Essays in applications: why they matter

Your application essay or motivation letter is the part where the numbers stop talking and you start. Grades and test scores show what you can do in class. The essay shows who you are, why you want this program, and how you think.

For many schools, especially those with holistic admissions, the essay can be the difference between two students with similar grades. It helps the admission officer answer questions like:

• Would this student use the opportunities here?
• Do they understand what they are applying for?
• Will they add something positive to the community?

Think of it as a guided conversation with someone who has never met you.

What admission officers are looking for

Most admission officers read dozens of essays in a day. They are not hunting for perfect genius. They are looking for:

• Clarity Do you answer the question directly? Is your story easy to follow?
• Motivation Why this subject, why this university or program, and why now? They want to see you have looked at their program properly, not just copied the same text everywhere.
• Fit Do your interests and plans match what the program offers? If you want entrepreneurship, do you mention their incubator, projects or internships that relate to that?
• Evidence Instead of saying "I am passionate", do you show examples: projects, reading, competitions, work, volunteering, personal challenges.
• Voice and character They want to feel that a real young person is writing, not a robot or a parent. Your tone can be serious, calm, or slightly playful, but it should sound like you.
• Honesty and self awareness It is fine to mention difficulties as long as you show what you learned and how you grew, not only how life was unfair.

What is usually important to cover

You will almost always need to cover some version of these points:

• Who you are academically What subjects you enjoy, what you are good at, and how you have challenged yourself. This could include specific projects, extended essays, competitions or independent learning.
• Why this subject or field Something that shows where your interest started and how it developed. This can be a mix of school work, personal experiences, books, videos, events, or people who inspired you.
• Why this program or university A few concrete details. For example: specific courses, tracks, teaching style, a lab, a clinic, a studio, or a project format that attracts you. This proves you did your homework.
• What you bring Skills, experiences, and attitudes that will contribute to the class. This can include teamwork, leadership, resilience, creativity, languages, coding, art, sports, part time work or caring responsibilities.
• Your direction You do not need a fixed life plan, but you should have a sense of where this program fits. For example: "I want to start in X, then continue with Y master or role, because Z".

You do not need to use these as separate headings. They can be blended through 3 to 5 paragraphs.

Simple structure that works

You can keep your structure very simple:

• Opening A short paragraph that answers "who are you and what are you applying for" plus one sentence that hints at your main theme.
• Middle (2 to 3 paragraphs) Connect your past and present activities to the subject. Show one or two concrete stories or projects. Then connect them to this program, with specific elements from their website.
• Ending One short paragraph that looks forward. Mention how you hope to grow there and how you plan to use what you learn.

If you are stuck, write the middle first. Then come back and add a clear opening and a short ending.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a generic essay that could fit any school.
• Listing everything you have done without explaining what it taught you.
• Overusing big words that you would never use in real speech.
• Trying to sound like someone else, or letting an adult rewrite your voice.
• Spending half the essay on someone else (a parent, famous person, teacher) instead of you.
• Forgetting to answer the actual prompt.

Admissions officers prefer a simple, honest, specific essay over a dramatic story that does not feel real.

Practical tips while writing

• Start early so you can write, leave it for a few days, then improve it.
• Write like you talk on your best day: clear, respectful, and yourself.
• Use specific examples instead of general claims.
• Ask for feedback from a teacher or mentor, but keep your voice.
• Check basics: spelling, paragraphing, names of programs and universities.

Your essay does not need to be perfect to work. It needs to be clear, specific, and honest enough that an admission officer finishes reading it and thinks, "I understand this student, and I can see how they might fit here."