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College Essay Tips for English Language Learners

By WTOP Staff

Even if you don’t major in English or a humanities field, improving your writing skills as an international student will help you in many ways and can open doors for you, such as with applications for scholarships.

The academic essays you write in your classes at a U.S. college offer a basic way to start to eventually master this lifelong skill. Take a look at some of the common mistakes below that many international students make when writing an academic essay.

[Find out how colleges judge international applicants’ English skills.]

1. Not being aware of grammatical errors: Even your American roommates will make grammatical mistakes if they do not pay close enough attention to what they write.

Your writing might sound really good when you write it, but always make sure that you do not leave any grammatical errors when you’re finished writing and editing your essay. Think about your professor, who needs to grade dozens of papers in a night. If your professor has to pause frequently in reading your essay because of grammar mistakes, he or she will have a hard time understanding your brilliant ideas.

One trick to try for essays that aren’t very long is reading them backward, from the last sentence to the first. My favorite communications professor suggested this strategy to me to help me check over what I’ve written.

When you read your essay normally, your brain can trick you into thinking that your writing is perfect, but reading it backward instead gives you time to consider your words more carefully and spot the grammatical errors.

Also, do not forget about your school’s writing center. This place is truly a great destination whenever you want to improve an essay and your writing skills.

[Check out ways international students can improve their writing.]

2. Using inappropriate vocabulary: As an international freshman, you probably have not yet forgotten all the fancy SAT words you memorized to pass that and other college entrance exams. But do not bring those fancy words to your academic essay when you’re not entirely sure of their meaning or how they are used in context.

Simply throwing these flamboyant words into your essays does not make your writing sound wiser and more academic. In fact, the opposite is often the case.

The staff of the writing center can help you check your vocabulary use. And if you meet a passionate writer at the writing center like I did, you can have a great conversation with him or her about the use of certain words and the different connotations of their synonyms.

[Get tips on how to write a personal essay for a U.S. college application.]

3. Forgetting to cite sources: Unlike a blog post or personal essay, academic essays won’t sound knowledgeable if you only refer to what your friend or an unknown person said. Moreover, plagiarism is not welcome at U.S. colleges, and knowing how to cite sources is a must-have skill for international students.

As an international student who has just come to the U.S. to study, you may not be familiar with this habit of citing sources. Talking to your English professor, learning from friends in class or reading more academic essays can help you build this skill. As a bonus, you will also get into the habit of making sure your work is factually correct, and you will soon realize that Wikipedia isn’t the only source to check when writing an academic paper.

Improving English writing skills could never be an overnight process. But being aware of the common mistakes international students who do not speak English as their first language make while writing an academic essay can help you be more conscious as you write.

More from U.S. News

How U.S. Colleges Gauge International Students’ English Skills

3 Ways International Students Can Improve Academic Writing

Master Needed College Writing Skills

College Essay Tips for English Language Learners originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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