How to Write a Good College Essay
Applying to college is a lot of work. And one of the most challenging and time-consuming parts of the application process is writing the numerous application essays for each college or university.
It's hard to even know where to start. How are you supposed to put everything about your life onto a few pages? What are you supposed to write about? How do I even know what the college is looking for in a good college essay?
With vague prompts, character limits, and fast-approaching due dates, writing can feel like an impossible task. If you need some helping getting started, UPchieve is here with some advice on how to write a good college essay!
The Basics of College Essays
Why do you have to write an essay for college?
College essays are a great way for the college to get to know who you are and your unique story. Your grades, letters of recommendation, and other college application materials are important, but the college essay shows who you are! College admissions officers want to see who you are, if you can write, and what you can contribute to the campus.
What should I write about and what should it look like?
Sometimes, you are given a specific prompt, but other times you can choose your own prompt. Typically, your college essay will be around 650 words, and our number one tip is to highlight what makes you stand out. This is your life, and you have a great story that college admissions officers want to hear about!
Maybe you were involved in a sports team or club—maybe even in a leadership position. Maybe you have a unique hobby outside of school like cooking, art, yoga, poetry, the list goes on. Maybe you held a job while in high school or have volunteered with a local organization and have interesting stories from that experience.
Remember, the admission team will read thousands of essays, so emphasize what makes you uniquely you.
How to Start a Good College Essay
Here are some ideas to help you get started with the writing process!
1. Remember how awesome you are.
Before you even start thinking about and writing your essay, remind yourself that you are awesome! It can be hard to write about yourself. Although writing the essay is hard work, it will be worth it. Here are some positive affirmations you can remind yourself of as you write your essay:
I am worthy of going to college! ❤️
I bring life and love to those around me! 🌟
I can make a difference in the world! 💡
I am so much more than a single essay! 🦋
2. Determine which essays are needed
To decide what essay you need to complete, make sure to research the specific college you are applying for. If the school accepts the Common Application or Coalition application and you are applying to multiple schools, try to write an essay that fits these prompts.
Other schools, or groups of schools, may require school-specific essays or applications. An example of this is University of California and MIT’s essay requirements.
Keep in mind that some schools do not require an essay, such as general admission to a community college. Other schools may say the essay is optional. If this is the case, make the best decision for you!
All in all, it depends. Make sure to research and read what each college wants and needs!
3. Brainstorming and picking a topic
Now, let’s think about what you are going to write about!
When picking a topic, ask yourself: “What does the college admissions committee need to know about me that I haven’t already told them?”
Your essay should be unique to you! Think of a monumental moment, an obstacle you overcame, or something special about you that makes you different from others.
Here are some things to consider when trying to think of “unique” moments:
What are important life events or movements that happened to me?
How would I complete the sentences below?
“If you really knew me...”
“I love...”
“I’m grateful for...”
“I celebrate...”
Remember, the admission team already has your grades and potentially your ACT or SAT score, so these essays are the only way for you to showcase your character traits, skills, and personality. Your essay is your way to show potential colleges why you are a good fit for their community!
4. choosing your prompt
After you have thought about what topic or topics you want to write about, choose a prompt that best fits your story. Write down a quick response to the prompt to make sure you have enough details to make a full essay.
If you aren’t sure what story you want to share, think about these questions:
What story is most unique to me?
Which story most influenced who I am today?
What story do I think college admissions officers would be interested in hearing about?
5. create an outline
Start writing down points that answer all the questions in the prompt. The more details, the better! You don’t have to use everything you write down, but this will help guide you as you start writing. Here’s an essay outline to get you started!
How to Write Your College Essay
Now, let’s get into the actual essay that you will be writing! Time to write! 🎉
1. how to start a college essay
If you’re looking for a strong start to your college essay, don’t just tell us ... show us! If you have a specific moment in time, a conversation, or a specific object you are focusing on in your essay, include a detailed description or dialogue.
We like to think of this as “Instagramming a Moment.” The college admissions officer wants to feel like they are there at that point in time.
2. Drafting your essay
As you are writing your essay, write your first draft independently. You are awesome, smart, and capable of doing this! You can ask for feedback later. It is great for you to get all your thoughts on paper, without any outside influence.
3. How to edit a college essay
After writing your essay, give yourself some time away from the essay. Go outside, watch a TV show, hang out with friends, or do another fun activity!
After you have a nice break, come back to the essay and reread it. Focus on the areas of content and organization of the essay for the first revision, rather than grammar.
Consider:
Did you answer all parts of the prompt?
Would someone know more about me after reading this?
This is also a great time to make sure your essay fits within the given character limit. These limits are firm. You can’t exceed the limit even if what you're writing about is so compelling that you could write a whole novel.
Knowing what to cut and where to narrow down your content is an important skill to learn and practice. The two things you need to keep top of mind while considering what to cut and what to keep are: (1) what does this story say about me? and (2) is this sentence adding value to the message of the essay?
If you're having trouble cutting length, also consider using free services like Grammarly or the Hemingway app to suggest shorter words and a better flow. These free apps can really help make your essay shine!
4. Get college essay editing help
After revising for content and organization, reread your essay and look for grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other structural mistakes. It can help to read the essay aloud to see if it “sounds right.”
You can always ask someone else to help revise and edit your essays, including UPchieve’s free college counselors! You probably also have a teacher, school counselor, mentor, friend, or family member who you trust can help.
Remember: there are lots of people who want to help you succeed and are willing to help you!
5. Supplemental college essays
Individual colleges may ask you to write an additional essay in your application. Most of the time, these colleges use “Why do you want to go to this college?” as their additional prompt. These colleges want to see that you researched the college and have an interest in attending.
Make sure you are specific and provide examples about why you think this college is a good option for you.
Final Thoughts on Writing Your College Essay
You did it! You wrote your essay! Congratulate yourself on your hard work; you deserve it! Remember, YOU can do it!
Use all of the resources you have to their fullest extent, and remember to be yourself at all times in your writing. Colleges want to see who you are and who you can be. Good luck! 🥳
You can reach out to UPchieve coaches anytime for all things college prep, including SAT related questions! Request a session right now if you need any help with the topics discussed in this blog post!