Where can I find good examples of college application essays in PDF format?
I've been trying to get a sense of what a strong college application essay looks like, but so far all the samples I come across are either behind paywalls or just really short excerpts.
Does anyone know where I can download full-length college essay examples as PDFs? Ideally, I'd like to see essays that got students into selective universities. I'm a current senior and feeling a bit overwhelmed about how to structure and approach mine, so having access to some solid samples I can read offline would really help.
Does anyone know where I can download full-length college essay examples as PDFs? Ideally, I'd like to see essays that got students into selective universities. I'm a current senior and feeling a bit overwhelmed about how to structure and approach mine, so having access to some solid samples I can read offline would really help.
4 months ago
•
23 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
It's definitely helpful to read full college application essays as you get started, especially if you're aiming for more selective schools. While lots of websites only provide short excerpts or require payment to access full essays, there are still some reputable, accessible resources you can check out.
One reliable option is the Harvard Crimson's '50 Successful Harvard Application Essays.' While you typically have to buy the full book, many school libraries or public libraries offer it as a lending eBook that you can download as a PDF or read on your device for free. It's a great collection because each essay also comes with a brief analysis on what made it effective.
Johns Hopkins University also posts full accepted essays online (https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays-that-worked/). While these are on their website and not directly offered as PDFs, you can easily save the webpage as a PDF through your browser for offline reading.
Another strategy is to search for college offices or counselors who post free sample essays. For example, College Essay Guy (run by Ethan Sawyer) shares several full essay PDFs with breakdowns, though they're not all from ultra-selective schools; they do show a variety of strong approaches. Again, you can usually save or print these out as PDFs.
As you're reviewing sample essays, try not to focus too much on mimicking content or 'fitting a mold.' Look instead at how students use specific anecdotes, efficient storytelling, and personal reflection. For example, some standout essays follow a thematic structure woven around a unique interest or a specific, challenging moment (like a student who connected their love of origami to problem-solving in their life).
Finally, many schools' admissions blogs showcase strong essays. MIT Admissions posts several every year, and those posts can be converted into PDF files for offline use. Just be mindful of copyright; use these samples strictly for inspiration and structure ideas.
Taking time to analyze several essays can calm a lot of those anxieties. You'll realize there's no perfect formula—what matters most is showing your unique perspective and letting your personality shine through!
One reliable option is the Harvard Crimson's '50 Successful Harvard Application Essays.' While you typically have to buy the full book, many school libraries or public libraries offer it as a lending eBook that you can download as a PDF or read on your device for free. It's a great collection because each essay also comes with a brief analysis on what made it effective.
Johns Hopkins University also posts full accepted essays online (https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays-that-worked/). While these are on their website and not directly offered as PDFs, you can easily save the webpage as a PDF through your browser for offline reading.
Another strategy is to search for college offices or counselors who post free sample essays. For example, College Essay Guy (run by Ethan Sawyer) shares several full essay PDFs with breakdowns, though they're not all from ultra-selective schools; they do show a variety of strong approaches. Again, you can usually save or print these out as PDFs.
As you're reviewing sample essays, try not to focus too much on mimicking content or 'fitting a mold.' Look instead at how students use specific anecdotes, efficient storytelling, and personal reflection. For example, some standout essays follow a thematic structure woven around a unique interest or a specific, challenging moment (like a student who connected their love of origami to problem-solving in their life).
Finally, many schools' admissions blogs showcase strong essays. MIT Admissions posts several every year, and those posts can be converted into PDF files for offline use. Just be mindful of copyright; use these samples strictly for inspiration and structure ideas.
Taking time to analyze several essays can calm a lot of those anxieties. You'll realize there's no perfect formula—what matters most is showing your unique perspective and letting your personality shine through!
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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