Writing the college essay

By Logan Wolff, 2021

Published 10/20/20

The hardest part about the college essay is starting. At first, it can feel like a very daunting task. Which prompt do I choose? How long should it be? What life changing event can I write about? What 250-650 defining words do I use to describe the entirety of my life.

The best advice is to just forget all about that. Don’t worry about the prompts, the length, or a specific life changing event. Just take a deep breath, and take the pressure off yourself. Once you do this you can begin to have an open mind which will be much more productive.

To begin, take note of any ideas that come to mind. Make a list of adjectives you’d use to describe yourself. What part of yourself do you want colleges to see? Solidify 3 strong words that you would describe yourself as. It’s very challenging to come up with ideas without brainstorming; Write down any strong memories that come to mind throughout the day. Don’t choose a prompt before you begin writing because your essay will naturally fall into one of the topics. And if not, there is a prompt that allows you to write about anything you want.

When beginning to write a topic, make sure it’s unique to you. Avoid talking about something that the reader can see in another part of your application. For example, don’t write about your participation in a club, when they can already see your involvement. Don’t worry about creating something they’ve never read before, because they probably have. If you are able to identify the adjectives you used to describe yourself, then you are on the right track.

It’s better to begin by writing as much as you can, leaving yourself more to choose from; Don’t focus on the word count. If you are still struggling to lower the word count, it is likely because you're writing about too many different topics. What do you want the college admissions to know about you? Narrow down to one topic that will be the most impactful. It may seem scary and stressful to write but the best approach is to keep it simple and focused.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help. The writing center is always open to meet with an English teacher ready to help in any way they can.