The to-do list for college applications is long: filling in the Common App, gathering references, making lists of extracurriculars and volunteer activities—and writing essays, potentially lots of them. Depending on the size of your college list and the requirements of the schools on it, you might find yourself writing a dozen or more, including the Common App personal statement and college-specific supplemental essays.
You may be wondering how important these essays are; after all, more than a million US students apply to thousands of colleges every year—around 7.5 million applications total in the 2023–2024 academic year. With so many applications to review, do colleges actually read application essays? Let’s discuss.
The Purpose of College Application Essays
Simply put, college application essays give you the chance to show the school who you are as a person. Much of your application is facts and figures: high school classes and activities, grades and test scores. Your personal statement and supplemental essays help colleges get to know the person behind those lists and numbers: who you are, what makes you tick, whether you’re a good fit for the college and how you might fit into their incoming class—and just as importantly, whether the school is a good fit for you.
Your essays can also help you stand out in a crowd of similar applicants. Students tend to apply (mostly) to schools where their academic profile is a good match, so your target school applications are likely competing with other students whose academics and extracurriculars look a lot like yours, and essays are often the deciding factor in who gets in and who doesn’t. For reach schools, essays can be even more important, highlighting personal strengths that may not show up in your transcript or test scores but show admissions officers that you’d be a positive addition to the incoming class.
Do Colleges Actually Read Application Essays?
The short answer is: Yes, colleges do actually read application essays, but the importance of the essays relative to your overall application to any particular college depends on a variety of factors, including the school’s size and selectivity and the number of students applying that year. Generally speaking, essays matter more for smaller and more selective colleges and less for larger public schools.
Who Reads Application Essays?
Your application may be reviewed by one or many people, depending on the school’s process. Some schools divide applications up between individual admissions officers, while others have admissions committees that often include faculty, staff, and sometimes even students who evaluate applications and weigh in on each candidate. Very selective schools may have primary readers who look at applications and provide a summary to the admissions committee.
But whether it’s an individual or a committee, the people who read your application essays know the school well and will help determine whether you and the college are a good match for each other beyond just your academic record.
How College Essays Are Evaluated
Admissions officers read hundreds—or even thousands—of applications every year, and depending on the size of the school, they may spend as little as 7 minutes on each application—and that’s the whole application, including transcripts and test scores, activity lists, recommendations, and essays. They may spend only a few minutes reading your essays, so it’s critical to make a strong impression in that short time.
Beyond the basics—whether you’ve answered the prompt, written within the word limit, and used proper spelling and grammar—there are a few things admissions officers look for in every essay.
Voice
A strong voice highlights your personality, which is exactly what admissions officers want to see. Writing from your unique perspective, describing something of your world as you see and experience it, helps you tell them a story only you can tell, written in a way only you can tell it.
Authenticity
Authenticity is key to writing a compelling essay. It’s hard to write well when you’re trying to sound like someone you’re not, so it’s important to be yourself. Sharing your values and beliefs and writing about things that are meaningful to you gives admissions officers a window into who you are as a person.
Insight
Admissions officers don’t want to just read a compelling story; they want to know why you’re telling them that story and what it means about you. Essays that show personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself demonstrate that you have the maturity and self-awareness necessary to succeed in college (and life!).
Fit
All of this relates to fit. Authentic, insightful essays written in a strong voice that demonstrate your personality, passions, values, and beliefs—the things that make you the whole person you are, beyond your academic achievements—will help the admission officers determine whether you and the college are a good match for each other.
While a strong essay can make your application stand out from the crowd at a target school or elevate your application at a reach school, a weak essay can hurt your chances at any school. Poorly written essays tell the school that you either didn’t care enough to put in the effort or don’t have what it takes to do the sort of writing you’ll need to succeed in college—and neither impression is likely to lead to an acceptance letter.
When Essays Matter Most
While essays are always an important factor in admissions decisions, there are a few circumstances where essays matter even more.
Reach Schools
For reach schools—colleges where your academic profile falls below that of the average admitted student—a compelling essay is crucial to your chances of admission. Essays that highlight your personality and passions, display your potential, and demonstrate your character can play a role in convincing admissions officers to give you the opportunity to show you have what it takes to succeed as a student.
Borderline Applications
Likewise, when your application falls on the borderline between acceptance and rejection, a strong essay can make a real difference. By showcasing your strengths and the unique qualities that set you apart from other borderline applicants, your essays can be the deciding factor in moving your application to the “accepted” pile.
Test-Blind/Test-Optional Schools
Admissions officers at test-blind schools (which don’t consider applicants’ ACT or SAT scores) and test-optional schools (which allow applicants to opt out of submitting test scores) take a more holistic approach to evaluating candidates. Because test scores aren’t considered, your essays become a critical tool to highlight your strengths, and because these schools are particularly interested in assessing the whole student and not just their academics, essays that show your unique personality and character give admissions officers the insight they’re looking for.
Conclusion
At first glance, it might seem that application essays are a formality—just one more thing to check off the college application to-do list—but they’re actually pretty important. They offer a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your overall application, and at many colleges, they are a key factor in admissions decisions.
While even a stellar essay is no substitute for a strong academic record and good test scores, essays can provide admissions officers with insight that allows them to see beyond your academics—and that can make all the difference.
Need help crafting a standout college essay? The Essay Coaches at HelloCollege are professional writers and editors who know how to make your story shine. Reach out today for a free consultation and learn how we help students stand out from the crowd.
