At Ivy League Potential, our students spend many hours working on their college essays. The average student goes through approximately 3-5 revisions on their main college essay. How important is the college essay? The Former Dean of Admission at Princeton University answered this question for The New York Times:
“Question: You hear admission officers and counselors talk about how important the essay is and how it shows that you are not just a test score. The importance, however, is still not clear. What exactly does an admission officer think as he goes about an applicant’s essay? What does he look for? What works in the applicant’s favor? [Submitted by Emiliano Lopez]
Janet Lavin Rapelye, the [former] dean of admission at Princeton University: “Your ability to write well is critical to our decision because your writing reflects your thinking. No matter what question is asked on a college application, admission officers are looking to see how well you convey your ideas and express yourself in writing. It is our window to your world. Your command of the English language, whether or not you are a native speaker, is important because you will be asked to write extensively when you get to our campuses. The best applications come from students who have spent time writing their essays, editing their work, and refining their message.”
Critical thinking is even more important than ever, given the advent of artificial intelligence in our lives. Over the next several months, we'll see how college admissions is impacted by AI detection software and students unethically using AI to write their college essays. But rest assured, the essay is still a key component of a successful college application!