As a first generation college student, I had very little guidance when it came to the college application process. I didn’t even think I had a chance at getting accepted into an out of state college, much less being able to afford the tuition and dorm costs of one.

“Why this college” essays are designed for students to demonstrate their interest and passion for the school community they are applying to. It allows admission officers to picture the student on campus.

Whatever the case, these college application essay topics are based on the Common App essay topics from previous years, so it’s possible you could find one close enough to a selected topic to use for your essay!

Now, if you’re anything like I was in high school, you’re freaking out. You’re breaking down because you think that everyone else in the world has it together and knows what they’re doing. Except for you.

These programs go by a variety of names such as early assurance, guaranteed admissions, or BS/MD programs. In summary, they allow for students to gain preliminary acceptance into medical school assuming they meet the individual program’s minimum requirements.

Writing a college essay is a precarious balancing act. In approximately 650 to 1,000 words, you have to reveal who you are while tailoring your self-image to what you think a panel of administrators are looking for.

So, I took the logical choice and decided to graduate high school and enroll in college a semester early, with only winter break as a buffer between the two.

There is one piece of the application that many students do not know contributes to the decision-making process — demonstrated interest.