college of charleston application essay

First-Year Admission

Come here to make contributions that matter.

Our open and collaborative community creates an intimate setting where you'll have the opportunity to think, create and explore alongside leading faculty in their respective fields. Here, you will be given the freedom to explore your passions and are supported throughout the journey to discovering your best path. Let's take this journey together.

Understanding the Application Process

Applying for first-year admission is simple once you understand the process. It's helpful to familiarize yourself with the necessary steps and gather required documents before you initiate the application process.

• Choose the application deadline that makes sense for you. Find out what our admissions committee is looking for .
• Choose your application method ( College of Charleston Application or Common App ).
• Review your application checklist. Once you submit your application, you'll be able to view your application checklist and track your application file in your College of Charleston Admissions Portal . If you chose the Common App, we'll send you an email after you hit submit, so you can access your College of Charleston Admissions Portal .
• Submit your application materials to complete your application file.

** The College of Charleston essay options are the same as the Common Application essay prompts . We also allow you to provide an essay using a topic of your choice

**Students applying for first-year admission can choose to have their application evaluated without SAT or ACT scores.

Important Dates and Deadlines

The application opens.

View the Parts of the Application webpage for further info.

Apply by: November 1 Receive your decision on: December 1 Enroll by: January 5

You must submit your application, signed Early Decision Agreement , all high school transcripts, and, standardized test scores (if applicable) by November 1.

Early decision is a binding commitment to enroll at the College of Charleston in the following fall, if admitted. If the College of Charleston is your first choice, and you won't use scholarships and financial aid as a primary factor for deciding which school is the best fit for you – then early decision is the best choice for you!

You may apply to other schools but may only apply to one school through a binding, early-decision process. If you are accepted for early decision, you agree to withdraw all applications from any other colleges to which you applied. And, you must submit a nonrefundable deposit by January 5.

Students considering a gap-year are not eligible for early decision.

Early Decision FAQ.

Apply by: November 1 Receive your decision on: December 15

Early action is non-binding. You will receive your admission decision by December 15. To be considered, your application must be complete by November 1.

Students who wish to receive first consideration for the Honors College should submit their application by November 1.

Learn more about the Honors College

Apply by: January 15 Receive your decision on: March 1 Enroll by: March 15

You must submit your application, signed Early Decision Agreement , all high school transcripts, and, standardized test scores (if applicable) by January 15.

Apply by: January 15 Receive your decision on: March 1

To receive your decision by March 1, your application must be complete by January 15.

Notification of admissions decisions for late applications is not guaranteed by March 1.

Apply by: May 1

You must submit your enrollment deposit by May 1. On-campus housing is guaranteed if you've paid your enrollment and housing deposits, and completed your housing application by May 1.

Apply by: November 1

For consideration for the spring semester, your application for admission and supplementary materials must be submitted online, emailed or postmarked by November 1.

For those admitted students seeking housing, an enrollment deposit and housing application should be submitted as soon as possible thereafter. On-campus housing for spring semester is offered if space is available.

Calendar for Incoming Students for Spring 2023 .

Admission Requirements

In a university where originality, innovation and experiential learning matter, we look at more than just test scores in determining admissions. Take a look at what the average first-year student who enrolls at the College looks like to help inform your decision. 

Decision Information

Accepted students are able to join CougarNation in the fall so long as they take the next steps —from confirming enrollment and financial aid to securing housing and registering for orientation. Acceptance to the College is contingent upon maintaining the high level of academic performance that warranted admission for the duration of the applicant's high school career. The admissions committee will review official final transcripts reflecting any coursework currently in progress. Applicants are encouraged to make lasting memories and enjoy every second of their senior year without sacrificing their standard of academic excellence in order to ensure they are able to take advantage of this opportunity to do something truly extraordinary.

iCharleston

Your decision letter may include an invitation to participate in the iCharleston program .

Through the iCharleston, s elect students who do not initially receive an offer of admission have the opportunity to gain guaranteed acceptance to the College by  successfully completing a first semester abroad.

After successfully completing the program, you'll transfer your 15 hours of iCharleston credits and begin the spring semester enrolled at the College of Charleston.

• Visit the iCharleston website.  

Charleston Bridge

Your decision letter may include an invitation to participate in the Charleston Bridge Program .

This opportunity is invitation only for select first-year students from the state of South Carolina.

Through the Charleston Bridge program, you will complete a transitional fall semester with classes through Trident Technical College (TTC). Participating students live in College of Charleston residence halls while completing coursework with TTC faculty in classrooms on the College of Charleston campus.

Students successfully completing the fall semester program requirements and accepted to the College of Charleston will have a seamless pathway to College of Charleston for the spring semester.

• Visit the Charleston Bridge website.  

Deferred students are early applicants who may very well be eligible for admission once the admissions committee has been able to see the entire pool of applicants or received additional information reflecting a more comprehensive academic profile (e.g. first semester grades, additional test scores, etc.). As long as the Office of Admissions receives adequate information to formulate a more comprehensive academic profile, deferred applicants will be notified of a final decision on or before March 1. Deferred applicants are required to submit Fall semester grades to be considered further for admission. Read the Deferred Student FAQs.

While we would love to admit every applicant to the College of Charleston, we must account for capacity limits in our student housing, course offerings and student services. We know there are applicants that would be successful here, and we'd be pleased to admit them should space become available. For now, these students are offered a place on the waitlist. Once a final admission decision is made, we will release decisions through the College of Charleston admissions portal, and email notifications as well.The College of Charleston will try to provide students with a final admission decision no later than June 15. The College will inform students selected for admission of their status for campus housing and any financial aid award before requiring an enrollment decision. Visit our Waitlist FAQ page for more information.

Denied applicants may opt to transfer to the College of Charleston in the future. Denied applicants are only eligible to apply to the College of Charleston again as transfer students after completing at least 12 educational college-level credits and earning a cumulative college grade point average of 2.4.

Financial Aid & Additional Info

Students interested in federal loans and federal/state grants must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

International Application

The College of Charleston believes that diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences are integral parts of a liberal arts education.

College of Charleston (South Carolina)

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at College of Charleston (South Carolina)?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

College of Charleston (South Carolina)’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college essay.

Many students apply to the College of Charleston based on our location, size, reputation, beautiful campus, and nice climate. While these are all important considerations in choosing a college, why is the College of Charleston a particularly good match for you?

Extenuating Circumstances Essay

Are there any anomalies or extenuating circumstances that you’d like us to consider when we review your application?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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College of Charleston Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are College of Charleston's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into College of Charleston and build a strong application.

School location: Charleston, SC

This school is also known as: C of C

Admissions Rate: 75.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at College of Charleston is 75.7% . For every 100 applicants, 76 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet College of Charleston's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

College of Charleston GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at College of Charleston is 4 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4, College of Charleston requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

College of Charleston hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to College of Charleston will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

College of Charleston SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1214

The average SAT score composite at College of Charleston is a 1214 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes College of Charleston Competitive for SAT test scores.

College of Charleston SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1140, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1290. In other words, a 1140 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1290 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

College of Charleston has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, College of Charleston will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and College of Charleston forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1140, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

College of Charleston ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, College of Charleston likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 25

The average ACT score at College of Charleston is 25. This score makes College of Charleston Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though College of Charleston likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to College of Charleston, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

College of Charleston considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1140 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of College of Charleston here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $60
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes Letters of recommendation for Honors College recommended for some freshmen

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office March 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 3
• Social Studies 2
• Electives 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 March 1
• Yes November 1 December 15
• Yes October 15 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 66 Charleston, SC 29424
• Phone: (843) 805-5507 x5507
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in College of Charleston, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to College of Charleston.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than College of Charleston. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for College of Charleston, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for College of Charleston, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If College of Charleston is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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10 ways to own your college admissions essay.

In honor of South Carolina’s College Application Month , College of Charleston experts offer 10 tips to rock your admissions essay. The College’s admissions essay questions ( available now at this link ) are:

• What event in the last ten years will have the greatest impact on the millennial generation?

Time to buckle down!

The admissions essay is an important part of the application, and one of the few parts you have control over as you enter your senior year of high school – the grades you’ve already received and the extracurricular activities you’ve already participated in won’t change, but your essay is what you make it.

Associate Director of Admissions Christina DeCario looks for clues about an applicant’s personality, college preparedness and writing skills in the admissions essay. Here, DeCario and English professor Whitney Adams offer tips for you to impress admissions counselors with your essay, show that you’re capable of college-level writing and (bonus) come extra prepared for your required first-year English course.

1. Look at it as an opportunity.

“The essay is a very important part of the holistic review process,” DeCario says. “If your profile is a little uneven, like you’re successful outside the classroom but your grades aren’t quite there, or you’re the valedictorian but you’re not a good test taker, the essay can push you from a maybe to a yes. Just show us you’ll bring something unique to campus.”

RELATED: 8 Do’s and Don’ts of College Admissions Essays

2. be confident in your writing..

Adams has noticed that many students she works with aren’t confident in their writing abilities. “If you write without confidence, you’re not convincing yourself or your reader, so find your own writing voice and trust yourself,” she advises.

3. Show, don’t tell.

“Include something I won’t get from your transcript,” DeCario suggests. “I know what you’re interested in studying and where you live from your application. Use the essay to give me insight into your personality by providing anecdotes that give me something new.”

4. Don’t go over the word limit.

It may seem obvious, but much of high school writing is based on a minimum number of pages or words, while the admissions essay has a maximum (500 words). “It forces you to be succinct, so write efficiently,” Adams says.

5. Proofread three ways.

DeCario recommends that you “proofread. Have someone else proofread. Then read it out loud to yourself. When you proofread, you should check for grammar and sentence structure. When someone else proofreads they will be looking for clarity in the essay. When you read it out loud, you’ll catch errors or even entire missing words like ‘a’ or ‘and’ that you didn’t catch when you read it in your head.”

6. If you make a claim, back it up.

Eyes on the prize

This is an easy way to show what you’ve learned from writing in high school. “The biggest problem I come across in my classes is students making statements without backing them up with evidence,” Adams says.

This may or may not apply to your essay, but if you do make claims that you can’t prove without an outside source, make sure you include evidence.

7. Explain why.

“I focus a lot on the question, ‘so what?’ in my classes,” Adams explains. “Why does it matter, why is it important? You have to look at a subject, even if you are the subject, critically to be able to answer that question, but it’s the question that readers care about most.”

8. Have a conclusion.

Make sure to wrap up your points in a way that’s true to the rest of the essay. “So many essays start off well, the second and third paragraphs are solid, and then they just end,” DeCario says. “You need to explain why you told me all the things you wrote about earlier in the essay. Relate it to yourself and the essay question.”

9. Answer the question…

“Let’s say you’re asked to describe yourself in one word: then describe yourself in one word. Don’t describe yourself in two words and don’t say you can’t describe yourself in one word because there’s a word for that – undefined – and because that’s what we asked you to do. It also relates to college preparedness. If a professor asks you to describe yourself in one word and you describe yourself in two, then you’ve failed.”

10. … The whole question

If an essay question is two parts, “keep the entire question in mind,” DeCario recommends. Make sure that you’re providing a thorough answer to the prompt.

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College of Charleston

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities, cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world. Nearly 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. Students work closely with a devoted faculty of distinguished teacher-scholars. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages and the arts.

Academic programs.

• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Social Science
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Intramural/Club Sports
• LGBTQIA Services
• Military/Veteran Services
• On-Campus Housing
• ROTC Program
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research
• Veteran Fee Waiver

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

The admissions process can seem daunting but we have streamlined our application process to make it easy for you to apply.  •    Review our application deadlines . •    Understand what we need to complete your application file  and explore whether submitting test scores is the right choice. •    Learn more about what our admissions committee is looking for .

Transfer students make up a large part of the College of Charleston student body. Each year, we welcome many students from other institutions as well as those with military backgrounds. Whatever your reasons for transferring to the College might be, you’ll find lots of students like you on campus.  If you are a transfer student you must apply using the College of Charleston application instead of the Common App. Learn more about transferring to the College of Charleston today.

Additional Information

• scholarships

Voted America's Most Beautiful Campus by Travel + Leisure, the College of Charleston is a must-see! We recommend that you schedule your visit at least two weeks prior to visiting campus. Or, check out our virtual tour right now!

Admissions office

66 George St Charleston , SC 29424 , United States of America

[email protected]

Phone number

843.953.5607

For first-year students

Admissions website.

admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen/index.php

Financial aid website

finaid.cofc.edu/

For transfer students

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How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay

The Essay Could Turn a "Maybe" Into a Defininte "Yes"

• Essay Samples & Tips
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• B.A., English, University of Alabama at Birmingham

The college application essay is an essential part of the admissions process. However, when Prompt.com reviewed thousands of application essays, the company noticed that the average essay was rated C+. A report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that grades in college prep courses were the most important factor, followed by admission test scores. However, the application essay was ranked much higher than recommendations from counselors and teachers, class rank, the interview, extracurricular activities and many other factors. Since the college application essay is so important, ThoughtCo spoke with several experts to discover the best ways to write one that will win over college admissions officers.

Why the College Application Essay is So Important

So many elements are included in the application process that students may wonder why they need to worry about the essay. Brad Schiller, co-founder and CEO of Prompt.com , tells ThoughtCo that many applicants to the same schools may have comparable grades and test scores. “However, the essay is the differentiator; it's one of the few pieces of an application over which a student has direct control, and it provides readers with a sense of who the student is, how the student will fit in at the school, and how successful the student will be both in college and upon graduation.”

And for students with an uneven profile, the college application essay may provide a chance to shine. Christina DeCario, the associate director of Admissions at the College of Charleston , tells ThoughtCo that the essay provides clues about a student’s writing skills, personality and preparedness for college . She advises students to view the essay as an opportunity. “If your profile is a little uneven, like you’re successful outside the classroom but your grades aren’t quite there, or you’re the valedictorian but you’re not a good test taker, the essay can push you from a maybe to a yes,” DeCario explains.

How to Choose a Topic

According to Schiller, such topics as the student’s goals, passions, personality, or periods of personal growth are all good areas in which to start brainstorming. However, he says that students rarely select topics in these areas.

Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions programs at Kaplan Test Prep agrees, and says the aim of the essay is to present the student as thoughtful and mature. “The key is to inspire using a personal story that captures this quality.” Papszycki believes that transformational experiences are great topics. “For example, did you overcome extreme shyness by shining in the school musical production? Did a family crisis change your outlook on life and make you a better child or sibling?” When students can tell a sincere and persuasive story, Papszycki says colleges believe they can bring distinct experiences to the college environment.

Creativity is also a good tool to employ when writing the essay. Merrilyn Dunlap, interim director of Admissions at Clarion University of Pennsylvania , tells ThoughtCo, “I still remember reading an essay about why the orange flavored tic tac is the best tic tac to eat.”

She also recalls an essay that was written when the MasterCard “priceless” ads were popular. “The student opened the essay with something like:

Cost to visit five college campuses = $200.

Application fees for five colleges = $300

Moving away from home for the first time = priceless

In addition, Dunlap says she likes to see essays on why a student chose a particular field of study because these types of essays tend to bring out the student’s emotions. “When they write about something that they are passionate about, it is in their favor; they become real to us.”

So, what types of topics should be avoided? Schiller cautions against any subject that could portray the student negatively. “Some common poor choices of topics we see are getting poor grades due to lack of effort, depression or anxiety that you have not overcome, conflicts with other people that went unresolved, or poor personal decisions,” he warns.

Do’s and Don’ts to Writing a College Application Essay

After choosing a compelling topic, our panel of experts offer the following advice.

Create an outline.  Schiller believes that it’s important for students to organize their thoughts, and an outline can help them structure their thoughts. “First, always start with the end in mind – what do you want your reader to think after reading your essay?” And, he recommends using the thesis statement to quickly get to the essay’s main point.

Don’t write a narrative. While Schiller admits that the college essay should provide information about the student, he warns against a long, rambling account. “Stories and anecdotes are an integral part of showing your reader who you are, but a good rule of thumb is to make these no more than 40% of your word count and leave the rest of your words for reflection and analysis.”

Have a conclusion. “So many essays start off well, the second and third paragraphs are solid, and then they just end,” laments DeCario. “You need to explain why you told me all the things you wrote about earlier in the essay; relate it to yourself and the essay question.”

Revise early and often . Don’t just write one draft and think you’re done. Papszycki says the essay will need to undergo several revisions – and not just to catch grammatical errors. “Ask your parents, teachers, high school counselors or friends for their eyes and edits.” She recommends these individuals because they know the student better than anyone else, and they also want the student to succeed. “Take their constructive criticism in the spirit for which they intend - your benefit.”

Proofread to the max. DeCario recommends having someone else proofread it. And then, she says the student should read it out loud. “When you proofread, you should check for grammar and sentence structure; when someone else proofreads, they will be looking for clarity in the essay; when you read it out loud, you’ll catch errors or even entire missing words like ‘a’ or ‘and’ that you didn’t catch when you read it in your head.”

Don’t cram for the essay. Start early so there will be plenty of time. “The summer before senior year can be a great time to start work on your essay,” Papszycki explains.

Use humor judiciously . “It’s fine to use wit and imagination, but don't try to be humorous if that's not your personality,” Papszycki advises. She also warns against forcing humor because it can have an unintended effect.  

Additional Tips

For students who want more information on ways to write a stellar college application essay, Schiller recommends a persona.prompt.com quiz that helps students identify their "personas," and also an essay outlining tool .

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Bachelor’s Essay (PHIL 499)

The Bachelor’s Essay is a year-long research and writing project carrying six (6) hours of credit.  It is normally taken during the senior year under the close guidance of the supervising professor.  The subject of the Bachelor’s Essay must be appropriate for a substantial research project.  Typically, the essay will be 35-50 pages, though the exact length of the essay will necessarily vary.

Students should begin work on the Bachelor’s Essay with a well-defined topic so they can investigate their subject thoroughly.  During the Fall semester, the student should meet regularly with the supervisor to discuss their progress and to clarify and refine the topic.  Writing should not be postponed until the Spring; rather, students should begin writing early and should submit drafts of sections to the supervisor for critical review periodically throughout the year.  A complete draft must be submitted to the tutor by April 10, including a 1-2 page abstract for distribution to department faculty. The final copy must be submitted to the tutor by May 1.  The student will present and defend the essay at the annual Philosophy Student Research Colloquium. Bachelor’s Essays are catalogued and retained in the collection of the College library.

  Some Recent Philosophy Bachelor’s Essays

• Arguing About Abortion
• Legality, Ethics, and Medical Developement of Organ Transplant
• Uncovering the Non-Conceptual
• International Human Rights & Cultural Pluralism
• Names & Reference
• Neuroscience and Free Will
• Philosophical Hermeneutics: Hans Georg Gadamer
• Knowledge and Faith in Thomas Aquinas

Pre-requisites: Senior standing, philosophy major, overall GPA of at least 3.25, plus approval by the tutor and the department.

Deadline: April 15th.

For application procedures, please see this form .

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Bachelor’s Essay Student Workflow

This workflow is designed to provide you with a workflow process to follow as you plan your senior thesis (the bachelor’s essay). This is a six-credit project completed over two semesters (the six hours of credit assumes that the student completes approximately 10 hours of engagement in the project per week).  It should be a project that reflects the scholarly and/or creative work of the discipline.

We strongly advise you to approach a faculty advisor at least one semester before their project is scheduled to begin.  You should bring a short (one page) project description accompanied by a bibliography/list of materials to the meeting.  Ideally, every one of you will register for the project through the departmental 499A/B (e.g., PSYC 499A/B, BIOL 448A/B, 498A/B, 499A/B). However, in cases where a project is interdisciplinary or where the student would like to complete a project outside of the major, you can register for the BE using the 499A/B number of the faculty leading your project.  In exceptional circumstances students may use the HONS 499A/B number, but his should be a last resort.

Remember, faculty do not get paid for directing senior theses.  Therefore, it is vital to approach someone with whom you have an existing relationship in a timely manner to demonstrate that you are serious about the project.  Most departments also have guidelines about how many students faculty members should supervise, as well as policies about how to manage bachelor essay proposals. In all cases, the Honors College supports these departmental standards.

The directions below are designed to give you a workflow process to help you compartmentalize things.

1. Check with your department to see if there is an official application process for the BE. Some departments (like English and History) require students to write a proposal, while others simply require the approval of the department chair.  Any departmental processes must be completed before you begin the individual enrollment form.

2. This next step is the most important of all; choosing a faculty member to lead your project. Our advice is to (1) approach someone you already know whose (2) research specialty is related to your project.  By approaching an advisor early with a written proposal, you greatly increase the chances that they will say yes.

3. Complete the individual enrollment form for the BE. Your advisor must complete this step for you; only faculty have access to this form on the CofC internal HUB.  It contains instructions for the supporting information that must be submitted with your application.   You must attach a completed syllabus with specific learning outcomes.

4. The deadline for individual enrollment courses is usually about three weeks into the semester. If you were signing up a student to begin the BE in the fall, for example, you would need to have everything done by the end of the first week in September.

5. You and your advisor will need to set up a regular schedule of meetings in order to monitor progress. What this schedule looks like will depend on your discipline and the nature of the project.

6. ADDENDUM: off-campus projects. Many students use research they have done off-campus (at MUSC, for example) as their BE project.  If you are in this situation, the registration process is slightly different.  You may work with a non-CofC faculty member, but you must identify a CofC faculty member in the same field to physically sign you up for the 6 credits of senior thesis.  This requires you to do a bit of triangulation between your two advisors.  The “on-site” advisor is actually leading your project and doing the grading, but the “CofC” advisor has to help you complete the paperwork and enter the grades for you.

7. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Ganaway at [email protected] .

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Willow tree anonymous, common application - free response question.

June 4th 2006

The volunteers in the red shirts direct us to enter our corrals. It's race time. Twenty-three thousand of us cram into our assigned areas and stand shoulder-to-shoulder, no room to move. I know what lies in wait—fifty-four thousand steps, or twenty-six and two tenths miles. It is surreal to think that among all these thousands of competitors, I am the youngest participant. How did I get here?

Every night around 8:15, my dad started running on the treadmill upstairs. The placement of our treadmill was that it was directly above the chandelier in our kitchen nook, near my bedroom. For forty-five minutes, five nights a week, our chandelier rattled as my dad ran, and as it was a comforting sound, it lulled me to sleep. Saturday afternoons my dad ran outside and my brothers and I tried to keep pace with him—an all but impossible task. The "Saturday Run" was three miles round trip, with a steep downhill for the last half-mile that needed to be climbed on the way back. My brothers and I were always instructed to wait under a particular willow tree just before the hill so we would not have to face the challenge.

One weekend, I decided it was time to bypass that willow tree, to "go the distance...

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Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

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Phi beta kappa.

Thirty Wofford College students and recent graduates were initiated as members-in-course during the college’s Phi Beta Kappa ceremony on Thursday, April 18, in Leonard Auditorium, Main Building. 

Students are normally considered for election to Wofford’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter after they have earned 100 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.6. Election is not automatic. Resident members of the chapter consider scholarship, character, intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, diversity of academic interests and pursuits, and other factors in the election process. The chapter may elect only 10% of a graduating class in any one year. 

Inducted were:  

Class of 2023:

Juliana Bennett Brooks, Peachtree City, Georgia

Hannah Alexander Dudley, Charlotte, North Carolina

Roxanne Sam Mittelstaedt, Greenville, South Carolina 

Class of 2024:

Rahee Rajesh Amin, Spartanburg, South Carolina

James Carter Bogan III, Spartanburg, South Carolina

Sarah Helen Buckmaster, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Feng Chen, Spartanburg, South Carolina

Tucker Hutchens Couch, Bristol, Tennessee

Matthew Phillip Yu Discaya, Duncan, South Carolina

Caroline Renee Doss, Greensboro, North Carolina

Abigail Catherine Ellett, Spartanburg, South Carolina

Kaelyn Marie Emon, Inman, South Carolina

John Elliott Epps, Columbia, South Carolina

Mackenzie Ann Gavin, Lincolnton, North Carolina

Alice Austin Givens, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Joshua Hunt Grafe, Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Meredith Estelle Hoff, Rock Hill, South Carolina

Kyle Aidan Jenkins, Rock Hill, South Carolina

Alexandra Akins Keels, Chester, South Carolina

Madison Noelle Kutyla, Lexington, South Carolina

Joshua Charles Lipscomb, Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Grayson Parker McDowell, Gaffney, South Carolina

Emily Elizabeth Monteverde, Easley, South Carolina

Michaela Porcher Peeples, Lexington, South Carolina

Taylor Nikita Pirttima, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Julia Marie Richardson, Moore, South Carolina

Alec Cade Schrader, Fredonia, New York

Anna Rush Schultz, Greenville, South Carolina

Kristoffer Andrew Sellers, Chesnee, South Carolina

Daiven Shub Sharma, Charlotte, North Carolina

Godwins Tuyishime, North Charleston, South Carolina

Brandi Rose Wylie, Spartanburg, South Carolina

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