This informal CPD article ‘US Universities - Essays’ was provided by UES Education, specialists in international university and school admissions, working with top schools across the UK and Europe to provide a bespoke service for those who want the best possible application support in the UK.
As more and more UK students set their sights on the US as a university destination, it’s important for schools and teachers to be aware of the additional requirements for these applications. One of the most time-consuming of these for students is the essays.
US Essay Requirements
For US applications submitted through the major portal, the Common Application, students must write a 650-word personal essay. This essay is a similar word length to the UCAS statement, but must be completely different in style and content. Students will need to generate a separate personal statement for their US application, rather than re-using or re-working their UCAS statement.
Also, universities that do not use the Common Application as their application portal (like Georgetown, MIT, and the Universities of California), will have their own separate personal essays. Students may be able to re-work their Common Application essay for these, with some tailoring. Additionally, each individual university will set its own unique supplemental essays (these vary in number and word count, but you can generally expect two or three short essays per college).
However, these essays shouldn’t prevent schools from recommending US universities to students, or put students off from applying! The writing can be time-consuming, but the opportunities presented by studying abroad are well worth the time spent. Also, with a bit of forward planning, the essay load can be easily managed. By encouraging US applicants to begin writing their college essays in the summer before Year 13 and finish them before school starts again in September, teachers can set them up for success.
Setting a school-wide deadline for these to be completed by the time Year 13 begins in September can help students stay motivated and accountable. The person in charge of US applications within a school should familiarise themselves with US-style essays as well, so they can provide guidance, support, and proofreading for students.
How to be successful submitting essays
US application essays are different from anything most students in the UK curriculum will have written before. The Common Application gives students seven essay prompts from which to choose, and all the prompts ask applicants to write about personal topics like talents and skills, meaningful experiences, and interests.
Literary features like vivid details, imagery, and an engaging opening and conclusion are key to a successful personal essay; students will also need to be open and vulnerable about their life experiences and emotions. All these things can be a bit new to students in the UK curriculum, so it’s important that they spend time familiarising themselves with the US college essay writing style and read examples of successful essays. They should also give themselves time to reflect on a meaningful personal story to tell in the essay, that conveys their personal voice and something meaningful about their identity.
The supplemental essays can be written in a more factual style, but can still be time-consuming because they require students to research each of their chosen universities. Often, applicants are asked to write about why they are interested in, or a good fit for, a particular university. They will need to be specific, referring to particular classes, programmes and professors, rather than just saying that they want to go to a good university, or one that has strong programmes in a subject that interests them.
These essays form one of the major components of US applications, because they are the easiest way for colleges to understand applicants, and one area over which students have a lot of control. They are the only chance for students to tell the universities why they are a good fit, and what they really care about, in their own words. A good essay can make a huge difference to the chances of success.
To support students in making successful US applications, teachers and schools will therefore need to be aware of the college application essays and their requirements. By making sure students set aside ample time to draft their essays, write in a personal and engaging style, and research their chosen colleges, you can help them to succeed.
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