change through your essay

24:23 - Closing the essay 

26:31 - Not all essays should be about your major!

30:44 - Hourglass structure recap!