In the United States, the present state of university admissions is a highly competitive one, fraught with 17- and 18-year-olds trying to outdo each other in excelling at standardised exams, achieving excellent grades in rigorous courses, compiling stellar resumés, seeking glowing letters of recommendation. These patterns are particularly evident in private schools or affluent public schools¹, where admission to a 'name-brand' university like Yale or Stanford is seen as the first step to a high-paying career.

As might be expected, all this has led to a large amount of inflation in what is expected of top students applying to university. But when every applicant to a given university has perfect exam scores, straight As, and a long list of extracurricular activities and community service, other methods are needed to allow students to stand out to admissions committees. To this end, it has become fairly standard for applicants to be required to write essays as part of their application. In these essays, they are able to show off how they think, how they might act in real-life situations, and how they will be able to relate to their peers and professors at university. A personal narrative (as these essays invariably are) can show a great deal about a person that a resumé cannot.

This Entry will discuss what sorts of essays are assigned by universities, in addition to ways to approach them that will best demonstrate one's writing ability and personality.

What To Expect

First off, not all university applications require an essay. This is the case for some state university systems, which receive a measure of public funding and are mostly interested in providing university opportunities for local residents.