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Esther Goodcuff, associate vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Adelphi University (Garden City, NY)

Q: Do you have any tips on writing an effective essay to get into the college of your choice?

A: With the rising number of college applicants, more selective  

admissions

 , and limited Scholarship funds, the raw information you provide on your application is insufficient to separate you from the pack. That's why a well-written, engaging, and insightful essay is essential to get ahead in the admissions process.

Reveal the not-so-obvious. Your essay is your chance to show admissions officers what isn't already captured in the rest of your application. Use the space to illuminate a side of you that may be buried on your application or to delve more deeply into an area that's highlighted. If you're a biology whiz and aspiring zookeeper, you might want to focus your essay on how you developed that passion. Or you could choose to examine another area of your life that reveals qualities that will make you a great zookeeper, such as your compassion, leadership, or endless curiosity. Just remember to go beyond what's already on your application or what is likely to be showcased in your recommendations.

Show who you are and what you value. Whether you're asked to answer a specific question, such as: "Describe a personal or historic event that has occurred in your lifetime and how this event has changed or confirmed your perceptions," or to write an open-ended personal statement, your goal is to reveal your true spirit. Everyone likes to read a story, so tell the story of you by using real-life examples, or by discussing your views as they pertain to another person or event.

Just keep in mind that revealing yourself is as much about what you say as how you say it. If you want to portray yourself as a creative and engaging individual, but your essay is written in a passive, dry style, an admissions officer won't buy your story, let alone feel excited reading it. One way to ensure your essay conveys your essence is to invite those who know you well -- and who will be honest with you -- to review a completed draft. If they see your true personality or get to know you even better through your words, you know you've done your job.

Convey your aspirations and how the college you're applying to will help you achieve them. Remember that college admissions officers are reading your application to find out why you would be a great fit for their school. It helps if you can illustrate this in your essay, either overtly or subtly.

For certain schools, merely alluding to your aspirations may be enough to show why you're the perfect fit. In other cases, you would do well to spell this out more explicitly. For example, if you're an aspiring choreographer applying to a school with a heavy performing arts focus, you may simply need to reference your goals in your essay. But if you're applying to a school where performing arts are less prominent, you may help yourself by explaining exactly how that college will help you achieve your goal.

Conveying a fit between yourself and the school shows admissions officers that you have gone through an important, reflective exercise about yourself and their school. This recognition goes a long way when hard decisions need to be made as to who gets admitted and/or who is awarded scholarships.

And, just a few words of advice before you submit your essay. Proofread carefully. Check your spelling and grammar. And ensure that the college you have cited in your essay is the one that will read it. Few things are more disappointing to admissions officers than reading about why a school other than theirs is right for you.

Happy writing!

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