Are you a junior in high school? Your college application is your first opportunity to write a personal statement. From goal to an audience, here's a concise breakdown of how college essays vary from English class essays.

Length

Length is one-way college applications, and high school essays differ. College application essays typically have a minimum or maximum word count, often around 500-650 words, while high school essays may have a set page requirement, such as two or three pages.

This difference in length allows for a more detailed and in-depth exploration of a topic in college application essays. In contrast, high school essays may focus on a general subject overview.

Additionally, college application essays often require more time and effort to write, as they are a crucial part of the college admissions process and can significantly impact a student's ability to gain acceptance to a particular school.

Audience

The audience is another way college applications and high school essays differ. College application essays are written for a specific audience, typically college admissions officers, who will use the essay to evaluate a student's qualifications and determine if they are a good fit for the college or program.

These essays are typically read by a committee of admissions officers looking for qualities such as writing skills, creativity, and the ability to communicate a student's unique perspective or experiences.

On the other hand, high school essays are often written for a broader audience, such as a teacher or classmates. These essays may be read by a single teacher or a small group of classmates and are generally used to assess a student's understanding of a particular subject or ability to analyse and communicate ideas.

This difference in audience affects the way the essays are written. College application essays may be more formal and serious in tone, while high school essays may be more informal and personal, reflecting the more relaxed nature of the classroom setting.

Purpose

The purpose is another way college application and high school essays differ. College application essays often have a specific purpose, such as explaining why a student is a good fit for a particular college or program.

These essays typically require students to discuss their academic and personal achievements, goals, and how the college or program will help them achieve those goals. They may also require students to address any unique or challenging circumstances they have faced and how they have overcome them.

High school essays may have a more general purpose, such as analysing a text, discussing a topic, or summarising an event. They assess students' understanding of a subject, their ability to analyse and communicate ideas, and their writing skills. These essays are often assigned as part of a class assignment.

As a result of this difference in purpose, college application essays may be more focused and personal, while high school essays may be more general and informative.

Tone

The tone is another way college applications and high school essays differ. College application essays may be more severe and formal in tone, as they are written for a specific audience of college admissions officers and are an important part of the college admissions process.

These essays often require students to present themselves in the best possible light, highlighting their achievements and qualifications and demonstrating their ability to communicate effectively.

On the other hand, high school essays may be more informal and personal, reflecting the more relaxed nature of the classroom setting. These essays allow students to express their opinions and perspectives on a subject and may be more concerned with presenting themselves in various ways.

This difference in tone can also be influenced by the subject matter being discussed. College application essays may discuss serious or personal topics, such as overcoming adversity or career goals. In contrast, high school essays may discuss more lighthearted or academic topics, such as literary analysis or historical events.

Feedback

Feedback is another way that college application essays and high school essays differ. College application essays may receive more feedback and editing from teachers, counsellors, or other professionals, as they are an important part of the college admissions process and can significantly impact a student's ability to gain acceptance to a particular school.

This feedback may include grammar and punctuation corrections, suggestions for improving the structure or organisation of the essay, and suggestions for how better to communicate a student's unique perspective or experiences.

High school teachers may have little time to provide as much feedback as college admissions officers, and essays are less critical to the admissions process. On the other hand, high school essays may receive less feedback due to the volume of papers teachers have to grade. This feedback may include general comments on the content, grammar and punctuation corrections, and a grade.

This difference in feedback can affect the final product's quality and the student's ability to improve their writing skills and better communicate their ideas.

Topic

College application essays often require students to respond to a specific prompt or question. These prompts are designed to give the admissions committee a better understanding of the applicant's personality, interests, and qualifications.

On the other hand, high school essays may have more open-ended topics that allow students to choose their subject matter. This can range from writing a literary analysis to a persuasive essay on a current event. They can range from asking about a student's leadership experience, to their most meaningful accomplishment, to their future goals. This can range from writing a literary analysis to a persuasive essay on a current event.

Research

College application essays often require more research and outside sources than high school essays. This is because college essays are expected to be more in-depth and demonstrate a higher level of understanding and critical thinking.

College admissions committees look for evidence of a student's ability to conduct research, analyse information, and incorporate it into their writing. Therefore, college application essays may require students to include research and outside sources to support their claims and arguments. On the other hand, high school essays may require less research and focus more on personal opinions and experiences.

Formatting

College application essays may have stricter formatting requirements such as specific font, spacing, and margins. Some colleges may have specific font type and size guidelines, while others may have more general guidelines such as double spacing and one-inch margins. The purpose of these requirements is to make the essay easy to read and professional looking.

Many colleges also require the essay to be submitted in a specific format, such as a Word document or PDF. Follow these guidelines to ensure the overall presentation of the essay is maintained. On the other hand, high school essays may have more flexibility in terms of formatting and may not have as strict guidelines. But it's important to check the instruction from the teacher or school.

Language

College application essays often require a higher level of language and vocabulary than high school essays. College admissions committees are looking for students who can express themselves clearly and effectively in writing.

Therefore, college application essays may require students to use more advanced vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. This does not mean that you should use big or complex words for the sake of it, but that you should use appropriate language that shows your level of education and maturity.

On the other hand, high school essays may require less advanced language and focus more on clarity and simplicity. It's important to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in any essay, regardless of the level of education.

It's also important to note that using simpler language doesn't mean that you are writing less effectively but choosing the appropriate words and structures to convey your message clearly and concisely.