Can you use first person in a college essay?
Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays
, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too! Always be yourself in your application, not the candidate you think admissions committees want to see.
Is it okay to use you in a college essay?
Don't Use “You”
As we said, feel free to use “I” or “we” in your college essays. This is your story, so tell it. But it would be very rare for you to have a reason to address the admissions officer directly, unless you are somehow writing a note to a specific person.
Can I write my college essay about a person?
Telling a great story is more important than choosing “the right” person to write about
. Certain questions will restrict your choice (will ask you to write about a peer, a family member, etc.). No topic (or, in this case, person) is ever truly off-limits, but I would avoid choosing a family member if possible.
Can you use first person in a formal essay?
What should you not say in a college essay?
- Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs. …
- Highly Personal Topics. …
- Personal Achievements and Accomplishments. …
- Most Important Place or a Role Model. …
- Creative Writing. …
- Athletic Topics. …
- Humorous Topics or Jokes. …
- Tragic Events.
What tense should a college essay be in?
In a college essay, you can be creative with your language. When writing about the past, you can use the
present tense
to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you.
How personal should a college essay be?
Most admission professionals agree: your essay needs to be
a reflection of yourself
. When I read applications, I had access to students' academic credentials and extracurricular activities. If you use your essay to regurgitate your resume or transcript, then you'll be wasting both of our time.
How long is a 650 word essay?
650 words is
1.3 pages single-spaced or 2.6 pages double-spaced
. Documents that typically contain 650 words are high school and college essays, short blog posts, and news articles.
How do I make my college essay stand out?
- Write about something that's important to you. …
- Don't just recount—reflect! …
- Being funny is tough. …
- Start early and write several drafts. …
- No repeats. …
- Answer the question being asked. …
- Have at least one other person edit your essay. …
- Test Your College Knowledge.
Is using first person in an essay bad?
Ultimately,
if you feel that using first person has a purpose or will have a strategic effect on your audience, then it is probably fine to use first-person pronouns
. Just be sure not to overuse this language, at the risk of sounding narcissistic, self-centered, or unaware of others' opinions on a topic.
How do you stop saying I in an essay?
Use the third person point of view
.
Never use “I,” “my,” or otherwise refer to yourself in formal academic writing. You should also avoid using the second-person point of view, such as by referring to the reader as “you.” Instead, write directly about your subject matter in the third person.
Can you use second-person in a college essay?
Generally,
it is best to avoid second person pronouns in scholarly writing because they remove the distance between the reader and the writer
. Instead, try to use first or third person pronouns to enhance clarity. Most Walden programs and APA (2020) allow the appropriate use of first person.
Why is it so hard to write a college essay?
First, writing is inherently difficult. Even for the best writers, putting thoughts down on paper in a cogent, coherent way takes a lot of energy, patience and time. Second, as I mentioned earlier,
the college essay requires a completely different sort of writing than most high school students are used to
.
Do college essays have to be perfect?
While many high school seniors fret over writing the PERFECT college application essay, the reality is that
most admissions officers are not looking for “perfection.”
That is, they don't need to see an essay that is stunningly brilliant, unforgettably profound and full of sophisticated words.
Do I put my name on my college essay?
You may want to include a college essay heading with a page number and your application ID.
Don't include your name unless it's specifically requested
. Oftentimes, you'll need to submit your college essay in a specific file format. The application may only accept certain versions of Word files (i.e. only .
Is passive voice OK in college essays?
It Can Make Experiences Easily Relatable
College essays tend to be about personal experiences.
Using a passive voice, while great for some scientific or other formal papers, can make for a very difficult read when it comes to this topic
. You want your story to flow so they can understand your experiences with you.
Can you write your college essay in third person?
Don't write about yourself in the third person
.
As a best practice, write your essay in the first person. After all, the essay is about you, so make sure it stays close to your personal perspective.
Is it OK to change tenses in an essay?
Writers should be careful to use the exact tense needed to describe, narrate, or explain.
Do not switch from one tense to another unless the timing of an action demands that you do
. Keep verb tense consistent in sentences, paragraphs, and essays.
Is 400 words enough for a college essay?
Writing too much will likely result in your essay being cut off, and writing too little may cause readers to think that you aren't truly interested in their school.
If no range is given, remember to stick to 400-600 words
. This will give you enough space to demonstrate your interest and help readers learn about you!
How strict are college essay word limits?
| Application portal Word count Strict limit? | Common App 250–650 Yes | Coalition App 500–650 No | UC App Four 350-word essays Yes |
|---|
How long do college essays take?
While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending
at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay, and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts
.
Is 900 words too long for a college essay?
Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short:
between 150 and 650 words
. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all! Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!
Is a 6 on the SAT essay good?
Because of the different trends for Analysis scores on the SAT essay,
an Analysis score of a 6 or above puts you well above average
; a score of 3-5 is solidly middle of the pack; and a score of 2 is low.
What makes you a strong candidate for college essay?
Whether reflected in the essay or the thoughtful confluence of the academic course load and extracurricular activities, a successful applicant should
highlight an ability to overcome obstacles and garner results
. It's about proving you can produce outcomes, both on the part of the student and the university.
Why you shouldn't use first person?
The first person point of view is considered informal, and is not encouraged in academic writing.
First person can appear to weaken the credibility of the writer in research and argument
, as it reads as the writer's personal opinion.
Can I use the word I in an essay?
In academic or college writing, most formal essays and research reports use third person pronouns and
do not use “I” or “you.”
What can I say instead of I in an essay?
If you wanted to say “I will present”, or “I have described”, then the alternative will be “
the essay will present
”, or “as described in the essay.” Another method of replacing “I” in an essay is using appropriate wording like “this writer” if the verb's action is not within the text.
How do you avoid first person in an essay?
Try recasting sentences that start with ‘I' more objectively, so that the focus is on the what – the emotion, the object, the person, the action and so on – rather than the sense being used to experience it or the I-narrator doing the experience. Use the principles of free indirect speech to reduce your ‘I' count.
Can you use i in an essay about yourself?
How can I make my essay sound better?
- 1 Use active voice. To sound more professional, be concise and to the point. …
- 2 Focus on formal language. …
- 4 Revise for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. …
- 5 Eliminate excessive words and awkward phrasing. …
- 6 Ensure content strikes the intended tone.
Can you talk to the reader in a college essay?
Write as if you are talking to the reader
.
You can do the same with your college application essays. Remember, the purpose of answering the application questions is to help the college admissions officers get to know you.
Do college essays actually matter?
Can I submit the same essay twice for college?
You can't always reuse an essay
.
But it won't work in every case. Some colleges will ask for different prompts, in which case you'll just have to write another essay to submit. You want to make sure each essay you submit—even if you're reusing it—is tailor-made for the college you're applying to.
Does a 500 word essay have to be exactly 500 words?
500-word essays
do not have to be exactly 500 words
, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count.
Can you use you in an essay?
It is better to not use “you” in formal writing or speaking. In academic or college writing,
most formal essays and research reports use third person pronouns and do not use “I” or “you.”
An essay is the writer's analysis about a topic.
Is it OK to use second person in a college essay?
Generally,
it is best to avoid second person pronouns in scholarly writing because they remove the distance between the reader and the writer
. Instead, try to use first or third person pronouns to enhance clarity. Most Walden programs and APA (2020) allow the appropriate use of first person.
