How to Write a College Application Essay That Stands Out

The college essay is growing in significance these days, and this is an exciting opportunity for students. Essays are the place to highlight strengths, skills, imagination, and they give students an opportunity to inject a creative hand and make their applications come alive. Applicants can also demonstrate writing and communications skills and thereby prove their readiness for college level work. Essays add a three-dimensional quality to applications, which means that grades and activities suddenly take on a human dimension! Nevertheless, it is common for students and parents to be overwhelmed by the process. For years, I have helped guide PrepMatters’ students through this process with strategy, coaching, and accountability. The following tips are a helpful starting point if you are either approaching college essays for the first time or are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of pushing them across the finish line. 

Keep in mind that a student’s academic record or transcript is of the utmost importance to colleges. Grades and GPA, together with the rigor of coursework, remain the most essential information in an applicant’s profile. In the past, college counselors considered grades, rigor of coursework, and standardized test scores to be critical aspects of an application, but the last few years have disrupted this model, and essays have become increasingly important as an increasing number of colleges have made standardized testing optional. Many colleges have gone test optional, and others have done away with the SAT and ACT altogether by choosing a test-blind policy. In addition, a Supreme Court decision, in June of 2023, ruled that it is unlawful to include race and ethnicity as a factor in college admissions. Although colleges and universities are still defining how this ruling will alter the admissions protocol of their institutions, the bottom line is this: as the importance of scores recedes, a stronger light has been cast on the college essay. At PrepMatters, we understand that essays may be the place to share diverse perspectives and experiences,  address any inconsistencies that may exist in the high school record, and establish the context of one’s life.  

Admission folks read essays in search of thoughtful, eager students who stand out as enthusiastic applicants. Remember that this assignment is rooted in creating an application that seeks to move applicants from high school to higher education. Need help in getting started? We have provided a few tips below for writing your college essay. 

HOW TO START: UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT

A firm understanding of the assignment itself is required before beginning. Once you have reviewed the main essay prompts, you will see that the point of the essay is to provide a sketch of your life. An applicant can offer context to academic and life experiences by sharing a personal story. It is truly a unique writing assignment. For one thing, it is a totally selfish act. The writer is the main character on this stage, and others should pay only a quick visit as supporting figures. Of course, someone else can make a mad dash across a sentence or two but you must bring it back around to you. The mission of the assignment is to integrate your varied interests and pursuits into a multidimensional whole. Think of the task as a creative endeavor – the weaving of various threads of your school and life experiences into a vibrant fabric of color. The essay is your bright launch onto campus, one that uses your personal, authentic voice. Write as you speak. Be real and authentic. 

What the essay is NOT is a high school paper or a report that cites sources, accomplishments, or events. It is not a school newspaper article, nor a resume, or even a journal entry. The mission of the essay is for you to differentiate yourself from other students. The essay is a request: tell us about yourself, enlighten us, help us to understand you better – in 650 words or less. Please give us a representative snippet of your life! 

GATHER IDEAS 

Plan ahead and stay true to yourself. Start with a list and write down your ideas. Brainstorm by looking at your activity list in order to refresh your memory and reflect on what you have done these past three years. Reach out to initiate a conversation with a PrepMatters essay specialist; we ask the right questions that will inspire ideas and help you to shape your narrative. Sharing your ideas verbally may help you to create a storyline. If you want to start with a typical interview question, you can respond to this request: “Tell me about yourself.” 

Talk about your ideas with friends or parents; listen to their reflections in addition to considering what you have to say about yourself. Heads up from the start: Beware of too many cooks in the kitchen. Choose carefully when identifying your essay confidante. You want an advisor who will listen to key elements of your story and is knowledgeable about college admissions. 

Keep in mind, too, that reflecting on one’s life is not an easy exercise at any age, so listen to yourself as ideas, themes, and messages begin to emerge. You will see what is important, recognize what themes resonate, and begin to distill your principal ideas. Make notes about your experiences, motivations, dreams, or challenges and describe their significance to you. What do you want a college to know about you? 

Just to be clear from the start: there are a few topics to avoid!  Keep in mind that the overriding objective is to show more of yourself than what we typically see in essays focused on a family loss, death of a grandparent, divorce, a sports injury, making the team,  or getting a job. Also, childhood life spotlights a time when you were just too young for colleges to understand who might arrive on campus. Avoid highlighting someone else, cliches and gimmicks, along with the familiar five-paragraph essay from English class. A student should not use the essay as a platform for ranting and should steer clear of overused phrases and ideas. If you have any questions about your topic, please reach out to us at PrepMatters.  We navigate the hills and valleys of the college essay every day!

CRAFT A CAPTIVATING INTRODUCTION

Know your audience, then jump right into the task. Write as you speak and grab the reader’s attention with a hook. You can use metaphors, humor, or a straightforward statement. A strong clean start is the best way to capture the reader. Engage your audience with the first sentence, and you are on your way to a good story. Take the time to reveal, with all honesty, an important part of your life by isolating an incident and exploring it in some depth. Remember to relax, be yourself and allow your personal statement to emerge. Let the colleges know that you have thought carefully about your interests and future pursuits because this will give them the opportunity to get to know you. This is a time to convey your confident side with an enthusiastic and upbeat tone. After all, you are ready, willing and on your way to a fabulous undergraduate program. 

ENGAGE THE WRITING PROCESS: SHOWCASE YOUR PERSONALITY AND VALUES

Reveal your personality and character over time—which means working through revisions and drafts. It is best to start early (i.e. the summer before senior year) and be prepared to write a number of drafts. Essay writing is a building process. Write in the first person, craft an interesting narrative, check the tone and strength of your voice, and take the time to sharpen your use of grammar. As you engage with the task, you may find yourself brainstorming by sketching out ideas in your head – perhaps on the subway, while riding or driving in the car, running track, swimming, or sitting on your bed while listening to music. If you find yourself writing in this default mode, take notice. Think about the ideas swirling in your head and make notes on your phone. Go back later and develop the idea. When I am stuck, I take a walk to write a paragraph in my head. I sort it out, step by step, while on the hiking trail, before I arrive home and hit the keyboard with enthusiasm. 

DEVELOP A COMPELLING NARRATIVE

Your thesis is a statement that should reveal your message of both personal reflection and analysis. Use anecdotes, interpretations and observations that are unique to your life and demonstrate how you think and write. As you develop your statement, you will want to be certain that your additions support your overall message. There are times when the writing process takes over and you are in the zone. At other times, when you write, or, when you have had second thoughts, your theme may seem to be misaligned. This is natural, so take the time to review your story and consider your overarching message. This is the revision process – one that should define and redefine your theme. 

REVIEW AND REVISE: DRAFT BY DRAFT

Developing a compelling narrative is rooted in revision. Read your draft aloud to yourself. Read it to an adult or friend. Your goal shouldn’t be to impress with complex sentence structures. Skillful writing, even when describing complex topics, should communicate each point simply and clearly. Revise, as needed, with particular attention to word choice, sentence structure and flow. Write, revise, read aloud, repeat! 

Good essays typically take several drafts and will require modification with each shift in voice, tone, or sentence structure. Check in with your essay specialist, teacher, or counselor for a proofread –checking for clarity of voice, message, and grammatical errors. As you take on your college essay, you’ll recognize an important truth about good writing:  Achieving simplicity is extremely hard work!

CRAFT A STRONG CONCLUSION

Your final polish and review will bring it all together. Bring the conclusion back to your theme, but here’s a hint: how you are inspired to start college could be a great ending. This is the time to launch yourself onto campus and into your first year of college by sharing the vision you have for yourself in the future.  Then, proofread, polish, and it’s a wrap!

MOVE FORWARD 

Once your main personal statement (essay) has been written, you will be ready to tackle supplemental essays. The schools on your list may add their own prompt and ask you to perhaps—describe an activity, explain why their college is a good fit for you, or elaborate on a particular challenge. There may also be  creative prompts that may just spark a fresh perspective or a new insight about yourself.  

A quick note about AI-chatbots that create essay text based on your profile and prompt. Colleges (and high schools) are busy learning more about these AI tools and developing their response to this kind of assistance with the college essay.  Yale, for one, shares their view on their admissions podcast. Be clear on the policies for your college list. Is it plagiarism or helpful assistance?

Investing in your college essay can be the difference between acceptance and denial. Often, students and parents benefit from working with an independent college counselor who will help to develop a strategy, maintain accountability, and provide constructive feedback along the way. For 25 years, PrepMatters has helped thousands of students gain admission to their desired colleges through our structure and proven approach – and we would welcome the opportunity to work with you.