1) College admission essays are required by some schools and not required by others. Schools will specify their essay requirements in the application. 2) If required, essay prompts may ask applicants to discuss meaningful experiences, achievements, or issues that have shaped them. Alternatively, some schools may ask for a personal statement without a specific prompt. 3) Effective essays are specific, tell a story through examples rather than just stating facts, and are unique to the applicant. Applicants should brainstorm, write a draft, get feedback, and proofread their essay.

1. The admission essay Everything You Need to Know About Writing a College Application Essay

2. Will I have to write an essay? As far as the admission process goes, schools vary their requirements of each applicant. Many schools won’t require an essay, while others require short ones on a topic of your choice, and even others ask for lengthy essays on a specific prompt-but never fret! It’s not hard to put together something that any school would love.

4. Harris-Stowe State University

5. Southeast Missouri State University

6. University of Central Missouri

7. Rockhurst University

8. University of Missouri-Columbia

9. University of Missouri-Saint Louis

10. Truman State University

11. Drury University

12. Fontbonne University

13. Saint Louis University

14. Hannibal-LaGrange University

15. William Jewell College

19. Tips and tricks Keep your focus narrow and personal. Paint a picture: Use vivid details. Don’t write a resume, they already have that! Be honest and succinct: Don’t write what you think they want to hear, and don’t use 50 words if 5 will do. PROOFREAD!

20. How to make a good essay great… (Examples from College Board) OKAY: “I want to help people. I have gotten so much out of life from my family.” BETTER: “My mom and dad stood on plenty of sidelines until their shoes filled with mud or their fingers turned white. I want to bring that kind of commitment to working with fourth-graders.” OKAY: “I like to be surrounded by people with a variety of backgrounds and interests” BETTER: "During that night, I sang the theme song from Casablanca with a baseball coach who thinks he's Bogie, discussed Marxism with a little old lady, and heard more than I ever wanted to know about some woman's gall bladder operation.“

21. Don’t stress! Writing an admission essay can be tough, but remember, this is your opportunity to present yourself to a school in your own words, focusing on what YOU want to talk about. Think of writing the essay as your chance to build an intimate relationship with the person on the other side of that piece of paper. Let them see the real you as a prospective student at their school. Good luck!