Expert Q&A for How to Write a Good College Essay

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Question

How long does it take to write a college essay?

Jake Adams
Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist
Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University.

Jake Adams

Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist

Expert Answer

Give yourself at least five days. The first day you can spend researching, thinking about what you want to do to brainstorm. The next day, develop a really well-crafted thesis. The next day after that, focus on your outline, which is one of the most important steps. From there, write your rough draft and edit and revise it until you feel satisfied that this is what you’re ready to turn in.

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Question

How do you start a college essay?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

To begin a college essay, make sure you have a firm grasp of the assignment and choose a topic that fits the assignment's parameters. Then spend some time prewriting/brainstorming until you formulate a central idea or thesis, which will help you outline the paragraphs of your essay.

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Question

What is a good word count for a college essay?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

There is no standard word count for college essays. Word count will vary depending on the program, department, professor, and assignment. If your professor does not give you a specific word count for a writing assignment, plan for at least five strong paragraphs.

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Question

What format should a college essay be in?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

Ask your professor if the format is not specified on the assignment prompt or in the course syllabus.

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Question

How do I make my college essay stand out?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

To help make your essay stand out, make sure to have a compelling and specific thesis, a clear organizational structure, thoughtful transitions, and strong sentence-to-sentence logic.

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Question

How do you plan a college essay?

Jake Adams
Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist
Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University.

Jake Adams

Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist

Expert Answer

Outlining your essay will make it easier to write. You'll just need to fill in the structure you've created, and you'll be less likely to go off on tangents. Give yourself a whole day to work on your outline instead of rushing through it.

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Question

When should you start writing a college essay?

Jake Adams
Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist
Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University.

Jake Adams

Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist

Expert Answer

Try to give yourself around 5 days to write your essay so you don't have to rush.

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