Revise, revise, revise! Have multiple people read over and edit your essays. You should never submit your first draft.

The essay should tell college admissions officers something they don't already know from your application.

What's most important, experts say, is that a college essay is thoughtful and tells a story that offers insight into who a student is as a person.

If there is a prompt, make sure you stay focused on it. Don't try to write about too many things at once.

Have a trusted adult proofread before you submit!

If it is optional DO IT!