[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-348950-105":53,"doc-detail-348950-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","how-to-write-your-college-essays","HOW TO WRITE YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS","","Guide for writing effective college personal statement essays, addressing why the essay matters in admissions and what colleges look for in applicants’ voices, values, and character. Provides a practical dos and don’ts list on content choices and tone, emphasizing growth, honesty, and avoiding clichés or resume-style summaries. Includes step-by-step guidance for selecting a Common App prompt and developing responses through specific themes like identity, obstacles, beliefs, gratitude, accomplishments, and interests.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":46,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/paper-templates/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/how-to-write-your-college-essays/348950/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/how-to-write-your-college-essays/348950.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Ezra","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-15","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"How much do college essays matter in the admissions process?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"The impact varies by school, but essays are commonly part of the application review. Some colleges may weigh essays differently depending on whether tests like SAT scores are required.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What qualities should a personal statement essay show?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"A strong essay demonstrates the qualities, skills, and values you’ve developed over your life and how they prepare you for college. Colleges want insight into who you are through your voice and character.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What should students avoid when writing their college essays?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The guide advises avoiding topics like drugs, drama, divorce, or death, and discourages swearing, clichés, discussing a resume, and sharing deepest secrets. It also suggests being mindful about what exceptions apply.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},348950,1790350537,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":45,"category_name":46,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":45,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":141},1099514068035,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","HOW TO WRITE YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS  \nBy Ava Bonacorsi  \nIntroduction  \nEvery year, millions of students across America sit down at their desks, open up their laptops, and start to type their personal statement essays. Although an infamously short essay, it might be one of the most important things a student has written up until that point in their life. No pressure. For some students, talking about themselves is a breeze. For most students   not so much. It can be very difficult for students to write about themselves—to define themselves—within 650 words. Students might have so many questions and so little answers, others might not even know what questions to ask. But for all of these problems, there are solutions. Millions of students have applied to colleges in years past, and so can you! That’s because you have this guide to answer your questions, aid your writing process, and create an essay that not only will impress colleges but also make you proud of yourself.  \nHow Much Does My Essay Matter?  \nHow much your essay actually matters to admissions offices can vary depending on the college. For example, Ivy League and elite schools that require submission of SAT scores might care slightly more about your SAT than schools that don’t. Currently, about 80% of schools do not require SAT scores so ifa student doesn’t submit them their essays carry more weight. Usually, essays contribute to 25% of a student’s application but that could be even more with the absence of SAT scores.  \nAdditionally, schools that are more selective tend to consider essays more than less selective schools. Less selective schools start by looking at GPA and test scores and then read the students’ essays. That being said, schools that are more selective prioritize essays and extra-curriculars, which account for 30% of a student’s application.  \nWhat do Colleges Look for in Personal Statement Essays?  \nYour personal statement should demonstrate the qualities, skills, and values that you've cultivated over your life and how those skills have prepared you for attending college. Colleges don’t want to read about the person you think deserves to go to their school, they want to read about who you are. Your voice should come through so much in your essay that it is like you are speaking  \nto your admissions officer. Your character and values should be woven into your essay. At the end of the day, colleges want to know you—not just the things that have happened to you. They should not finish your essay not knowing anything about who you are  \nDos and Don’ts  \nBefore you begin to write your essay, keep in mind some Dos and Don’t’s. Most “don’ts” might be able to still work. But it’s about how you write, less of what you write  \n- Don’t:  \no Write about drugs, drama, divorce, death  \no Curse or swear unless you believe it is absolutely essential to your  \nessay, even then, it should not be extremely aggressive  \no Rely on cliches  \no Talk about your resume  \no Share your deepest secrets  \n- DO:  \no Write about growth  \no Write about your failures and hardships  \no Write about your successes  \no Write about who you are  \no Show, don’t tell  \nWhere to Start  \nOpen a Word document, a Google Docs, a piece of paper or whatever you find best to write. Now, open your favorite web browser and Google ‘Common App personal statement essay prompts’. Now copy and paste into your document or write down on your piece of paper. Now you know what your prompts are. You will answer one of them for your personal statement essay. They are as follows:  \n1) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  \na) Values that might go well with this prompt are family, work ethic, culture, tradition, pressures, success, art, music, or community.  \n2) The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount","cbCaitPxy5VkJZ9E","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitPxy5VkJZ9E","pdf",366250,"English","# Introduction\n## How Much Does My Essay Matter?\n## What do Colleges Look for in Personal Statement Essays?\n## Dos and Don’ts\n## Where to Start\n## Common App Personal Statement Essay Prompts","[{\"question\":\"How much do college essays matter in the admissions process?\",\"answer\":\"The impact varies by school, but essays are commonly part of the application review. Some colleges may weigh essays differently depending on whether tests like SAT scores are required.\"},{\"question\":\"What qualities should a personal statement essay show?\",\"answer\":\"A strong essay demonstrates the qualities, skills, and values you’ve developed over your life and how they prepare you for college. Colleges want insight into who you are through your voice and character.\"},{\"question\":\"What should students avoid when writing their college essays?\",\"answer\":\"The guide advises avoiding topics like drugs, drama, divorce, or death, and discourages swearing, clichés, discussing a resume, and sharing deepest secrets. It also suggests being mindful about what exceptions apply.\"}]","HOW TO WRITE YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS | PDF",1790080751,7]