The Art of Writing a Short and Sweet College Essay About Yourself
College Essay Describe Yourself In 140 Characters
One of the most common and challenging college essay prompts is to describe yourself in 140 characters or less. This prompt may seem simple at first glance, but it requires a lot of creativity, self-awareness, and strategic thinking to craft a compelling and memorable description of yourself. In this article, we will guide you through the process of brainstorming, writing, and editing your description in 140 characters. We will also provide you with some examples and tips to help you ace this essay prompt.
College Essay Describe Yourself In 140 Characters
Why is it important to describe yourself in 140 characters?
The purpose of this essay prompt is to test your ability to present yourself in a concise and effective way. Colleges want to know who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. They want to see your personality, values, goals, passions, and unique traits. They also want to see how you can communicate your message in a limited space and time.
Describing yourself in 140 characters is not only important for college applications, but also for other aspects of your life. For example, you may need to write a short bio for your social media profiles, your resume, or your personal website. You may also need to introduce yourself in a networking event, a job interview, or a pitch presentation. Therefore, learning how to describe yourself in 140 characters can help you make a positive first impression and showcase your personal brand.
How to brainstorm ideas for your description?
Before you start writing your description, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to say about yourself. To do that, you need to brainstorm some ideas that reflect your strengths, achievements, interests, and values. Here are some methods that can help you generate ideas for your description:
Use the SWOT analysis method
The SWOT analysis method is a tool that helps you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can use this method to analyze yourself from different perspectives and find out what makes you unique and valuable. To use this method, you need to create a table with four quadrants and fill them with the following information:
Strengths
Weaknesses
What are your skills, talents, abilities, or qualities that give you an advantage over others?
What are your areas of improvement or challenges that you face or want to overcome?
Opportunities
Threats
What are the external factors or situations that can help you achieve your goals or dreams?
What are the external factors or situations that can hinder or harm your progress or success?
For example, if you are applying for a computer science program, your SWOT analysis table may look something like this:
Strengths
Weaknesses
- Passionate about coding and problem-solving- Won several hackathons and coding competitions- Fluent in multiple programming languages and frameworks
- Struggle with public speaking and presentation skills- Lack of experience in working with diverse teams- Tend to procrastinate and miss deadlines
Opportunities
Threats
- High demand for computer science graduates in the job market- Access to online courses and resources to learn new skills- Networking opportunities with mentors and peers in the field
- High competition and expectations from other applicants and students- Rapid changes and updates in technology and industry standards- Ethical and social issues related to computer science and its applications
Once you have completed your SWOT analysis table, you can use it to highlight your strengths and opportunities, address your weaknesses and threats, and show how you can contribute to the college and society.
Use the STAR method
The STAR method is a technique that helps you structure your answers to behavioral questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. You can use this method to describe a specific example or story that demonstrates your skills, achievements, or values. To use this method, you need to follow these steps:
Describe the situation or context of your example or story.
Describe the task or goal that you had to accomplish or achieve.
Describe the action or steps that you took to complete the task or reach the goal.
Describe the result or outcome of your action, including the impact or benefit that it had.
For example, if you want to showcase your leadership skills, your STAR method answer may look something like this:
Situation: I was the captain of my high school soccer team.
Task: I had to lead my team to win the regional championship.
Action: I organized regular practices, motivated my teammates, communicated with the coach, and devised strategies for each game.
Result: We won the regional championship and qualified for the national tournament. We also improved our teamwork and sportsmanship.
Once you have written your STAR method answer, you can use it to summarize your example or story in one sentence that highlights your skill, achievement, or value.
Use the elevator pitch method
The elevator pitch method is a strategy that helps you create a short and persuasive speech that introduces yourself and your value proposition. You can use this method to describe yourself in a way that captures the attention and interest of your audience. To use this method, you need to answer these questions:
Who are you?
What do you do or want to do?
What are your skills, achievements, or values?
What are your goals or dreams?
What are you looking for or offering?
For example, if you want to introduce yourself as an aspiring journalist, your elevator pitch may look something like this:
Hello, my name is Jane Doe. I'm a senior at ABC High School and the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. I love writing stories that inform, inspire, and entertain people. I have won several awards for my journalism work, including the National Scholastic Press Association Award. My goal is to pursue a degree in journalism at XYZ College and become a professional reporter. I'm looking for an opportunity to join your prestigious college and learn from your renowned faculty and alumni.
Once you have written your elevator pitch, you can use it to condense your introduction into one sentence that summarizes who you are and what you offer.
How to write your description in 140 characters?
After you have brainstormed some ideas for your description, you need to write them in 140 characters or less. This may seem difficult at first, but it is possible if you follow these tips:
Use clear and concise language
The key to writing a short and effective description is to use clear and concise language. This means that you should avoid unnecessary words, jargon, slang, or filler words that do not add any value or meaning to your message. You should also use simple and direct sentences that convey your message clearly and quickly. For example:
Avoid
Use
passionate about coding and problem-solving.
I love coding and problem-solving.
I have a lot of experience in working with diverse teams and collaborating with different people.
I work well with diverse teams and people.
My dream is to become a professional reporter and write stories that can make a difference in the world.
I aspire to be a reporter and make a difference.
Use keywords and phrases that showcase your personality and skills
Another tip to writing a short and effective description is to use keywords and phrases that showcase your personality and skills. These are words or expressions that describe your qualities, abilities, interests, or values that make you stand out from others. You should choose keywords and phrases that are relevant to your field, goal, or audience. For example:
Field
Keywords and phrases
Computer science
Coding, programming, hacking, debugging, algorithm, AI, machine learning, data science, etc.
Journalism
Writing, reporting, editing, interviewing, storytelling, investigating, researching, fact-checking, etc.
Music
Singing, playing, composing, performing, recording, producing, mixing, mastering, etc.
You should also use keywords and phrases that reflect your personality traits or skills that are relevant to your field, goal, or audience. For example:
Personality traits or skills
Keywords and phrases
Creativity
Innovative, original, imaginative, artistic, inventive, etc.
Leadership
Influential, inspiring, motivating, decisive, visionary, etc.
CommunicationPersuasive, articulate, eloquent, expressive, engaging, etc.
Use humor, creativity, or emotion to stand out One more tip to writing a short and effective description is to use humor, creativity, or emotion to stand out from the crowd. These are elements that can make your description more memorable, appealing, and relatable to your audience. You can use humor, creativity, or emotion to show your personality, values, or passions in a unique and catchy way. For example:Avoid Use I am a music lover who plays guitar and piano. I make music with strings and keys. I am a journalism student who wants to write stories that matter. I chase stories that change the world. I am a computer science enthusiast who enjoys coding and learning new things. I code for fun and curiosity. How to edit and polish your description?
After you have written your description in 140 characters, you need to edit and polish it to make sure it is error-free, clear, and impactful. Here are some tips to help you edit and polish your description:Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
The first step to editing your description is to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. These are mistakes that can ruin your credibility, clarity, and professionalism. You should use tools like spell checkers, grammar checkers, or online editors to help you identify and correct these errors. You should also proofread your description carefully and pay attention to details like capitalization, spacing, and hyphenation. For example:AvoidUsei am an aspiring journalist who loves writing stories that inform inspire and entertain people.I am an aspiring journalist who loves writing stories that inform, inspire, and entertain people.I'm a music lover, who plays guitar and piano.I'm a music lover who plays guitar and piano.I code for fun and Curiosity.I code for fun and curiosity.Read your description aloud and get feedback from others
The second step to editing your description is to read it aloud and get feedback from others. Reading your description aloud can help you check the flow, tone, and rhythm of your message. You can also spot any awkward or unclear words or phrases that you may have missed. Getting feedback from others can help you get a different perspective and insight on your description. You can ask your friends, family, teachers, or mentors to read your description and give you their honest opinions and suggestions. You should ask them questions like:Does my description capture my personality, skills, or values? Does my description make sense and convey my message clearly? Does my description stand out and interest you? How can I improve my description? Compare your description with other examples and samples
The third step to editing your description is to compare it with other examples and samples. Comparing your description with other examples and samples can help you benchmark your quality, style, and effectiveness. You can also learn from the strengths and weaknesses of other descriptions and apply them to your own. You can find other examples and samples online or from books, magazines, or blogs. You should look for examples and samples that are relevant to your field, goal, or audience. You should also look for examples and samples that are similar in length, format, and tone to your description. For example:Example Sample I am a computer science enthusiast who enjoys coding and learning new things. I code for fun and curiosity. I am an aspiring journalist who loves writing stories that inform, inspire, and entertain people. I chase stories that change the world. I am a music lover who plays guitar and piano. I make music with strings and keys. Once you have compared your description with other examples and samples, you can revise your description accordingly and make it more polished and powerful.Conclusion
Writing a college essay describe yourself in 140 characters is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either. By following the steps and tips in this article, you can brainstorm, write, and edit your description in 140 characters or less. You can also use humor, creativity, or emotion to make your description more memorable and appealing. Remember that the goal of this essay prompt is to show who you are and what you offer in a concise and effective way. So be yourself, be honest, and be confident in your description.FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about writing a college essay describe yourself in 140 characters:
How many words are 140 characters?
A: The number of words in 140 characters depends on the length of the words and the spaces between them. On average, 140 characters are equivalent to about 20 to 25 words.
Can I use emojis, hashtags, or abbreviations in my description?
A: It depends on the style, tone, and audience of your description. Emojis, hashtags, or abbreviations can help you save space, express emotion, or emphasize keywords in your description. However, they can also make your description less formal, professional, or clear. Therefore, you should use them sparingly and appropriately, and avoid using them if they are not relevant, necessary, or suitable for your description.
Can I use a quote or a slogan in my description?
A: It depends on the relevance, originality, and impact of the quote or slogan. A quote or a slogan can help you convey a message, show a value, or inspire an action in your description. However, they can also make your description less personal, unique, or authentic. Therefore, you should use them carefully and selectively, and avoid using them if they are not related, original, or impactful for your description.
A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different colleges may have different criteria and expectations for your description. However, some general indicators that your description is good enough are:
It fits within the 140-character limit.
It is error-free, clear, and concise.
It showcases your personality, skills, or values.
It stands out and interests the reader.
It reflects who you are and what you offer.
What are some examples of good descriptions in 140 characters?
A: Here are some examples of good descriptions in 140 characters for different fields and goals:
Field
Goal
Description
Computer science
To pursue a degree in computer science
I code for fun and curiosity. I love solving problems with algorithms and AI. I aspire to create innovative and impactful solutions.
Journalism
To become a professional reporter
I chase stories that change the world. I write with passion, integrity, and creativity. I seek to inform, inspire, and entertain people.
MusicTo perform as a musician I make music with strings and keys. I play guitar and piano with skill and emotion. I express myself through melodies and harmonies. 71b2f0854b