College Application Essay Rubric
Format: Paper copy and submitted on turnitin.com with less than 5% originality report. Typed,
double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt.
Length: 500-650 words
Topic Choices are the three new Apply Texas Prompts (A, B, C) listed in the packet, or one of
the Common App topics. Write your chosen topic at the top of your essay.
Content/Focus: 50 pts. max ____________
Address the topic: The essay answers the question or addresses the prompt of the
chosen topic and focuses on that topic.
Originality: The essay is interesting and there is information about you as an individual
(not just your wants and hopes). The reader gains insight into you as a person. This
essay is not a list of your accomplishments (that’s the resume).
Engagement: The essay is interesting from the opening and is enjoyable to read
throughout its length.
Thoughtfulness: Think about your experience and its meaning. Take the time to go
beyond the obvious. Write thoughtfully and from your heart.
Momentum: The parts of your essay should work together to make your point. Like any
essay, there is a beginning that grabs the reader’s attention, a middle that supports the
direction shown in the beginning with specific examples from your life, and an ending
that makes a positive impression that people won’t forget.
Diction: 20 pts. max ______
Language: Use precise and economical language (remember this is only a 500-650 word essay in
which you have to express who you really are to people who’ve never met you).
Audience: Keep in mind that you are writing to a committee of professors, and while the
language should show who you are, you also need to avoid using clichés, text language, and
slang.
Tone: You should sound like you—and not a scripted character. The purpose of the essay is to
get to know you better, beyond what is listed on the application. This is your chance to show
the admissions committee, so be sincere and genuine. Humor is fine if it is appropriate to the
topic and your personality. Avoid being sarcastic or pitiful. You won’t gain admission based on
anyone feeling sorry for you.
Grammar and mechanics: 30 pts. max___
First Impression: since you are applying to an academic institution of higher learning, your essay
should reflect your knowledge and ability to use correct grammar, sentence structure, and
mechanics. Be sure to proofread the essay many times before submitting it.
Total:
________