How to Write a Compelling College Admissions Essay

Introduction

You’ve sweated your classes all through high school to get good grades, put time into your extracurriculars, and completed volunteer work that aligns with your values. You’re ready to apply to the university or college of your dreams. Now you have one hurdle left: how to write a college admissions essay? 

The purpose of the admissions essay is to help the admissions committee understand you as a whole person — outside of your grades and activities you’ve detailed in other parts of the application. The essay is your chance to shine as an individual. How can you stand out from the other applicants? Read on for our guide.

Understanding the Prompt

Most colleges and universities offer a single writing prompt or the choice of a few questions to get you started. Keeping in mind that your essay is typically going to be on the shorter side (you’ll probably get a maximum of 1000 words, though some schools limit you to 600 words), think about each prompt carefully. How can you tell your story in a succinct but compelling way? Be sure you understand the questions before you begin. If you’re not sure how to answer them, discuss them with a trusted teacher or your parents. 

Since the writing prompts tend to be broad questions, it can be tempting to come up with a whole list of things you want to say. Instead, focus on what you think the committee will be impressed to read. Researching the institution to find out about its values and mission statement is a great way to narrow your focus, and will show the committee that your background and values are aligned with the school’s.

And while it might seem obvious, remember that many students get off topic when they write their college admissions essay. Be sure you address the prompt directly. If your answer feels generic, or you use the same essay for multiple applications, the committee will probably realize this and your application may be passed over. 

Brainstorming Ideas

Now that you’ve selected your question, you can begin drafting some ideas. Think about what makes you unique, and what will stand out from other students during the selection process. This might include remarkable personal achievements, but can also include academic ones (be sure not to repeat information in your essay that’s included elsewhere in your application!) 

You shouldn't only focus on your past, however. Consider writing about your career goals, and how the program you’re applying for will help you achieve them. Explaining clearly what motivated you to apply for the specific program will help the committee understand how you’ll fit into the school’s rigorous atmosphere.

Creating an Outline

Once you’re clear on your writing prompt and topic, you can begin drafting an outline. Even if you don’t normally use an outline when you write essays for school, in this case, an outline can help you stick to the word count and tell your story in a way that’s easy to understand. Without an outline, you might provide too much detail at the beginning of the essay, and not enough towards the end. An outline helps you bring balance to your story. Assign approximate word limits to each section or paragraph to help frame your storytelling and ensure you tell your story in a digestible way.

Writing the Essay

Now that your outline is complete, it’s time to start writing for real. Keep in mind that you might want to write a few different drafts until you’re satisfied with your essay, and that’s okay. Doing it well can make the difference between being admitted to your top choice school or not!

The Importance of an Attention-Grabbing Start

As you’re writing your essay, keep your audience in mind. The selections committee may read hundreds of essays. After a while, they’ll get bored just as you would. Starting with a strong opening can grab their attention, and wake them up! After all, you’ve worked hard on this essay and you want to make sure they really read it instead of skimming it. 

If as you write you find that the most compelling part of your story is farther down the page, ask yourself how you can begin with that section. Try to reorder your essay to start strong, and fill in the necessary details later. Again, don’t be afraid to lean on your parents, teachers or friends who are good writers for help framing your thoughts and polishing your essay.

Finish with a Strong Conclusion

Now that you know how to write a college admissions essay that begins well, make sure it ends well, too! Remember that the admissions committee is looking to understand something about you as a person. Your conclusion should demonstrate the lessons you’ve learned, your maturity, and your eagerness to keep learning. A satisfying conclusion does all this, and summarizes your essay neatly. Remember that it’s as critical here to be concise as in the rest of the essay, and that you should try to end on a memorable note. 

Reviewing and Editing

Perhaps even more important than being interesting in your college essay is being accurate. The most compelling story is hard to follow if the reader is constantly distracted by poor grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. Part of your application is showing the committee you have good writing skills, which is necessary whether you’re applying for English or Economics, Physics or Philosophy. Good writing skills demonstrate that you have the power to reflect on your experiences, and to follow the rules of learning. Review your essay several times yourself, including reading it aloud. Trade essays with a friend to help each other with editing, and rely on trusted adults in your life to offer their corrections. Writing checkers like the Hemingway app or Grammarly can also help you to smooth out confusing passages and improve your grammar.

If you’re worried about the quality of your essay, you may consider hiring a professional to review and edit your letter. An objective opinion can improve not just the mechanics of your writing, but the overall story and message, as well.

Conclusion

Your college admissions essay should help the selection committee understand your passion for the school and program you’re submitting the application for. Reflecting on what makes you unique as an individual and what you hope to achieve when you finish your degree will help you to make your essay personal and pleasant to read. If you’re careful to avoid common mistakes and craft an essay that is as polished as possible, you may soon get a stack of thick envelopes in the mail with your admission letters!