Your college essays are the perfect time to showcase your vast vocabulary and literary flourishes, right? Not exactly. College admissions officers are sick of reading essays that countless English teachers have mulled over. Over here at Ivy Coach, we’re also fed up. But we should back up a bit.

College admissions officers at highly selective institutions want to admit relatable, likable students. Their antennae tingle while reading an essay that genuinely sounds like it came from an optimistic, down-to-earth high schooler with a singular passion that shines through the words. Notice that we didn’t say that admissions officers want to be impressed by advanced vocabulary or overly intellectualized turns of phrase. They’re more interested in the person behind the writing. In other words, the writing should be a window into the applicant’s heart and soul. Pedantic prose only clouds this window with a bunch of smoke and mirrors. So write colloquially!

What Does It Mean to “Write Colloquially” in Your College Admissions Essays?

Unless you’re Mary Shelley, you’re probably not highly trained in the art of communicating yourself as a teenager. That’s okay! Admissions officers are not expecting you to come across as Shakespeare in your college essays. They understand the limits of a high schooler’s grasp on writing and don’t expect you to go above and beyond (within reason!). If your essays are too seamless, verbose, and over-the-top, they might come across as having been written by a professional. And nothing torpedoes an applicant’s chances of admission more than plagiarizing their work!

Too often, applicants heed the advice of their high school English teachers by meticulously following every last (and outdated) convention of written English, starting every sentence with “I,” and making frequent use of transition words like “however” and “nevertheless.” Instead of this stale approach, start your sentences with “but!” Feel free to write a sentence fragment or two (gasp!). As long as your writing comes from the heart and effectively communicates your singular admissions hook, which is the specific and often unusual way you want to change the world through your unique passion, cause, or discipline, you should be in good shape.

The Limits of Writing Colloquially

Can I Use Slang in Admissions Essays?

Don’t get us wrong. We’re not advocating for an approach to your college essays that completely ignores the conventions of written English. None of the words in your essays should be misspelled, none of the subjects and verbs should be in disagreement, and you certainly shouldn’t take an entirely new experimental approach to language that only makes sense to you. It’s even advisable for your essays to be proofread and editorialized by someone you trust, whether that’s a parent, bookish friend, or, yes, even an English teacher. But don’t let this second set of eyes stifle your creativity!

Can I Write in a Familiar Way in Admissions Essays?

When we encourage you to write colloquially, we’re advocating for freedom from the constraining limits of ’proper’ English. Think outside the box! Admissions officers know that it comes much more naturally for you to say, ’I hit my glow up after sophomore year,’ than, ’I improved so much as a person after sophomore year.’ They’ll appreciate that you are treating them as one of your equals by choosing to write in a familiar way.

What’s Ivy Coach’s Advice on Approach in College Admissions Essays?

Ivy Coach’s advice is as follows:

1. Write your college essays in a manner familiar to you so that the words flow out and your flair is preserved.
2. Go to a trusted editor who will tell you if any of your everyday choices fall flat.
3. Incorporate this feedback without losing your voice. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Pen Genuine, Heartfelt Essays 

Striking this delicate balance between a colloquial style that conveys a singular hook but doesn’t come across as illegible is not always easy. Fortunately, Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers is well-practiced in helping academically ambitious high schoolers strike this balance and write compelling essays that vastly improve their odds of admission. You can trust in our expertise to guide you through this process.

If you would like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to a highly selective college, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.