# Writing Sample for College Entrance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458 "2023-10-12T12:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/1 "2023-10-12T12:06:39Z")
To those Straight Dopers going through the pangs of applying to colleges, you are probably aware there is a standard application form online that many colleges accept. I understand they ask for a writing sample, although I am not sure off-hand exactly how they ask it. It seems the student can pick any topic, but deep down, do they want a well-constructed, five paragraph composition defending a position with strong intro, topics sentences, and strong conclusion? Or, will a freeform / creative writing style suffice? (Do high schools even bother to teach the five-paragraph structure anymore?) I don’t want to fight with my son, but I need to know what many think colleges are looking for. Clearly, there is some ulterior motive. Your thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/2 "2023-10-12T13:07:05Z")
It’s a long time since I had anything to do with university admissions, and that was in the UK, but I’d assume that they’d be looking to see how well he can articulate, explore and develop an idea - and potential objections to it. Whether a rigid pre-ordained format or a more creative approach would be right would depend on what sort of subject he’s aiming to study, but either way, it would need a blend of clarity and independent thought. Plus, some evidence of having read around the topic. “Stream of consciousness” won’t do. But that’s just my idea. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/3 "2023-10-13T03:24:04Z")
The ones I’ve seen ask a more specific question, so it might be worth looking at the applications he’s considering. You might see if the schools post sample essays. Here’s Johns Hopkins University’s page: [Essays That Worked | Johns Hopkins University Admissions](https://apply.jhu.edu/college-planning-guide/essays-that-worked/) . Notice that they’re not perfect, but they are interesting. When I’ve been on the reading end, I have looked for a well-constructed and well-written essay. Five-paragraph structure let me know the writer can use this strategy, but I was more interested in the flow of ideas, expression (spelling, grammar, appropriate vocabulary for the activity), address of the topic posed, and ability to support an opinion or describe something well. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/4 "2023-10-13T15:30:13Z")
I have proofread or edited hundreds, maybe thousands, of Common App personal statements and worked with many admissions officers. They do NOT need to be a 5 paragraph essay: its a piece of reflecctive writing. It does not need to strictly adhere to the prompt. It does need to have a central focus, though a “thesis statement” is not required. It does need to show control of language, where the organozation of ideas reinforces the idea it is trying to convey. It needs to show a strong understanding of standard English conventions (i.e., “grammar rules”) but it doesn’t need to be in a formal, academic register, and many of the best essays “break” conventions to deliberately create an effect. It should not, under almost any circumstances, be about a mission trip, sports injury, or how attending a doverse high school has made them a better person. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/5 "2023-10-13T15:32:15Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > **I have proofread** or edited hundreds, maybe thousands, of Common App personal statements and worked with many admissions officers. > > They do NOT need to be a 5 paragraph essay: its a piece of **reflecctive** writing. It does not need to strictly adhere to the prompt. Bolding mine. What’s the law about this again? I’d probably spell it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/6 "2023-10-13T23:00:01Z")
There are several applying to college subreddits on Reddit and I would encourage you to cross post there. Plenty of information from both students and admissions officers. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/7 "2023-10-14T02:01:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@MandaJo](#): > > > > **I have proofread** or edited hundreds, maybe thousands, of Common App personal statements and worked with many admissions officers. > > > > They do NOT need to be a 5 paragraph essay: its a piece of **reflecctive** writing. It does not need to strictly adhere to the prompt. > > Bolding mine. What’s the law about this again? I’d probably spell it wrong. > **[Muphry's law](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law)** > > Muphry's law is an adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written." The name is a deliberate misspelling of "Murphy's law". > Names for variations on the principle have also been coined, usually in the context of online communication, including: > Further variations state that flaws in a printed ("Clark's document law") or published work ("Barker's proof") will only be discovered after it is printed and no... ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/8 "2023-10-14T02:04:47Z")
Gaudere’s Rule: Any post made to point out a spelling or grammar error will invariably contain a spelling or grammar error. > [@Gaudere's Rule](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gauderes-rule/36379): > > From this post: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=798602#post798602](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=798602#post798602) I propose we name this phenomenon after Gaudere herself. What say the teeming millions? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/9 "2023-10-14T03:36:24Z")
I wonder if a _really good_ Hikoi would pass muster? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-sample-for-college-entrance/991458/10 "2023-10-14T10:21:34Z")
🤔 Maybe - if there were enough people …