When you apply to college, there’s a lot that your transcript and GPA do not convey. Whether through your essay or short answers to the included questions, your writing can help Admissions staff get to know you better.  

When we assess college applications, we pay close attention to each student’s essay and/or short answer responses. For students applying test-optional, this is doubly true, as, without your test scores, colleges will put more weight on your question answers and essays. What you choose to write about—and how you approach that topic—gives us a glimpse into who you really are and how you think about yourself and the world around you. We encourage you to take full advantage of this chance to tell us about things like your interests, beliefs, talents, community impact, unique past experiences, or future plans.  

Step 1: Making a Plan

Review due dates and requirements 

Before you start typing anything, familiarize yourself with the application and application process. Carefully read each writing prompt. Note the deadlines and instructions, so that there are no surprises later. (Pro tip: Scholarship deadlines can require that your application be completed by a date different from the admissions deadline, check them both!) If you have any questions or need more information on something, ask now. You can also find us on social media and ask us any questions on a variety of platforms! Asking right away means you won’t have to redo things in the future and you’ll start with a clear understanding of everything that you need to do. 

Create a checklist. 

Once you know what’s included in the application, make a checklist of each step you need to take, what you need to write, and when you want to complete your first and final drafts. When selecting dates, give yourself breathing room by choosing deadlines that are earlier than the school’s deadlines. You want extra time for a few different reasons.

First, you never know when something unexpected might come up that slows you down or prevents you from making progress. It’s good to have time built in for that. Second, you’re more likely to submit a more polished final draft if you can step away from your first draft for a few days before coming back to it with fresh eyes. Finally, some schools (including Pitt!) have rolling admissions, which means that earlier applicants can have a leg up on those who submit their applications later in the year. 

Brainstorm ideas. 

Usually, you get a say in which prompt or prompts you respond to, so start by picking which one(s) you prefer. If you have trouble deciding, jot down the main point you’d highlight or topic you’d cover for each prompt. Which one will help admissions staff get to know you best? What will add something new to your application or showcase your best traits? 

Once you know which prompts you’ll be responding to, think in more detail about what you plan to say. If you’re struggling to come up with what to write, list out some traits, skills, passions, or experiences you might want to highlight. Think about what motivates you, what has shaped your character and personality, and what important lessons you’ve learned over the years. As you write, remember that you shouldn’t try to tell your whole life story in one answer. Instead, pick one theme and main point for each question and stay focused on that! 

Step 2: Getting Your Story Down on Paper

Start early and stick to a deadline. 

Remember those deadlines you gave yourself for your first and final drafts? (Hint: they’re the ones that should be before the real deadlines set by a school.) Make sure you start early enough to meet those dates! The earlier you start writing and working on your application, the more time you have to complete, review, and improve your work. 

Pay close attention to detail. 

We can’t say this enough. Pay attention to what you’re asked to do. Read the questions and follow the instructions fully. The quality of writing and thought behind your answers is what matters most, but word and character requirements or suggestions are there for a reason. If we only ask for 250 words, more is probably not better.

Be honest and authentic. 

Your application and writing should provide insight into who you really are, and our teams have seen enough applications to know when something sounds off. Being caught in a lie or even an exaggeration could ruin your chance of acceptance. Don’t risk it! What we really want are students who will be happy and successful at our university. It’s no good for anyone if you’re accepted into a college that’s a bad fit because your application wasn’t telling the whole truth. 

Don’t expect perfection on your first try. 

Step one is to get something on screen or paper. (Rather than working inside the application, we suggest drafting your essay and answers first in software like Word or a Google doc and then pasting the final versions into your application when you’re ready) However you go about it, don’t try to make your first draft perfect; just think of it as a brain dump.

Think back to what you’ve done when writing essays or long-form answers in your English classes or other courses. Maybe writing outlines was helpful then. If so, try that here. You know what works best for you so follow that process. No matter what, worry about word choice and sentence structure later. Write your ideas down first. Edit later.

Show, not tell. 

Anyone can claim to be anything. We want more. We want proof. Give us specific, concrete examples, and don’t make claims you can’t demonstrate or elaborate on. For example, if you say you care about the environment, tell us about when you went out of your way to increase recycling in your neighborhood, started a campaign to teach others about the benefits of renewable energy, or convinced school board members to adopt more sustainable practices across the district. Whatever it is, show us that you mean what you say. Or, if you’re writing about why you’d be a great fit for our university, customize your answer with groups you would like to get involved with or academic areas you’d explore at Pitt. Don’t copy and paste answers across different colleges you apply to. At best, it sounds generic and unimpressive. At worst, your answer might not even apply to us!

Step 3: Editing and Submitting Your Application

Examine the big picture. 

Before finalizing every individual piece, step back to look at your writing within the context of your full application. What themes, personal values, and strengths does your application highlight? Is anything missing? Is there anything you want to emphasize or add? If so, where might that best fit?

It’s also good to make sure your application isn’t repetitive. Short answer questions should tell us something new about yourself, not repeat what you say in your essay. Likewise, your essay can touch on things you’ve mentioned elsewhere on the application, but only if it expands significantly on those topics.

Review your writing first for content, then grammar. 

Once you’re happy with the overall message you’re conveying, zoom in for a closer look at each piece. Hopefully, it’s been at least a day or two since you wrote your first draft. A fresh perspective can do wonders for finding opportunities to improve paragraph organization, word choice, and sentence style. As you review and edit your writing, look for completeness of thought and how well you reinforce statements and opinions with strong details and examples. Grammar edits can come after you’re satisfied with the content itself.

Get a second opinion. 

Run a spelling and grammar check within Word or whatever program you use. Using Grammarly or a similar tool can also help you to make your writing more engaging. From there, ask a trusted adult (or two)—think a teacher, parent, or group leader—to proofread your work and offer advice. You can ask for general feedback, or, if there’s a particular part of your writing you’re concerned about, let them know to focus on that. Just don’t let your proofreader(s) determine what you write about or how you approach a topic. The tone, content, and general writing style should be your own. Outside advice is welcome, but your application is about you. You always have the final say.

Do a final check. 

After you’re done editing, give yourself a little more time away from your application. Then, come back to it to check your grammar and punctuation one final time. If you’re happy with everything, double-check that everything in the application is complete and filled out correctly before you submit it.

Working on your application to Pitt? We look forward to reading what you have to say in your essay or short answers! For more information about applying, visit admissions.pitt.edu/first-year-student/.