4 Signs Your Admissions Essay Topic Isn’t Working

4 Signs Your Admissions Essay Topic Isn’t Working

1) You’re way under word count

If you really have enough to say, you will struggle with the 650-word count, often going far beyond that. In fact, for that reason, I advise all my students to ignore word count completely at the drafting stage. If your draft is under, that’s usually a clear-cut sign that this topic might work better as a supplement or that you didn’t dig deeper enough for a vulnerable self-reflection to take your topic to the next level. Most students end up drafting thousands of words and then cut it down in the revision process to 650 words.

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Where to Start: 4 Ways To Choose Your Admissions Essay Topic

Where to Start: 4 Ways To Choose Your Admissions Essay Topic

The hardest part of any writing assignment is where to start—even for professional writers. The pressure is even worse when it's the one essay that could help determine your future.

Be prepared to go through multiple topics and even drafts before landing the right approach. (It's a little easier if you have some help). I recommend using the summer to start writing and see what clicks. The topic should reveal who you are, what you're passionate about, and how it makes you the perfect fit at your dream school.

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