Docent Admissions Consulting
Your guide to strategic college admissions.
Peer Review​
Sample College Essays
A few examples from your peers in their own words--100 to 650 of them, to be precise
The University of Georgia
Supplemental Essay
This writer makes a relatable topic all his own.
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What makes this essay strong? The author's narration puts a personal spin on a common topic, social exclusion. The opening quote immediately captures the reader's attention and lends a moment of humor to an otherwise sensitive topic. By the essay's conclusion, the reader has a clear understanding of the author's voice and core values. We know what he stands for and why.
Emory University
Personal Statement
This personal statement is as authentic as they come.
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What makes this essay strong? A little vulnerability goes a long way in personal statement writing, and this piece succeeds at being vulnerable without oversharing. We can easily imagine ourselves in the author's shoes as he struggles to learn more about himself and what motivates him. I also love that the story has such a clear pivotal moment, when the author makes a much-needed change to his thinking and habits. By the end, the reader can't help but cheer him on!
Georgia Institute of Technology
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Past experiences guide the author's future in this essay.
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What makes this essay strong? This essay unites two distinct, but thematically similar, moments from the author's life to showcase a single topic: his growing confidence. Notice how the author opens with a cliffhanger, then establishes a parallel between it and the essay theme. The essay then calls back to that critical first moment before reflecting on its significance for the author's future. What a ride!
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Auburn University
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This essay does an excellent job of showing, not telling.
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What makes this essay strong? This essay succeeds in making a unique family tradition relatable to the reader by connecting it with a more identifiable moment from the author's experience. Most importantly, she does an outstanding job of using these moments to show, not tell, the reader about her struggles with perfectionism. Strong personal statement writing uses storytelling to demonstrate, not enumerate, on who the author is and what he or she wants to highlight to the reader. Choose, then develop, stories from your life that show who you are and bring your personality to life, like this author has done!
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