A college application essay is a crucial part of your college search process, offering you the chance to highlight your personality, accomplishments, and individuality beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. It's an opportunity to demonstrate to admissions committees that you are more than just a set of numbers on a piece of paper, allowing you to stand out from the many applicants.
However, writing a compelling essay that truly captures the reader's attention can be challenging. How do you craft something that is personal yet professional, insightful yet concise?
Before you start writing, take a moment to carefully read and understand the essay prompt. College application essays typically come with specific questions or guidelines that help shape your response. Whether it’s a common prompt, like the Common App’s “Tell us about yourself,” or something more specific to a particular college, understanding what the admissions team is asking is critical.
Often, prompts will ask you to reflect on your experiences, discuss personal growth, or highlight your values. Understanding the underlying purpose of the prompt will ensure that your essay stays focused on answering it fully.
When reading the prompt, ask yourself:
The brainstorming phase is key to writing an essay that stands out. This is where you should allow your creativity to flow and think about what makes you unique. Your essay should reflect your individual journey, values, and identity.
Think about key moments in your life that have shaped who you are today. These could be challenges you've faced, achievements you’re proud of, or personal growth you've experienced. Consider moments of adversity and how you’ve overcome them, or times when you learned something profound about yourself or the world around you. The best essays often tell a story that is not only compelling but also reflective of your character.
Some brainstorming questions to consider:
This step is about identifying what makes you, you—and finding a way to communicate that to the admissions team.
One of the most important aspects of writing a college application essay is staying authentic. Don’t try to write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Instead, focus on sharing your true self, your unique experiences, and your voice. The admissions officers are not looking for a perfect person—they are looking for someone who is real, relatable, and self-aware.
For example, if you’re writing about a challenge you’ve faced, don’t be afraid to share your vulnerability. Reflect on how the experience shaped you and what you learned, rather than focusing on how you overcame it with ease or perfection. Honesty and authenticity resonate more deeply than trying to fit into a mold.
Remember, admissions officers read thousands of essays every year. They can tell when an essay is genuine, and they’re much more likely to remember an applicant who’s being honest and reflective.
In your essay, you want to do more than just tell the admissions committee who you are—you want to show them. “Show, don’t tell” is a rule often applied to good storytelling, and it works well in essays too. Instead of just stating your qualities or achievements, illustrate them with specific examples and anecdotes that paint a picture.
For instance, rather than saying, “I’m a hard worker,” explain how you spent countless hours studying for a difficult exam or how you took on an extra job to help your family financially. Show how your dedication and persistence paid off, and what it taught you in the process. Specific examples help bring your story to life and make it more memorable.
Some ways to incorporate "showing" into your essay:
By showing, rather than just telling, you allow the admissions committee to connect with you on a deeper level.
One of the most effective ways to make your essay stand out is to approach the topic from a unique angle. Admissions officers read many essays on similar topics, so finding a new or original perspective is key. Think about how your personal story can be told in a way that is different from the norm.
For example, if the prompt is about overcoming adversity, don’t simply focus on the challenge itself—explore how it changed your outlook or behavior. Instead of just talking about how you overcame a setback, dive into the specific strategies you used and the personal growth that resulted.
Consider using a metaphor, anecdote, or a creative structure to tell your story. This will help engage the reader and leave a lasting impression.
The first paragraph of your essay is crucial. This is your chance to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more. A compelling opening should be engaging, intriguing, and authentic. You don’t need to start with a grand statement or dramatic event; instead, aim for a hook that piques the reader's interest and draws them into your story.
For example, you might begin with a surprising or thought-provoking statement, a question, or a vivid description of an event. It’s also a good idea to avoid overly generic openings like, “Ever since I was a child…” Instead, aim for something more specific and personal to you.
A strong opening sets the tone for the rest of your essay and encourages the admissions officer to keep reading.
A great college application essay is focused and concise. While you might be tempted to share every detail of your life, it’s important to stay focused on the core theme or message you want to convey. A wandering essay can confuse the reader or dilute the impact of your story.
Stick to the most relevant experiences that support your overall narrative. Avoid going off on tangents or including unnecessary information that doesn’t contribute to your message. Remember, you only have a limited word count, so make every word count.
Once you’ve written your first draft, don’t rush to submit it. Editing and revising are crucial steps in the essay-writing process. Review your essay multiple times to ensure it flows logically, stays on topic, and is free from grammatical or spelling errors. Ask yourself if your essay answers the prompt clearly and if it reflects your personality and experiences in an engaging way.
It’s also helpful to have others review your essay. Teachers, family members, or friends can offer valuable feedback and point out areas that need improvement. Just make sure that the essay remains your own voice—don't let others rewrite it for you.
Finally, read your essay aloud to check for awkward phrasing or sentences that don’t make sense. A fresh perspective, combined with careful attention to detail, will make your essay the best it can be.
Your conclusion should tie everything together and leave a lasting impression. It’s your final chance to reinforce the message you’ve been trying to convey throughout your essay. A good conclusion doesn’t simply restate what you’ve already said; instead, it offers a sense of closure or reflection that makes the reader feel satisfied.
Consider ending with a forward-looking statement, showing how the experience you discussed will influence your future. You might also reflect on what you’ve learned or how you’ve grown. The conclusion should leave the reader with a sense of who you are and what you can bring to the college community.
Writing a college application essay that stands out requires a combination of introspection, creativity, and attention to detail. It’s an opportunity to share your unique story, show your personal growth, and highlight the qualities that make you a strong candidate. By following these steps—understanding the prompt, being authentic, showing your story, and editing carefully—you’ll be well on your way to writing an essay that leaves a lasting impression and helps you stand out in the competitive college admissions process.
