The college essay, also known as the personal statement, is one of the few chances you have in the college application process to express yourself. It serves as a key component of your application, and it’s required by most colleges and universities in the country. A well-written and reflective essay introduces admissions committees to the side of you not shown by grades and standardized test scores. It’s a great chance to reveal more about your values and goals, personal history, interests, creativity, challenges you’ve overcome, and passions. Make the most of this opportunity and leave a lasting impression by following our tips.
Choose Your Essay Topic
- Read the essay question, thoroughly. No matter how well you write, if you don’t address the essay question, then you will raise a red flag that you can’t follow directions. Before you begin, make sure your planned essay will be on topic.
- When you have a choice, choose wisely. You want your essay to stand out, so make sure you choose a topic that can highlight what makes you unique. Reference our article, 7 Suggestions for College Application Essay Topics, for ideas.
- Share something new. Think of your essay as your opportunity to shed light on something you want colleges to know about you that isn’t in any other parts of your application.
- Weigh whether to share a sensitive subject. Personal experiences with abuse, poverty, or war should be written about based on your own discretion and comfort level.
Begin
- Start early and broadly. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm; write down all of your thoughts. You can then narrow it down to the most interesting details.
- Create an outline. Pick out the relevant details from brainstorming that relate to the essay question and work them into a brief outline.
- Write rough drafts. Write more than one draft. Narrow your topic and try to be as descriptive and detailed as possible. Specific examples can be the most interesting. Read your drafts out loud as you edit and rewrite.
- Use your own work. It might be tempting (and certainly easier) to copy the work of someone else, but colleges have zero tolerance for plagiarism (and usually detect it).
As You Write
- Tell your story. Write about you, not someone else, and explain something that’s personal to you. Write in your own voice, from your own perspective.
- Hook the reader. Open with a statement that’s engaging and follow it with well-structured paragraphs and a strong conclusion. Use your imagination and take risks while remaining true to your personality.
- Open up. Be introspective, descriptive, and candid. Reveal meaningful things about yourself that you don’t often express. Make it personal.
- Write creatively. You also don’t need to stick to the 5-paragraph model that you may be used to from your school assignments. You can have a good essay that has 2 or 10 paragraphs, or one that includes a good amount of dialogue.
- Follow the rules. Respect the time of the college admissions staff and stay within the required length of words.
Review
- Seek input. Ask a parent, friend, or teacher to read your revised draft and tell you—honestly—if it’s well written, compelling, and an honest reflection of who you are. Use the feedback to make the essay compelling and concise. Aim to have about three readers, if possible; more than that can cause you to lose your voice.
- Proofread. Pay close attention to grammar, correct all typos, and double-check that your essay meets the college’s length specifications. Don’t just rely on spell check or other programs; read your essay aloud slowly to catch any errors.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you choose to write about, remember to not focus on the event or circumstance or challenge or inspiration itself, but on the impact. Highlight how that element has changed you. And remember—be yourself. The college essay represents you and will bring your application to life!
