Is an "A" English Paper a College Essay?

Year after year, students send us college application essays to review that were written for English class. Most of the essays earned A’s.

Unfortunately, we’ve never read an essay written for English class that was ready to submit to college.

Danny sent us a beautifully written piece recounting many fabulous trips overseas; his essay offered vivid descriptions of buildings and places and emphasized how much he loved traveling. The sentences flowed; the spelling was perfect; the essay had a beginning, middle and end. This boy knew how to write.

While his essay was excellent by high school standards, it lacked reflection and needed more focus to catch the attention of an admissions officer.

It’s important to keep in mind that the application essay is not an English paper; it is an opportunity to show admissions officers who you are, that you will fit in, and that you can write well enough to succeed at their school. The admissions team that is responsible for making recommendations for next year’s class reads a lot of applications. So be careful: You don’t want to bore them or submit a piece that is simply uninspiring.

Forget about rubrics and grades. Ditch the five-paragraph essay format. Just write something genuine that is reflective, and that will make the person reading your essay smile and want to know more about you.

Danny used our 10-step Wow Method and turned his broad story into a more insightful piece about a single night out in Spain when he realized how much culture and community mean to him. Getting there took time and reflection, which we encourage. It was all worth it when he landed a coveted spot at his first-choice college, one of the most competitive public institutions in the nation.

Think of that college essay you write in English class as a draft, just as Danny did. He wrote it for his teacher – a person who already knew quite a bit about him. He later revised it for the admissions counselor. Don’t assume the college essay you give to your teacher is finished and will cut it for college.

Learn how to stand out from the national experts on the college essay!

Get the same insight and instruction as Danny so you can stand out and get in! From now through April 30, Wow is giving away a FREE professional review to every student who signs up for our $149 Do-it-Yourself Platinum. You’ll get short videos, written guidelines and simple writing exercises so you can get that essay done on your own schedule. Here’s a demo to show you how it works.

Purchase Do-it-Yourself Platinum, and a writing coach’s comprehensive review, which usually costs $169, is FREE when you are done with your essay! You’ll save more than 50%. But you have to act soon! This offer expires April 30. (Don’t worry. You don’t have to write your essay just yet. Sign up now, and work on it later! You have until September 1 to send us your essay.)