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At some point in your college career you will be expected to write an essay....or two....or ten. As an English major, I have probably written at least a hundred. Even if your major is heavy on the math and science, you won't be able to escape having to conjure up the inevitable, almighty essay. Just think of college essays as a rite of passage; every student must suffer through the agony of writing them. You might as well resign yourself to learn how to turn in a winning paper. Here are three elements a student needs to produce an acceptable college essay:

1.)COLLEGE LEVEL WRITING SKILLS

Don't assume that all students who applied and were accepted into college have the necessary tools to write at the college level. How you did on the language section of the SAT should be your first clue as to whether your skills are up to snuff. If that score wasn't stellar, don't let it get you down. There are a few ways to remedy this problem. Some schools will have a pre-English 101 course, a sort of writing review class. Don't be ashamed to enroll in this if your writing skills are shaky. Though you probably won't receive anything more than elective credit for such a class it will be well worth the investment of time and money to bolster your writing ability. I can't think of many classes where writing essays isn't on the syllabus. This is a skill you must master to have any kind of college success. It never hurts to find out where the campus writing center is. The students and professors who work there can give excellent advice on polishing up your essays. Private tutors are also available. Check out your college's English department for further details.

2.)AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AN ESSAY IS

An essay can take many forms and serve many purposes. Think back to high school English class where your teacher tried to drill into your brain that an essay is a five paragraph piece of writing with an introduction, main body, and conclusion. This is the basic skeleton of a college essay. The main difference is that college writing need not adhere to the stringent form of the five paragraph variety. College essays are more advanced and evolved. You still need a thesis, information to back it up, and a conclusion, but you have more freedom in your formatting. You probably won't be marked off in college for writing a six paragraph essay like you would be in high school. Sticking close to the basics of the classic essay form is your best bet if writing is not a strong skill. A college

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