Prestigious foreign universities are widely known for the high quality of education and the unique environment created for students. The best foreign universities provide students with valuable practical skills and comprehensive personal development, but universities in Europe and the United States are no less well known for their rigorous competitive selection process: admissions committees strive to consider the applicant's personality, talents, and ambitions. Academic grades and teacher recommendations sometimes fall by the wayside, and the essay becomes the most significant and valuable document of the applicant.
How to write a good essay: 5 rules
An essay is the most memorable unique piece of writing, telling you much more than other documents. A properly written motivational essay will tell you about your skills, level of education, upbringing, literacy, and intentions, so it is important to approach your writing inspired by ideas and with a good understanding of what is required of you.
- Look for interesting examples / themes from life
Think of the essay as a journey, a free trip down memory lane, memorable events and experiences that made you who you are, led to admission to a dream university. The goal at this point: to gather important topics, examples from life that I would like to share.
| Strong personality traits | Vivid memories |
| Favorite hobbies | Difficulties |
| A memorable day with loved ones, friends | In what situations have you demonstrated leadership qualities? |
| Personal growth, changes | What was the most difficult assignment? |
| Achievements | Whose philosophy of life do you share? |
2.Developing a list of topics
We recommend choosing non-trivial topics - applicants often write about travel, sports, parents. Use good stories, examples that will make the composition unique. Avoid superficial ideas - dig deeper, think about important things. Such an essay will spark interest and make you think. The committee is made up of people who don't have specific knowledge of chemistry and physics, so it's best to avoid complicated specific terms.
Check:
- Does the composition reflect your personality?
- Is the central theme important?
- Are there examples from life?
- Introduction and History
The introduction is an important part of any essay that is not written at the same time. Think about how to make it original and improve it in the future. In the introduction, you can share your fears, feelings, and based on them, write the whole story.
For example, after mentioning at the beginning that you are afraid of the sound of guns, you can write a story about war, mention a phobia of dentists, tell how you overcame it and why in the end you decided to choose this profession. Don't be afraid to share your feelings, use original language, but it is not advisable to make an essay entirely with humor: humor is difficult to use wisely, and, according to statistics, admissions committees rarely rate it highly.
A few rules of thumb:
- Input should be small.
- Use vivid words, grammatical structures
- Reflect growth, change, what challenges you've overcome
- Give clear examples.
- Come up with a vivid conclusion.
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Editing
You need to reread the essay many times, find all the mistakes, logical inaccuracies, ask for help from friends, parents and a tutor.
5.How to compose an essay
Your essay should have no mistakes or typos! Read it through to the end to focus on word mistakes. Note:
- Do not exceed the recommended length. If the essay is 500 words, do not write more than 510-520 words
- Everything brilliant is simple, and it works in essay writing, too. Take simple topics that you understand, don't strive to show your best side by choosing complex issues that are difficult to understand
- Avoid stamps - they tell you that you yourself are not good at expressing ideas
- Too many quotes tell you that you don't have your own point of view.
- Don't look for outside help. The selection committee is experienced and will quickly sense a lie.
- Read sample essays for applicants - they will help you find your way.
It is advisable to start preparing for your essay well in advance of writing it, as well as for university admission. If you have 1-2 years left, it is better not to waste time and effectively study the language: read books, expand your vocabulary, study with a local teacher and go abroad for language immersion. Study abroad experience will help you learn valuable practical skills: speak English confidently, perceive speech by ear, learn what is academic English, and get acquainted with a completely different foreign academic environment.
Prepare for university by taking English courses here:
| UK | |
| USA | |
| Canada | |
| Switzerland | |
| France | |
| Czech Repulic | |
