Write Winning Essays

It’s application season! And that means essays. And more essays. And still more revisions of those essays. As I wade through all the paper, there is one thing that I see over and over and over. Weak, badly-crafted, soft opening sentences that fall flat. Sentences like, “I truly believe that college will provide me a lot of opportunities to grow as a student.” or “Selecting a university or a college is one of the most important decisions a high school student will make in his or her life.”

YAWN. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but just think about your audience for a minute. Your reader is an overworked admissions officer who will spend a maximum of 25 minutes on your file – and that is only if it is good! Your essay has to jump out and grab your reader. Make them *want* to read more! Excite them in some way. How? Its all in the lead.

As any good journalist knows, a strong lead is vital. You could use a “shock” lead. For example, “The evidence is irrefutable. I have been collecting it for 17 years, and I can tell you, ladies and gentlemen, with utter conviction, that George Olson was Santa Claus.”

Or a “why” lead (make your readers ask why?) – “Contrary to what you might think, drinking tea is a complex and politically-charged activity.”

Or an anecdote lead (tell a snippet of a story) – “For the last six days, I have sailed with my family across the wide blue pacific. Destination? The Fijian Islands.”

Whatever you do, please really focus on your opening sentences. Craft a lead that will make you stand out from the pack!