BY: STEVE LIPMAN
College admissions departments have their work cut out for them with thousands of essays coming across their desks every year. Having been in that position myself for many years, I can confidently say that not all essays are created equal.
While it’s crucial to know the basic requirements for both the Common Application and school-specific essays, it’s the elements of your writing that tell your story, that hit a funny bone or play on an emotional note, making your essay stand out. In all my years of consulting students on creating an effective and eye-catching essay, believe me when I say: Personality matters.
With the help of Inside Music Schools, your essay will be sure to grab the reader’s attention because I used to be on the other side of the page, so to speak. But before you take advantage of my expertise, read on about what makes a music college essay truly standout.
Develop Your College Application Essay Process
Unless you’ve got your heart set on a single school (something we do not recommend), then you’ll have to contend with the requirements of several schools.
One of the best ways to organize your application process is to develop a spreadsheet. The application requirements (including whether or not they require an essay or personal statement) should be listed on the school’s website, so pay close attention to what your school of choice is asking for in their college essay submissions.
Next, get comfortable with writing multiple drafts, and writing in your own authentic voice. One misconception many students and parents hold is that these essays must read “beyond your years.” Remember, it’s completely acceptable to sound like a high school student (if you are one), so don’t think you need to use highly intellectual language or weave a complex story.
“Show, don’t tell. Take that small space to express your feelings and insights through the subject of the prompt.”
Karen Kerr
The Topic of Your Essay is You
Simply put, don’t talk about your grades and extracurriculars — those will be included in your application. Carefully consider the prompts for the essay portion and see which resonates with you the most. This is of utmost importance because, as I stated above, your own story is your best friend in the case of college essays. Whichever subject really speaks to you will most likely be the best option for creating a truly attention-grabbing piece of writing.
For inspiration, think about what has inspired you to play music or what brought you to your chosen craft, and how that answer might fit into the prompt. As the hallmark of your personal musical journey, admissions staff will want to know the reason behind why you are choosing a musical career.
My senior consulting associate, Karen Kerr, puts it succinctly — “Show, don’t tell. Take that small space to express your feelings and insights through the subject of the prompt.”
Admissions Essay Format
The format of your essay should be clear, easily readable, and conform to all the requirements of the given school. Remember, this can change from school to school, so make sure you understand the formatting requirements for whatever school you’re applying to. For instance, Juilliard’s dance program calls for no more than two double-spaced pages with a 12-point font.
And getting it right the first time is crucial. According to Forbes Magazine, nearly 50 percent of schools employ artificial intelligence software to scan and review essays, and formatting mistakes will be caught and thrown out. Check, double-check, and triple-check before sending out your essay with your application.
Included in format considerations, make sure you do not exceed the word limit. Word limits are put in place so that college admissions staff do not get bogged down with lengthy essay responses, and surpassing those limits is an easy way to get your application needlessly passed over.
What NOT To Do With Your College Application Essay
It’s all well and good to know how to write your essay, but let’s go over some major mistakes students make that will lower your chances of consideration.
First, avoid bragging or overemphasizing how good you are. The fact of the matter is that admissions staff are assuming you’re already good, but they want to understand your motivations, your personality and especially what you can bring to the programs they offer.
Stay away from sounding like you deserve to be accepted into the school, or what I might call sounding entitled. Humility goes a long way when presenting yourself as an artist, and admission staff are keen on those students who understand they are embracing their education to learn, not to impress.
In the spirit of being original and authentic, avoid generic phrases like “I wish to perform at the highest degree possible” or anything that might sound great on a job application. At your core, you are an artist, and music school is about growing, regardless of whether you are a performer, producer, or interested in music technology or the music industry.
Apply to College with the Inside Music Schools Process
Seems daunting, doesn’t it?
The college application process, essays and all, can be overwhelming, especially because this is the first (and perhaps only time) you will be going through it. But with decades of experience leading the Berklee College of Music admissions program — and 15 additional years of guiding students and parents through the process to get into their top schools all over the country (and the world) — I’ve seen which essays get results, and which ones don’t.
We also have access to an exclusive essay assessment program — powered by English teachers and professional writers — that will boost the quality of your college essay.
We work with students and guide them through every step from ideation and topic choice to revisions and submission. The process creates the best possible essay to accompany winning applications, all while diminishing the anxiety of the whole process.
Once you submit the IMS online form (linked below) we work to assess your needs and begin to develop a plan for fulfilling all the application requirements while discovering the elements that make you shine. We’re here to help you put your best foot forward, so contact us today so we can lead you on your way to the beginning of your musical education journey!
Founder & President at Inside Music Schools | Insidemusicschools.com
Head of admissions and faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 40 years, Steve Lipman and our team at Inside Music Schools speak music as their primary language. We approach each client contact with open eyes, ears, and minds. As the country’s premier music school consultant, he has advised students from the United States, Canada, the U.K., India, Singapore, Dubai, China, Australia, Turkey, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Israel, Italy, Russia and elsewhere.