Texas State requires an admission essay from all freshman and freshman-transfer (1-29 transferable semester hours) applicants. To help with this exercise, the Texas State English Department compiled the following check list. The Admission Essay is on page nine of the ApplyTexas application.

* Please Note: Texas State requires only one essay for admission. Choose from Topics A, B or C.

Unless otherwise specified, your essay should be typed and be no longer than one page (8 1/2" x 11"). Please be sure to write/type your name and Social Security number at the top of each page.

The following are the questions an applicant can choose from, found on the ApplyTexas application:

Topic A.  Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

Topic B.  Choose an issue of importance to you—the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope—and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

Topic C.  There may be personal information that you want considered as part of you admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, education goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

Essentials on the sentence and paragraph level:

• Fluency: Does the essay reflect a relative mastery of usage, conventions and vocabulary?
• Logic: Do the sentences and ideas follow one another in a logical and coherent fashion?
• Grammar: Does the essay reflect a relative knowledge of the proper conventions of grammar?
  Do not simply use spell check or proofread your essay; it will not catch certain types of mistakes.
  If a sentence doesn’t sound right, it’s probably because there is a mechanical or logical problem.
  Read your essay aloud.
• Mechanics: Do your sentences and words follow the proper conventions of punctuation and spelling?

Essentials on the idea level:

• Unified theme or subject: Narrow your topic to a single subject. Don’t try to write a broad, general essay on how your entire life has changed, you can’t do this in one page.
• Clarity: Are your ideas specific and coherent? Choose language that reflects and relates
  specific ideas.
• Creativity: Creativity engages the reader. Don’t be afraid to take risks with your writing.
  Use creative examples.
• Organization: Make sure your points follow logically. Utilize an outline to help organize your
  essay in a logical fashion.
• Examples: Use specific examples to help make your points clear; it will make your essay solid
  and convincing. Examples render your points in a concrete, understandable fashion.