The College Essay should be thought of as an interview. This is a school’s chance to get to know The Student. Be yourself, this is not the opportunity to impress by using big words and complicated literary devices.

Every school requires an essay.

• Each of the public state schools have their own prompts.
• Private schools that use the Common App:
  • In the Common App you write one long essay which all of the schools will read. The prompts are posted each summer on their website and you select which one you prefer.
  • Each school may also have supplements, which are shorter school-specific essays. These are posted each summer on each of the school’s websites.
• Keep a Google Document, Word Document, or spreadsheet of essay topics for each school. There may be some overlap in prompts between schools but don’t count on that. Expect to write dozens of essays of various lengths.

Essay checklist:

• Write a draft
• Have 2-3 people read the draft and provide feedback
• Write a second draft
• Proofread for spelling and grammar errors
• Make sure your essay answers the question and has a voice! This is the way the admissions officers can learn about who you are outside of just your transcript.

Choosing a Topic

• Choose a topic about which you are an expert.
• Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Admissions officers will read plenty of essays about Egypt, the war in Iraq and global warming. Tell them about YOU.
• Tell the Reader why an issue is important to you, why have you made choices in life, why you care.

Previous Common Application Essay Questions

• Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
• Discuss some issues of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
• Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
• Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you and explain that influence.
• A range of academic interest, personal perspectives and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
• Topic of your choice

College Essay Tips

• Give yourself time to do a good job
• Invest in the drafting process (even if it means starting over and trying again)
• Focus on one specific event.
• Be careful about pet stories, accounts of a dear, departed relative, or your efforts in delivering the big play in the big game.
• Do not be redundant. Don’t repeat information about yourself that can be found elsewhere on your application.
• Eliminate distractions such as spelling and punctuation errors.
• When you think you are finished with your essay, read it again.
• Be careful about becoming involved with essay editing services. For the ultimate revision, ask Mr. Lantz and Mr. Hernandez to revise your essays for additional drafts. A significant tip is to not allow too many people to input on your essay because your voice and style becomes lost between different people.
• Be original
• Do NOT let your parent write your college essay.
• Think of your audience. Admissions committees will not read your entire essay unless it catches their attention from the beginning.
• Stick to the word count limit! There is a purpose for the suggested limit and minimum.

Sophie's secret on how to overcome being "stuck" on a college essay prompt:

Guide to writing the Personal Statement

New York Times: How to Conquer the Admissions Essay