english essays for bs students

Essay Topics – List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas

List of 500+ essay writing topics and ideas.

Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays , many college and high school students face writer’s block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Following list of essay topics are for all – from kids to college students. We have the largest collection of essays. An essay is nothing but a piece of content which is written from the perception of writer or author. Essays are similar to a story, pamphlet, thesis, etc. The best thing about Essay is you can use any type of language – formal or informal. It can biography, the autobiography of anyone. Following is a great list of 100 essay topics. We will be adding 400 more soon!

But Before that you may wanna read some awesome Essay Writing Tips here .

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should plastic be banned?
• Pollution due to Urbanization
• Education should be free
• Should Students get limited access to the Internet?
• Selling Tobacco should be banned
• Smoking in public places should be banned
• Facebook should be banned
• Students should not be allowed to play PUBG

Essay Topics on Technology

• Wonder Of Science
• Mobile Phone

Essay Topics on Festivals on Events

• Independence Day (15 August)
• Teachers Day
• Summer Vacation
• Children’s Day
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• Janmashtami
• Republic Day

Essay Topics on Education

• Education Essay
• Importance of Education
• Contribution of Technology in Education

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

• Mahatma Gandhi
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Swami Vivekananda
• Mother Teresa
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Subhash Chandra Bose
• Abraham Lincoln
• Martin Luther King
• Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

• My Favorite Animal

Essays Topics About Yourself

• My Best Friend
• My Favourite Teacher
• My Aim In Life
• My Favourite Game – Badminton
• My Favourite Game – Essay
• My Favourite Book
• My Ambition
• How I Spent My Summer Vacation
• India of My Dreams
• My School Life
• I Love My Family
• My Favourite Subject
• My Favourite Game Badminton
• My Father My Hero
• My School Library
• My Favourite Author
• My plans for summer vacation

Essay Topics Based on Environment and Nature

• Global Warming
• Environment
• Air Pollution
• Environmental Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Rainy Season
• Climate Change
• Importance Of Trees
• Winter Season
• Deforestation
• Natural Disasters
• Save Environment
• Summer Season
• Trees Our Best Friend Essay In English

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

• Health Is Wealth
• A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
• An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away
• Where there is a will, there is way
• Time and Tide wait for none

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Essay Topics for Students from 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

• Noise Pollution
• Environment Pollution
• Women Empowerment
• Time and Tide Wait for none
• Science and Technology
• Importance of Sports
• Sports and Games
• Time Management
• Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• Cleanliness
• Rome was not Built in a Day
• Unemployment
• Clean India
• Cow Essay In English
• Describe Yourself
• Festivals Of India
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Healthy Food
• Importance Of Water
• Plastic Pollution
• Value of Time
• Honesty is the Best Policy
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights
• Knowledge Is Power
• Same Sex Marriage
• Childhood Memories
• Cyber Crime
• Kalpana Chawla
• Punctuality
• Rani Lakshmi Bai
• Spring Season
• Unity In Diversity
• Artificial Intelligence
• Online Shopping
• Indian Culture
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Indian Education System
• Disaster Management
• Environmental Issues
• Freedom Fighters
• Grandparents
• Save Fuel For Better Environment
• Importance Of Newspaper
• Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Raksha Bandhan
• World Environment Day
• Narendra Modi
• What Is Religion
• Charity Begins at Home
• A Journey by Train
• Ideal student
• Save Water Save Earth
• Indian Farmer
• Safety of Women in India
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• Capital Punishment
• College Life
• Natural Resources
• Peer Pressure
• Nature Vs Nurture
• Romeo And Juliet
• Generation Gap
• Makar Sankranti
• Constitution of India
• Girl Education
• Importance of Family
• Importance of Independence Day
• Brain Drain
• A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
• Action Speaks Louder Than Words
• All That Glitters Is Not Gold
• Bhagat Singh
• Demonetization
• Agriculture
• Importance of Discipline
• Population Explosion
• Poverty in India
• Uses Of Mobile Phones
• Water Scarcity
• Train Journey
• Land Pollution
• Environment Protection
• Indian Army
• Uses of Internet
• All that Glitters is not Gold
• Balanced Diet
• Blood Donation
• Digital India
• Dussehra Essay
• Energy Conservation
• National Integration
• Railway Station
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Health And Hygiene
• Importance Of Forest
• Indira Gandhi
• Laughter Is The Best Medicine
• Career Goals
• Mental Health
• Save Water Save Life
• International Yoga Day
• Winter Vacation
• Soil Pollution
• Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
• Indian Culture And Tradition
• Unity Is Strength
• Unity is Diversity
• Wildlife Conservation
• Cruelty To Animals
• Nelson Mandela
• Of Mice And Men
• Organ Donation
• Life in a Big City
• Democracy in India
• Waste Management
• Biodiversity
• Afforestation
• Female Foeticide
• Harmful Effects Of Junk Food
• Rain Water Harvesting
• Save Electricity
• Social Media
• Social Networking Sites
• Sound Pollution
• Procrastination
• Life in an Indian Village
• Life in Big City
• Population Growth
• World Population Day
• Greenhouse Effect
• Statue of Unity
• Traffic Jam
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• Importance of Good Manners
• Good Manners
• Cyber Security
• Green Revolution
• Health And Fitness
• Incredible India
• Make In India
• Surgical Strike
• Triple Talaq
• A Good Friend
• Importance of Friends in our Life
• Should Plastic be Banned
• Nationalism
• Traffic Rules
• Effects of Global Warming
• Fundamental Rights
• Solar System
• National Constitution Day
• Good Mother
• Importance of Trees in our Life
• City Life Vs Village Life
• Importance of Communication
• Conservation of Nature
• Man vs. Machine
• Indian Economy
• Mothers Love
• Importance of National Integration
• Black Money
• Greenhouse effect
• Untouchability
• Self Discipline
• Global Terrorism
• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Newspaper and Its Uses
• World Health Day
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• A Picnic with Family
• Indian Heritage
• Status of Women in India
• Child is Father of the Man
• Reading is Good Habit
• Plastic Bag
• Terrorism in India
• Library and Its Uses
• Life on Mars
• Urbanization
• Pollution Due to Diwali
• National Flag of India
• Vocational Education
• Importance of Tree Plantation
• Summer Camp
• Vehicle Pollution
• Women Education in India
• Seasons in India
• Freedom of the Press
• Caste System
• Environment and Human Health
• Mountain Climbing
• Depletion of Natural Resources
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
• Health Education
• Effects of Deforestation
• Life after School
• Starvation in India
• Jan Dhan Yojana
• Impact of Privatization
• Election Commission of India
• Election and Democracy
• Prevention of Global Warming
• Impact of Cinema in Life
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Dowry System
• Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
• Role of Science in Making India
• Impact of Global Warming on Oceans
• Pollution due to Festivals
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
• Family Planning in India
• Democracy vs Dictatorship
• National Festivals of India
• Sri Aurobindo
• Casteism in India
• Organ trafficking
• Consequences of Global Warming
• Role of Human Activities in Global Warming
• Issues and Problems faced by Women in India
• Role of Judiciary in the Country Today
• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
• PUBG Mobile Game Addiction
• Role of Youths in Nation Building
• Value of Oxygen and Water in Life/Earth
• Farmer Suicides in India
• Start-up India
• Pollution Due to Firecrackers
• Life of Soldiers
• Child Labour
• Save Girl Child
• Morning Walk
• My School Fete
• Essay on Financial Literacy
• Essay On Sustainable Development
• Essay On Punjab
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• My Home Essay
• Child Marriage Essay
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• Essay On Mass Media
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• True Friendship Essay
• Work Is Worship Essay
• Essay On Self Confidence
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• Time Is Money Essay
• Essay About Grandmothers
• Essay On Hard Work
• First Day Of School Essay
• Flowers Essay
• My Favorite Food Essay
• Essay on Birds
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• Sports Day Essa
• Value Of Education Essay
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• Essay On Reservation In India
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• Essay On Smoking
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• Essay On Co-Education
• Importance Of Exercise Essay
• Overpopulation Essay
• Smartphone Essay
• Essay on River
• Essay on Cyclone
• Essay On Facebook
• Essay On Science In Everyday Life
• Essay On Women Rights
• Essay On Right To Education
• Essay on Quotes
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• Essay On Drawing
• Essay On Bicycle
• Essay On Sexual Harassment
• Essay On Hospital
• Essay On Srinivasa Ramanujan
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• Essay On Ruskin Bond
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• Birthday Essay
• Dont Judge A Book By Its Cover Essay
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• Indian Politics Essay
• Who am I Essay
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Important English Essay Topics For BA, BSc Exams List

Important English Essay Topics for BA, BSc Exams List is available here for all those who are going to attempt the annual examination. These essay topics are the same for private and regular candidates. Also for those students who are going to attempt BA, BSc examinations annually or supplementary. So if you are also among those candidates who are going to attempt English papers then you are here on the right way to get the list of important essay lists. Candidates, there are a huge number of essays that lies in the BA, BSc syllabus but according to the board paper point of view, there are almost 15 to 20 essays that are more important. Here on this page, we will provide you with the list and the most important essays are bold. Well, you are suggested to read these all essays as these are very important to increase your English vocabulary. Essays also increase your general knowledge.

Table of Contents

No Matter you are appearing in the annual exams for BA or BSC English is a Compulsory Subject for all students from all over Pakistan whether it is Punjab University, Sargodha University, Faisalabad University, Karachi University, Peshawar University, Gujrat University or any other University of Pakistan. The down complete list of Important English Essay Topics For BA and BSc are prepared while taking consideration from the expert paper makers of bachelor exams. So students if you need to get good passing marks in the annual examination then you need to prepare all these Essay Topics which are given below on this page.

Important Essay Topics For BA English

• English Essay on the Role of Women in Society
• English Essay on Pollution
• English Essay on The Best Day of My Life
• English Essay on Education
• English Essay on The Main problems facing Pakistan
• English Essay on Benefits of Having a Sea Port
• English Essay on Cities
• English Essay on My Favorite Hero in History
• English Essay on My First Day of School
• English Essay on Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• English Essay on Allama Iqbal
• English Essay on Music Addiction
• English Essay on Unity of Muslims of the World
• English Essay on Social Evils in Pakistan
• English Essay on The effects of World War II on Pakistan and the World
• English Essay on Science and Arts
• English Essay on Corruption
• English Essay on Load Shedding
• English Essay on Overpopulation
• English Essay on Dengue Fever
• English Essay on Terrorism
• English Essay on Democracy
• English Essay on Energy Crisis in Pakistan
• English Essay on Life in a Big City
• English Essay on the Importance of Science

So these are all the Important English Essay Topics for BA, BSc Exams List. You are suggested to learn all these essays so that if this time the authority changes the topic then you should be able to write any essay by your own vocabulary.

Muhammad Hassnain

As a Professional career consultant, I am dedicated to providing educational services to students through ilm.com.pk. My primary objective is to provide all educational news to the students on time.

8 but best and good quotation

How many quotations are required in each essay??

Minimum 5 to 6

I want essay for bsc

I want an essay about ,what is there beyond the Sky ?

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Top 10 English Essay Writing Tips | Complete Guide For a High Score

Are you looking to improve your essay writing skills and achieve a high score on your next English essay? In this post, we will explore the best essay writing tips and cover different essay types, the essay structure, an essay outline and much more to help you succeed on an upcoming English essay. These 10 tips are perfect for school, college or university essays, as well as English exams like IELTS, PTE and TOEFL. We have included some helpful resources including a companion pdf that has a sample English essay and a few essay prompts. Every great English essay is improved with feedback so visit E2testprep.com and sign up for free to access expert feedback from our experienced teachers. 

1: Understand How to Answer the Essay Prompt

2: follow the correct essay structure, 3: plan your english essay, 4: explain your reasons, 5: use synonyms in you english essay, 6: paraphrase, don’t copy, 7: vary your sentence structure , 8: use linking words, 9: proofread out loud, 10: seek feedback, more help with english essay writing.

• Start Now. It’s Free ✌️

  Watch our video below to see an in-depth explanation of the Top 10 English Essay Writing Tips.

In order to successfully write an essay, it is important that we fulfil the essay requirement by understanding the essay prompt and what it’s asking of us. We need to begin by identifying what type of essay the question is calling us to write. Here are three different essay types that are commonly used:

• Opinion essays
• Problem/solution essays 
• Advantages/disadvantages essays

Here are possible questions to look out for to help you identify these three different essay types, and the requirements to fulfil for each.

In our sample English essay provided here , the essay prompt asks: In the past, almost all office workers did their job in their company’s offices five days a week. Nowadays, however, many employers allow more flexible work arrangements, and employees often choose to work from home a few days per week. What are the advantages and disadvantages of employees working from home?

This is a discussion essay where we can outline the disadvantages and advantages of the topic.

The essay structure shown below is simple, but extremely effective at presenting your ideas in a clear and organised way. It is important to use this format so it makes it easy for your teacher or assessor, whoever is marking your essay, to follow your ideas. You need to follow this structure:

In your introduction, you simply tell the reader what the essay is about. In your body paragraphs, you should present your arguments, and then support your arguments. This is where you show evidence through the use of examples and also explain your reasons in detail. In your conclusion, you summarise what was said in the essay.

A simple and clear plan is very important to making sure your ideas are well-organised and easy to follow for when you write the actual essay. Below you will see a plan for the main body of a sample English essay . There are two advantages and two disadvantages outlined, each with a supporting reason.

Taking a few moments to plan can be the difference between a good essay and an excellent, well-organised one. Teachers can easily pick up on unplanned essays. Students who decide to jump straight into writing without creating an essay outline first will often go off-topic during their essays. Sometimes the ideas are randomly inserted in certain places, resulting in a disorganised and low-scoring essay. The writing may leave assessors confused and looking for your arguments and reasons. 

Don’t make this mistake, and get into the habit of planning, even if it’s just a few quick bullet points.

Explaining your reasons gives your writing more support. It is important that you provide proof through the use of evidence and examples to support your ideas or arguments. Without any explanations, not only will your ideas lack strength, but your paragraphs will also be too short. 

Referring back to our sample English essay , we can see a well-explained example below. 

In the image above, the phrase ‘For instance’ introduces an example. In this case, it is an example of how an employee can struggle to separate their office and home life, including knowing when to stop working and take a break. Then, we can see the writer provides an explanation by including the phrase, ‘This could lead to’ and then describing the effects and consequences of the previously mentioned example. 

Explaining reasons with evidence and examples can be the hardest part of writing for some as it forces us to extend our ideas. Start with an example, and then reflect on the possible upsides or downsides of it. Ask yourself ‘What are the effects or results of this example or evidence I’m giving?’ which should then help to form your explanation.

When you are writing any type of essay, there will always be a set of keywords or phrases that get repeated throughout your writing because they are linked with your topic. Using synonyms, or different words that say the same thing, allows us to avoid sounding repetitive, which can often make our essay seem boring. Using synonyms is a quick and easy way to improve your writing. 

In our sample English essay , the idea of ‘working from home’ was used a lot. Here are some synonyms we included throughout our essay for this idea: ‘work flexibly’, ‘remote work’, ‘flexible work arrangements’ and even rephrasing the idea as ‘this change in work culture’. Using synonyms creates variety in our writing and improves the range of our vocabulary, which can easily help you to score higher on an essay. 

If you need to, you can use a thesaurus to find synonyms for words. Just make sure the synonyms still sound natural.

Depending on your essay topic, you may need to include research, or facts found through research on the internet. In any type of essay, it would not be acceptable to copy phrases or sentences, word for word. If you struggle with paraphrasing, we recommend that you start with synonyms first so you can build on the skill of replacing words and then slowly move into rephrasing and rewording entire phrases, sentences and then sections of text.  A great place to start is paraphrasing the essay prompt in your essay introduction. You need to be able to write it in your own words so you can show how well you can use language. In the image below, we can see how the essay prompt from our sample English essay has been paraphrased to create an interesting essay introduction.

Paraphrasing might seem like a difficult skill to master at first, but with practice, it will become much easier.

To demonstrate your essay writing skills, it is important to include a wide range of sentence structures, including simple, compound and complex sentences. Using these sentence types will not only show off your skills and knowledge, but also prevent the text from sounding boring. 

A simple sentence contains only one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and can be a sentence on its own.

You can see an example of a simple sentence from our sample English essay below. Notice how this example broke up a group of longer sentences and created a sense of impact.

Another upside to working from home is the career opportunities it offers. People can now work for companies in other places. This means they can live anywhere and still do their job well. It also means they can apply for better jobs that might not be close to home.

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses, joined by a conjunction such as ‘and’ or ‘but’. Below is a compound sentence from our sample English essay.

I think workers should be allowed to work from home, but only for up to two days a week.

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause, which cannot be a sentence on its own. This type of sentence demonstrates a higher level of complexity.

Without being away from home all day, employees can better manage their work and personal commitments.

To vary your sentence structure even further, you can swap the order around with some complex sentences by putting the dependent clause at the beginning or putting it at the end. The sentence still makes sense, even if it’s reordered, which can help if you keep repeating the same sentence structures.  

It is also important where you use different sentence types. Too many complex sentences in a row can be hard to follow. Too many simple sentences can make it feel like your ideas are not connected. On the other hand, shorter sentences can help to break up a group of longer sentences.

Using linking words is an easy and effective way to make your writing sound more like an essay. They help create structure and flow so that your reader can clearly follow your ideas. Linking words show the connections between ideas and paragraphs and also increase clarity in your essay, so that everything reads smoothly. Usually we use them at the beginning of sentences. 

Let’s look at three examples of linking words found in our sample English essay . 

Consequently, this means many people can work from home for a few days each week.

The linking word, ‘consequently’, shows a cause and effect relationship between statements.

On the other hand, remote work is not only socially isolating, but less teamwork could mean that the company won’t do as well.

‘On the other hand’ shows contrast when you’re introducing a different or opposing idea.

In conclusion, having the choice to work from home has changed the traditional work style.

‘In conclusion’ tells you that the ideas are about to be summarised and concluded. 

There are many different types of linking words. Some linking words are used to show cause and effect, others for examples, while some can be used to show the sequence of ideas.

Everyone knows that they should revise their writing at the end, but often this step can get overlooked when you are rushing to finish off an English essay. It is understandable. You have just planned and written an entire essay, while having to think about synonyms and transition words and sentence structure and everything in between. Going back over your work thoroughly can save you from losing marks. The best way to do this is to proofread your writing out loud.

When just quickly glancing over your writing with your eyes, it is easy to miss some of the careless mistakes that have been made, especially if you are rushing to complete an essay that has a time limit. However, if you take some time to proofread aloud, you can start to pick up on things that sound incorrect.  We recommend that you read every piece of writing out loud, so you can easily listen for mistakes. Try it next time you write an essay.

As you practise your essay writing skills, it is important to ask people around you for feedback on how to improve. Of course, having teachers look over your writing will be the most constructive for your skill development. However, it is always great to have your classmates, family members and even friends read your writing. Having a fresh set of eyes can help to catch errors but also provide valuable feedback on your writing. 

As always, if you are looking for expert feedback, especially for a high stakes English exam, be sure to sign up to E2testprep.com . Our experienced teachers and ex-examiners can help you to improve your writing!

Need more help with your English essay writing? We have you covered! For help with general English essay writing, head to E2testprep.com and sign up for free. You can access method lessons, practice items, live classes with expert teachers and more. We have everything you need to help you quickly achieve success on your next high stakes essay. 

Author Bio: E2 is the world’s leading test preparation provider. Our expert teachers are fully accredited English teachers, with TESOL, British Council or other relevant certification, and years of examiner or teaching experience.

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Sample Essays

The breadth of Georgetown’s core curriculum means that students are required to write for a wide variety of academic disciplines. Below, we provide some student samples that exhibit the key features the most popular genres. When reading through these essays, we recommend paying attention to their 

1. Structure (How many paragraphs are there? Does the author use headers?) 

2. Argument (Is the author pointing out a problem, and/or proposing a solution?) 

3. Content (Does the argument principally rely on facts, theory, or logic?) and 

4. Style (Does the writer use first person? What is the relationship with the audience?)

Philosophy Paper

• Singer on the Moral Status of Animals

Theology Paper

• Problem of God
• Jewish Civilization
• Sacred Space and Time
• Phenolphthalein in Alkaline Solution

History Paper

• World History

Literature Review

Comparative Analysis 

Policy Brief

• Vaccine Manufacturing

White Paper

Critical Analysis

• Ignatius Seminar

• How to Write Dazzlingly Brilliant Essays: Sharp Advice for Ambitious Students

Rachel McCombie, a graduate of St John’s College, Oxford, shares actionable tips on taking your essays from “Good” to “Outstanding.”

For ambitious students, essays are a chance to showcase academic flair, demonstrate original thinking and impress with advanced written English skills.

The best students relish the challenge of writing essays because they’re a chance to exercise academic research skills and construct interesting arguments. Essays allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and intelligence in a creative and relatively unrestricted way – provided you keep within the word count! But when lots of other people are answering the same essay question as you, how do you make yours stand out from the crowd? In this article, we’re going to show you the secret of writing a truly brilliant essay.

What are essays actually for?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to write an outstanding essay, we need to go right back to basics and think about what essays are actually designed to test. Only by understanding the purpose of an essay can you really begin to understand what it is that tutors are looking for when they read your work. No matter what the academic level of the student is, essays are designed to test many things: – Knowledge – fundamentally, essays test and help consolidate what you’ve read and learned, making them an important part of the learning process, particularly for humanities subjects. –  Comprehension – they test your ability to make sense of and clearly explain complex concepts and issues. – They test your ability to understand the question and produce a considered response to it. – They evaluate your ability to absorb and condense information from a variety of sources , which will probably mean covering a lot of material in a short space of time; this necessitates appraisal of which bits of material are relevant and which are not. – They test your ability to write a balanced and coherent argument that considers a number of points of view. – They showcase your level of written English skills. – They even put your time management to the test – essays are a part of your workload that must be planned, prioritised and delivered to a high standard, to deadline.

Characteristics of the perfect essay

Now that we know why we’re asked to write essays, what are the characteristics that define the essays that impress? The tutors marking your essays may have their own preferences and things they look for in outstanding essays, but let’s take a look at a few of the irrefutable traits of the best.

Original thinking

The hallmark of the truly brilliant essay is original thinking. That doesn’t have to mean coming up with an entirely new theory; most of, if not all, the topics you’ll be studying at GCSE , A-level or even undergraduate level have been thought about in so much depth and by so many people that virtually every possible angle will have been thought of already. But what it does mean is that the essay stands out from those of other students in that it goes beyond the obvious and takes an original approach – perhaps approaching the topic from a different angle, coming up with a different hypothesis from what you’ve been discussing in class, or introducing new evidence and intelligent insights from material not included on the reading list.

Solid, in-depth knowledge and understanding

It goes without saying that the brilliant essay should demonstrate a strong knowledge of the facts, and not just knowledge but sound comprehension of the concepts or issues being discussed and why they matter. The perfect essay demonstrates an ability to deploy relevant facts and use them to form the basis of an argument or hypothesis. It covers a wide range of material and considers every point of view, confidently making use of and quoting from a variety of sources.

Clear structure with intelligent debate

The perfect essay provides a coherent discussion of both sides of the story, developing a balanced argument throughout, and with a conclusion that weighs up the evidence you’ve covered and perhaps provides your own intelligent opinion on how the topic should be interpreted based on the evidence covered.

No superfluous information

Everything written in the perfect essay serves a purpose – to inform and persuade. There’s no rambling or going off at tangents – it sticks to the point and doesn’t waste the reader’s time. This goes back to our earlier point about sorting the relevant facts from the irrelevant material; including material that isn’t relevant shows that you’ve not quite grasped the real heart of the matter.

Exceptional English

The words in the perfect essay flow effortlessly, and the reader feels in safe hands. Sentences need never be read more than once to be understood, and each follows logically on from the next, with no random jumping about from topic to topic from one paragraph to the next. Spelling and grammar are flawless, with no careless typos. So how do you go about writing this mythical Perfect Essay? Read on to find out!

Put in extra background work

Committed students always read beyond what the reading list tells them to read. Guaranteed to impress, wide reading gives you deeper knowledge than your peers and gives you the extra knowledge and insights you need to make your essay stand out. If you’re studying English, for example, don’t just read the set text! Here are some ideas to widen your reading and give you a good range of impressive quotes to include in your essay: – Other works by the same author – how do they compare with your set text? – Works by contemporary authors – does your set text fit into a wider movement, or is it very different from what was being written at the time? – Works by the author’s predecessors – what works inspired the author of your set text? How do you see them shining through in the text you’re studying, and how have they been developed? – Literary criticism – gauge the range of opinions about your set text by reading what the literary critics have to say. Whose opinion do you most agree with, and why? – Background history – so that you can appreciate and refer to the context in which the author was writing (we’ll come back to this last point a little later). It sounds like a lot of extra work, but you don’t necessarily have to read everything in full. It’s fine to dip into these other resources providing you don’t inadvertently take points out of context.

Know what you want to say before you start writing

You’re probably sick of hearing this particular piece of advice, but it’s important to start out with a clear idea in your mind of what you want to say in your essay and how you will structure your arguments. The easiest way to do this is to write an essay plan. This needn’t be a big deal, or time-consuming; all you need to do is to open a new document on your computer, type out the ideas you want to cover and drag and drop them into a logical order. From there, you simply start typing your essay directly into the plan itself. Your essay should include an introduction, a series of paragraphs that develop an argument rather than just jumping from topic to topic, and a conclusion that weighs up the evidence.

Answer the question you’ve been set, not the question you want to answer

A common problem with students’ responses to essays is that rather than answering the question they’ve been set , they try to mould the question to what they’d prefer to write about, because that’s what they feel most comfortable with. Be very careful not to do this! You could end up writing a brilliant essay, but if didn’t actually answer the question then it’s not going to be well received by the person marking it.

Give a balanced argument…

Good essays give both sides of an argument, presenting information impartially and considering multiple points of view. One-sided arguments won’t impress, as you need to show that you’ve thought about the evidence comprehensively.

…but your opinion and interpretation matter too

Show that you’ve made your own mind up based on your weighing up of the evidence. This shows that you’re not just hiding behind what other people say about the topic, but that you’ve had the independence of mind to form your own intelligent opinion about it.

Quote liberally

Use quotations from academic works and sources to back up points you want to make. Doing so strengthens your argument by providing evidence for your statements, as well as demonstrating that you’ve read widely around your subject. However, don’t go too far and write an essay that’s essentially just a list of what other people say about the subject. Quoting too much suggests that you don’t have the confidence or knowledge to explain things in your own words, so have to hide behind those of other people. Make your own mind up about what you’re writing about – as already mentioned, it’s fine to state your own opinion if you’ve considered the arguments and presented the evidence.

Context matters

As we’ve already touched on, if you can demonstrate knowledge of the context of the subject you’re writing about, this will show that you’ve considered possible historical influences that may have shaped a work or issue. This shows that you haven’t simply taken the essay question at face value and demonstrates your ability to think beyond the obvious. An ability to look at the wider picture marks you out as an exceptional student, as many people can’t see the wood for the trees and have a very narrow focus when it comes to writing essays. If you’re an English student, for instance, an author’s work should be considered not in isolation but in the context of the historical events and thinking that helped define the period in which the author was writing. You can’t write about Blake’s poetry without some knowledge and discussion of background events such as the Industrial Revolution, and the development of the Romantic movement as a whole.

Include images and diagrams

You know what they say – a picture speaks a thousand words. What matters in an essay is effective and persuasive communication, and if a picture or diagram will help support a point you’re making, include it. As well as helping to communicate, visuals also make your essay more enjoyable to read for the person marking it – and if they enjoy reading it, the chances are you’ll get better marks! Don’t forget to ensure that you include credits for any images and diagrams you include.

Use full academic citations and a bibliography

Show you mean business by including a full set of academic citations, with a bibliography at the end, even if you haven’t been told to. The great thing about this is that it not only makes you look organised and scholarly, but it also gives you the opportunity to show off just how many extra texts you’ve studied to produce your masterpiece of an essay! Make use of the footnote feature in your word processor and include citations at the bottom of each page, with a main bibliography at the end of the essay. There are different accepted forms for citing an academic reference, but the main thing to remember is to pick one format and be consistent. Typically the citation will include the title and author of the work, the date of publication and the page number(s) of the point or quotation you’re referring to. Here’s an example: 1. Curta, F. (2007) – “Some remarks on ethnicity in medieval archaeology” in Early Medieval Europe 15 (2), pp. 159-185

Before you ask, no, a spell check isn’t good enough! How many times have you typed “form” instead of “from”? That’s just one of a huge number of errors that spell check would simply miss. Your English should be impeccable if you want to be taken seriously, and that means clear and intelligent sentence structures, no misplaced apostrophes, no typos and no grammar crimes. Include your name at the top of each page of your essay, and number the pages. Also, make sure you use a font that’s easy to read, such as Times New Roman or Arial. The person marking your essay won’t appreciate having to struggle through reading a fancy Gothic font, even if it does happen to match the Gothic literature you’re studying!

Meet the deadline

You don’t need us to tell you that, but for the sake of being comprehensive, we’re including it anyway. You could write the best essay ever, but if you deliver it late, it won’t be looked upon favourably! Don’t leave writing your essay until the last minute – start writing with plenty of time to spare, and ideally leave time to sleep on it before you submit it. Allowing time for it to sink in may result in you having a sudden brilliant revelation that you want to include. So there we have it – everything you need to know in order to write an essay to impress. If you want to get ahead, you might also want to think about attending an English summer school .

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A State Ranker’s Guide to Writing 20/20 English Advanced Essays

Essays can be tough. Like, really tough.They’re made tougher still because...

Marko Beocanin

99.95 ATAR & 3 x State Ranker

1. Introduction to this Guide

Essays can be tough. Like, really tough.

They’re made tougher still because every HSC English module has a different essay structure, and no-one seems to have a consistent idea of what an ‘ essay’ actually is (not to get postmodern on you!).

My name is Marko Beocanin, and I’m an English teacher at Project Academy. In this post I hope to demystify essay-writing and arm you with a “tried and proven” approach you can apply to any essay you’ll write in HSC English and beyond. In 2019, I completed all four units of English (Extension 2, Extension 1, and Advanced), and state ranked 8th in NSW for English Advanced and attained a 99.95 ATAR – so take it from me, I’ve written a lot of essays! Here’s some of the advice I’ve picked up throughout that experience.

2. My Essay-Writing Methodology

For us to understand how to write an essay, it’s important to appreciate what an essay (in particular, a HSC English essay) actually is. I’ve come to appreciate the following definition:

An essay is a structured piece of writing that argues a point in a clear, sophisticated way , and expresses personality and flair.

Let’s have a look at each of these keywords – and how they should inform our essay-writing process – in more detail.

3. “Arguing a point” means CAUSE and EFFECT

When most people study English, they tend to make huge lists of Themes, Values, Concerns, Quotes and so on. While this is a great exercise for collecting evidence and understanding your texts, it’s important to remember that your essay is not simply a theme summary or quote bank – you have to actually argue something!

And any argument needs a cause and an effect.

When you approach any essay question, it’s not enough to simply chuck in quotes/topic-sentences that abstractly relate to it. An internal checklist you could go through while reading a question might look like:

• What is the question actually asking me?
• What is my response to the question?
• Am I actually making an argument in my response, and not just repeating the question?
• What is my cause?
• What is my effect?
• How can I prove my argument?

It’s only at question 4 that quotes/analysis/topic-sentences appear. Your first step in writing any essay is to actually have an argument to prove.

Cause and Effect in Thesis Statements

To demonstrate what I mean by cause-and-effect, let’s have a look at a lower-band essay thesis on Nineteen Eighty-Four:

In Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell explores totalitarianism.

This sentence is a flat declaration of a theme. While it does identify totalitarianism, it doesn’t give any indication on what parts of totalitarianism Orwell explores, and what the actual effect of totalitarianism is.

In Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell explores the abuse of power in totalitarian regimes.

This one is certainly better, because it describes a specific element of totalitarianism that Orwell explores – but it’s still missing an actual argument about what totalitarianism DOES to people. A full cause and effect (and higher band) thesis statement might look like:

In Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell explores how the abuse of power in totalitarian regimes leads to a brutalised human experience.

This thesis explicitly outlines how the CAUSE (abuse of power in totalitarian regimes) leads to the EFFECT (a brutalised human experience).

There’s certainly still some ambiguity in this sentence – for example, what sort of human experiences are being brutalised? – and in an exam, you’d substitute that for the specific human experiences outlined in the question.

In general, whenever you see sentences like “Composer X discusses Theme Y” in your essay drafts, think about developing them into “Composer X discusses how Specific Cause of Theme Y leads to Specific Effect of Theme Y”.

Cause and Effect Diagrams

To make sure that your arguments actually have a specific cause and effect , try writing them out in the following diagrammatic way:

Surprisingly, drawing the arrow made a huge psychological difference for me!

If you struggle with this, try to restructure/rephrase your arguments until they can be categorised in such a way. Making and rewriting these diagrams is also a great way to prep for exams without writing out your whole essay.

Cause and Effect in Analysis

Similarly, when it comes to your actual analysis itself, make sure that you’re not just listing techniques and quotes. You’re not just analysing your quotes for the sake of naming the techniques in them – you’re analysing them to prove a point!

Whenever you consider a quote for your essay, ask yourself:

• What is this quote about?
• How does this quote prove my argument?
• How do the literary techniques in this quote prove my argument?

Let’s use an example from King Henry IV, Part 1 to illustrate this. A lower band piece of analysis might look like:

King Henry’s opening monologue employs anthropomorphism: “Daub her lips with her own children’s blood…bruise her flow’rets with…armed hoofs.”

While the technique of anthropomorphism is identified, this sentence doesn’t link to any argument about WHY that technique is there and what it does.

King Henry’s opening monologue anthropomorphises England as a mother violated by war: “Daub her lips with her own children’s blood…bruise her flow’rets with…armed hoofs.”

This is certainly better, because it explains what the technique actually does – but it still doesn’t discuss how the technique guides us to an actual point.

King Henry’s opening monologue anthropomorphises England as a mother violated by war: “Daub her lips with her own children’s blood…bruise her flow’rets with…armed hoofs…” to convey the civil unrest caused by his tenuous claim to the throne.

This analysis not only outlines the technique in detail, but it also explicitly embeds it with an argument – this time, structured as EFFECT ( civil unrest ) caused by CAUSE ( his tenuous claim to the throne ).

In general, whenever you see analysis in your drafts written as “Composer X uses Technique Y in Quote Z”, try to rewrite it as “Composer X uses Technique Y in Quote Z to argue Point A”.

4. Clear, Sophisticated Way

In general, clarity/sophistication in Advanced essays comes from two main sources.

4.1 Essay Structure

For most essays, the simplest and most effective overall structure looks like:

• Intro: Here, you answer the question with an argument, summarise your points and link to the rubric.
• 3 – 4 Body Paragraphs: Here, you actually make your points.
• Conclusion: Here, you re-summarise your arguments and ‘drop the mic’.

While it’s cool to play around with the number of body paragraphs, for example, the structure above is generally a safe bet for Advanced.

The most variety comes from the actual structure within your body paragraphs.

There are plenty of online guides/resources with fun acronyms like STEEL and PEETAL and less fun ones like PEEQTET – but ultimately, the exact formula you go with is a relatively inconsequential matter of choice and style. Just make sure you have the following elements roughly in this order!

4.2 Cause and Effect Topic Sentence

Here, you make your point as clearly as possible (remember cause and effect), and address the specific argument that the paragraph will cover. It’s fantastic if you can link this argument to the argument in your previous paragraph.

4.3 Context Sentence

This bit is vital (and often forgotten!). Texts don’t exist in a void – their composers had lives, were influenced by the world around them, and had inspirations and purposes in their compositions. Context can be political, socio-cultural, religious, philosophical, literary etc… as long as it’s there!

4.4 Cause and Effect Analysis ‍

In a three-paragraph structure, a solid aim is for four to five quotes per paragraph. Each point you make should be justified with a quote, and each quote should have a technique linked to it. It’s usually helpful to order your quotes chronologically as they appear within the text (to show how the argument progressively builds) – but in more non-linear forms like poetry, for example, you can switch it up a little. Make sure each paragraph covers quotes from the whole text, to demonstrate a broad range of analysis!

Here, you might give a restatement of your topic sentence that summarises your main ideas.

Wording and Expression

A common misconception with English Advanced is that huge words and long, meandering sentences will score the most marks.

In Advanced, clarity should come from your expression , while sophistication should come from your ideas . Ultimately, the more complex your expression and sentence structure is, the more your markers will have to work to connect with your content.

While an occasional well-executed piece of technical jargon is impressive, it should never come at the cost of clearly and explicitly getting your point across.

A few general tips I’ve picked up from both my time as a student and my work as a tutor include:

• Avoid using a thesaurus/online synonym-search whenever possible! If you didn’t consider using a word naturally, it’s unlikely it will flow with the rest of your expression.
• A long, comma-intensive sentence can (and should) almost always be replaced with two or more sentences.
• Use semicolons sparingly (if at all), and with GREAT caution.
• Never underestimate words like “because”, “leads to”, “causes” etc. They are simple, but brilliantly effective at establishing a clear cause and effect structure!
• Make sure to continuously reuse words from the question. Even if this feels clunky, it helps you actually engage with the question.
• Also make sure to continuously use rubric keywords – particularly in Common Mod and Mod A!

5. Personality and Flair

And now… the hardest bit. Putting a bit of you into your essays.

There’s no one way to “add personality/flair” – this is where you have the freedom to develop your own voice and style. Remember that your markers love literature – and for them to see real, unadulterated enthusiasm in your work is an absolute win that will be marked generously.

To develop that passionate flair/personality, I encourage you to do three things:Practice. A Lot. The more you write – whether it’s homework questions, mini paragraphs, or flat-out full practice essays – the better you’ll become at writing. It’s as simple as that.

6. Concluding Remarks

Get feedback on your work.

To make sure you’re actually improving with your writing, aim to get plenty of feedback from both of these groups:

• People who know your text and HSC English in-and-out (teachers, tutors, scholars etc.), so they can engage with your analysis and help develop your style/structure.
• People who don’t know your texts and HSC English particularly well (parents, friends, etc.), so they can check your arguments actually make sense!

Explore your own English-related interests.

Reading widely and writing weird stuff just for fun adds an indescribable but very real level of depth and nuance to your essay-writing. For me, this involved immersing myself in crazy literary theory that had nothing to with my texts, and writing super edgy poetry. Find what works for you!

Good Luck!!!

Whether this article reaches you the night before Paper 1, or at the start of your English journey – I’m confident that you can do this. If you can find even one thing that you connect with about this subject… whether it’s a character you love, or a beautiful poem, or a wacky critical piece that’s totally BS… hopefully you’ll realise that essay writing doesn’t have to be so tough after all!

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Riddhish Chanda

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Zack Bolland

99.80 ATAR, Dux, 8th in NSW for Econ

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So, you want to know how to improve your preliminary and HSC economics essay...

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State Ranks (Economics and Chemistry) & 99.95 ATAR

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Whether you've written 0 or 60 discursive pieces, this guide will help you polish your skills.

Shreya Mukherjee

5th in Eng Adv at Cheltenham Girls, UNSW Co-op Scholar

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• About (2012). Retrieved April 27, 2012, from http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/topicterm.htm
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• College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn’t

College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't

Published on November 8, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on August 14, 2023.

One effective method for improving your college essay is to read example essays . Here are three sample essays, each with a bad and good version to help you improve your own essay.

Table of contents

Essay 1: sharing an identity or background through a montage, essay 2: overcoming a challenge, a sports injury narrative, essay 3: showing the influence of an important person or thing, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

This essay uses a montage structure to show snapshots of a student’s identity and background. The writer builds her essay around the theme of the five senses, sharing memories she associates with sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

In the weak rough draft, there is little connection between the individual anecdotes, and they do not robustly demonstrate the student’s qualities.

In the final version, the student uses an extended metaphor of a museum to create a strong connection among her stories, each showcasing a different part of her identity. She draws a specific personal insight from each memory and uses the stories to demonstrate her qualities and values.

How My Five Senses Record My Life

Throughout my life, I have kept a record of my life’s journey with my five senses. This collection of memories matters a great deal because I experience life every day through the lens of my identity.

“Chinese! Japanese!”

My classmate pulls one eye up and the other down.

“Look what my parents did to me!”

No matter how many times he repeats it, the other kids keep laughing. I focus my almond-shaped eyes on the ground, careful not to attract attention to my discomfort, anger, and shame. How could he say such a mean thing about me? What did I do to him? Joseph’s words would engrave themselves into my memory, making me question my appearance every time I saw my eyes in the mirror.

Soaking in overflowing bubble baths with Andrew Lloyd Webber belting from the boombox.

Listening to “Cell Block Tango” with my grandparents while eating filet mignon at a dine-in show in Ashland.

Singing “The Worst Pies in London” at a Korean karaoke club while laughing hysterically with my brother, who can do an eerily spot-on rendition of Sweeney Todd.

Taking car rides with Mom in the Toyota Sequoia as we compete to hit the high note in “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera . Neither of us stands a chance!

The sweet scent of vegetables, Chinese noodles, and sushi wafts through the room as we sit around the table. My grandma presents a good-smelling mixture of international cuisine for our Thanksgiving feast. My favorite is the Chinese food that she cooks. Only the family prayer stands between me and the chance to indulge in these delicious morsels, comforting me with their familiar savory scents.

I rinse a faded plastic plate decorated by my younger sister at the Waterworks Art Center. I wear yellow rubber gloves to protect my hands at Mom’s insistence, but I can still feel the warm water that offers a bit of comfort as I finish the task at hand. The crusted casserole dish with stubborn remnants from my dad’s five-layer lasagna requires extra effort, so I fill it with Dawn and scalding water, setting it aside to soak. I actually don’t mind this daily chore.

I taste sweat on my upper lip as I fight to continue pedaling on a stationary bike. Ava’s next to me and tells me to go up a level. We’re biking buddies, dieting buddies, and Saturday morning carbo-load buddies. After the bike display hits 30 minutes, we do a five-minute cool down, drink Gatorade, and put our legs up to rest.

My five senses are always gathering new memories of my identity. I’m excited to expand my collection.

Word count: 455

College essay checklist

Topic and structure

• I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me.
• My essay reveals something different from the rest of my application.
• I have a clear and well-structured narrative.
• I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

Writing style and tone

• I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.
• I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of tells.
• I’ve used appropriate style and tone for a college essay.
• I’ve used specific, vivid personal stories that would be hard to replicate.
• I’ve demonstrated my positive traits and values in my essay.
• My essay is focused on me, not another person or thing.
• I’ve included self-reflection and insight in my essay.
• I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

Making Sense of My Identity

Welcome to The Rose Arimoto Museum. You are about to enter the “Making Sense of My Identity” collection. Allow me to guide you through select exhibits, carefully curated memories from Rose’s sensory experiences.

First, the Sight Exhibit.

“Chinese! Japanese!”

“Look what my parents did to me!”

No matter how many times he repeats it, the other kids keep laughing. I focus my almond-shaped eyes on the ground, careful not to attract attention as my lip trembles and palms sweat. Joseph couldn’t have known how his words would engrave themselves into my memory, making me question my appearance every time I saw my eyes in the mirror.

Ten years later, these same eyes now fixate on an InDesign layout sheet, searching for grammar errors while my friend Selena proofreads our feature piece on racial discrimination in our hometown. As we’re the school newspaper editors, our journalism teacher Ms. Riley allows us to stay until midnight to meet tomorrow’s deadline. She commends our work ethic, which for me is fueled by writing一my new weapon of choice.

Next, you’ll encounter the Sound Exhibit.

Still, the world is my Broadway as I find my voice on stage.

Just below, enter the Smell Exhibit.

While I help my Pau Pau prepare dinner, she divulges her recipe for cha siu bau, with its soft, pillowy white exterior hiding the fragrant filling of braised barbecue pork inside. The sweet scent of candied yams, fun see , and Spam musubi wafts through the room as we gather around our Thankgsiving feast. After our family prayer, we indulge in these delicious morsels until our bellies say stop. These savory scents of my family’s cultural heritage linger long after I’ve finished the last bite.

Next up, the Touch Exhibit.

I rinse a handmade mug that I had painstakingly molded and painted in ceramics class. I wear yellow rubber gloves to protect my hands at Mom’s insistence, but I can still feel the warm water that offers a bit of comfort as I finish the task at hand. The crusted casserole dish with stubborn remnants from my dad’s five-layer lasagna requires extra effort, so I fill it with Dawn and scalding water, setting it aside to soak. For a few fleeting moments, as I continue my nightly chore, the pressure of my weekend job, tomorrow’s calculus exam, and next week’s track meet are washed away.

Finally, we end with the Taste Exhibit.

My legs fight to keep pace with the stationary bike as the salty taste of sweat seeps into corners of my mouth. Ava challenges me to take it up a level. We always train together一even keeping each other accountable on our strict protein diet of chicken breasts, broccoli, and Muscle Milk. We occasionally splurge on Saturday mornings after interval training, relishing the decadence of everything bagels smeared with raspberry walnut cream cheese. But this is Wednesday, so I push myself. I know that once the digital display hits 30:00, we’ll allow our legs to relax into a five-minute cool down, followed by the fiery tang of Fruit Punch Gatorade to rehydrate.

Thank you for your attention. This completes our tour. I invite you to rejoin us for next fall’s College Experience collection, which will exhibit Rose’s continual search for identity and learning.

Word count: 649

• I’ve crafted an essay introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

This essay uses a narrative structure to recount how a student overcame a challenge, specifically a sports injury. Since this topic is often overused, the essay requires vivid description, a memorable introduction and conclusion , and interesting insight.

The weak rough draft contains an interesting narrative, insight, and vivid imagery, but it has an overly formal tone that distracts the reader from the story. The student’s use of elaborate vocabulary in every sentence makes the essay sound inauthentic and stilted.

The final essay uses a more natural, conversational tone and chooses words that are vivid and specific without being pretentious. This allows the reader to focus on the narrative and appreciate the student’s unique insight.

One fateful evening some months ago, a defensive linebacker mauled me, his 212 pounds indisputably alighting upon my ankle. Ergo, an abhorrent cracking of calcified tissue. At first light the next day, I awoke cognizant of a new paradigm—one sans football—promulgated by a stabbing sensation that would continue to haunt me every morning of this semester.

It’s been an exceedingly taxing semester not being able to engage in football, but I am nonetheless excelling in school. That twist of fate never would have come to pass if I hadn’t broken my ankle. I still limp down the halls at school, but I’m feeling less maudlin these days. My friends don’t steer clear anymore, and I have a lot more of them. My teachers, emboldened by my newfound interest in learning, continually invite me to learn more and do my best. Football is still on hold, but I feel like I’m finally playing a game that matters.

Five months ago, right after my ill-fated injury, my friends’ demeanor became icy and remote, although I couldn’t fathom why. My teachers, in contrast, beckoned me close and invited me on a new learning journey. But despite their indubitably kind advances, even they recoiled when I drew near.

A few weeks later, I started to change my attitude vis-à-vis my newfound situation and determined to put my energy toward productive ends (i.e., homework). I wasn’t enamored with school. I never had been. Nevertheless, I didn’t abhor it either. I just preferred football.

My true turn of fate came when I started studying more and participating in class. I started to enjoy history class, and I grew interested in reading more. I discovered a volume of poems written by a fellow adventurer on the road of life, and I loved it. I ravenously devoured everything in the writer’s oeuvre .

As the weeks flitted past, I found myself spending my time with a group of people who were quite different from me. They participated in theater and played instruments in marching band. They raised their hands in class when the teacher posed a question. Because of their auspicious influence, I started raising my hand too. I am no longer vapid, and I now have something to say.

I am certain that your school would benefit from my miraculous academic transformation, and I entreat you to consider my application to your fine institution. Accepting me to your university would be an unequivocally righteous decision.

Word count: 408

• I’ve chosen a college essay topic that’s meaningful to me.
• I’ve respected the essay word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

As I step out of bed, the pain shoots through my foot and up my leg like it has every morning since “the game.” That night, a defensive linebacker tackled me, his 212 pounds landing decidedly on my ankle. I heard the sound before I felt it. The next morning, I awoke to a new reality—one without football—announced by a stabbing sensation that would continue to haunt me every morning of this semester.

My broken ankle broke my spirit.

My friends steered clear of me as I hobbled down the halls at school. My teachers tried to find the delicate balance between giving me space and offering me help. I was as unsure how to deal with myself as they were.

In time, I figured out how to redirect some of my frustration, anger, and pent-up energy toward my studies. I had never not liked school, but I had never really liked it either. In my mind, football practice was my real-life classroom, where I could learn all I ever needed to know.

Then there was that day in Mrs. Brady’s history class. We sang a ridiculous-sounding mnemonic song to memorize all the Chinese dynasties from Shang to Qing. I mumbled the words at first, but I got caught up in the middle of the laughter and began singing along. Starting that day, I began browsing YouTube videos about history, curious to learn more. I had started learning something new, and, to my surprise, I liked it.

With my afternoons free from burpees and scrimmages, I dared to crack open a few more of my books to see what was in them. That’s when my English poetry book, Paint Me Like I Am , caught my attention. It was full of poems written by students my age from WritersCorps. I couldn’t get enough.

I wasn’t the only one who was taken with the poems. Previously, I’d only been vaguely aware of Christina as one of the weird kids I avoided. Crammed in the margins of her high-top Chuck Taylors were scribbled lines of her own poetry and infinite doodles. Beyond her punk rock persona was a sensitive artist, puppy-lover, and environmental activist that a wide receiver like me would have never noticed before.

With Christina, I started making friends with people who once would have been invisible to me: drama geeks, teachers’ pets, band nerds. Most were college bound but not to play a sport. They were smart and talented, and they cared about people and politics and all sorts of issues that I hadn’t considered before. Strangely, they also seemed to care about me.

I still limp down the halls at school, but I don’t seem to mind as much these days. My friends don’t steer clear anymore, and I have a lot more of them. My teachers, excited by my newfound interest in learning, continually invite me to learn more and do my best. Football is still on hold, but I feel like I’m finally playing a game that matters.

My broken ankle broke my spirit. Then, it broke my ignorance.

Word count: 512

This essay uses a narrative structure to show how a pet positively influenced the student’s values and character.

In the weak draft, the student doesn’t focus on himself, instead delving into too much detail about his dog’s positive traits and his grandma’s illness. The essay’s structure is meandering, with tangents and details that don’t communicate any specific insight.

In the improved version, the student keeps the focus on himself, not his pet. He chooses the most relevant stories to demonstrate specific qualities, and the structure more clearly builds up to an insightful conclusion.

Man’s Best Friend

I desperately wanted a cat. I begged my parents for one, but once again, my sisters overruled me, so we drove up the Thompson Valley Canyon from Loveland to Estes Park to meet our newest family member. My sisters had already hatched their master plan, complete with a Finding Nemo blanket to entice the pups. The blanket was a hit with all of them, except for one—the one who walked over and sat in my lap. That was the day that Francisco became a Villanova.

Maybe I should say he was mine because I got stuck with all the chores. As expected, my dog-loving sisters were nowhere to be found! My mom was “extra” with all the doggy gear. Cisco even had to wear these silly little puppy shoes outside so that when he came back in, he wouldn’t get the carpets dirty. If it was raining, my mother insisted I dress Cisco in a ridiculous yellow raincoat, but, in my opinion, it was an unnecessary source of humiliation for poor Cisco. It didn’t take long for Cisco to decide that his outerwear could be used as toys in a game of Keep Away. As soon as I took off one of his shoes, he would run away with it, hiding under the bed where I couldn’t reach him. But, he seemed to appreciate his ensemble more when we had to walk through snowdrifts to get his job done.

When my abuela was dying from cancer, we went in the middle of the night to see her before she passed. I was sad and scared. But, my dad let me take Cisco in the car, so Cisco cuddled with me and made me feel much better. It’s like he could read my mind. Once we arrived at the hospital, the fluorescent lighting made the entire scene seem unreal, as if I was watching the scene unfold through someone else’s eyes. My grandma lay calmly on her bed, smiling at us even through her last moments of pain. I disliked seeing the tubes and machines hooked up to her. It was unnatural to see her like this一it was so unlike the way I usually saw her beautiful in her flowery dress, whistling a Billie Holiday tune and baking snickerdoodle cookies in the kitchen. The hospital didn’t usually allow dogs, but they made a special exception to respect my grandma’s last wishes that the whole family be together. Cisco remained at the foot of the bed, intently watching abuela with a silence that seemed more effective at communicating comfort and compassion than the rest of us who attempted to offer up words of comfort that just seemed hollow and insincere. It was then that I truly appreciated Cisco’s empathy for others.

As I accompanied my dad to pick up our dry cleaner’s from Ms. Chapman, a family friend asked, “How’s Cisco?” before even asking about my sisters or me. Cisco is the Villanova family mascot, a Goldendoodle better recognized by strangers throughout Loveland than the individual members of my family.

On our summer trip to Boyd Lake State Park, we stayed at the Cottonwood campground for a breathtaking view of the lake. Cisco was allowed to come, but we had to keep him on a leash at all times. After a satisfying meal of fish, our entire family walked along the beach. Cisco and I led the way while my mom and sisters shuffled behind. Cisco always stopped and refused to move, looking back to make sure the others were still following. Once satisfied that everyone was together, he would turn back around and continue prancing with his golden boy curly locks waving in the chilly wind.

On the beach, Cisco “accidentally” got let off his leash and went running maniacally around the sand, unfettered and free. His pure joy as he raced through the sand made me forget about my AP Chem exam or my student council responsibilities. He brings a smile not only to my family members but everyone around him.

Cisco won’t live forever, but without words, he has impressed upon me life lessons of responsibility, compassion, loyalty, and joy. I can’t imagine life without him.

Word count: 701

I quickly figured out that as “the chosen one,” I had been enlisted by Cisco to oversee all aspects of his “business.” I learned to put on Cisco’s doggie shoes to keep the carpet clean before taking him out一no matter the weather. Soon after, Cisco decided that his shoes could be used as toys in a game of Keep Away. As soon as I removed one of his shoes, he would run away with it, hiding under the bed where I couldn’t reach him. But, he seemed to appreciate his footwear more after I’d gear him up and we’d tread through the snow for his daily walks.

One morning, it was 7:15 a.m., and Alejandro was late again to pick me up. “Cisco, you don’t think he overslept again, do you?” Cisco barked, as if saying, “Of course he did!” A text message would never do, so I called his dad, even if it was going to get him in trouble. There was no use in both of us getting another tardy during our first-period class, especially since I was ready on time after taking Cisco for his morning outing. Alejandro was mad at me but not too much. He knew I had helped him out, even if he had to endure his dad’s lecture on punctuality.

Another early morning, I heard my sister yell, “Mom! Where are my good ballet flats? I can’t find them anywhere!” I hesitated and then confessed, “I moved them.” She shrieked at me in disbelief, but I continued, “I put them in your closet, so Cisco wouldn’t chew them up.” More disbelief. However, this time, there was silence instead of shrieking.

Last spring, Cisco and I were fast asleep when the phone rang at midnight. Abuela would not make it through the night after a long year of chemo, but she was in Pueblo, almost three hours away. Sitting next to me for that long car ride on I-25 in pitch-black darkness, Cisco knew exactly what I needed and snuggled right next to me as I petted his coat in a rhythm while tears streamed down my face. The hospital didn’t usually allow dogs, but they made a special exception to respect my grandma’s last wishes that the whole family be together. Cisco remained sitting at the foot of the hospital bed, intently watching abuela with a silence that communicated more comfort than our hollow words. Since then, whenever I sense someone is upset, I sit in silence with them or listen to their words, just like Cisco did.

The other day, one of my friends told me, “You’re a strange one, Josue. You’re not like everybody else but in a good way.” I didn’t know what he meant at first. “You know, you’re super responsible and grown-up. You look out for us instead of yourself. Nobody else does that.” I was a bit surprised because I wasn’t trying to do anything different. I was just being me. But then I realized who had taught me: a fluffy little puppy who I had wished was a cat! I didn’t choose Cisco, but he certainly chose me and, unexpectedly, became my teacher, mentor, and friend.

Word count: 617

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

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3 Strong Boston University Essay Examples

Boston University is a top research university in the heart of the city. With a fairly low acceptance rate, admissions is pretty selective, and writing strong essays is essential to standing out.

BU requires one essay for all applicants, and has an additional information prompt that is optional. Applicants to the Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine have another essay, and Honors College applicants have two additional essays.

In this post, we’ll then go over example essays from a real applicants, analyzing what they did well, and what could be improved.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our BU essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt: What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (250 words)

I am most excited by Boston University’s Societal Engineer vision. As an aspiring engineer with a strong interest in government, I love that BU encourages engineering majors to strengthen their communication skills and global awareness. 

Academically speaking, I would explore political science courses through BU Hub requirements like Historical Consciousness and Ethical Reasoning. In addition, I would explore the world through the semester-abroad programs offered by BU for engineering majors. If admitted, I would love to study in Grenoble (and brush up on my French!) as a sophomore.

Beyond academics, BU’s student groups also align with the Social Engineer vision. BU’s Engineers Without Borders mission spans both engineering and communication, as their project in Zambia involved both in developing sanitation systems and presenting posters on these systems to the community. Given my strong desire to help others through engineering, I would devote my time and energy to EWB’s projects at BU. 

I am also intrigued by BU’s political student groups, and I appreciate that BU’s student government offers students from all colleges leadership as Senators. I work closely with my high school’s administration as the vice president of our honor society and the overseer of student elections, and I would enjoy doing something similar at BU.

At BU, I can see myself tinkering with Autodesk Inventor late into the night and petitioning legislatures to fix gerrymandered districts. Because BU’s Societal Engineer vision would encourage both my STEM and humanities interests, I am very excited about being a student at BU. 

What the Essay Did Well

This essay is a strong response that adequately conveys what the student hopes to obtain from an education from Boston University. The applicant begins with a straightforward statement that expresses their interests in engineering and government.

Establishing this cross-disciplinary interest immediately sets the candidate apart from other engineering majors and makes their response more unique. By mentioning the intersection of engineering and government, the candidate hits upon a rare niche that demonstrates a willingness to bridge two seemingly disparate subjects. 

The student also mentions a study abroad opportunity specific for those within their major. They mention a specific study abroad destination, which further underscores their interest in this offering. The inclusion about brushing up on their French establishes a personal connection to their location choice, which also strengthens this portion of the response.

Next, the applicant discusses BU’s relevant extracurricular opportunities:

This inclusion is a good example of taking a BU-specific offering and expanding on what specific project the author intends to work on. They do a good job of connecting an engineering-related club to their humanities-related passions. 

The applicant then concludes with the following: 

These final sentences do a nice job of wrapping up the response in a way that allows the essay to flow smoothly until the end. The mentions of Autodesk Inventor and petitions provide readers with specific details that corroborate the points made earlier in the response. The applicant ends with a forward-facing sentence that solidifies their desire to attend BU. Similarly, you should aim to wrap up your response with a final statement that encapsulates your essay thus far and also points ahead to your future at the university.

What Could Be Improved

This essay could be strengthened in that the candidate does not necessarily establish a personal connection to BU’s Societal Engineer vision. To improve this, they could briefly elaborate on what drew them to this academic intersection. Perhaps volunteering at a homeless shelter opened their eyes to housing inequalities, which stem from issues with both finding cheap building materials and their city’s budget. Or, perhaps their interest in creating sustainable plastic substitutes drew them to explore both materials engineering and environmental policy. This personal connection would strengthen the overall authenticity of this essay and provide a flow for admissions officers to follow. 

The next portion of this response could also be improved. It centers on BU’s academic opportunities:

The applicant demonstrates that they have researched their major and mention a specific requirement. This is a good start; however, they should elaborate more on why they chose to mention this specific category. They can talk about how they hope to learn more about specific courses within this category. 

For instance, maybe they want to learn about security in America to inform their sense of national politics, or delve into the representation of the Holocaust in film, as they feel current policies on religious diversity should consider this topic. This further elaboration will round out this portion of the response rather than leaving it underdeveloped.

Essay Example #2

Prompt: What about the Kilachand Honors College resonates with you, and how would Kilachand’s curriculum fulfill your academic, creative, intellectual, and/or professional goals? (600 words)

I am an example of societal rejection. My lack of adherence to gender constructs breaks traditional expectations as my queerness takes over any sense of “normality” that society could see in me. As a queer, nonbinary person of color and an Indian immigrant, I’ve moved away from expectations that demand a definition of my characteristics and have begun to explore who I am on a profound level. It’s this concept of exploration that I aspire to integrate into my education so that I can learn more about others and understand the incomprehensible by any means, whether it be through interacting with different aspects of humanity, connecting with new communities, or increasing my knowledge on a topic. 

I’ve found this same ring of curiosity and educational passion that distinguishes Kilachand Honors College and have come to resonate with it, whether it be through the different community based circle meetings, the dissimilar seminars focused on developing critical and creative thinking, or the focus on experiential learning. However, Kilachand takes this interest for learning one step further, adding another dimension to the challenging liberal education through building on layers of global, social, corporate, and geopolitical challenges within the classes. This interdisciplinary aspect of the Kilachand curriculum provides me with the chance to understand issues from different perspectives, which I’d take advantage of to fulfill my professional goal of directing a human rights campaign. 

Specific classes like KHC HC 401: Epistemologies and the Process of Inquiry and KHC HC 301: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Challenges offer new intellectual opportunities I have been seeking while also supporting me in utilizing my education in a way that benefits my community. The emphasis placed on exploring the real life impact of students’ work in Kilachand’s integrated curriculum is empowering and would help me use education as a tool to build on my global perspective and make a meaningful difference.

It is my goal to learn more about the unfamiliar so that I can apply that knowledge to “unsolvable global issues” that are only labeled as such because of a cultural disconnect or societal difference. Kilachand supports this goal through offering co-curricular events and residencies where I can connect with other cultures through visiting different cultural institutions or having enlightening discussions with leading professionals. I am inspired by the passion behind the Kilachand community; events such as the POC and LGBTQIA+ Circle meetings are features of the Kilachand community that I hope to contribute to and learn from. By learning about others’ experiences and sharing my own, I aspire to be a part of the intellectual curiosity that is shared among Kilachand students.

The copious academic, cultural, and social opportunities at Kilchand all connect back to the same pillar of change that I have continuously been drawn to. Even though my interests are diverse and follow multiple tracks, the diversity of opportunities at Kilchand resonate with my varied passions and offer an accepting community connected through curiosity, which I hope to contribute to. 

The essay starts out with a bold, unexpected first sentence that hooks the audience into continuing to read the essay. This well-crafted writing seamlessly leads into an introduction about the writer, their values, and what they are looking for in a college education. The following paragraphs show how the Kilachand Honors College is an ideal fit for them.

The key to writing any “Why This College?” essay is to highlight specific resources that the college offers. This essay does that well by mentioning a wide range of BU resources by name, including classes, the integrated curriculum, the interdisciplinary educational philosophy, and extracurricular activities. By directly stating that they want to take “specific classes like KHC HC 401: Epistemologies and the Process of Inquiry,” the writer shows that they have done thorough research into the Honors College. More than anything else, evidence of this research demonstrates interest in the offerings of the Honors College and a strong “why” for applying.

The writer has not created a laundry list of resources with their essay either. They show that they have a personal interest in each resource by using “I” statements and explaining their ideas for making the most of the Honors College in the future. Instead of simply stating “I am looking forward to joining clubs related to social justice at BU,” the writer presents a much clearer and more confident vision for their academic future with the phrase “…events such as the POC and LGBTQIA+ Circle meetings are features of the Kilachand community that I hope to contribute to and learn from.”

Though the essay is highly specific with the resources it mentions in most parts, several sentences in the second paragraph could be strengthened:

However, Kilachand takes this interest for learning one step further, adding another dimension to the challenging liberal education through building on layers of global, social, corporate, and geopolitical challenges within the classes. This interdisciplinary aspect of the Kilachand curriculum provides me with the chance to understand issues from different perspectives…

Many other colleges offer an interdisciplinary curriculum, so the writer should write additional details here about Kilachand’s “interdisciplinary aspect.” They should ask themselves, is there a specific university value which encourages professors to tie many academic disciplines together in the classroom? Does BU require Kilachand students to take an honors core curriculum that covers many areas? Answering these questions would add the right level of specificity to the writer’s point about Kilachand’s educational philosophy. 

The essay would also be stronger if the writer explained exactly how Kilachand fosters curiosity. If curiosity were a core value of the Honors College, the writer could clarify by changing part of the essay’s last sentence to “an accepting community connected through the value of curiosity.”

Essay Example #3

Prompt: Describe a time when you felt out of your comfort zone or marginalized in a situation. How did you respond to that moment and how has it informed your actions moving forward? (600 words)

“The last 10% is 90% of the work.”

It was written on a small, ripped-off piece of yellow legal paper in fading blue ink. And now, it still sits in my desk drawer, four years after it was given to me by my band director, Mr. Laghari. It was one day in ninth grade, about two weeks before I was to perform my very first audition, that Mr. Laghari strolled over to where I was sitting.

“Alright Kat, let’s hear this district piece!”

What followed, looking back, was absolutely the most mediocre performance you’ve ever heard.

“Well done! I have a few comments for you though. Mainly, it seems like you have the notes and rhythms down, but you gotta add some musicality!”

I had no clue what he was talking about; it showed in my face.

“Expression! Dynamics! You know!”

But I didn’t.

“Oh come on! It’s the last part, right before the audition, the hardest part. You know, my high school band director once told me…”

He took out his yellow legal pad and began writing.

“The. Last. Ten. Percent. Is. Ninety. Percent. Of. The. Work.”

He ripped it off, and gave it to me. And I took it to heart. I looked up musicality, expression, dynamics, and worked to map out phrases in the music. I recorded myself to see what I could add to make it musical .

When the audition came around, I was ready. When they called euphoniums, I enthusiastically left my school’s group and walked with the rest of the auditionees to the holding room. But it was a long walk. Not only did I start to miss the safety of my school group, I started to get in my own head. What if I put in all my hard work for nothing? What would people think? My parents? Mr. Laghari? In the holding room, I squirmed in my seat, waiting for my name to get called. The clock on the wall ticked and ticked, my anxiety building all the while. Finally, my name was called, second-to-last, and as I followed the volunteer to the audition room, I suddenly remembered Mr. Laghari’s slip of paper. I just needed to give my ninety percent. I focused myself, and did just that.

So it came as a surprise to me when Mr. Laghari told me that I placed seventh, and they took the top six players, on the bus ride home. Not only was I surprised, I was crushed. “We’ll get ‘em next year!” he said. But all I heard was “You didn’t make it this year.” It was a bitter trip.

It took me about a week to realize what he said, and that I would crush it next year. I told myself it wasn’t a matter of auditioning to see if I could make it. I told myself auditioning was a formality. And as I looked at the blue ink on that slip of paper, with all of those crushing memories now attached, I told myself that I would give my ninety percent not just on the last ten percent of the work, but on all of it: every year. And with that mindset, I’ve not only placed first in All-Districts on trombone and euphonium, but have made it all the way to All-State. 

So, whenever I need inspiration for a project, motivation to finish my homework, determination not to give up, I just open up my desk drawer. And one day in the near future, when I move off to Boston University, that slip of paper is what I’ll be taking with me.

This essay is a moving example of how to tell a story with dialogue. Beginning the essay with dialogue is unexpected, which automatically makes for a gripping hook. At the same time, dialogue is an excellent way to organize the essay and convey main ideas in a succinct, yet creative way. The one-sentence introduction of the essay summarizes its entire message more effectively than a paragraph.

The writer then shows how they felt out of their comfort zone and responded by focusing on several specific moments of their journey to become a better musician. Writing about a few parts of a story with vivid detail will result in stronger narrative than a more general, big picture account. 

Lastly, the essay is cohesive and moving because of its motif, or recurring theme, of Mr. Laghari’s slip of paper. This one detail ties the whole essay together from start to finish. The motif makes the essay flow well and stay on topic, which are among the greatest challenges for any college essay writer. Of course, the motif makes for an awe-inspiring concluding sentence as well!

The writer could strengthen their essay by responding further to the last question of the prompt about how their moment of discomfort informed their actions moving forward. The writer certainly touches on this, but only talks about working harder as a musician and high school student. Adding a few more sentences to the second-to-last paragraph about their plans for the far future would answer the prompt more completely. For example, they could expand the final sentence of that paragraph to the following:

And with that mindset, I’ve not only placed first in All-Districts on trombone and euphonium, but have made it all the way to All-State. I’m now inspired to put 100% into my dream of becoming a professional musician in a philharmonic orchestra.

Where to Get Your BU Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your BU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. In fact,  Alexander Oddo , an essay expert on CollegeVine, provided commentary on the essays in this post. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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• Important Notes
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ADP/BA/B.Sc English Multi-Essays Topics

ADP/BA/B.Sc English Multi-Essays Topics; A complete list of important English subject topics for BA, B.Sc. has been prepared while also considering the expert paper makers of Bachelor Examinations. So students, if you need to get good passing marks in the annual exam, you need to prepare all the essays that are given at the bottom of this page.

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• USES AND ABUSES OF SCIENCE
• SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF MAN
• MARVELS OF SCIENCE
• SCIENCE, AND HUMAN COMFORT
• SCIENCE AND RELIGION
• SCIENCE AND ISLAM
• WONDERS OF MODERN SCIENCE
• VALUE OF SCIENCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
• TECHNOLOGY IS THE KEY TO SOCIAL CHANGE
• SCIENCE AND WAR
• IMPORTANCE OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
• INTERNET ADDICTION OR USES AND ABUSES OF INTERNET
• MEDIA IN PAKISTAN
• THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
• IMPORTANCE OF NEWSPAPER
• IMPORTANCE OF ADVERTISING
• PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY –A NEED OF THE HOUR
• THE AGE OF MACHINES
• SCIENCE THE CAUSE OF HUMAN SUFFERING
• SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY
• MODERN TECHNOLOGY
• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• Important English Essay Topics For BA, BSc Exams List
• Important Essay Topics For BA English
• English Essay on Role of Women in Society
• English Essay on Pollution
• English Essay on The best day of my Life
• English Essay on Education
• English Essay on The Main problems facing Pakistan
• English Essay on Benefits of having a Sea Port
• English Essay on Cities
• English Essay on My Favorite Hero in History
• English Essay on My First Day of School
• English Essay on Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
• English Essay on Allama Iqbal
• English Essay on Music Addiction
• English Essay on Unity of Muslims of the World
• English Essay on Social Evils in Pakistan
• English Essay on The effects of World War II on Pakistan and the World
• English Essay on Science and Arts
• English Essay on Corruption
• English Essay on Load shedding
• English Essay on Overpopulation
• English Essay on Dengue Fever
• English Essay on Terrorism
• English Essay on Democracy
• English Essay on Energy Crisis in Pakistan
• English Essay on Life in a Big City
• English Essay on Importance of Science

It doesn’t matter if you are appearing for the annual ADP/BA or BSc examinations, English is a compulsory subject for all students from all over Pakistan, be it Punjab University, Sargodha University, Faisalabad University, Karachi University, University of Peshawar, Gujarat University, or the other universities of Pakistan.

Key English subjects for BA, BSc exam lists are available here for all those who are trying to take the annual exam. These articles are the same for private and regular candidates. Also for students who are trying to take ADP, BA, and BSc exams annually or supplement. So if you are one of the candidates who are going to try the English papers then you are on the right path here to get the list of important subject lists.

There are a large number of subjects in the ADP, BA, B.Sc. curriculum but according to the board’s paper approach, there are about 15 to 20 important subjects. Here we have provided you all the lists and the most important articles are bold. Well, you are advised to read all these articles as they are very important to enhance your English vocabulary. Articles also add to your general knowledge.

An article that is easy to understand and written in simple language is preferred and you can save more numbers in this article. So here are the major subject titles available for BA English, the most anticipated and expected subjects for the annual or supplementary, regular or private candidates of BA, BSc examinations.

English Multi-Essays Topics of Science and Technology

All in One English Essay on Science and Technology Related Topics For All English Exams Like;

Introduction • A revolution in the field of ——– • Interlinking of the whole world

• Access to countless information • The best solution to eliminate the poverty

Misuses and disadvantages • Source of obscenity and vulgarity • Destruction of values

Suggestion • Use ———– for the betterment of humanity • Avoid wrong use of———-

Introduction This is an age of science, technology, and machines. Science, technology, and modern machines have brought a great revolution in all the fields of our life. The impossibilities have been achieved through science and technology. No miracles have been happening daily. The face of the earth has changed. The whole world has changed into a global village. Scientists have invented so many wonderful machines that now we feel proud to be human.

has become a part and parcel of our daily life. After the second world war, great progress has been made in the field of .

A revolution in the field of ——– We have invented the radio, color television, the computer, tape recorders, etc, for our entertainment. Scientists have invented the best means of transport and communication. We have cars, buses, bikes, airplanes, trains, and ships, etc, for traveling. We illuminate our houses with electricity. We use electric irons, stoves, refrigerators, electric fans, etc, in our houses.

Advantages Our agriculture, forestry, fisheries have also developed by________. We have new types of plows, manure, seeds pesticides, and fertilizers, which are increasing our output. We have made tremendous progress in the field of medicine and surgery with the help of . Many diseases are wiped out and the most terrible diseases are brought under control. In energy sector the role of_______ is very prominent.The best solution to eliminate the poverty can be used to eliminate poverty, to clean slums, to increase production in fields as well as factories, and other constructive purposes. The march is on and the sky is the limit. In short, the wonders of __ are so many, that they cannot be counted. In the time to come, there will be more wonders. They will leave the past wonders far behind.

Misuse and disadvantages It has several disadvantages too. It produced unemployment, inflation, class distinction, and a materialistic approach. Human labour has been replaced by machines. The rich gained much and the poor were exploited. An endless class battle started. Strikes and lockouts became very common.

Destruction of values The application of _ in the social fields also produced highly questionable results. The introduction of machinery gave a new tempo to man’s life. He became materialistic. The life of man has become mechanical and artificial. Man has been deprived of moral qualities such as contentment, sacrifice, honesty, and patience. Despite all progress, man is still confronted with poverty, ignorance, hunger, and disease.

By the use of___________ man has made this world a dangerous place to live on. Modern inventions have made war more deadly, more destructive, and more extensive. Man has invented weapons of mass destruction, such as missiles, the atom bomb, hydrogen bomb, nitrogen bomb, cobalt bomb, chemical and poisonous gases, which can destroy the whole world in no time.

These machines have completely changed the concept of war__________ has given wider and international colour to the wars. In the past, wars were limited to battlefields. But the modern war brings ruin and devastation not only to armies also to poor civilians. A war between two nations spread like wildfire throughout the world. Every sphere of life is affected.

Use for the betterment of humanity It is supposed that all religions are against_______ . But Islam is not against science, technology, and modern machines. In fact, it lays stress upon the use of it, for the betterment of humanity. But Islam is against the wrong use of __ . Our religion Islam has laid great stress on the acquisition of knowledge.The Holy Prophet [PBUH] has urged the Muslims to get knowledge even if they have to go to China. He said, ” The ink of a scholar is more sacred than the blood of a martyr”. According to Islam the whole universe and its contents have been created for man. But the use of these things is up to us. We can use it for both constructive and destructive purposes.

As a conclusion, we can say that __ is a double-edged weapon and we shall use it for useful purposes as Islam has taught us.

Fill the blanks with your desired topic.

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                          Sample Essays

The following examples demonstrate some of the qualities of a well-written essay.  The sample papers include comments from an instructor, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of each paragraph.   The English M01A paper features well-developed paragraphs, logical argumentation, and reliable sources.  The English M02 paper is shorter and adopts a more informal style. Although not perfect models of writing, the sample essays may help students appreciate the different expectations of English M02 and English M01A.     

English M02 - Sample Paper: 

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How to Write a BS/MD Program Essay + Outstanding Examples

BS/MD programs offer an amazing opportunity for students who are certain that they want to pursue a medical degree—which is why these programs are increasingly competitive, with most BS/MD programs having somewhere around a 1-5% acceptance rate. (As in, it’s harder to get into a lot of these programs than it is to get into, say, Harvard.)

To help increase your chances, later in this post, we’ll spend some time looking through several strong sample essays, ones that BS/MD admissions committee members gave the thumbs up to (meaning if the student didn’t get into the program, it wasn’t because of their essays). 

But before we do that, we’ll talk about other aspects of the BS/MD application process, and ways that it differs from normal undergrad admissions, to help inform your writing and your understanding as a whole.

Ready, doc?

What are BS/MD readers looking for?

There are some important differences between what a normal undergrad admissions reader is looking for in your essays and what BS/MD readers want to see.

There are 4 or 5 major criteria BS/MD readers are looking at:

Academics (but these don’t help you stand out, as almost all applicants are in the 95-99th percentile for GPAs and test scores)

Letters of rec (again, hard to stand out here—guidance counselor letters are frequently glowing)

Essays (big chance for differentiation here)

Experiences (such as interning in a hospital)

Interviews (again, big chance for differentiation)

To highlight some differences between normal undergraduate admissions and BS/MD admissions, your main personal statement for the common app or coalition , for example, is used by an undergraduate admissions committee to get a sense of who you are—what are the values, skills, qualities, and insights you bring to their college campus?

And your BS/MD reader will want to understand those things as well. But they also have more specific focuses and concerns:

Are you going to make it through?

One of the biggest challenges BS/MD readers face is trying to figure out who will make it through their programs and who won’t. They’re hoping to minimize the dropout rate: despite students’ having virtually identical academic metrics, there is attrition in these programs during both the undergraduate and medical portions—some students struggle, and fail/drop out. 

GPA isn’t a reliable indicator for them here, since virtually all applicants will have comparable grades, test scores, etc. So the essays and interviews are particularly important. 

For the same reason (minimizing dropout rates), another thing readers are trying to figure out as they analyze an application is who really wants you to become a doctor ? Is it you? Or… is this maybe more your parents’ dream? Because if you’re hoping to become a doctor just because your parents want you to, or because of the prestige of the field… you might not make a great doctor. 

Sorry. But we think it’s really important to be clear on your motivations before you embark on a program like this. Be sure you’re picking this career because it’s what you value .

Do you have an informed understanding of medicine?

This dovetails with the section above—one way readers can get a sense of the likelihood of your making it through this program is through what experiences you’ve had and to what degree you understand the career path you’re aiming for.

This is why (at least some) BS/MD programs will only rarely accept someone who hasn’t had some kind of meaningful interaction with a patient—they need to know that you truly know this is what you want. For some admissions readers, this is the single biggest point they’re looking for: Do you have an informed view of the field of medicine? Have you engaged with the field? Have you interacted with a patient in some form? (Note: if you have interacted with patients, that can be great for possible essay topics)

This emphasis on patient interaction can hurt a lot of otherwise worthy applicants. And readers know this, so they will look at different aspects of a student’s application, such as their background.

For example, they may give discretionary points to people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have had paid employment, which can show grit. And they know there are equity issues here, and COVID has wreaked some havoc (a note on that below). But without experience in medicine, it’s really hard for readers to gauge if a 7ish year program and you fit together.

So if you haven’t had the opportunity to work in a hospital, should you just give up? No. But try to do things like volunteer at an assisted living facility, or be a camp counselor, or a lifeguard, or tutor elementary school kids, or… you get the point. 

Show that you have had meaningful interactions with helping others. But also know that, ultimately, lacking experience with patients may hurt your chances for BS/MD programs. And so be sure to also apply to other strong undergraduate programs, and during undergrad, get some of that experience, to set yourself up for med school applications.

Another aspect of “having an informed view of medicine” is demonstrating that you understand that, while it requires great academic understanding, medicine is at its core a service field. So it’s great to demonstrate that helping others is one of your primary core values. But also make clear that you aren’t doing so just because it makes you feel good. Show that you’re doing this (hopefully) because of compassion and a strong desire to serve others.

One example that may illustrate this “informed view” nicely: an old interview question in one program was “What MD authored book/s have you read?” Plenty of applicants had never read one… (Hint: go read some books)

Answers to frequent student questions, and other tips on writing

Will the BS/MD reader see my main personal statement and other supplements, or just the BS/MD prompts?

A: Pretty frequently, all of it. At least, that’s true for the programs that we’ve talked to. So be sure you aren’t reusing things from your main essays and repeating yourself in your BS/MD prompts. The "super essay” approach that we usually recommend can be great for doubling up parts of, say, Yale and Stanford. But don’t do it with Brown’s undergrad and PLME essays.

Though feel free to double up between different BS/MD programs if it feels appropriate to do so (see examples below).

Or if you’re really hoping to reuse material, be sure to call/email the program and find out if the same readers see all the pieces.

Linked to this question, there’s some disagreement between BS/MD readers on main personal statements: some can like when a PS isn’t about medicine; others disagree. Your call here.

How important are tone/style versus the written content?

Tone/style are less important (sometimes far less important) than content. That’s not to say that tone and style are unimportant—be sure you’re demonstrating your ability to communicate clearly and effectively. But what you write about is going to be a (much) bigger factor here. What experiences and understanding can you demonstrate?

While your main personal statement doesn’t necessarily have to focus on medicine, we’d recommend writing about it at least a bit if possible.

Regarding tone/style, don’t try to write overly formally, especially if that really isn’t your natural style. Otherwise, you might even raise questions about whether your parents “helped” you write your essays.

In fact, BS/MD reviewers have told us about instances in which the admissions committee felt that the student “didn’t sound like a 17 year old.”

That student was also given deductions for essays that were too “creative writing exercise”—if a prompt says something like “describe yourself”, be sure that you’re clearly, directly addressing it. It’s fine to write a bit more plainly in your BS/MD essays.

Speaking of style and content, a small linked side note: hooks about blood are super common here. Maybe go with something else?

Wait. Interviews?

Yup. Most programs will require an interview as part of the process. Again, this is one of the primary ways they can get a sense of who is right for their program. Be ready to make it clear why medicine generally, and their program in particular, are right for you.

What if all my potential experiences were canceled because of COVID?

Yeah, that’s definitely a thing. And they know. So be sure to make it clear somewhere in your application (your additional info section can be great for this) that you put a lot of effort into trying to get that experience they’re hoping to see, and that circumstances beyond your control (like a worldwide pandemic) took over. And still be sure to demonstrate things like compassion in service and an aptitude for science through other actions and experiences.

Also, do things like virtual shadowing . Or if labs are closed to interns, do an independent scientific research project.

Regarding overall approach and focus, a lot of the strongest example essays below offer a combination of academic spark/curiosity, compassion for helping others, and an aptitude for science.

Another great tip is to make sure you’ve done your homework on the school. And then show you’ve done it. For example, a lot of programs have a particular mission. If the school’s mission is about serving those in need, for example, probably don’t just write about how you love doing research. And some programs focus on particular demographics, such as first generation students. Linked to this point, demonstrate your accurate knowledge of their program—don’t write about being excited about majors that they don’t offer, for instance. (That’ll probably be an instant “no”.)

Finally, it can be useful to keep in mind that with BS/MD programs, you’re often writing for an older, less touchy-feely population.

List of BS/MD Programs

Our friends at CollegeVine have compiled a great list of BS/MD programs (and they also talk through pros and cons of these programs). So rather than reinvent the wheel, we’ll send you that way if you’re wanting to explore options for schools.

Sample BS/MD essays with analysis

I mentioned this up top, but in case you missed it, these aren’t just strong in our opinion—we’ve had BS/MD readers check our work.

And a note that while schools may sometimes change their prompts (some of the examples you’ll see are from various versions), the focus and approach illustrated and analyzed below will serve you well.

Brown PLME: Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. What values and experiences have led you to believe that becoming a doctor in medicine is the right fit for you? (250 words)

“Hello?” someone yelled. I ran towards the call. “Dylan, what can I do for you?” I asked. “Where am I? Why did my daughter leave me here?” he yelled. I explained that he was at an elder care facility, and his daughter put him here for his well-being. His questions and accusations intensified as he asked if we were kidnapping him. I realized Dylan was having a schizophrenic episode.  I met Dylan when I became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), assisting the elderly with routine tasks and checking on their mental health to ensure they aren’t hurting themselves or others. I have to be adaptable and find creative solutions, especially with residents with mood swings. This experience has motivated my career choice: a psychiatrist. I understood Dylan wasn’t going to listen to me because I was a stranger to him, so I Facetimed his daughter. Dylan initially reacted adversely, thinking that we were hacking into the phone lines, but after speaking to his daughter, he apologized and thanked me for helping him.  Dylan left the nursing home a couple weeks ago, but he may return if his delusions worsen. Medical school will equip me with the neurological understanding of varying mental disorders and the medicinal and therapeutic plans that can most effectively treat them. As a CNA, I tend to the mundane needs of the elderly with compassion, but I look forward to becoming a psychiatrist, when I’ll impact the mental and physical states of patients like Dylan more profoundly. — — —

This essay does a nice job directly demonstrating and contextualizing some of the student’s experiences related to medicine (that “informed view of medicine”—a great thing to show in your essays, as it can be one major factor readers take into account when thinking about how you fit their program). And the author does so in a way that demonstrates both problem solving skills and compassion, in particular with how they related to Dylan without making it seem as though there’s a hierarchical relationship between practitioner and patient (we’ve seen essays that make it seem as though doctors are above/speaking down to their patients, which has the potential to hurt how a reader sees the writer, as it could come off as immature at the least).

Brown PLME: Most people describe a career as a physician/doctor as a "profession", beyond a job. Describe for us what "professionalism" and "the profession of a physician/doctor" mean to you. (250 words)

As a member of the IB Program since Kindergarten, I’ve been raised on the  10 “IB Learner Profile Traits.” The traits include caring, communicator, inquirer, thinker, and open-minded. As I graduate and look towards my future, I can appreciate how these values that I have cultivated throughout school will help me advance in my profession.  To me, “the profession of a doctor” means going beyond caring for patients clinically, by maintaining connections with them, researching medications and treatments, and advocating on their behalf. As a CNA, I’ve gone beyond my job requirements, using my breaks to connect with residents in order to help them feel less lonely. I’ve had the opportunity to analyze the distinction between mental illnesses in my virtual research fellowship. In my IB Extended Essay, I concluded the validity of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and advocated for decreasing the stigma of mental illness, specifically DID.  At Brown, I hope to continue exploring the detection and treatment of mental illness by participating in Dr. Elena K Festa’s cognitive neuroscience lab, where I can develop tools to detect and treat Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.  In my future career, I aspire to not only treat patients with care, but to also discover effective medications and promote discourse within the medical community in an effort to make mental illness less prejudiced.  The tools to build professionalism that I will gain at Brown will allow me to achieve the mission of the IB program in the clinic, lab, and community. — — —

Here, we like how the author frames their response to the prompt around values that they have cultivated and will continue to cultivate. They clearly lay out how those values directly relate to “professionalism/the profession of a physician/doctor”, then do a nice job walking us through specific details from their life that have helped them develop those values and understanding. 

Note that because PLME has its own giant Why Us essay (see next example), in addition to Brown’s regular Why Us, the author didn’t necessarily have to include why us details here, but it also probably doesn’t hurt to demonstrate how Brown will help the student continue to develop in ways directly related to the prompt.

And as we discussed above, notice that content is far more important and effective than style—the author is skipping things like a hook or purply prose, instead focusing on clarity and specificity.

Brown PLME: How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) helping you to meet your academic personal and professional goals as a person and as a physician of the future? (500 words)

The PLME program will provide me with a holistic and humanistic approach to medicine by affording me broad and diverse opportunities to engage in neuroscience, research, clubs, and enrichment activities.  As a psychiatrist, I hope to help those with cognitive issues inside and outside of the clinic. Specifically, I’m interested in enhancing the mental health of the geriatric population. At Brown, I’ll investigate the effects of aging and of geriatric neurological disorders on the elderly’s attention and memory using imaging techniques and other cognitive neuropsychology in Professor William Heindel’s lab. This will allow me to continue my impact as a CNA from a more therapeutic perspective, as I discover novel markers and treatment for mental illness in the senior population. In Alpert Medical School, I’ll be able to achieve my goal of combining the clinical, research, and advocacy facets of psychiatry through an interdisciplinary approach. I’m excited to have the opportunity to choose a Scholarly Concentration in Aging to explore further psychology’s role in clinical or health issues among the elderly. Through this program, I’ll interact more with the elderly and the larger Providence community. Furthermore, by participating in a Summer Assistantship, I can receive funding to conduct a project either related to how loneliness in nursing homes affects mental health or how LGBTQ+ residents are treated in facilities. By conducting research and creating my own project, I’ll raise awareness for the community and try to decrease the stigma within society of mental health issues among older populations. I’ll also take advantage of the plethora of clubs and student activities offered at Alpert Medical school in order to fulfill my personal and professional aspirations. I’ll join the Aging Interest Group to connect with senior citizens and gain insight into the social, political, and medical aspects of aging. I’ll be able to learn more about the prejudice of aging from a biomedical standpoint which will prepare me for my future as a psychiatrist. Additionally, the Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neurology Interest Group will allow me to create relationships with professors and students who share my interest in Neuroscience and Psychology, listen to speakers and professionals, and gain clinical experience through shadowing opportunities.  Finally, I hope to take advantage of the student enrichment opportunities at Brown. I want to volunteer at Samaritans of Rhode Island Suicide Prevention Resource Center in order to save lives and enhance my communication and listening skills that will be useful in my future career. After the 3rd year of medical school, I aim to join Dr. Oz’s team of medical professionals to ensure that the medical information on his show is accurate, since misinformation in the media of mental illnesses can contribute to its stigmatization. The PLME program will afford me an opportunity to holistically explore the medical field from research, medical, advocacy, and communal perspectives. I look forward to the day I’ll receive my own white coat, reflecting my commitment to a scientific and humanistic approach to the practice of medicine. — — —

This prompt is essentially a large, more-focused-than-usual Why Us. And remember that, because the reader is also seeing your response to the undergrad Brown Why Us, you’ll want to make sure you’re covering different details and “so whats” here vs there.

Again, rather than with a hook, the author opens with a clear, direct statement that frames the response to the prompt—clarity and content over style. Each paragraph opens with a clear topic sentence that sets focus for the reader, followed up by nice specific details about the PLME program (e.g., “a Scholarly Concentration in Aging”). And the author doesn’t make the mistake of simply listing details, but instead clarifies why these details are important to their goals (and in so doing, illustrates core values).

Overall, there’s a strong focus throughout the essay on helping others. And the final paragraph offers a nice summary of different perspectives on medicine.

Together, these three PLME essays do a strong job of communicating how the author’s experiences and insights have prepared them to do well in Brown’s PLME program.

Rice BS/MD Program with Baylor Medical Scholars Program: What aspirations, experiences, or relationships have motivated you to study in the eight-year Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars Program? (500 words)

“Hello?” someone yelled. I ran towards where I thought the noise was coming from. “Hi Dylan, what can I do for you?” I asked. “Where am I? Why did my daughter leave me here?” he yelled. I explained that he was at an elder care facility, and his daughter put him here for his well-being. His questions and accusations intensified as he asked if we were kidnapping him. Dylan was having a schizophrenic episode. I met Dylan when I became a Certified Nursing Assistant last summer. As a CNA, I work to enhance the lives of the elderly by assisting them with routine tasks and by checking on their mental health to make sure they aren’t hurting themselves or others. These parts of my job have motivated my career choice: a psychiatrist. As a CNA, I have to take risks, especially with residents whose mood swings make it difficult to anticipate how they will react to the most insignificant questions like, “How are you doing today?” With Dylan, one hour he’s polite, whereas the next, he thinks that our facility is trying to hurt him. I have to be adaptable and find creative solutions.  I understood Dylan wasn’t going to listen to anything I had to say because I was a stranger to him, so I called his daughter. Dylan reacted adversely, thinking that we were hacking into the phone lines. I took a risk and facetimed his daughter instead. After some conversation with his daughter, he apologized and thanked me for helping him.  At Rice, through courses such as “Psychopathology, Development, & Aging,” I’ll be able to learn about the underlying causes behind cognitive and mood disorders of aging adults, like Dylan. In addition, I’ll enroll in “Sociology of Mental Health” to investigate the meaning and significance of mental health, with emphasis on the social construction of the word “mental illness” and the stigma behind it. In medical school, I’ll use my time outside of class to participate in student organizations at Baylor, like the American Women Medical Association (AWMA) and the Neuroscience Student Association, where I can connect with a strong group of women STEM and neuroscience majors, and learn from the wisdom of older students. I’ll look to join one of Baylor Medical School’s research labs, which examines the identification, diagnosis, and treatment for a variety of mental illnesses. I’m particularly interested in Professor Joshua M. Shulman’s lab, studying Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and Professor Raymond Cho’s lab, studying schizophrenia by using imaging technologies like fMRIs.  Dylan left the nursing home a couple weeks ago, but he may return if his delusions worsen. Medical school will equip me with the neurological understanding of varying mental disorders and the medicinal and therapeutic plans that can most effectively treat them. As a CNA, I can tend to the mundane needs of the elderly with compassion, but I look forward to becoming a psychiatrist, when I’ll impact the mental and physical states of patients like Dylan more profoundly. — — —

I’m sure you spotted it, but to state the obvious, this is a different (longer) version of one the PLME essays above. Again, you should avoid doubling essays for a single school (for it’s undergrad program and BS/MD program), but because prompts between BS/MD programs are often similar, you’ll likely be able to reuse essays to some degree. We wanted to include this piece to illustrate how that’s possible.

We already covered some strong aspects of this essay above, so we won’t repeat. But to add to what we pointed out there:

Here, the author does a nice job using their experience with Dylan to frame their motivations and aspirations, and links them nicely to specific opportunities with Rice/Baylor’s program. And while the prompt doesn’t explicitly ask for “why us” details, this essay demonstrates how you can do so fluidly and effectively by linking very specific details to your specific experiences and values. 

UMKC School of Medicine: What motivates you to pursue a career in medicine? What would you like the UMKC School of Medicine to know about you that isn't available in other parts of this application? (500 words)

Throughout preschool, I was only fluent in Tamil, so I carried a bright green piece of paper covered with crayon scribbles and coffee stains. Wrinkled beyond perception, it was my key to communicating with those around me. Over the course of two years, my mother had written translations that would enable my teachers to understand what I was saying at any given point in time.  After that green paper had come and gone, I started to notice new ones appear every once in a while. First, it was just a simple guide on verbs in Spanish, then it was a trigonometry review in Precalculus, until finally it was my formula sheet for Chemistry. At this point in time, the green sheet of paper represented a bridge between two worlds: one that was unknown and one that was familiar. Since I had encountered it so many times and I valued it so much, I made it my goal to become just such a bridge. At the hospital where I volunteered, I spoke in Spanish, Telugu, and Tamil in order to help visitors find what they were looking for. This is where my interest in the medical field stems from.  UMKC’s direct medical program will give me the opportunity to explore all of my interests in a shorter, more structured timeframe, while also encouraging growth in various fields during my two years as an undergraduate student participating in medical school coursework. I hope to take part in UMKC’s study abroad programs (if Covid allows it!), participating in extensive learning in places like Mexico and Austria. There I will have the ability to learn more about fascinating and diverse cultures, immersing myself in biology and medicine, while simultaneously growing as a student and a person. Additionally, within the community, I’d be privileged to be able to take part in the Sojourner Clinic and the Kansas City Free Eye Clinic. As a medical student, I would like to participate in extensive research. When I was a research assistant at the University of Illinois, I collected data from previous studies on pancreatic cysts; but I never had the chance to participate in research related to something I am particularly interested in: neural pathways and how they relate to cognitive function. Consequently, I am interested in collaborating with Dr. Bennett because of her research on myocardial infections and the subsequent effects they have on people’s lives in a social, emotional, and literal manner. I might also finally get the chance to conduct the study on total recall (not the movie) that I designed in my psychology class. From the limitless opportunities for exploration to a simultaneous science-oriented and clinic-oriented approach throughout my medical school experience, I’m confident that UMKC will be a place in which I can thrive and become the bridge I have always sought to be. I will be that green sheet of paper, connecting the known and unknown.  — — —

This essay has a lot of the same strengths we’ve covered in other examples, so I won’t repeat, though I do want to highlight how clear it is that the author has done her homework on the program. Instead, I’ll point out something the author is doing well, but could perhaps have done even better, so you can uplevel your own writing:

The author briefly discusses volunteering at the hospital, and it’s great to point out that she used Spanish, Telugu, and Tamil to help visitors. But it could be strengthened by discussing some specific interactions (at least one?) that ideally demonstrate some experience dealing with patients. Otherwise, a reader might get more of a “researcher” than “clinician” vibe.

And in case you want to see further examples, here are a few more strong essays:

An important emphasis of PittHonors is working for the public good. Please describe how you have worked for the public good in the past and how you expect to continue to do so as a student at the University of Pittsburgh and after graduation?

Service. A seven letter word that has changed my perspective on others. As a kid, I often visited India to visit friends and family. I often saw people in utter poverty, asking for money and scavenging through the trash for food. It was a rude awakening for me, as  I realized how removed I was from the suffering. As a kid, I thought suffering was going a week without playing Mario Kart Wii, and now I realize that I'm fortunate to live in such a safe and fulfilling environment, where I can learn the most and enjoy life without wondering whether there was a roof over my head or food on my table. My friend encouraged me to join Boy Scouts, as it was an organization that helped him to help those in need. In Boy Scouts, I have ingrained the value of service and helping others. The motto of Boy Scouts ("Do a good turn daily" ) became embedded in my ethos and guides my life. Within Boy Scouts, I have worked in the program "Scouting for Food", where I go around the neighborhood asking for leftover non-perishables and donated them to local food banks to help feed hungry families. Boy Scouts also enabled me to engage in food drives that ended up collecting over 150 pounds of food to help send to India.  At Pitt, I would continue this tradition of charity and service, by joining the Doctors without Borders club. This club, which is a chapter of an organization I greatly admire and plan on joining one day, will allow me to help the people most in need and make a difference. I know I am one person, but I might do my part in getting the world in the right direction. — — —

Tell us about something you have read/watched/listened to that made an impact on you. Tell us why it made an impact.

Answer this: “Where does success come before work ? “ As a little kid when my dad posed this riddle, I answered the dictionary. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell shows that in life, however, work comes before success, along with a myriad of other variables. Gladwell found that opportunity, timing, upbringing, effort, meaningful work, and legacy are all crucial to achieving successes. He utilizes the birthdays of prominent Canadian hockey players to drive home the point that often timing and opportunities can help determine a person’s trajectory in life. He further deconstructs the cult of successes that surround successful people, by illustrating how affluent upbringing of Bill Gates and J. Robert Oppenheimer enabled their future sucesses by providing them with real world experience to nurture their intellect and skills. He fundamentally changed my perception of success by reframing the narrative that it is a byproduct of purley hard work. I  was personally struck by the tragic story of Christopher Lanagan , a highly intelligent student with an estimated IQ of 195, and who never achieved a proper schooling due to a dysfunctional home and school environment.  This story of unfulfilled potential of a bright pupil struck a personal tenor with me. I am cognizant of my own advantages of a student who has access to amazing education and support systems that are not often to the vast majority of my peers. I realized that success is often not achievable due to systemic factors in people's lives, and therefore as a society we should attempt to even the playing field. I became more involved in  afterschool tutoring, helping kids at school and volunteering to help serve and engage underserved and low income kids in  areas of STEM. I know the limitations of my efforts, but I know that helping one kid pushes the needle further in the right .  — — —

 An important emphasis of PittHonors is working for the public good. Please describe how you have worked for the public good in the past and how you expect to continue to do so as a student at the University of Pittsburgh and after graduation? (750 words)

Yahweh and Vishnu. These 2 gods, central to their religions of Christianity and Hinduism respectively, were confusing to me at a young age. How can something so incorporeal and sublime be responsible for all the natural processes we observe as humans on a daily basis. It was my first experience in a temple that changed me. I saw the energy and mantras that were taken into service at the temple, and it spoke to me on another level. I understood at that time that religion is a powerful force, as it allowed me to connect with people of all walks of life, and try and understand what uniquely binds us together. Religion really helped to nudge me in the direction of service I wanted to make a difference in and introduced the concepts of service leadership and spirituality. These 3 concepts have all tied back to my interest in how this world really works. The synergy of these 3 concepts really came to a head for my Eagle Scout Project, were I spearheaded a beautification project that created new flower gardens and pathways, as well as cleaning up the local temple grounds of trash to enhance temple beauty. Involving around 15 people, me and my crew in a day's work helped to improve a monument to our religion. This experience really spoke to me about the unifying impact of spirituality and service, as we all took a Saturday to make a place of worship a better place to get closer with everyone, and in modern times of division and polarization, it was nice that service and love of nature and getting to know each other was able to bring us together. I feel my spirituality and growing in a multi-religious background allows me to better understand and empathize with the patient's spiritual and cultural beliefs, allowing for better care, while doing God’s work.  I want to continue to aid in service by joining the Doctors with Borders and Akshaya Patra foundation, in order to effectively utilize my efforts to make meaningful impacts. — — —

Tell us about something you have read/watched/listened to that made an impact on you. Tell us why it made an impact.(750 words)

Our school has multiple murals portraying several key events in pop culture or in current events central to that senior year. My favorite mural is that of 2019, portraying everything from scenes from Avengers Endgame to viral dance trends like Woah. The most impactful one for me, however, was the class of 2012, which vividly depicts the Occupy Wall Street movement. With slogans of  “We are the 99%”, it brought issues like income inequality and racial inequality to the forefront, systemic issues of American society that hurt opportunities and people around the nation. It was not until the shadowing experiences that made me realize that these societal diseases appear heavily prevalent in healthcare settings. In India, I shadowed a private cardiologist who had many wealthy clients. In a country where the Gini coefficient, a marker of income inequality, comes close to that of the United States, I saw that many of the patients were healthy and vivacious, conversing with the doctor frequently and seem so full of life. I knew that this one side of the coin, so I volunteered at a government-run hospital in India. Immediately entering the patient's room, I realized the stark difference. People had to sit and wait for hours on end just for a physical, and doctors often didn't need medical training to be employed. These people were receiving abhorrent care when they should receive the same quality care as the patients in the previous clinic.In order to alleviate this problem, the government has utilized community-based health clinics to provide better healthcare services in a more targeted and localized success. My relatives were able to spot fast-growing cancer due to visiting one of these shelters. I realize that to solve the issues of racial and income disparities prevalent in healthcare, unorthodox ideas and looking outside of the U.S are ways to help fight this problem, and my experiences have enlightened me on the extent of this menace. My interest in healthcare law stems from the fact that issues like racial disparity still exist, and it is only through systemic change can a meaningful difference be made. — — —

Special thanks to Andy for contributing to this post

Andrew has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 15 years, and earned degrees from Stanford in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops and in oceans.

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My Self Essay for Children and Students

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My Self Essay: It is very easy to describe others, as you notice a lot of things in them. However, when it comes to describing own self, one has to take care of lots of things. There are many ways to describe oneself, but one of the most important ways is to think about what makes you unique. What are the qualities that make you stand out from the rest? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your passions and interests?

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These are all important questions to consider when thinking about how to describe yourself. If you can identify the qualities that make you special, you will be able to more accurately communicate who you are to others. In addition, it is also important to be honest when describing yourself. It is okay to admit your weaknesses and share your fears. Being honest will help others to understand and accept you more easily.

Long and Short Essay on My Self in English

We have provided here essays and paragraphs on my self in English which is a very common topic in schools. These essays and paragraphs are of variant word limits will help you in writing my self essay, my self paragraph, essay about my self, my self article or myself essay for kids etc.

These essays are written in a very simple language and easy to understand by the children. You can choose any of the essay on myself according to your requirements and earn the appreciation in your class.

My Self Essay 100 Words

Myself Rajani Tyagi, live in Ghaziabad in the New Panchwati colony. I read in the class 5 th in the section B. I read in the school New Era Ghaziabad. I am very punctual and like to do my all works throughout the day at right time. I love to eat simple and healthy food.

I like dancing, reading books, playing badminton and cooking in my spare time. I never bunk my classes and attend every class. I go to school daily in proper uniform. I do well in the exams whether main or class tests. I have many friends however Sarita is my best friend.

Myself Essay in 150 Words

There are many people living in world having different personalities. This is the personality which makes everyone unique and different from others. We can never see two people of exactly same personality. It never changes and decided the quality of a person. I am taking the example of me. I am so special in this world and have unique personality than others. I am very responsible and sympathetic person. I always help others and try my best to solve their problems. I am self-centred woman have not have any enemy in this world.

I always talk to others very happily with smiling face. I am a very simple student in my school and attend each class. I do my homework very well on daily basis and study well every day in the night till 10 pm and in the morning from 4 am. I always pay attention to my study and motivate my friends as well to focus on their study.

My Self Essay in English 200 Words

My name is Archana Mishra but generally called by everyone as Gudia. I am 12 years old, read in class 7 th standard. I am a second child of my parents and have an elder brother. I have a joint family in which my uncle, grandparents and cousins in the same big house. We love each other very much and closely related to grandparents. I have a group of friends however Sina is my best and true friend. I can share anything to her and she too. We read in the same school but in different sections. I like very much to tell jokes to my friends while being in the bus after school time.

I have a unique family. All the members of my family are broad and open minded. They always promote me to do well in every field. They never pull me back instead motivate. I am very happy to get birth in this family. My family is cross-cultural extended family where my uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins, etc live together. I have great time with my family because we celebrate each festival together. I help other kids in family in doing their home works daily.

Myself Essay in 250 Words

My name is Queen but have a nick name called as Sara. My parents and grandparents generally call me by my nick name. My parents are very conscious to my health. They wake me up daily in the morning at 5 am and tell me to do all the daily routines. My mom gives me an apple a day in the daily morning and a healthy breakfast after one hour. I go to school at right time through school bus. I never get late. My school starts at 8 am in the morning and ends at 2 pm in the afternoon. My mom gives me healthy fruits for fruit break and healthy lunch for lunch break.

I read in 8 th standard in the school, Ch. Chhabil Dass Junior Public School. I am 13 years old and live in Ghaziabad with my parents . I also have joined dance and piano classes out of the school as I like to learn dance and piano very much. I enjoy my school time thoroughly with my friends and home time with my dearest parents and grandparents. I have good neighbours; they understand each other and never quarrel.

I love picnic and go to tour in my winter and summer vacations. I am very good student in my school. I participate in all the extracurricular activities of the schools and do well. I am very good in academic and sports activities. My school has a big garden and big playground provides all the facilities of sports. My school has healthy, nice and peaceful environment.

My Self Essay 300 Words

My name is Sulekha, I read in class 9 th standard in Delhi. I am a self-driven and self motivated student. I like to motivate my friends of the school always and help them in their difficult times. I am a bright student of my school and do well in the academic and sports activities. I am capable to do well under any stressful condition. I am very skilled and knowledgeable student in my school.

I do very hard study for long hours around the clock at home. I never left my home works and class works incomplete and like to complete all before bed time. My teachers like me very much because of my goodness and punctuality. I never become tired and continuously do hard work because my parents take care of me always. They always become conscious for my health and diet.

Because of my academic tenure, I always get good marks and grades. I am a merit scholarship holder in my school. I learn computer very well in my school and know everything about computer. I do everything according to my organized schedule of work. I never avoid my any of the works whether at home or at school. I always respect my parents and help my mom in her house works and my father in his office projects.

I share my mom’s laundries and washing dishes works. I always keep my room clean and decorate attractively every Sunday. I understand my all responsibilities toward myself and my family very well. I always try to make my friends and classmates happy through my interesting jokes and nice talks. I always become ready to give them advises and suggestions to get them out of their difficulties. I am very sympathetic girl and try to support old people and children in my colony or on the way.

Below are the related topics to My self essay available at IL

Myself Essay in 400 words

I am a lovely boy of my dear parents. I am 14 years old boy and read in class 4 th standard in the section A. My name is Suresh Raina. I study in Ryan Public School in Ghaziabad. My grandfather likes to say me Guddu. He always takes me out with him in the morning and evening for the walk. I live with my family in the Rajnagar colony in Ghaziabad.

I go to school with my school bus daily at right time in the morning at 7 am and come to home at 2 pm in the afternoon. I like to go school in proper uniform after become fresh. I say good morning to my class teacher when I reach to my classroom. I enjoy daily with my school friends in the bus and lunch time. I always take part in the sports activities and other extracurricular activities.

My school organizes inter-school competitions at every six months which I must participate. I always come first in every competition. My school celebrates all the important events of the year such as independence Day, Republic Day, Christmas, 2 nd October, Mother’s day, Teacher’s day, etc in order to increase our awareness and knowledge about.

We are advised by our class teacher to must participate in the cultural activities while celebrating any event. I generally take part in the poem recitation or speech recitation. I also like dance but not feel so comfortable to dance at event celebration. However, I take part in the dance in my annual function which gets celebrated in the month of November every year. My parents are also invited to the school annual function.

My parents get me out at picnic or long tour in my every vacation during winter or summer season. I live in very good society where some programmes are organized from time to time in order to increase awareness among common public about the social issues. My father always takes me with him to participate in such programmes.

My mom always teaches me about ethics and etiquettes to make me a good citizen of India. I always keep my study room and bed room neat and clean. I always take care of my hygiene and wash hands well with soap before and after eating the food. My mom and dad love me a lot and care for my every likes and dislikes. I like to play ludo or carom with my parents whenever they become free.

Essay on My Self FAQs

What is a good introduction text.

A good introduction text briefly shares who you are, your professional background, and your interests. It sets a friendly tone while keeping the information relevant and concise.

How do you introduce your name?

To introduce your name, you can simply start with Hello, my name is Your Name, or Im Your Name. This straightforward approach is polite and easy to understand.

Can I introduce myself by saying myself?

Its unusual to say, Myself Your Name. Instead, use I am Your Name or My name is Your Name for a clearer and more professional self-introduction.

What is a good self-introduction example?

A good self-introduction example is: Hello, Im Your Name. I am a Your Profession with a passion for a relevant personal interest. Im excited to be here and engage with like-minded individuals.

How do I introduce myself?

To introduce yourself, start by clearly stating your name, then share some relevant details about your background, achievements, or interests that you feel are important for others to know.

How do I write about myself?

When writing about yourself, focus on your experiences, goals, and things youre proud of. Use simple language and maintain a positive tone throughout. Be authentic, allowing your personality to shine.

How do you write about yourself for kids?

When kids write about themselves, they should mention simple things like their age, hobbies, favorite subjects, and what they want to be when they grow up. Its important to keep it fun, light, and easy to understand.

How can I introduce myself in speaking?

In speaking, introduce yourself with a warm greeting, then state your name and relevant details about your life or work that could help form a connection with your audience. Remember to speak clearly, maintain eye contact, and smile.

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'She wanted to live a good life': Parents of Indian doctor raped and murdered on night shift

The rape and murder of a trainee doctor in India’s Kolkata city earlier this month has sparked massive outrage in the country, with tens of thousands of people protesting on the streets, demanding justice. BBC Hindi spoke to the doctor’s parents who remember their daughter as a clever, young woman who wanted to lead a good life and take care of her family.

All names and details of the family have been removed as Indian laws prohibit identifying a rape victim or her family.

"Please make sure dad takes his medicines on time. Don't worry about me."

This was the last thing the 31-year-old doctor said to her mother, hours before she was brutally assaulted in a hospital where she worked.

“The next day, we tried reaching her but the phone kept ringing," the mother told the BBC at their family home in a narrow alley, a few kilometres from Kolkata.

The same morning, the doctor’s partially-clothed body was discovered in the seminar hall, bearing extensive injuries. A hospital volunteer worker has been arrested in connection with the crime.

The incident has sparked massive outrage across the country, with protests in several major cities. At the weekend, doctors across hospitals in India observed a nation-wide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), with only emergency services available at major hospitals.

The family say they feel hollowed out by their loss.

“At the age of 62, all my dreams have been shattered," her father told the BBC.

Since their daughter's horrific murder, their house, located in a respectable neighbourhood, has become the focus of intense media scrutiny.

Behind a police barricade stand dozens of journalists and camera crew, hoping to capture the parents in case they step out.

A group of 10 to 15 police officers perpetually stand guard to ensure the cameras do not take photos of the victim's house.

The crime took place on the night of 9 August, when the woman, who was a junior doctor at the city's RG Kar Medical College, had gone to a seminar room to rest after a gruelling 36-hour shift.

Her parents remembered how the young doctor, their only child, was a passionate student who worked extremely hard to become a doctor.

“We come from a lower middle-class background and built everything on our own. When she was little, we struggled financially," said the father, who is a tailor.

The living room where he sat was cluttered with tools from his profession - a sewing machine, spools of thread and a heavy iron. There were scraps of fabrics scattered on the floor.

There were times when the family did not have money to even buy pomegranates, their daughter's favourite fruit, he continued.

"But she could never bring herself to ask for anything for herself."

“People would say, ‘You can’t make your daughter a doctor'. But my daughter proved everyone wrong and got admission in a government-run medical college," he added, breaking down. A relative tried to console him.

The mother recalled how her daughter would write in her diary every night before going to bed.

“She wrote that she wanted to win a gold medal for her medical degree. She wanted to lead a good life and take care of us too,” she said softly.

And she did.

The father, who is a high blood-pressure patient, said their daughter always made sure he took his medicines on time.

“Once I ran out of medicine and thought I’d just buy it the next day. But she found out, and even though it was around 10 or 11pm at night, she said no-one will eat until the medicine is here,” he said.

“That’s how she was - she never let me worry about anything."

Her mother listened intently, her hands repeatedly touching a gold bangle on her wrist - a bangle she had bought with her daughter.

The parents said their daughter’s marriage had almost been finalised. "But she would tell us not to worry and say she would continue to take care of all our expenses even after marriage," the father said.

As he spoke those words, the mother began to weep, her soft sobs echoing in the background.

Occasionally, her eyes would wander to the staircase, leading up to their daughter's room.

The door has remained shut since 10 August and the parents have not set foot there since the news of her death.

They say they still can't believe that something "so barbaric" could happen to their daughter at her workplace.

"The hospital should be a safe place," the father said.

Violence against women is a major issue in India - an average of 90 rapes a day were reported in 2022, according to government data.

The parents said their daughter’s death had brought back memories of a 2012 case when a 22-year-old physiotherapy intern was gang-raped on a moving bus in capital Delhi. Her injuries were fatal.

Following the assault - which made global headlines and led to weeks of protests - India tightened laws against sexual violence.

But reported cases of sexual assault have gone up and access to justice still remains a challenge for women.

Last week, thousands participated in a Reclaim the Night march held in Kolkata to demand safety for women across the country.

The doctor’s case has also put a spotlight on challenges faced by healthcare workers, who have demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the murder and a federal law to protect them - especially women - at work.

Federal Health Minister JP Nadda has assured doctors that he will bring in strict measures to ensure better safety in their professional environments.

But for the parents of the doctor, it's too little too late.

“We want the harshest punishment for the culprit," the father said.

“Our state, our country and the whole world is asking for justice for our daughter."

Raped Indian doctor's colleague speaks of trauma and pain

Protest at indian railway station over alleged abuse of girls, india gang rape victim's death sparks outrage, the rape victim’s mum fighting for india’s daughters, what do delhi rape hangings mean for women.

First-Year Requirements

In addition to your UC application, we take both your academic record and your personal experiences into consideration during the review process . At UCLA, we seek students who have excelled academically and gained valuable perspective from the personal experiences that have helped shape their lives.

Read on to find out more.

The Criteria We Consider

When reviewing an application, we implement a holistic review process, which includes looking at some of the following criteria:

• Achievement in high school or college coursework
• Personal qualities
• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of our campus
• Achievement in academic enrichment programs
• Other achievements in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor, including the performing arts, athletics, community service, etc.

Academic Preparation

You must complete 15 A-G courses with at least 11 courses finished prior to the beginning of your last year of high school. To be competitive in the UCLA admission process, applicants should present an academic profile much stronger than any minimum UC admission requirements.  See below for a listing of the A-G requirements:

• 2 years history/social science
• 4 years of college-preparatory English
• 3 years of mathematics (4 years recommended)
• 2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended)
• 2 years of language other than English (3 years recommended)
• 1 year of visual and performing arts (if available)
• 1 year of college-preparatory elective

Keep in mind that there is no single academic path we expect all students to follow. However, competitive applicants earn high marks in the most rigorous curriculum available to them.   Each application for admission is reviewed within the context of courses available to that student. If a particular required subject is not available, we’ll consider your application without it.

Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT)

UCLA will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

UCLA’s ACT number: 0448 UCLA’s College Board (SAT) number: 4837

Personal Insight Questions

These personal questions are just that — personal. This is your chance to augment the information elsewhere in your application and give us more insight into you during the review process.  Our hope is to hear your true, authentic voice in your responses.   As a first-year applicant, you may respond to four of eight questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words. Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. You should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because we receive more applicants than we have room to accept, admitted students usually have academic achievements far higher than the minimum requirements. So, to be “competitive” is to be among the strongest achieving students to apply.

We look for students who take advantage of the academic opportunities available to them. If you have advanced courses, we encourage you to take advantage of them. The University of California adds extra weight to grades received in UC-certified honors, AP, IB and transferable college courses.

We do not require or accept letters of recommendation in our process and we do not collect transcripts at the point of application . However, once admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts f rom any high school or college they have attended . Some professional schools may request a letter of recommendation as part of their supplemental application process.

We do not offer admission interviews. Applicants are considered for admission based upon the information they submit in the UC application . However, some majors in our  specialty schools require a supplemental application as part of their admission process. Supplemental applications may involve an audition, portfolio submission and/or letters of recommendation. Find out more from the supplemental applications page.

Supplemental Applications

Of course, a strong academic performance combined with sustained, meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities is the ideal. But if it comes down to a choice between excelling in your coursework or your extracurricular activities, choose your academics.

UCLA will honor full IGETC certification from a first-year student if the requirements were completed before entering UC. Partial IGETC, however, will not be accepted from entering first-years at any UC campus and IGETC is not recommended for applicants to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Technical and Scientific Communication Major

What is a major in technical and scientific communication writing.

The major is a great fit for creative and imaginative students who are fascinated by the kinds of writing that take place in professional and public situations. For our students, user manuals, university mailers, and social media posts are ripe with meaning and possibilities. They understand the rules and boundaries of writing within professional settings, but also how to break those rules in ways that are refreshing, attention-grabbing, and thought-provoking. Students seek to understand how public audiences read a wide variety of texts. The program teaches them to translate complex information into plain language so that it is accessible to a public audience.

*Available to students starting Summer 2024*

Why Study Technical and Scientific Communication at Virginia Tech?

Our students are excited by challenging questions that come with writing in the 21st century: 

• How do we use writing as a tool for social action? 
• How do emerging technologies change how we write and how users engage with texts? 
• What is the role of writers in shaping a humanistic approach to technology design? 

This program prepares students to write while being focused on target audiences in a thoughtful and professional approach. You will explore the complex relationships between writing, rhetorics, technology, and culture through a humanistic lens. Our graduates go on to create user guides, online documentation, website content, scientific reports, content strategies, and other professional documents.

  3 Study Abroad Programs

  22 Average Class Size

  100+ English Courses Offered

Erica Palladino, '15

Erica works in New York City as a copywriter for a pharmaceutical advertising agency. She gathered experience for this position through several internships and by working as an undergraduate researcher with a faculty member on a vaccination project. Erica also served as a college ambassador, was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and wrote stories for the Virginia Tech Division of Student Affairs.

Shalini Rana, '18

Shalini graduated with double majors in creative writing and professional and technical writing. During her time at Virginia Tech, her poetry was published in undergraduate publications, Silhouette and Philologia, and received third place in the Steger Poetry Prize. Shalini works as a consultant for CollabraLink Technologies and continues writing. In the future, she plans to complete a poetry M.F.A. program.

Colleen Kelly, '18

While double majoring in professional and technical writing and literature and language, Colleen had an internship with Visa in San Francisco, CA. She was able to apply skills learned in her technical editing and user documentation courses, while being mentored by other Hokie graduates. Following graduation, Colleen is working as an Associate Technical Writer at Visa in Austin, TX.

Margaret Smith, '15

While majoring in professional and technical writing, Margaret worked as a Writing Center Coach, served as a Writing Assistant for the Mining and Minerals Engineering Department, and was the Managing Editor of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences undergraduate research journal. She also interned as an Editorial Writer at Whole Foods Magazine. Margaret is now employed as a Senior Copywriter at a digital marketing company.

Rachel Beisser, '19

Rachel served as co-editor-in-chief of an undergraduate research journal and worked in the English Department. After graduating, Rachel began her career as a junior documentation specialist at Parsons Corporation.

Jess Calvert, ’21

While studying Professional and Technical Writing, English, and Creative Writing, Jess explored career options through internships, study abroad opportunities, and campus leadership experiences. She interned with New York Minute Magazine, and Sierra Nevada Corporation. Additionally, during her London Calling! study abroad trip, Jess gained invaluable internship experience with Richmond & Towers Communications. Jess works as a Technical Writer for Sierra Nevada Corporation in Centennial, Colorado.

Careers and Further Study

What Can You Do with a Technical and Scientific Communication Major?

Jobs Held by Our Graduates

• Technical writers
• Technical editors
• Content strategists
• Copywriters
• User experience researchers
• Usability specialists
• Experience architects
• Social media coordinators

Beyond the Classroom

Experiential Learning

• UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
• INTERNSHIPS
• STUDY ABROAD
• STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
• STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

Talk to a professor about designing your own research project to take a deeper look at a topic of your interest. You'll work closely with a faculty advisor to plan a course of action and discuss your findings. You can also participate in a collaborative project where you help a faculty member with their research.

Engage in your profession by writing, researching, editing, and making connections with employers across the country. Apply the knowledge and skills you learn in the classroom to the workplace. Internships earn academic credit and provide valuable professional experience. 

We host a faculty-led trip to London, an exchange program with Loughborough University, and a Wintermester Experience that visits different locations each year .  These experiences enrich your understanding of the history and culture of the English language and its literature.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

You will join an active and welcoming community. Our student organizations include the English Club, Linguistics Club, Creative Writing Club, and Sigma Tau Delta. We hold an annual literary festival, Glossolalia, that features original works including readings and performances by students and visiting writers.

Become a member of the PTW Student Advisory Council, a small group of PTW majors or minors who work with faculty as they provide feedback on curriculum, policy, and other aspects of the program from a student perspective.

To learn more about the PTW Student Advisory Council, contact program director  Jennifer Sano-Francini .

What You'll Study

Bachelor of Arts in English Degree

• Including Virginia Tech's Pathways

Technical and Scientific Communication Major Requirements

• Document Design
• Technical Editing and Style
• Creating User Documentation
• Intercultural Issues in Professional Writing 
• Developing Online Content
• Science Writing
• Grant Writing

Minor and Elective Hours

Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.

120 hrs B.A. English

45 hrs General Education

39 hrs Major Requirements

36 hrs Elective

Campus Life

Virtual tour.

Explore the university through either a guided or self-guided virtual tour.

Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.

Related Programs

How can we help you decide.

Cost and Financial Aid How to Apply

Visit Campus Virtual Tour

Diversity and Inclusion Our Faculty Covid-19 Policy

Email Us Social Media Map

Writing and Communication Program Enhances First-Year Curriculum

Posted August 26, 2024

Writing is getting a big boost in the introductory composition class taken by about one of every three Georgia Tech students.

ENGL 1101 — the first of the required two-course composition sequence for new Georgia Tech students — will now feature more research, idea synthesis, and revised writing than in previous years after a revamp by Writing and Communication Program in the School of Literature Media and Communication.

The changes will better prepare students for success in college and their careers, said Melissa Ianetta , Class of 1958 Professor in Communication and executive director of writing and communication.

“Georgia Tech students are brilliant and capable, and to lead effectively, they need strong communication skills, Ianetta said. “Our new more writing-focused approach in ENGL 1101 does two key things: it meets students where they are, helping them develop revision and composition strategies, and it ensures that they have the foundation needed to succeed in ENGL 1102 and beyond.”

ENGL 1102 is the second of two introductory composition courses offered by LMC. It is taken by nearly all Georgia Tech students and will continue to offer a broader approach to communication, emphasizing visual and multimedia communication in addition to writing.

Senior lecturer Rachel Dean-Ruzicka piloted the new curriculum last year.

“My students seemed to appreciate the distinct skills they take away from each class, and they’re more engaged with the research projects,” Dean-Ruzicka said.

Some of those projects included work on topics including women in Formula One racing, Japanese rock music culture, cultural appropriation in Dune , and mythological influences on the God of War videogame series, she said.

Andy Frazee , principal academic professional and director of writing and communication in LMC, said the revamped curriculum hones in on the persistently vital role of writing, in academia, business, and personal life.

“Writing also plays a vital role in developing critical thinking and clarity of thought, and the changes we’ve made emphasize writing as the basis for communication, which ultimately helps students in both their academic and professional lives,” he said.

In addition to the new curriculum for students, the Writing and Communication Program is also requiring instructors who teach ENGL 1101 an ENGL 1102 to take an additional postdoctoral seminar on teaching writing. Ianetta will lead the seminar.

Related Media

Students in a School of Literature, Media, and Communication class.

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