It is well known that colleges consider different factors when deciding who to admit to their institution, which include high school grades, ACT and SAT scores, and extracurricular activities. However, many reputable universities and colleges like Harvard are trying to shift away from the test score criteria to a completely different requirement for college admissions.
Hence, they are paying more attention to college essays as a major requirement for college admissions, as it gives students a great opportunity to introduce themselves in front of admission officers. It is also a chance for students to stand out among other essay writers, as these officers not only look at the content of your college essay but how you present it. In short, your writing skills and your ability to present your experiences and story matter the most.
So, if you want to stand out among so many college applications, then continue reading this blog. We will explain what tone and style are, the dos and don’ts of a college essay, how to write an essay, and the style & tone secrets for an impactful college essay.
What Is Tone?
A tone in a college essay is how we express our attitude or mood on the topic, experience or story we have chosen to tell. It is very helpful as it sets the mood, and readers can easily interpret the essay. When we talk verbally, it is very easy to understand a person’s tone based on their expressions and how they deliver their words. However, it is not that simple in written communication. So, how can we tell the difference? Let us understand by an example.
Example:
- “Yes, it is totally fine! I’m not upset at all, and I understand where you are coming from.”
- “Yes. It is totally fine. I understand. I’m not upset at all.”
The first sentence seems friendly and sincere, while the other sentence feels sad or sarcastic.
The tone of written communication is not determined by the words but by punctuation, capitalisation, and sentence structure.
How To Write Your College Essay In The Right Tone?
The tone of your college essay is very important as it tells your reader what to understand. If you want to convey your feelings or tone effectively without a reader misinterpreting the message, you should remember these small details.
Punctuation
Punctuation is an important part of writing, and it uses marks like question marks, ellipses and exclamation marks to convey the tone of your college essay. For instance, question marks are used to convey curiosity; ellipses show pauses and exclamation marks convey strong emotions that can be both positive and negative. Let us understand through some examples:
|
Tone |
Use Of Punctuation |
|
Excited |
“I am so happy to be a part of this team!” |
|
Curious |
“But what does success really mean?” |
|
Uncertain |
“I wonder if I should go to the alumni dinner…. But I guess it won’t be so bad after all.” |
Word Choice
When you are writing your experiences or life story in your college essay, you must always use the most appropriate words so that there is no room for misinterpretation. For instance:
| Tone | Word Choice |
| Confident | I am eager to learn from my mentors and make a real difference in the lives of people. |
| Passive & Less Confident | I want to learn new things from my mentors and help people live a better life. |
Sentence Structure
Sentence structure is another necessary element of establishing tone in your college essay. Besides the choice of words and punctuation, the sentence structure tells a reader how the information and ideas are conveyed. For example, long and complex sentences give an analytical or thoughtful tone, short sentences give a straightforward or blunt tone, and compound sentences give a conversational and balanced tone. Let us understand by a few examples:
| Tone | Sentence Structure | Example |
| Straightforward | Short | “I want to become a doctor and save lives.” |
| Reflective | Long & Complex | “I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor as I am very passionate about helping people, and I believe that I can make a real difference in the field of medicine and healthcare with my abilities.” |
| Balanced | Compound | “I want to become a doctor and save the precious lives of people who can not afford healthcare.” |
What Is Style?
Style in essay writing is how you express your thoughts, experiences and story to readers. It includes using the right words, and sentence structure, organising your ideas and choosing a unique voice while writing. The style also sets the mood of your college essay and gives the admission officers an idea of your personality, which is why it is a very important component. To create a good impression on the college you have applied to, you should remember these small details that can affect the style of your writing:
Techniques To Follow To Enhance The Style Of Your Writing
Here are some of the tone and style secrets to improve the style of your academic writing:
Pacing
This refers to how slow or fast you move through your important points or information. The best way to keep it natural and not miss any crucial aspects of your college essay. In addition, a balanced pace will let your reader absorb all the information and give time to think.
Example:
Fast Pacing: “I joined the football team and quickly became the captain.”
Slow Pacing: “I joined the football team as a newcomer. With time, I learned from my mistakes, and my captain was very kind and helpful. Luckily, my abilities as a great teammate and player got me the position of the next captain.”
Strong Verbs
Verbs express their actions in a great manner. If you choose weak verbs, then your essay will not convey your story in a compelling manner, Hence, you should always use strong verbs in your college essay.
Example:
Weak Verb: “I went slowly towards the door as the bell rang.”
Strong Verb: “I dragged my feet to the door as the bell rang.”
Active Voice
When you use active voice in your essay, it makes the sentence look direct, clear and straightforward. Additionally, it avoids unnecessary words that can be used in the passive voice.
Example:
Active Voice: “I read the book and found it to be very interesting.”
Passive Voice: “The book was read by me, and it was found to be very interesting.”
Use Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe nouns by adding more details and are an important part of tone and style secrets to an impactful college essay. By choosing the right adjectives in your college essay, you can improve your style of writing. Moreover, such descriptive words can make your readers feel more connected to your story as they give a visual identity to objects and subjects.
Example: Instead of saying, “I saw a car going down the road”, you can say, “I saw a sleek red car going down the road.”
Sentence Structure
The sentence structure tells a reader how the information and ideas are structured and organised. It also gives a proper flow to your college essay. You can choose to mix your sentences or keep them long or short, depending on the idea you want to convey. In addition, your sentence structure also affects the tone of your writing, such as formal or informal.
Example:
- “I was waiting for the train.” (Short)
- “I was waiting for the train and was very excited about the long journey.” (Compound)
Example:
Figurative Language
Using similes, idioms, and metaphors is one of the best style and tone secrets for an impactful college essay. These words increase the meaning of your writing and make it more interesting and engaging for the readers.
Example:
- “The snow covered the leaves like a white blanket”.
- “A wave of terror washed over him when he saw a wolf standing next to him.”
The essays we write have:
- Precision and Clarity
- Zero Plagiarism
- High-level Encryption
- Authentic Sources
What Are The Best Style & Tone Secrets For An Impactful College Essay?
Let us understand what are the best style and tone techniques and secrets to remember while writing an essay for your college:
Understand The Word Limit & Instructions
It is always good to start early on your college admission essay so that you have enough time to make any changes and edits. This also reduces pressure and lets you work on it effectively.
The first step to writing your essay is understanding the instructions and guidelines that have been provided by the college. You do not want to write and submit an essay that does not fit the requirements of your college admission officers. Hence, always check the word count, writing style and citation guidelines before starting the writing process.
Capture The Interest Of Your Reader
You should always spend more time working on the opening statement or paragraph of the essay. This is one of the top secrets to writing an impactful college essay. A great way to capture the interest of your reader is by doing something different, like starting with a curious question or writing a bold statement that immediately gets the attention of your reader.
Moreover, the opening paragraph also acts as a roadmap for your readers to understand what your essay is about. For instance, if you are writing an essay on a personal achievement, then your opening statement should let them know why it matters and how it has built you into the person you are today.
Use Authentic & Consistent Tone
It is good to write something huge as overcoming challenges in your life, but you do not need to do this, as sometimes such essays can feel fake or make the admission officer feel like the student is trying too hard to impress them. So, you should always choose the right topic and let your natural voice do the work in your essay writing.
A college essay that is truthful and authentic has more chances of being accepted than an essay that boasts and does not stick to facts. You can also mention your strengths and weaknesses so that your real personality is shown to the admission officers. Remember, you do not want to impress your readers, but give them a chance to know who you are and where you come from. Hence, always use an authentic and consistent tone in your college essay.
Mention Important Events & Experiences
Another important style and tone secret for an impactful college essay is to show the readers rather than tell them. Instead of writing about your achievements and accomplishments, you should mention life-changing events and experiences that have been part of your journey as a student.
For example, it is not enough to say that you volunteered at a well-known cancer hospital. You need to write detailed explanations of your journey, the people you met and how your time at the hospital helped you pursue a career in social work.
Such details and insights help the readers to understand your journey and the potential you have as a future student in their institution.
Stay On Topic
You should not turn away from the main essay topic. To avoid this, you can make a clear outline so that you do not miss any important points. This will help you remain focused and result in a well-structured college essay.
Reflect On Your Work
Last, you can reflect on your work and add humour to make your essay more appealing. You can also finish your essay with a question that leaves readers wondering with answers or more questions. This will engage your readers and increase your chance of being selected among other applications.
Moreover, you can discuss what your academic plans are and how you will apply your experiences and abilities in your next learning journey.
Tips To Avoid Writing A Poor College Essay
Here are some tips to follow so that you do not write a poor college essay:
- Write an initial draft so that you can make changes afterwards.
- Always proofread and edit your essay so that any errors and mistakes can be removed.
- You should always cite references so that the validity of your essay can be enhanced.
- Be specific, use a clear tone, and avoid repetition.
- Do not use plagiarism tools to write your essay.
- Use correct grammar and vocabulary.
- Read your essay aloud to understand what a reader will feel while going through your essay paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
A genuine and consistent style and tone of your college essay can increase your chance of getting admission to the college you have applied to. It also makes your writing stand out from the rest and engages the readers to take interest. Hence, you should always follow style and tone secrets for an impactful college essay.
Using humour in your college essay is a good way to engage your readers. However, you should be careful while using both humour and slang language, as some admission officers might not like it. You should try your best to only use it when it fits your message and is appropriate.
To write a flawless college essay, you should avoid using complex words and sentences that can ruin the interest of your reader. It is necessary to maintain a consistent tone and mood so that the flow of information in your college essay is interesting for the admission officer. Moreover, you should follow all punctuation, grammar and writing rules so that your essay paper is error-free. Last, do not use AI tools for plagiarism, as it can leave a negative impression.
