On a gray November morning, stacks of essays sat on an admissions counselor’s desk at a New England liberal arts college. She had already read 60 that week. “I could tell within the first five lines ...

The word essay comes from the French word ‘essayer’ meaning ‘to try’ or ‘to attempt’. A French writer called Michel de Montaigne invented the essay in Europe as his ‘attempt’ to write about himself ...

This handout is available for download in DOCX format and PDF format. In the most abstract sense, the function of an introductory paragraph is to move the reader from the world of daily life into the ...

The two essays most commonly associated with graduate school applications are the statement of purpose and the personal statement. This is an opportunity for you to connect more deeply with both the ...

At Bucknell, we can assure you that a real human being (at least two, actually) will review your entire application, including your essay, and that they (not computers) will decide if you get in.

A wave of updated 2026 personal statement guides is changing how students approach college essays, stressing authenticity, narrative craft, and rhetorical strategies over mere achievement lists.

Show your personality. Focus on personal experiences when choosing a topic. Prioritize strong editing while staying true to your voice. College application essays are where you can demonstrate your ...