The Literary Guide to Writing a College Essay

posted at May 14, 2022, 5:10 p.m.

by Vishesha Singh

The ultimate guide to attempting your essay with a twist! At Gradvine we do things differently - and arguably better! To help you retain our points with utmost clarity, we are associating them with literary or movie quotes. We hope that this document will kindle the author in you and steer you in the right direction in writing your essay!

“Which of all my important things shall I tell you first?” - Jane Austen

This famous quote by Jane Austen might resonate with the predicament surrounding your essay. Understand that this document is not your autobiography, but a summation of the highlights of your academic or professional career. The admissions committee does not require hefty job roles or internships, magnanimous awards, or institutions; rather, it is concerned with what you can reflect in terms of learning or growth from your experiences - big or small.

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it or learn from it.” - The Lion King, 1994

Whoever thought The Lion King will have a lesson for us adults, right? Surprise, it does! Think about your past and ponder upon what makes you want to do this degree at all. It can be because you haven’t found the thrill of learning in your academic pursuits till now, or it can be out of the sheer joy you have found in your career trajectory which you want to further feed into through subject expertise. While the stimulus could be anything, you need to focus on reflecting a motivation for the degree you are applying to. Think about what skills you lack that push you towards higher education and focus on establishing a brief connection between your past pursuits and the degree you are applying for to portray clarity of vision.

“At some point, you’ve got to decide for yourself who you gonna be. Can’t let nobody make that decision for you.” - Moonlight, 2016

You might wonder why we are quoting Juan who played a drug dealer in the story. Trust us, he has a point! Much like his profound words of wisdom to young Chiron who he teaches to carve his own path, we must advise you to think about your long-term goals for your admissions essay. If you are struggling with a definitive long-term goal, make sure to state a more generic field or area of interest you would like to work or study further in. No essay is complete without clearly stating the goals you have in mind (there is a reason it is called Statement of Purpose).

Can we fix it? Yes, we can! - Bob the Builder

Still struggling with writer’s block, why don’t you reach out to us? Schedule a free call with us through our website https://bit.ly/free_profileevaluation or reach out to us at [email protected] and we can help you draft stellar essays that are sure to bag you great admits!