Published on October 16, 2021 by Meredith Testa. Revised on July 22, 2022. The ending of your college essay should leave your reader with a sense of closure and a strong final impression. The conclusion is often harder to write than the
college essay introduction, and you may need to rework it when revising your essay, but there are some strategies to ensure that you don’t ruin a good essay with a mediocre conclusion. A bad conclusion can bring
your whole essay down, so make sure to avoid these common mistakes. Unlike an academic essay, an admissions essay shouldn’t restate your points. Avoid ending with a summary; there’s no need to repeat what you’ve already written. Phrases like “in conclusion,” “overall,” or “to sum it up” signal that you have nothing to add to what you’ve already written, so an admissions officer may stop reading. Instead of stating the obvious, let your work speak for itself and allow readers to draw their own conclusions. If your essay details various times that you worked tirelessly to go above and beyond, don’t finish it by stating “I’m hardworking.” Admissions officers are smart enough to figure that out on their own. You should also avoid talking about how you hope to be accepted. Admissions officers know you want to be accepted—that’s why you applied! It’s okay to connect what you discuss
in the essay to your potential future career or college experience, but don’t beg for admission. Stay focused on your essay’s core topic. Option 1: Return to the beginningMany successful essays follow a “sandwich,” or full-circle, structure, meaning that they start with some image or idea, veer away from it in the middle, and then return to it at the end. This structure is clean, self-contained, and satisfying for readers, so it’s a great choice if it works with the topic you’ve chosen. In the “sandwich” essay outlined below, a student discusses his passion for musical theater. Instead of simply stating that interest, his essay starts with a funny anecdote about a minor fire that erupted on set. At the end, it returns to this anecdote, creating a sense of closure. Example: “Sandwich” essay
Option 2: Look forwardMany successful essays end by looking forward to the future. These endings are generally hopeful and positive—always great qualities in an admissions essay—and often connect the student to the college or their academic goals. Although these endings can be highly effective, it can be challenging to keep them from sounding cliché. Keep your ending specific to you, and don’t default to generalities, which can make your essay seem bland and unoriginal. Below are a good and a bad example of how you could write a “looking forward” ending for the musical theater “firefighter” essay.
Option 3: Reveal your main pointSometimes, holding back your main point can be a good strategy. If your essay recounts several experiences, you could save your main message for the conclusion, only explaining what ties all the stories together at the very end. When done well, this ending leaves the reader thinking about the main point you want them to take from your essay. It’s also a memorable structure that can stand out. However, if you choose this approach, it can be challenging to keep the essay interesting enough that the reader pays attention throughout. In the essay outlined below, a student gives us snapshots of her experience of gymnastics at different stages in her life. In the conclusion, she ties the stories together and shares the insight that they taught her about different aspects of her character and values. Example: Saving the main point for the conclusion
Option 4: End on an actionEnding on an action can be a strong way to wrap up your essay. That might mean including a literal action, dialogue, or continuation of the story. These endings leave the reader wanting more rather than wishing the essay had ended sooner. They’re interesting and can help you avoid boring your reader. Here’s an example of how this ending could work for the gymnastics essay. Example: Ending on an actionI had practiced aerial cartwheels on my lawn, on a trampoline, and while practicing my routine on this very same balance beam. But now, the eyes of thousands of spectators were on me as I prepared to propel myself through the air with no support except my own courage. I took a deep breath, raised my hands in the air, and jumped. Frequently asked questions about college application essaysHow should I end my college admissions essay? There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay:
The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best. What should I avoid in a college essay conclusion? Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression. You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted). Cite this Scribbr articleIf you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Is this article helpful?You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote... Which of the following accurately describes what the beginning of a text should accomplish?Ch 35: Which of the following statements accurately describes what the beginning of a text should accomplish? A beginning should grab the attention of readers and make them want to keep reading.
Which of the following is the best question to ask yourself to help you identify your primary purpose for writing?The first question you ask yourself when you begin writing should be, "What is my goal/purpose for writing?" Understanding your purpose is critical when writing for any course because it can influence your decisions about content, emphasis, organization, style and tone.
What does it mean to describe as a writing strategy?Writing strategy is defined as the sequence in which a writer engages in planning, composing, revising and other writing related activities (Torrance et al., 2000 in Penuelaz, 2012, p. 83). In their opinion, writing strategies are sequence of activity instead of a single one.
Why is it important to read a text carefully before you summarize it?Why is it important to read a text carefully before you summarize it? You may focus on how personal beliefs influenced the way you understand text. The amount of background information you give your audience should vary depending on what your audience already knows about your topic.
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Which of the following strategies would best be used as a way to end an essay?
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