college essay first paragraph

Learn how to write an engaging, authentic opener for your college essay with these 9 tips and examples. Avoid overused or vague statements and use image-based descriptions, questions, confessions, twists, and more to hook your reader.

Learn how to write an effective introduction paragraph for your academic essay with this guide. It covers the main goals, steps and tips for hooking your reader, giving background information, presenting your thesis statement and mapping your essay structure.

Learn the purpose, format, and tips of writing an introduction paragraph for academic essays. Find out how to use a hook, context, and a thesis statement to capture your reader's attention and interest.

Learn how to write a college essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. See examples of opening hooks, topic summaries, and thesis statements from real essays.

Learn from the best how to write a college essay that stands out. Get advice from current and former admissions officers on topics such as storytelling, specificity, voice, and more.

Learn different ways to write an essay introduction, such as using facts, questions, scenes, quotes, or thesis statements. Find out how to hook your reader's attention and choose the right tone for your essay.

Learn how to craft a killer introduction for your personal statement with a hook, a story, and an insight. See examples of effective essay beginnings and tips on how to structure your essay.

Learn tips and techniques to write an effective introduction for your college essay. See examples of different types of hooks, such as dialogue, shocker, vivid imaginer, and instant plunger.

Learn how to start your college essay with a surprise, a vivid image, or an original metaphor. Avoid clichés, quotes, and generic statements that don't stand out.

Learn how to write a standout college admissions essay with a unique topic, a compelling narrative, and a creative style. Follow the steps to brainstorm, outline, draft, revise, and get feedback on your essay.

Learn the process of writing a personal statement for your college application, from finding the best topic to editing your draft. Follow the example of Eva, a student who plans and writes her college essay for Emory, UW, UCLA, and Reed.

Learn how to start a college essay with an attention-grabbing hook, a personal connection, a purpose statement, and a thesis statement. See examples of successful introductions and tips for handling sensitive or controversial topics.

Learn the basic structure and elements of a traditional academic essay in three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Find out how to get the reader's attention, provide a debatable thesis, use evidence and analysis, and summarize or explain the significance of your argument.

Learn how to write a college essay that showcases who you are, what you value, and what you can contribute to a campus community. Find out the purpose, importance, and structure of your personal statement, and get examples and exercises to help you brainstorm and outline your essay.

Learn how to write a compelling college essay introduction with these tips from Transizion, a college admissions consulting service. Find out how to start with an attention grabber, a vivid anecdote, or a question, and keep it brief and relevant.

Learn the key elements and strategies for writing a compelling opening paragraph for your essay, composition, or report. See examples of successful introductions that grab attention, inform readers, and spark curiosity.

Learn from real college essay examples that worked for top universities and follow expert advice on how to write a successful essay. Find out the Common App essay prompts, what makes a great essay, and how to show your emotions and values in your application.

Learn how to plan and outline your college application essay to make it flow smoothly and logically. See two examples of effective structures: vignettes with a common theme and narrative structure.

Learn how to write a strong college essay by reading 16 examples of successful applications. See how students approach different prompts, topics, and archetypes for the Common App and other schools.

Learn how to format and structure your college essay for different submission methods and styles. See examples of in-the-moment narrative, extended narrative, and montage essays.

Learn how to write a personal statement for college and university applications with online courses, blog posts, podcasts, and more. Find out how to brainstorm, structure, and revise your essay, and see examples of successful personal statements.

Learn how to write a college essay with three sample essays, each with a weak and a strong version. See how to use anecdotes, metaphors, and insights to show your identity, background, and values.

Learn how to use transition words to structure your essays and improve your writing. Find a list of 190 good transition words for essays, organized by function and type.