Writing the College Essay

What is the College Essay/Personal Statement?

• A chance for the admissions team to get to know YOU

• Use YOUR voice and be yourself

• Reflection, introspection, self-analysis

• Show personal growth or change

• What part of your story do you want to tell and how do you want to tell it?

• Share what is not already in the rest of your application

A college application essay (also known as a personal statement) is a critical component of a student's college application. It allows them to tell stories in their own authentic voice, helping the schools they're applying to truly get to know them outside of their resumes and applications. The "best" college application essay is one that's just as unique as the student writing it. There isn't one perfect example or template that works for everyone's story - so the key is finding a way to express who you are through good organizational structure, original story-telling, and self-reflection while sticking to the provided essay prompt.

Drafting Tips

Hook - Have an original opening that draws the reader in and makes them want to know more

• The Good Story

• Dialogue

• Be Funny (but appropriate)

• Think Out of the Box

Word Choice - Choose words (especially verbs) with impact. (You’re limited to 650 words on the Common App essay.)

Details - Make the experience real for your readers by including sensory details or even small pieces of essential dialogue. (Show—don’t tell.)

Voice - It doesn’t have to be overly formal; it does need to be yours. (And yes, it’s okay to be funny if it’s appropriate to the topic, the audience and who you are.)

Getting Started

There is no right or wrong way to write the college essay and it can look a lot of different ways. Overall, it should be something that shows who you are and what is important to you. Here are some things to think about to help get started:

• What will colleges not know about you unless you tell them? 

• What is not reflected in other parts of your application? 

• What part of your story do you want to tell?

• What matters to you?

• Show a side of you that your gpa, transcript and test scores don’t reveal

• Tell a story that only YOU can tell.

• Provide rich, sensory details.  Taste, touch, smell, sound and sight.

• Write the story you want to tell - it doesn’t have to be about trauma or serious challenges

• Make it a slice of life - a moment in time is often very powerful!

• Look at the Common Application prompts as a guide

Experiences

• How have your experiences shaped who you are?

• Do your experiences reflect your values and identity? How so?

• What choices have you made, and how do those choices reflect who you are?

• Look at your resume - each of those experiences have stories within.  Do you have an unusual extra-curricular activity, or have you made a notable impact in your community?

• Career path - the moments/experiences that led to your career interest

Identity

• How do you see yourself?

• What makes you unique?

• What are your values?

Details

• What are the one-of-a-kind, sometimes quirky, details that make your story one that only you can tell?  

• Be specific!  Give examples of what you are writing about.  And include rich, sensory details (sight, sound, taste, feel) that allow the reader to envision exactly what you describe.

Common App Essay Prompts

Some applications have different prompts, formats, supplemental essays, etc. Make sure to check each application to know what they require!

• Common App has 7 prompts to choose from

• Max 650 words

• You can recycle this essay for other applications!

1. (BACKGROUND) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story. 

2. (OVERCOMING OBSTACLES) The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. (CHALLENGING AN IDEA) Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. (GRATITUDE) Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. (PERSONAL GROWTH) Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. (IDEAS) Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. (ANYTHING!!) Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

College Essay Resources