Crafting a college essay isn’t just about meeting a requirement. It's your opportunity to show admissions officers who you truly are—your unique voice, personal growth, and resilience.
By integrating wisdom from experts like Carol Dweck, Jordan Peterson, and Steven Pressfield, you can write an essay that stands out from the competition.
Introduction: Your Chance to Shine
Your college essay serves as a window into your character. It highlights your personal growth, your resilience, and how you turn challenges into moments of transformation. Admissions officers want to see more than just a polished resume—they want to understand the person behind the achievements.
One powerful way to frame your essay is by incorporating insights from Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset, Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life, and Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.
When you blend the best ideas from these thought leaders, you build an essay that speaks to both your inner strength and intellectual curiosity.
The Growth Mindset: Embrace Challenges
Carol Dweck’s theory of the growth mindset encourages students to see challenges as opportunities to grow. Instead of shying away from difficulties, demonstrate how you have faced them head-on.
This will show admissions officers your commitment to personal development and how you continually strive to improve.
Example:
Describe a time when you struggled academically but persevered through study and support, eventually mastering the subject.
Explain how that challenge shaped your approach to learning and problem-solving.
Facing Resistance: Insights from Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield, in The War of Art, introduces the idea of “Resistance”—an internal force that stands between you and your creative work.
Writing an impactful college essay requires confronting this Resistance.
You may experience self-doubt, procrastination, or fear of failure, but pushing through these moments defines your success.
Example:
Share a personal story where you faced resistance while working on a major project or extracurricular activity.
How did you overcome internal doubt to accomplish your goal?
Tip: Use Pressfield’s metaphor of turning pro—taking your essay seriously and committing to excellence, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Responsibility and Personal Growth: Insights from Jordan Peterson
In his book 12 Rules for Life, Jordan Peterson emphasizes personal responsibility.
His advice, such as “Stand up straight with your shoulders back” and “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today,” underscores the value of taking ownership of your life and constantly improving.
Admissions officers want to see that you have taken responsibility for your personal growth.
Example:
Write about a leadership role you took on, detailing the responsibilities you managed and the personal growth you experienced.
Show how this experience has prepared you for the challenges of college life.
Embrace Your Core Values
It's also essential to clarify your core values—the principles that guide you and shape your decision-making.
Knowing these values can help you craft a personal narrative that feels authentic and compelling.
Consider how your values have played a role in shaping your identity and how they will help you overcome the challenges of college life.
Nikhil’s Story: Nikhil, an aspiring social entrepreneur, was initially focused on recounting his accomplishments—his impressive work with political leaders, charities, and social initiatives.
However, his essay lacked a personal narrative that tied these achievements to his inner motivations and vision for the future.
I encouraged Nikhil to do a value card sort activity—a reflective exercise to identify his top 3 core values.
Through this, Nikhil discovered that community, leadership, and resilience were the guiding forces behind his work.
He then revised his essay to reflect how these values shaped his past decisions and how they would help him succeed at the University of Chicago’s social entrepreneurship program.
Practical Tips for Crafting Superior Admissions Essays
Start with a Strong Introduction: Capture the reader’s attention by sharing a significant personal moment that highlights your resilience.
Be Authentic: Admissions officers appreciate genuine writing. Share your experiences honestly and use your own voice.
Show, Don’t Just Tell: Instead of simply stating “I am resilient,” illustrate it with an example of how you overcame a significant challenge.
Highlight Growth: Focus on how challenges have helped you grow. What did you learn? How have these experiences prepared you for college?
End with Reflection: Conclude your essay by reflecting on your journey. Share your hopes for the future and how you plan to continue growing and learning in college.
Conclusion: Your Path to Success
In conclusion, crafting a compelling essay isn’t just about recounting events—it’s about sharing your personal narrative.
By drawing on insights from Carol Dweck, Jordan Peterson, and Steven Pressfield, you can frame your experiences in a way that shows personal growth, resilience, and commitment to overcoming challenges.
Reflect on your journey.
Embrace your story.
Show admissions officers who you are and who you aspire to become.
Have you identified your core values yet?
If you’re looking for personalized support in crafting an outstanding essay, sign up for a free 45-minute strategy session with Endgame Academics today!
Together, we’ll help you unlock your potential and create a college essay that truly shines.
Brandon
____
Thanks for stopping by.
I empower high school & university students (and their parents!) to reach their true potential by mastering their mindset and academic English communication skills while learning to navigate the culture of American academia.
If you’re interested in these topics, give me a follow so you can stay up to date with my posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment