College essays are a great chance to make your application well-rounded. Without essays, colleges could only look at you based on numbers (i.e. GPA, test scores, class grades). Numbers do not tell the whole story. Colleges know you are more than a number and want to have a chance to get to know YOU for who you are. Essays give colleges the insight into who you are outside of the numbers. What are you passionate about? How do you think about the world? What hardships have you faced and overcame? Those are just a few questions admissions committees at colleges can learn through your essays.
Essays often require a level of vulnerability. However, only be as vulnerable as you are comfortable. You do not write about any trauma if you have not worked through it and/or are not comfortable.
Re-use essays. This will save you SO much time. You can re-use whole essays for different colleges or parts of essays.
Answer the WHOLE prompt. Many prompts ask multiple questions but sure to address each question in your response.
Be creative and avoid cliches. The essay is a chance for you to stand out from other applications. Be sure to add your own voice to the essay. College admissions advisors do not want to hear the same story over 100s of essays. Really dig deep and see what you can come up with. Below in the first guide you can find examples of cliche topics to avoid.
Do not be afraid to restart. Essays require many, many drafts and edits. Perhaps it will be helpful for you to brainstorm and write a few responses to one prompt, re-read them, and choose the one that speaks to you most.
Do not repeat what is already shared on other parts of your application. For example, do NOT use the essay as a chance to list all your academic and extracurricular achievements. Admissions advisors will be able to see those on your transcript and resume. This is your chance to share new information about yourself with them.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
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?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
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?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that 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?
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.
Please note that there is also a section under "Additional Information" that gives you an opportunities to share how COVID impacted you/your family/your academics. Your essay can be COVID related but know that you can also use this space to share something unique and save the COVID impact for it's designated sections.