How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out

For many, writing the college essay is the most challenging component of the college application process. But fear not! With some foresight, and some planning, you can take the stress out of the essay-writing process. Use these few simple guidelines to help focus your essay-writing process, and make the task less daunting.

Pick a Topic That You Actually Care About!

The Common Application offers 2018 college applicants 7 essay topics from which to choose, but really the options are limitless, as the 7th topic, is “share an essay prompt of your own choosing.” The guidelines for writing your college essay are intentionally loose, so pick a topic that you’re interested in writing about! The essay is the best opportunity to convey yourself authentically to the admissions office. Keep in mind that admissions representatives read upwards of 20 applications per day during application season. Picking a topic that you’re passionate about gives you the best chance of standing out, and will give the reader a sense of who you are, and what you might add to campus. Many college applicants miss the mark with their essays, in part because they try to write what they think the college wants to hear. Write about a passion—it will help you stand out.

Don’t Stress About Being Too Original

I’ve met with many high school seniors who stress because they think they must come up with an “original essay,” unlike any that’s been written before. Holding yourself to that standard can be paralyzing. And, you can write a strong essay without uncovering some groundbreaking topic.  Some students think that if they haven’t lived through a life-altering event, or a near-death experience, they won’t stand out. Again, admissions officers want to be able to read your essay, and have some sense of who you are, and what makes you tick. Identify something you’re passionate about, and can write about honestly, and fervently. One of the best essays I ever read, was about a student’s baseball card collection. The topic wasn’t mind-blowing, but the enthusiasm with which he wrote about his collection, and the way he tied collecting and trading cards into other facets of his life, gave me a keen sense of who he was.

Write Multiple Drafts

The college essay is not something to be left to the last minute. It will be important for you to write multiple drafts, and get feedback from trusted editors along the way. Make sure you’re having teachers, parents, and/or other competent adults look at your essay prior to submission. Spell check, spell check, and spell check, again! For an admissions officer, there’s no red flag quite like an essay that’s fraught with typos. Finally, stay true to your original vision for the essay. Feedback is important, but allowing for too many edits can detract from your original intent. Make sure your voice shines through!

Take Your Supplemental Essay Seriously!

Many schools require that you write a supplemental essay, answering some version of the question, “why would you be a good fit for our school?” All too often, students scour a college’s brochures/mailings/website, and cater their response toward what they think the school wants to hear. This is a surefire way to ensure that your essay will blend in with the rest. Instead, think clearly about why you would want to attend that institution, and let that sentiment guide your answer. If you’re having a hard time answering the question of why you want to attend a certain school, then perhaps that school isn’t right for you anyway.

Demonstrate Interest Where Appropriate

Colleges care about something they call “demonstrated interest.” In other words, they value when a student is clearly interested in attending their school. All things being equal, a college will usually choose a student who’s clearly interested in their school, over the student who’s not. If there’s an opportunity in your personal statement, or supplemental essay, add details about what has made you interested in that school. Did you visit campus? Sit in on a class? Meet a professor? Make a connection with a current student? Add any details that support your desire to attend a given school. And of course, be honest!