Crafting a compelling college essay is an important step in the application process. To help your essay make an impact upon the reader, it's beneficial to evaluate  - or grade - it through the lens of an admissions officer. This approach allows you to identify strengths and weak points and refine your writing so that it's memorable and effective. Below, we'll explore key elements admissions officers consider and provide a detailed rubric to guide your evaluation.

Understanding Admissions Officers' Perspectives

 The way you tell your story can make all the difference. Admissions officers seek essays that:

• Demonstrates organized and thoughtful writing – Admissions officers want to see clear, organized, and thoughtful writing that has minimal errors and balances personal reflection with logical structure.

• Evidence the student's authenticity and their ability to reflect, learn, and grow – Admissions staff look for evidence that the student is being authentic and is able to reflect on their experiences, make meaning of them, and grow from them. This provides insight into their values, aspirations, perspective, resilience, and problem-solving. Admissions staff what to know who the student is, what’s important to and motivates them – what drives them.

• Show. Don't Tell – Effective essays show growth, resilience, curiosity, maturity, or a unique viewpoint rather than just listing accomplishments and experiences.

• Compel the Reader's Attention – Memorable essays engage the reader with compelling storytelling and a distinctive viewpoint.

If you want more tips, read this article on How to Write A Winning Essay

How to Use This Rubric: 

1.      Self-Assessment: Read your essay multiple times, focusing on one criterion at a time. Assign a score for each based on your honest evaluation.​

2.      Seek Feedback: Share your essay and the rubric with teachers, mentors, or peers to gain diverse perspectives.​

3.      Revise Accordingly: Use the feedback from your self-assessments and from others to identify areas for improvement. Prioritize revisions based on criteria with the lowest scores. If you're not sure sometimes what is best, test out different versions (like A/B testing) with friends, teachers, etc. to see which is perceived better.

Tips for Refining Your Essay

• Be Authentic: Write in your natural voice. Authenticity resonates more than trying to impress with complex vocabulary or exaggerated experiences.​

• Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use anecdotes and descriptive details to illustrate your points, making your essay more engaging and relatable.​

• Stay Concise: Adhere to word limits and ensure every sentence contributes meaningfully to your narrative.​

• Proofread Meticulously: Eliminate grammatical errors and typos, as they can distract from your message and reflect poorly on your attention to detail.​

 By evaluating your essay through this structured approach, you can enhance its quality and ensure it effectively communicates your unique story to admissions officers.

College Essay Self-Evaluation Rubric

Use this rubric to evaluate your own essay as an admissions officer would. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with detailed descriptions to help guide your revision process.