Tips & Guidance

College admissions officers (AOs) list essays as anywhere from the 3rd to 5th most impactful parts of an application. (Taking challenging courses and having good grades fill the first and second spots, almost universally.) The more selective the school, the more important essays become. They also can rise in importance if you don’t submit test scores, but not necessarily. It depends on the school and the situation.

For the common app essay, “authentic” is the word to live by; AOs want a glimpse of who you are as a person. For “why us” essays, they want to see you have taken time to get to know their school, that you’ve thought about why their particular institution is a good fit for you and vice versa. For every essay, they want to know you are taking it seriously and giving your best effort.

Something that excites you, that you’re passionate about, that you find fascinating or deeply meaningful — and that also reflects well on you. The energy you bring to your topic will find its way into your writing. Don’t get caught up in trying to divine the perfect topic that’s sure to wow every admissions officer. It can’ be done.

Write from your heart. Really. Admissions officers are hungry to get beyond the GPA and activities list and learn something about you as a person. When you write from your heart, a unique essay is guaranteed.

You are far more than your limitations, and it’s up to you whether or not to make those the center of your essay. If you choose to write about them, emphasize the positive — how you overcame challenges, what helpful traits you learned from your experiences and how those will aid you in college.

But whatever your essay is about, make sure you utilize the “Additional Information” section. Being brief and to the point, give the AOs the data they need to put your application in context. They have to understand the reasons behind, for example, attendance gaps, fluctuating grades, minimal extracurricular activities. Don’t let pride or shame or embarrassment keep you from supplying this necessary information.

First, decide on a trait or a passion you want the AOs to know about you, something you are proud of and central to who you are. Then brainstorm 2-5 incidents in your life you can describe that demonstrate that trait or passion. This can all be easier said than done; talking it out with family or close friends can be very helpful. You can also hire a coach (like me!) or look online for more resources.

Take a deep breath. Spend a little time doing something you enjoy that helps you to clear your head – exercise, a walk outside, knitting, whatever works for you. Then shut yourself in a quiet place, set a timer for 20 minutes, and just start writing. Don’t think about spelling or grammar, you’ll go back and address that later. Don’t think about trying to impress anyone. For right now there is just you and the words you’re putting on the screen. After 20 minutes, enter another writing session into your calendar, or just keep going if you’re on a roll. Repeat until you have a first draft.

This is not uncommon, but for an essay this important, multiple drafts are essential. First, get some distance on it. Wait a day, or at least leave your writing space for a walk or something else to clear your head. When you go back to it, see if you can pretend it was written by someone else and respond to it that way. You can also enlist a writing buddy and give feedback to each other’s essays.

1. AOs might read dozens of essays a day. Skip the introductory material, get to your point immediately.

2. If you can manage a clever, attention-grabbing first sentence, by all means do it.

3. PROOFREAD! At least three times and by at least two different people.