The college admissions essay or personal statement is one of the most difficult aspects of applying to college. It takes the most time and thought on your part and requires giving a personal description of yourself to people you have never met. It can be both intimidating and challenging.

Some of the reasons you are asked to include the personal statement or admissions essay in your application is to answer the following questions:

• Are you a good fit for the college and/or program you are applying?

• What can you offer to the department and career field?

• Are you motivated to complete the program and go on to complete post-graduate studies?

• What unique skill set and/or abilities do you offer?

Each college has it’s own separate admissions requirements and goals. It can be difficult to know exactly what a college is looking when selecting students.

Here are some resources to guide you in writing your admissions essay:

Essays That Worked:  50 Essays From Successful Applications to The Nation’s Top Colleges