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How to Write a Stand-Out College Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Pascale Bradley in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Introduction to college admission essays, make your college admission essays stand out, choose a compelling topic.

College admission essays comprise approximately 20% to 25% of the evaluation criteria for college applications. This is especially true when applying to top-tier institutions with large pools of applicants who are equally competitive with respect to their academic performance, standardized test scores, and extracurricular involvement. Most schools require applicants to submit a Common Application essay and their own school-specific supplemental short responses and essays. However, they also require applicants to respond to different types and quantities of topics, and you need to confirm which essays are required for each school.

Essays are the most significant personal component of the application process. They serve an integral role in humanizing you and helping colleges understand who you are, how you came to be, what you value, and how you respond to different challenges and situations. This information is critical because it helps admissions officers determine what you can contribute to their respective school, which is important because you need to demonstrate why a college should want you to attend and not just why you want to go to that college.

Essays will range from 100 to 700 words in length. Short responses may range between one or two words to several sentences. You may also have the opportunity to submit a multi-page document or a portfolio of your work for a particular program or for admission in general.

When it comes to writing college admission essays, most applicants feel pressured to write about something that others will perceive as exceptionally interesting and impressive, such as a national award or a niche hobby. Applicants may feel unsure and insecure about not being talented, accomplished, or interesting enough, and the events and experiences in their daily life may feel too mundane or clichéd to write about. These pressures and insecurities stem from applicants internalizing the incessant messaging that they need to be exceptional and unique in order to distinguish themselves from other applicants and be attractive to schools.

Most applicants have not accomplished anything of regional, national, or international significance. Even for the few who have such accomplishments, the accolades in and of themselves are not sufficient to craft a compelling essay.

What actually makes a compelling essay is not what you choose to write about but how you write about whichever topic you choose. The essay will stand out because of your voice, your perspective, and your way of experiencing the world. You will not be penalized for what you have not experienced or achieved, as admissions officers understand that not everyone has access to the same set of opportunities and that geographic location, socioeconomic status, family connections, and many other factors constrain and determine what you are able to do in high school.

Once you divorce yourself from the misconception that your essay needs to be about something dramatic, life-altering, or incredibly exciting, you can start to home in on the content of your life that is worth writing about. Moments from and aspects of your everyday life—a book that was particularly meaningful to you, a relationship that you cherish, a memory of time spent with loved ones, a time when you were humiliated—are the seeds of great essays because they are the vehicles by which you can reveal something significant about who you are and how you think.

Your essay can be about anything you want, so long as it is appropriate for a general audience, satisfies the prompt to which you are responding, and shows the admissions officers something important about you that they could not find anywhere else in your application. Topics and content to avoid include any statements that could be construed as racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, xenophobic, or otherwise prejudiced against any particular group of people. You should also avoid the use of unsupported facts, obscene language, illicit activities, violence, or graphic subjects.

If you are considering writing about something that could be considered controversial, you need to recognize and prepare for the reality that your reader may completely disagree with you and may finish reading your essay doubting your character. Although there is a slight chance that you could write a really strong essay about one of these topics, you run a great risk that is unnecessary and will likely not prove worthwhile.

For more information about how to write strong college admission essays, review our comprehensive articles on “ How to Write the Common Application Essays ” and “ 19 Stellar Common App Essay Examples ” to get inspired.

7 Ways to Make Your College Application Essay Stand Out

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There’s so much that goes into a college application, combining years of hard work that lead up to the final moment when you hit “send.”

Grades and test scores are important components, but numbers only tell a portion of your story. What colleges really want to know — and what sets you apart from the crowd of other applicants — is who you are and what makes you tick. Your best opportunity to go beyond the letters and numbers on your high school transcript is through the application essay , or personal statement, which is precisely that: your invitation t o let your personality shine. For admissions officers comparing students with similar scores and extracurricular activities, a compelling essay that brings an applicant to life can lift that student to the top of the pile.

To make your college essay stand out, consider these expert tips.

1. Choose a Thoughtful Title

College essays are not typically required to have a title, but crafting one can be a powerful tool to make your essay stand out right away — which is why Benjamin Caldarelli, co-founder of Princeton College Consulting , recommends adding one. He says a strong, simple title is perfectly effective, though you may be able to make a positive impact with a well-chosen cultural reference. “Using a variation on the title of a well-known book or movie is an example,” he says. A winning title he saw recently was “Mindful Middle Class Indian.” It was a play on the popular book-turned-movie Crazy Rich Asians .

Even with a more straightforward title, Caldarelli says it’s important to pique the interest of the reader. Another effective title he noticed was “The Cheesecake.” It’s simple, relatable and leaves you to wonder what that dessert has to do with college. The essay turned out to be a creative and unusual approach the applicant used to demonstrate their perseverance by making a fancy, labor-intensive cake, and Caldarelli says the title was the perfect setup.

You need to start with the meaty part right off the bat. Phyllis Zimbler Miller

2. Jump Right In

Just as people often judge whether to read a book based on its first sentence or two, the college essay should waste no time in grabbing a reader’s attention. “Frequently, first paragraphs are weak, as if the writer is winding up to write the meaty part of the essay. You need to start with the meaty part right off the bat,” says Phyllis Zimbler Miller , author of How to Succeed in High School and Prep for College . Her recommendation? Write your first draft and then chop off the first paragraph to see how it reads. Chances are that’s a good place to start strong.

Lindsey Conger, an independent college counselor at MoonPrep.com , agrees that the first paragraph is crucial and suggests starting with an anecdote, particularly one in which you can draw the reader into the action. “I recommend that you throw your reader right into the middle of the story,” she says.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Humor

Moments of levity can be a welcome relief for admissions associates who are knee-deep in earnest essays. To pull them in, Brian Galvin, chief academic officer for Varsity Tutors , recommends using humor or a semi-sensational statement. His example of an intriguing line? “When I was three, I was abducted by aliens. My life has never been the same.” That’s an essay you want to continue reading, right? And a couple of lines is the perfect amount of humor — after all, your essay isn’t meant to be, and shouldn’t be, a standup routine. Instead, it is designed to present the fullest, truest and most compelling version of yourself. If you choose a humorous opening line, Galvin suggests transitioning into a particular passion or interest. This alien opener might “transition to a student’s deep interest in astrophysics or aerospace engineering,” he says.

4. Use Specific Examples

It can be tempting to use the essay to showcase all of your positive attributes, but remember, it shouldn’t feel like a résumé. For a successful college essay, keep your focus narrow and then use strong examples to illustrate your points. “Don’t just tell us that you are empathetic; tell us about a time you volunteered at a nursing home and spent hours talking with a particular resident. Tell us how you felt and the impact the conversation had on you and the resident. Those types of stories will stick out much more to the admission officer reading your essay,” advises Conger.

5. Channel Your Most Unusual Passions

Chances are, if you’ve chosen to write about something you’re genuinely passionate about, your excitement will shine through and will distinguish your essay from those that sound robotic. And the more unusual that interest is, the better — whether it’s skydiving or cosplay, think about the things you love that set you apart.

To make a particular interest really stand out in the context of a college essay, discuss how it aligns with your educational objectives. You might explain what skills you’ve mastered from a hobby that will be meaningful in your future career, or perhaps point to a specific experience that highlights your individual growth and personal development.

6. Be Vulnerable and Authentic

If you want your college essay to leave an impression, don’t be afraid to open up and show genuine emotion. “Being very vulnerable and sharing a painful or intense experience honestly can make for compelling essay material,” says Galvin. Just be mindful of the fine line between sharing difficult experiences and painting yourself as a victim. “It’s OK to talk about the challenges you’ve faced in life, but if you do that, also talk about how you grew as a result and worked to overcome the challenge,” says Louise Grant, associate director of admissions for Husson University .

You don’t need to have experienced personal tragedy to have material for a memorable college essay. Acknowledging a mistake you made and reflecting on it honestly and with maturity can display emotional depth and vulnerability too.

7. Draw Connections

It’s pretty easy to just talk about yourself, but to bring your essay to the next level, try to connect it to the world at large. “What often elevates an essay is that the writer is able to place their own story and insights in a larger historical, cultural, philosophical or intellectual context. Ask the question: What is an important and authentic context for my story? Whether it is an idea that frames the entire essay or just finds its way in through telling details, it often separates good from great,” says Caldarelli. In a well-known example , one student framed her essay within the context of shopping at Costco while deftly bringing in physics concepts and literary references and demonstrating her own personal growth.

These suggestions are your guide to writing a college essay that stands out — in a good way. Equally important is that your essay not stand out for the wrong reasons — because of poor grammar, careless typos, divisive or offensive statements or straying far from the topic or word count. To avoid these pitfalls, be sure to proofread your essay several times and then have it reviewed by an extra set of eyes (or two) before hitting send.

Following the above do’s — and don’ts — will help you compose an essay that communicates the best of you, guaranteeing that it will be compelling and utterly original.

Interviews for this article were conducted in 2019.

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12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

College admission committees sift through thousands of college essays each year. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

Pamela Reynolds

When it comes to deciding who they will admit into their programs, colleges consider many criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more colleges are no longer considering test scores.

Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for “test-blind” admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we’ll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We’ll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s genuinely important to you and not a subject you’ve chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You’ll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer’s attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that’s not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don’t Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.

The most engaging writing “shows” by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people’s lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

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Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you’ve had some time to forget what you’ve written. Often, you’ll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer’s tip : Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don’t Repeat

If you’ve mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don’t repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you’ve answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups—a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

“While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would,” the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here’s our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

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About the Author

Pamela Reynolds is a Boston-area feature writer and editor whose work appears in numerous publications. She is the author of “Revamp: A Memoir of Travel and Obsessive Renovation.”

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What do outstanding essays have in common? Here are our 23 most effective strategies based on lessons from admitted students.

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23 College Essay Tips To Stand Out

Over the years, we've read and helped students write thousands of essays that worked.

And one thing has become clear: there's no "rules" or magic formulas to writing outstanding essays.

Great college essays come in all sorts of varieties, and that uniqueness is what makes them great.

In this guide, you’ll learn 23 easy-to-implement strategies that actually help your essays stand out, including:

How to write a powerful hook that captivates the reader
A simple strategy to come up with tons of essay ideas
How to showcase your achievements without bragging
Ways to find your authentic and best writing style

...And much more!

These strategies are based on the advice from admissions officers, expert college counselors, and most importantly: the real essays of admitted students.

Apply these tips to your own college essays and watch they become more engaging and interesting.

Let’s get started!

Only write from your perspective

Don’t try to write like a novel, or other books you may have read in the past.

In describing moments, avoid writing from outside of your own perspective.

Don't write:

I grimaced when I heard the bad news

How could you be seeing yourself react? Who is watching you in that moment?

Your college essays are personal pieces, so only write from your perspective. Don’t write from outside your own perspective, or about things you wouldn’t be able to perceive.

Since your essays are written in the 1st person, you should tell your reader what you feel. Describe what you felt, and let the reader infer the meaning.

Instead try:

I felt a pang in my gut when I heard the bad news

By writing from your perspective only, you will automatically show, not tell.

Your essay will always be stronger if you show the physical actions, details of your characters, and your feelings. Allow your reader to do the thinking and knowing.

Watch out for this subtle difference, which can have a big impact on how your essays read.

Use specific and nerdy words

You shouldn’t dumb down your knowledge when writing your personal essay.

Instead, showcase your understanding by naming things specifically and using some jargon or technical language. Rather than saying:

My biggest fear is being unengaged.

You could try:

My slimy, monolithic, Lovecraftian fear is unengagement.

As long as it is authentic, you should make specific references to your interests, passions, or knowledge.

It shouldn’t be “over the top” or forced, but doing this sparingly throughout your essay can showcase your character.

Writing specifically (while not being overly detailed) also automatically makes your essay more interesting to read.

Tell a story, tell many stories

Humans are naturally drawn to stories, and great stories stay with us after reading them.

You want the admissions officers to remember and think about your essays after reading them, and stories help you do just that.

Remember these additional tips for writing stories in a personal essay:

Focus on why those stories matter (your insights )
Avoid overly descriptive writing, which can be easy to gloss over
Don’t write only stories, have a balance of reflection and analysis too

Here’s a technique for reflecting on your stories and experiences:

Write a story in the past tense. Then add, “Now I realize...” and continue writing.

This phrase will get you to reflect, and later while revising you can remove it.

Remember that your stories needs conflict, setting, and context. At the end of your story, you need to answer the question “Why does it matter?”

Write stories, lots of stories, and use them as the starting point for your essays. They shouldn’t take up too much of your final essay though.

This gets to my next tip about finding the best essay ideas...

The best ideas come while you write

Here’s the truth about getting brilliant essay ideas: you need to write first , and ideas will come later.

Our brains are great at making connections , and by writing you’re putting material in front of your brain, which lets it start coming up with connections (AKA your ideas).

Human brains are not as great at spurring up ideas on the spot. It’s nearly impossible to just sit down and force yourself to think up great, unique ideas.

Your best ideas will likely come about while you’re writing. Often, those interesting ideas are the spontaneous ones.

That’s why most students need 4-10+ drafts to write an outstanding personal statement.

Why write so much? Because your initial drafts are just for thinking out ideas. Expect not to use 90% of what you write at the start.

And writing to get ideas is actually easier than thinking to get ideas, because you’ll end up getting to good ideas faster.

So choose a topic and start writing. It’s the most effective way to start getting ideas.

Paragraph breaks are your friend

Paragraph breaks make it easier for the reader to read. Spaces help your eyes from skipping over dense blocks of text.

Use paragraphs to organize your ideas into groups. Then, you can move them around and see what works best. Small changes in placement can have a big impact on how your essay flows.

Avoid “writing like a suburb,” which is writing with lots of evenly sized paragraphs (1). This can make for a boring reading experience.

Instead, use paragraph breaks freely and make your essay be like Paris, with a variety of paragraph lengths.

If your paragraphs are too dense, they’ll also be easier to skip over. Having longer paragraphs is good, but make sure to have a balance.

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student writer with the johns hopkins carey business school

Breadcrumbs

How to write a standout graduate admissions essay, article highlights.

Reflect before you begin your application essays.
Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper.
Write freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft.
Take your time. Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective.
Gather feedback from a trusted source.
Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits.

Everyone has a story to tell, and we know there’s more to you and your talents than what’s on your resume. But how will you stand out from the crowd when applying to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School?

The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to expand beyond your transcript and resume. Share your unique strengths, your background, your growth, or whatever else makes you a strong candidate for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

In this article, you will find a detailed explanation of how to write a standout admissions essay.

How to prepare

Before you begin writing, read the essay prompts carefully. Take a moment to reflect and explore why you’re pursuing a graduate business degree. Consider having a pen and notepad nearby as you participate in this reflection exercise. Think about your path thus far and pinpoint moments of growth and learning. Take note of how these moments have shaped you and how these experiences will guide you through your graduate business degree at Carey.

Map your ideas:

Now that you have an idea of how to share your story within the context of the essay prompts, it’s time to draft an outline . Map out your key points and outline the supporting examples. As you map the direction and flow of your essay through the outline, keep in mind your audience. Our admissions officers read thousands of application essays, so you want to find a creative hook to make your story stand out.

Don’t overthink it! Start writing:

As you start to write your first draft, let the words flow. At this stage, don’t fixate on grammar or finding the perfect word– just get your thoughts on paper. You will finesse and polish your essay in the second draft.

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Take a break:

Once you complete your first draft, take a day or two before returning to edit it. Coming back to your writing with fresh eyes allows you to read it with a new perspective. Tackle the details of grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary during this second pass. Consider reading your essay backward to help catch typos.

Get feedback:

Once you feel your essays are in a good place, it is highly recommended that you share them for review. Share them with your advisor, a trusted colleague, friend, or even your recommender . Getting insights from a trusted source can help you make your essay stronger, as well as catch any typos or small edits.

Finalize and submit:

You are almost done. Before submitting your essays, do a final review. Run a spell check and read the essays out loud to yourself. This trick allows you to identify areas that may need clarification or tweaks. As you review your final draft, make sure that you actually answered the question posed on the application.

Remember, the essay portion of your application is your chance to stand out from the crowd. By sharing who you are as a person, your growth thus far, your passions, your goals, and your voice, you can make a lasting impression. Best of luck with your application process!

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How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out

How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out: Essential Tips

Your Personal Statement for the Common Application—the classic “college essay” that you’ve been hearing about since freshmen year—is the biggest piece of individual storytelling in the college application process, and it has only continued to grow in importance for college admissions officers. Now, with the number of applications to top US colleges surging higher , writing an essay that distinguishes you from the pack has become tougher than ever.

The challenge of the college essay might seem straightforward: 650 words about what makes you… well, you. If you’ve looked over the Common App Personal Statement prompts , you’ve noticed that they aren’t too intimidating. Maybe you even started writing a response to one for your English teacher, and hey, it went fine!

That’s all well and good, but anyone who takes the assignment lightly is dooming their application for failure. Because the truth is, despite the neat prompts and hundreds of models and outlines, there is no one formula for the perfect personal statement .

Snatching an outline from the internet or reading over dozens of college essay examples from former admits are habits that will hurt your process, rather than help it. When you’re overloaded with information, it’s easy to end up in a state of analysis paralysis. This can make you hypercritical of your own stories and experiences, even though they are authentic to who you are. It can also lead to procrastination and imposter syndrome.

So before you go back over that draft you scribbled out in class months ago, or gobble up every daring college essay you can find on the web, take a moment to reimagine the challenge of the piece. Then, use our essential tips below to make your college essay stand out from the crowd—not through clever wordplay, name dropping, or mimicking examples found online, but by tapping into your own motivations, staying rooted in your own story, and launching into writing confidently.

Start with you, not the essay prompt

Writing about yourself is hard. Writing about yourself in the context of a high-stakes application can be excruciating.

Many of us would prefer to write about anything other than ourselves. That’s why so many college essays become stories about inspiring figures: grandparents, teachers, Elon Musk. But none of these people are the person who the essay should be about, so these essays fall flat.

When you start your college essay with the belief that you must write for a prompt, you’ve already constrained your opportunities. You will make artificial rules out of your interpretation of the prompt, then second-guess your most original ideas. You’ll write for your audience rather than for yourself. And this is one of the worst traps you can fall into.

That’s why, when brainstorming your college essay, you should resist the urge to look at prompts, read examples, or borrow templates.

Instead, focus only on yourself.

What do you most love to do in your free time? What behaviors do you detest? What small mistake have you never forgotten? What about yourself do you have trouble understanding or accepting?

You must get comfortable making everything about you in order to get to the heart of your personal story. These are examples of questions that can push your reflection in the right direction, but there are countless others. And the most effective way to approach such questions is through a conversation.

Rather than generate and respond to intense personal questions yourself, arrange to have a conversation about them with someone close to you. This person should be a trusted confidante you’ve known for years, but shouldn’t be a parent, sibling, or anyone bringing too much emotional baggage into the conversation. They could be a family friend, an aunt or uncle, a coach, teacher, mentor, or college counselor—but it’s best if they are not a peer.

Have an open conversation focused only on your own life stories, values, and motivations—and record it . Keep a record of every word you say in your discussion. Encourage the other person to dig deeper into topics they find intriguing or unclear, no matter how uncomfortable this might be for you. If you’re surprised by something they find fascinating, make a note of it.

Reflecting on and listening over this conversation is the surest way to discover the memories and parts of your identity that matter most.

Establish a regular writing routine

As you move from generating ideas into drafting, you’re likely to encounter some roadblocks. Actually expressing the story that’s clear in your mind may turn out to be surprisingly frustrating. You may be unsatisfied with each attempt you make. You may hear extraordinary stories about exceptional people and doubt whether your idea is any good in the first place.

In order to make the writing process less daunting, focus on getting into the habit of simply putting words down on paper, instead of expecting yourself to produce brilliant content. The most important thing is that you do this every day for at least five days a week. Here are some keys for making this routine work:

Daily writing sessions can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour. Give yourself a slight buffer to first think through what you want to write about, then a chunk of time to write, and a few more minutes at the end to consider what your next step will be.
Following from this, aim to finish each writing session when you still have more to say . Knowing what you want to say next doesn’t mean you need to put it down on paper immediately. In fact, it’s helpful to intentionally leave off your final paragraph. Write as the Japanese eat , until your page is 80% full of what you set out to say. That last paragraph will then become a starting point the next day, and you’ll have 24 hours to let your mind work on what comes next.
Schedule your writing sessions at the same time every day . For many, jamming in an evening time slot may seem more attractive than waking up early. But consider honestly when you are sharpest: many of us, even self-professed night owls, have our best focus and presence of mind in the morning.
Write the way you speak . If you’d like, you can even keep dictating your thoughts, rather than writing them. More on this later.
Write about anything : your pet, what you see out your window, even why you hate writing. You do not always need to continue where you left off the day before. What you produce on a given day doesn’t even need to correspond to the general topic or story you are developing. Remind yourself that the most important thing is the writing itself, and force yourself to do it anyway, even when it feels like pulling teeth.
Do not worry about the quality of what you produce . No good comes from pondering every word or reengineering every phrase. The more you write, and the more often you write, the more the words should spill out naturally. Yes, you will need to do some serious editing at some point. But no one needs to know if your first drafts were flimsy.

Over time, a cycle of honest conversation and regular writing practice will produce results. Trust in this process and stick to your plan: you will likely end up with even more juicy content than you can possibly fit in your college essay—and this is great! You can often re-work stories and stances into your shorter, supplemental college essays, and almost always share them in interviews or networking conversations. The process itself will help you become a more compelling person overall.

Trust your instincts & keep it simple

Admissions officers are all too used to reading college essays written in a style or voice that seems forced. These essays are littered with complex clauses and semicolons. The words that fill them are unwieldy and questionably used. Metaphors, analogies, and grand claims abound.

These mistakes make sense: if personal creative writing doesn’t come naturally to you (as it doesn’t to most people), it’s understandable that you’d want to elevate your language. You are, after all, applying to selective colleges that expect whip-smart high school students.

But writing can be overdone. And overdoing your college essay is a pitfall you must avoid.

As a student, you’re bombarded daily with writing: you may read snippets of a novel, a magazine, a history textbook, a philosophical discourse, and a chemistry paper—all on the same day. It’s all too easy to lose track of what you actually sound like amidst all those voices in all those texts.

And in the worst case scenario, this causes you to write like you’re thumbing through a thesaurus. Case in point: the compulsion to replace each usage of the word “use” with “utilize.”

To avoid this, whenever you are drafting, rely on your instincts. As the ideas pop into your mind, write them in the exact phrasing in which they appear . If you lose your train of thought, go back over the recording you made of your conversation, and listen again to what you said when you weren’t thinking about an essay . Perhaps you used slang, or a pet phrase; perhaps there was an unexpected moment of sarcasm, and you can tap back into that humorous state.

Most importantly, keep it simple . Remember that sentences do not need to be long in order to be engaging, and that a story is best presented plainly enough that it allows a reader to do some interpreting. If you attempt to explain every detail of your story, you will spend the entire essay explaining rather than actually telling the story itself.

In order to preserve your natural voice and keep your writing simple and meaningful, get in the following habits:

When you start your writing session, spend 10 minutes thinking about what you’ll write, and do not read anything else .
If you get stuck on writing, begin to speak your ideas freely and record them exactly as you speak them. Even if you spend an entire session speaking rather than writing, it is worthwhile.
Don’t go back over the sentence you just wrote . It isn’t perfect, and you know that. Forge ahead regardless. Return to tweak your phrasing only at the end of your writing session, and later, when you have reached the editing phase of your process.
Remember that this is not an academic essay . Don’t fall into the patterns that have served you well in English or History courses. Topic sentences are not summaries of entire paragraphs. Grammar does not need to be impeccable: the priority is the natural flow of the writing—how it sounds when read aloud—not the preciseness of each clause.

Remember that you are writing to a normal person

As you go through the intense process of assembling your application package, it can begin to feel that you are performing, to some extent, for an admissions committee shrouded in mystery. These admissions officers hold your fate in their hands, and given the acceptance rates at top colleges, it’s hard not to assume that they are cold-blooded critics looking for any excuse to kill your application in the water. Most students who make this assumption automatically go on the defensive, doing whatever they can to cover up potential red flags and appear flawless.

And this approach does them no good.

No 17-year-old is perfect, and the admissions officer reading your application will be eminently aware of this. They are not looking for perfection, but for authenticity. They want to bring students to their university who could genuinely benefit from and contribute to the learning experience on campus. If you come across as someone who believes they’ve already mastered everything life can throw at them, will you sincerely challenge yourself and grow while in college? It’s doubtful.

Let the other parts of your application speak for themselves. Your goal in the college essay is not to impress an admissions committee, but to connect with them . This means you need to come across as a human. To do this, think of creating a casual encounter with the person reading your essay. Imagine that you are at a party, and you’re sharing a story with someone you just met. What does this mean?

Write as though you are speaking to a peer . Admissions officers are not predisposed to judge you; in fact, they are seeking to understand the person inside all the statistics and materials. They are smart and compassionate people looking for things to like about you. You don’t need to spell out basic facts or waste space drilling the same point home. Trust that they will be able to interpret your deeper themes because they sincerely want to learn more about you.
Don’t exaggerate or undersell . Both are important. You can immediately tell when someone you’ve met is bragging or being disingenuous. At the same time, you’re at your most engaging when you acknowledge your own talents and don’t shy away from sharing them. Try to present both your positive qualities and the skills you’re still working on as plainly as you can, without apologizing or aggrandizing.
Avoid going into too much detail about your lowest low points . This may seem counterintuitive, given everything else we’ve written about being authentic with your story and style. And yes, there is huge value in being vulnerable—to an extent. But if you meet someone at a party, your scarring experiences with clinical depression or childhood trauma are probably not your best icebreaker. These may be important elements of your life, which you refer to when sharing what you care about. But in the end, your application reader is not a close friend or a trusted confidante. Don’t overwhelm them with darkness you’ve begun breaking through: focus on the progress you’ve made and how your past drives you forward.

Don’t have too many readers

It’s more likely than not that you have several people interested in reading your college essay and giving their opinion on it. When you do feel that you’ve fleshed out a story and you see its shape coming together, it is useful to seek some outside perspective. After all, admissions committees are made up of multiple personalities, all of which will contribute to the decision of whether to accept or deny your application.

But be careful not to have more than two or three other people give you feedback on your personal statement. If you show it to your counselor, your teacher, your soccer coach, your piano instructor, your mom, your aunt, and your cousin… you are going to be overwhelmed by competing opinions, each with their own biases.

If you’re not working closely with a consultant or counselor, the first person to read your college essay should be the same person who had that original brainstorming conversation with you. They will come into the reading with a sense of what makes you special, but without too much bias related to their personal feelings on your character. Have them read the essay without you present, first. Then meet, and ask them:

Did they learn anything new or unexpected about you in this essay?
Did they find themselves thinking back on the essay after they were done reading it? If so, what part(s) were they thinking about?
Would they want to have a coffee with you after reading this essay? Or collaborate on a project with you?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but asking them will help you to gauge whether your story communicates what you want it to about who you are.

Following these guidelines will enable you to set your sights in the right direction for your college essay and launch your writing process with confidence. Check back in soon for part two in this series: we’ll be sharing an article on the next steps for editing your Common App Personal Statement into its most compelling final state.

More Help on the College Admissions Process

Have these tips helped you brainstorm or draft? Are you interested in personalized advice for planning your own personal statement, extracurricular activities, school list, and more? Tell us about your goals and what you’ve been doing using our college admissions calculator , and we’ll get back to you shortly with tips for just your profile. Or, skip straight to a free phone consultation to discuss your application strategy with our expert college admissions consulting team.

Stand out in the college admissions process with tailored college admissions consulting services. Let our team of expert College Consultants support you every step of the way.

Menlo Coaching also has a team of dedicated SAT tutors to help boost your test scores.

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Seven Ways to Make your College Essay Stand Out

Because the college essay is not the same kind of essay that you write for your high school English teacher, it does not have to have the typical essay introduction which would usually provide a thesis statement. Most students are unaware of this fact. Just as you want to prepare the best answers to your college interview , here are seven tips for writing an engaging essay that will stand out from the rest!

1. Your first paragraph should grab the reader

The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission’s reader. It is imperative, then, that the introduction to the college essay capture the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read more.

There are different ways to grab the reader.

Try starting with a question.
Begin with a bold statement.
Use an interesting quote.
Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things. Place the reader in the middle of something happening or in the middle of a conversation.
Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.
Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.
Sometimes even a single word that stands as a paragraph can make the reader wonder and read on.

2. Be a real person, not an anonymous author

Do not be just another of thousands of applicants that do not make an impression. If you are reading a newspaper article, the writer fades behind the facts and you know nothing about the writer except that s/he can collect, organize, and present the facts that you need to now. You want the admissions reader to say, “Ah, this is a real person writing to me.

That means you should write with voice, that is, you need to write with your own personality. Honesty, humor, talking the way you talk, showing the way you think, all help to create voice.

3. Don’t be boring

Trying to be proper or trying to impress or trying to be intellectual can be a drag. What you should be are doing is getting noticed as unique. It’s like you are on a date with the admissions reader and you want to be asked out again.

If you are on a date, you would naturally want to be smart, funny, nice, caring, unique, not boring. You also want to have an opinion, not step back like an unthinking geek. Write your essay as though you would be a great second date.

4. Make your essay correct and beautiful

Dates should look good, too. You can make your essay beautiful by giving thought to a few things. Use a font that is readable. Consider whether or not a bold typeface could make your essay easier to read. Don’t crowd your essay near the top of the page, but balance it on the page and attend to soothing margins. Provide the essay prompt at the opening. Separate paragraphs in a consistent way, either by indenting each paragraph or by using block style, keeping all the words to the left margin but spacing extra between paragraphs.

If there are a lot of mistakes in your essay, it can not be pretty. Make sure you have spelled everything correctly. Make sure your basic punctuation is correct.

Did you separate dialogue correctly from the rest of your text? Did you use capitalization correctly? Check out our article on the most common mistakes in college essays for more tips to ensure your essay reads well.

5. Approach the essay from a different angle

If you look at things a little differently from others you stand out. In answering an essay prompt, you need not always do it the most normal way.

What if you were to take the negative approach to answer the prompt? What are your hopes? Maybe you can tell what your hopes are by writing what you do not hope for.
Perhaps you can create a little mystery by not answering the prompt immediately. What do you want to study? Maybe you could reveal that in the last sentence of your prompt after telling about all the little things that have some relevance to your area of study. For example, you might describe much natural flora, observe fauna, then list feelings you have about nature to lead up to writing that you want to study biology.
You might even bury your answer to a prompt in a story or in a moral tale or even in a description.

6. Be clear and logical

As much as you wish to shine, the shine will be lost if your sentences and thoughts do not string together logically. You must make sense to the reader.

Reread your essay as though you have no idea what the writer is talking about. Does it make sense? Are there transitions between different sections of the essay? Is the essay organized? Have you started at the beginning? Have you provided an ending? Have you given enough background information?

It is a good idea to make sure different audiences understand what you have tried to write. Test your essay with a friend, a teacher, a parent, even a younger reader. Ask them not to judge but simply read to see if they know what you are saying. “Tell me,” say to them, “exactly what you got from this.” If there is confusion, fix it.

7. Leave your reader with a lasting impression

People remember the last things first or, at least, best. As Alan Alda said in a commencement address he delivered to his daughter’s graduating college class, the most important things are said on the way out the door. His last words in that speech were, “I love you.”

In the same way, you should end your college essay with something that not only summarizes the most important aspects of you but that is also memorable. Memorable endings are poignant, making the reader feel an emotion. Or, they capture a several-line conclusion in one pithy, well-worded phrase or sentence. Or, maybe they end with a simple, clean truth written from the heart.

Final Tips! If you are having trouble getting started on your essay, you might want to check out Academichelp.net where they provide sample essays and free writing guides or check out The Essay Guy for more great essay writing tips. Lastly, if English is not your first language, you might want to look for some tips on how to improve your English writing skills to make sure you can be clear and concise with your writing. Good Luck!

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9 tips to make your college admissions essay stand out.

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Jessica Velasco

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How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out

college application essays
essay topic

In each admissions season, applicants are tasked with showcasing their personas without resorting to overdone college essay topics or cliche metaphors. The best way to stand out is to discuss something that deeply matters to you, no matter how insignificant it may seem to others.

These 5 college students at Yale , Harvard , Northwestern , Dartmouth and Cornell took risks with their essays… by NOT discussing unique, out-of-this-world crazy topics. They highlighted simple objects that reflect great personal meaning that provide insight in their lives and values. Here’s how to write a refreshing and impactful essay about something perfectly ordinary.

Yale University ‘15

Shhh. Silver raindrops scurry across the car window. They race from left to right, growing bigger and moving faster as they swim along. What makes us humans different from these raindrops? We are all just droplets hurrying from one end of the window to the other, growing mature as we forge our ways forward, dabbling in and out of the paths of those before us, while leaving our own spotty trails behind. We are all just transient raindrops… Keep reading.

Harvard University ‘17

To be honest, I have no recollection of the experience that would shape the rest of my life. Born three months premature, I was not supposed to live any longer than that first turbulent week. I was hastily baptized the same day I was born in fear that I would not last long enough to receive the rite under normal circumstances. Read more.

Sienna Parker

Northwestern university ‘18.

Covered in a thin layer of dust and on the verge of falling off is my bumper sticker with a picture of John Muir and the caption “hike”. Bumper stickers, though rarely noticed by some people, usually bare great significance to the driver. They are an exclamation about the driver’s beliefs and values. The story behind my “hike” sticker goes back to a trip I went on during my freshmen year. View full profile.

Dartmouth College ‘18

I consider myself an awkward dancer. Awkward dancing doesn’t always mean bad dancing – even Anna Pavlova would be awkward performing an arabesque in certain contexts. Like at a debate tournament with no specific reason to dance. You can imagine the kinds of looks I get when I do it. Read more.

Hannahbrown

Cornell university ‘17.

My biggest fear is being forgotten.

It’s something of a selfish fear; it’s egocentric, to be honest. But truly I am not afraid of dying, only of ceasing to matter when I am gone. I am a firm believer in the insignificance of the individual, after all—not that the individual does not matter, to be sure. More than anything, it is my understanding that, as life continues after us as it existed before us, it is useless to act as though dying is the end. Read on.

Did you like these 5 profiles? Unlock them all in one go in this package . Make sure to search through profiles of students accepted to see essays, stats, and advice. See how they got in, and how you can too!

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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Articles & Advice > College Admission > Articles

Line of white rubber ducks with one yellow one out in front of the rest

7 Unique Ways to Stand Out on Your College Applications

No one wants to be just another piece of paper in the college admission process. Here are a few ways to make your application stand out from the crowd.

by Kara E. Joyce Freelance Writer

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2023

Originally Posted: Jun 19, 2019

No one wants to be just another piece of paper when it comes to the college application process—but unless you're partaking in college interviews, it's easy to succumb to that. There are plenty of articles on how to make your college essay stand out with original language and powerful stories, but how do you make the rest of your application pop too? After all, if writing isn’t your strongest asset, it’s daunting to have such high stakes resting on the admission essay. So if you're not a writer, what other things can you highlight to show your worth in paper and ink? The good news is there are plenty of ways to make your college applications stand out other than writing a Pulitzer Prize–worthy essay. Here are just a few.

1. A top-notch portfolio

If you’re planning to major in Art, Graphic Design, Film/Photography, or Creative Writing, chances are you’ll be asked to provide a portfolio of work for review . Put your best foot forward for this requirement. Don’t overdo it—if the school asks for five pieces, don’t give them 10—but make sure those five pieces are the best they can be. Make sure your portfolio submissions are true to you. If your favorite subject to draw is office supplies, don’t submit drawings of flowers because you think that’s what the admission council wants to see. You’re choosing this major because you’re passionate about the work and your content. Don’t cheat your passions because you’re afraid they’re unusual. Maybe the professor reviewing your portfolio loves drawing office supplies too!

When you’re preparing your portfolio, don’t be the only one to look over your submissions. Pick out your top 10 works and ask a trusted teacher or mentor to help you choose which ones they think are best. Also ask them to help you improve those top choices. Nothing is perfect, but you want to make sure these are as close to perfect as possible. Also, if you have a piece that won an award of some sort (schoolwide, statewide, or nationwide) but you feel like it doesn’t fully showcase your ability, you don’t have to include it. But if you do think it’s a testament to your abilities, then you’ll definitely want to!

Related: How to Make Your Art Portfolio Pop

2. Your awards

Speaking of awards, make sure to include these on your application too. There are two places in the Common Application you can mention awards: either the “Honors” subsection in the Education section or in the Activities section. According to CollegeVine, you should list achievements that aren’t directly related to an activity in “Honors” and list activity-related awards in the Activities section. For example, if you won a national poetry contest your sophomore year, that would go in the “Honors” subsection of Education. But if you placed first in a dance competition with the team you’ve been on since you were 10 years old, that would go in Activities.

However, be aware of certain “honor societies” that allude selectivity but make you pay an exorbitant price to join the club. According to College Confidential, including societies that aren’t selective as long as you can pay the right price isn’t worth it. Colleges are well aware of which societies are highly selective and which aren’t, so make sure you do your research before you sign up to join strictly for a résumé builder . And do plenty of research to make sure these groups aren’t scams.

In short, if you’re in the National Honor Society or won a prestigious fellowship through your school, put that on your application. If you get a random email inviting you to join the self-proclaimed prestigious Red-Headed League, it might not be worth mentioning. Also, don’t do it.

3. Odd jobs

One of the easiest ways to stand out to colleges is to get unique work experience. There are plenty of interesting jobs out there, and you don’t need a college degree to get most of them. And these jobs don’t even have to be related to your major. Extra bonus: not only can working a unique job make you stand out on your application, you make some money too!

From being a carnival hawker to leading historical tours of your city to working as an ice cream scooper, there are tons of interesting part-time jobs out there. And if you’re worried about work interfering with your grades, look for seasonal positions to keep you busy during the summer or places that will let you work on the weekend. Also, if you received any certifications for your job, such as PSIA/AASI (ski and snowboard), ISA (surfing), or ASA (sailing) certifications, make sure to mention those the same way you reported your other awards in the Activities section. It may not feel like an award, but with all the hard work that went into getting it, that little piece of paper or pin is practically a trophy!

4. Major-specific jobs

This might seem a bit tougher because most jobs related to your potential major will be built for students who are already in college. An obvious option is being a counselor at a camp with a focus on your intended studies. If you’ve attended computer, Bible, basketball, music, or another type of camp, there might be an opportunity for you to participate from the other side now. You need to be 18 or older to be a camp counselor, but many camps have junior counselor positions available to high school students. It never hurts to ask about these opportunities, especially if you’re a camp regular.

Outside of summer camps, cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Boston provide job opportunities for resident students. These cities partner with local and national companies to place students in internships for the summer, and students are often placed in positions based on specific interests. For example, if you’re planning to major in US History, you might be able to work at a nonprofit focused on historical preservation.

Taking on one of these positions shows colleges you’re dedicated to your potential major outside of academics. If you’re not sure what programs are available to you locally, do a simple Google search for “high school internships,” talk to your guidance counselor, or ask your parents if their company provides these opportunities.

Related: 5 Ways to Beef Up Your College Applications

5. Volunteering

You can even volunteer in ways that support your potential studies. See if you can be a peer tutor in your favorite subject at your high school or for students in middle and elementary school. If you’re interested in teaching, see if you can help out during summer school or summer bridge programs. Outside of volunteering at school, try to find ways to help out in your own backyard. Go to your community center or the local YMCA and see what opportunities are there for you to improve your community. Children’s hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes typically look for volunteers for a variety of purposes. Don’t dismiss your religious affiliation either. Speak with the leader of your family’s church, synagogue, temple, or mosque and see how you can be active in the community. Ask if you can assist in teaching younger students in religion classes or help with planning or setting up for events.

6. Non-school activities

Never forget about non-school clubs, especially if the activity is something you’ve been involved in for a while. Obviously, you wouldn’t leave out your Gold Award or Eagle Scout merits, but don’t forget to include the five years you’ve spent in sailing and the 15 you’ve spent taking dance lessons. If you’re a member of a less traditional club like the National High School Rodeo or American Youth Circus, those should find a place in your Activities. If you’re trying to stand out and you’re worried your essay might not help you do that, your offbeat extracurricular activities will certainly make you memorable (in a good way!).

7. Video essay

In recent years, video essays have been gaining popularity at colleges across the country. Many schools give the option to submit a video essay in place of the standard application essay, while even more accept it as supplemental material. A superb video essay not only puts a face to your name but can successfully assert your professionalism and dedication in a genuine voice. Be aware that first impressions matter exponentially with your video essay. According to U.S. News & World Report , most counselors will have a strong opinion on the candidate within the first seven seconds of a video. Even though it’s a change of format, consider some of the same advice for the traditional college essay. Make sure you have a strong, original opening. Keep your tone casual but professional. Follow the directions ; if they ask for a three- to five-minute video, don’t send in a seven-minute clip. In general, be clear and concise with your language. Make sure the content is targeted to the specific college, especially if it’s a supplemental piece.

Additionally, try to minimize the number of times you say “um” or “like.” You should have a neutral background, such as a plain wall or a quiet outdoor space. And make sure you’re dressed professionally. You can show you’re dedicated to geology in business casual attire—you don’t need to wear your faded “Metamorphic rocks are gneiss!” T-shirt.

Related: How to Make a College Application Video That Will Impress

Though the application essay is an important part of your college application, it’s not the only way to stand out as the individual you are—though experiences like these do make great topics for your essay! You still have plenty of time to take advantage of unique opportunities that can make you stand out, so go out there and find them.

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Millennial Magazine - high-school-resume

Top 7 Tips That Make Your Essay Stand Out

Last Updated: April 14, 2023

Essays refer to small pieces of writing that generally demonstrate the effects and causes, problems, and solutions compared to any topic. In short, an article tells more about a specific topic. Everyone can write an essay, although to varying degrees of conciseness. So, how do you make your essay stand out from amongst the mountain load of other papers? Well, here are a few tips that can make your essay stand out:

1. The First Paragraph Should Grab the Reader’s Attention

The introduction to your essay should capture the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read more of your paper. A robust and straightforward title is often very effective. It piques the interest of the reader. Here are a few ways methods you can employ to grab the attention of the reader from the start:

Starting with a question
Using an interesting quote
Challenging the reader by directly speaking to them

The aim here is to make the reader want more.

2. Be Interesting

Your essays may prove to be boring as you try to impress or as you try to be knowledgeable. Your aim in writing the piece is not to prove how much you know but rather to come off as being unique. It would help if you made your opinions on the subject matter to be clear and concise. Try to make the reader see what you are writing about in your way. Writing in first person point of view enables readers to comprehend how you view things. Expressing an opinion directly from your perspective can also assist readers in connecting with your work.

3. Make Sure Your Essay Is Correct and Striking

You can make your essay striking by paying attention to a few critical things. Make sure the font you use is readable. It would be best to consider whether or not to use the bold typeface in your essay, especially in the areas you would like to accentuate. Balance your report throughout the page and look out for the margin borders. The way you separate the paragraphs should be consistent throughout the entire essay.

You can use the block format or indent the sections to give a good visual impression on the readers and come off as striking. It would be best if you also proved read your essay to avoid mistakes in your writing. Check your spelling and make sure the basic punctuation is also correct. You should also not overlook the capitalization of your words.

4. Approach the Essay from a Different Perspective

An excellent way to make sure your essay stands out is to look at the piece differently from the others. It would help if you looked for the road less traveled in such situations. What if you wrote about the negatives of the topic instead of the positives? You can choose a reliable writing service to accomplish this. Your aim here is to try and write an essay from a perspective different from everyone else’s. You need a unique approach to the subject matter different from what everyone else sees to make your essay stand out as you are going against the wave.

5. Use Specific Examples

To make your essay stand out, you should use convincing examples to get your point across to the reader. You should not just give general ideas but specific ideas relating to the theme of the essay. The reader will relate more to particular examples.

6. Be Clear and Concise

Your ideas and thoughts presented in the essay should be well understood and presented logically. All the pictures should make sense to the reader and clearly that the reader well understands. Try to avoid ambiguity in your sentences. It would help if you did not leave the reader trying to understand what you are trying to communicate . The transitions between your ideas should be smooth and precise and well organized. The opinions and thoughts presented in your essay should be understandable to all the different audiences that may read your report. The article should appeal to diverse audiences.

7. Show Emotion and Authenticity

It would help if you showed genuine emotion in your essay to make it stand out from the crowd. It would be best if you made ready to understand how you truly feel. However, it would be best if you were wary of portraying yourself as the victim, which could be less appealing to the reader. You should be able to show your true self. Make the reader relate to you as an individual or to your theme.

Trying to make your essay stand out can be a difficult task. However, with the above tips, you can make sure your articles stand out from the others.

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How To Make Your College Essay Stand Out

Maywood Rachel
March 8, 2021
How To's

Here's What We'll Cover

You have been working hard through high school, and you have finally completed your high school education. You have strong test scores, and you did participate in various co-curricular activities, but what about the essay? With thousands of applications, you are probably wondering how to make your college essay stand out. There are many ways, one of which is buying college essays online .

Your college essay makes all the difference. It carries significant weight to your application by highlighting your individual profile. By the end of this guide, you will know how to make your college essay stand out.

Why College Essays Matter

If colleges wanted to, they would simply rank students based on their standardized test scores or their achievements and admit students with the highest qualifications.

However, colleges don’t do this.

They take a particular interest in students’ application essays to help them know which students to admit. College application essays contribute a significant percentage of your application, and here is why;

First, a college application essay boosts your application by revealing something about yourself that is not in your application. You may have a strong personal experience that you may not highlight in your resume, which makes you fit to join the college. The essay gives you an avenue to reveal and discuss a personal trait which the admissions board may find intriguing.

Second, a college admission essay sets you apart from the crowd. The college application essay is a chance to showcase your personal style, character, and individuality by telling a unique story. Everyone has a different personal story to tell, and the essay gives you a chance to tell yours.

Third, a college essay is essential because it helps demonstrate your interest. It addresses why you would like to join that school and not any other institution. It also helps show your passion for the course you would like to take in the institution.

A college essay is an essential aspect of your application. It makes the difference on whether you get accepted or not. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to make your college essay stand out to ensure your dream college application gets accepted.

A college essay is a way to boost your application and a chance to use your words and voice to increase your chance of getting accepted. You wouldn’t want to gamble with your chances of getting into your dream college. Use the tips below to make your college essay stand out;

Focus on bringing out your special qualities rather than answering specific prompts with your accomplishments

You have submitted your resume and application letter to the board. Therefore, the admissions board already knows what it in the other forms of applications. Don’t make your essay about your accomplishments and additional information included in your CV.

The essay should focus on offering additional information that the board does not know about. It should include your unique qualities, personal stories, character, or even challenges. Here is an example of a common essay prompt where you can share your personal story.

Dive right in. Hook admission readers from the opening sentence

Your introduction section will either hook or lose the interest of the admissions board going through your paper. Therefore, you need to begin your essay in an intriguing way to keep the reader wanting to read more and more of your essay.

An easy and proven way that works is by making the reader feel included in your essay. Here are some insights on how to hook your reader to help you start strong in your essay.

You are probably tensed and want your application to go through. Most students treat their college essays too seriously. However, a little humor doesn’t hurt. It can add relief to the admissions board, and it can pull in the reader. Nonetheless, please do not overdo it.

The main aim of the essay is to communicate your personality to the board. Therefore, a little humor can act as a touch on your personality. However, you can seek college essay writers to help you if you’re feeling cramped up.

Use specific examples rather than list everything

In the essay, while listing your unique attributes, it is essential to add some examples supporting what you mentioned. For example, when saying you are hard-working, you can further explain a time in junior school when you worked hard, day and night, to achieve a particular grade and even sacrificed your playtime. These personal stories with examples will stick out to the board.

Be vulnerable and authentic

The most potent tip on how to make your college essay stand out is by allowing yourself to be vulnerable and authentic. Share your personal experiences honestly and intensely in which the reader can relate to. While it is okay to discuss your lowest or hurtful moments in life, explain how these experiences helped you grow and shaped you into the person you are.

However, you don’t need to have experienced an unfortunate tragedy for your essay to score high grades. Focus on an experience you have had, a significant one that may have contributed to a change in behavior or your thoughts.

Connect your college essay to the world at large

Yes, we said your essay should focus on bringing out your personal qualities. While it is easy to keep discussing your accomplishments, try to connect your essay to the world. Connecting your personal experience to the world either in a historical, cultural, intellectual, or philosophical context will help elevate your essay. To connect your essay, ask the question; which context related to my story?

We have answered your question on how to make your college essay stand out with the tips above. Remember, the essay should supplement and not restate your accomplishments added to other application methods such as resumes. An application essay is a chance to share your personality with the board. Therefore, be human, be vulnerable and share your experiences with relevant examples. Share your story in a way that the board can relate to. Good luck with your application!

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13 Tips to Bring Your Scholarship Essay to the Next Level

Applying for scholarships would be a piece of cake if it wasn’t for the essay, which often forces us to reflect on ourselves, who we are as people, and what we’ve accomplished so far in life. While it can be the most difficult part of the application, it’s also the most important part.

The Planning Phase

1. plan far in advance, 2. know your audience, 3. follow the instructions & answer the prompt, 4. choose a topic that you’re interested in and passionate about, 5. consider reusing an existing essay., the writing phase, 6. create a strong introduction, 7. keep a good structure, 8. show emotions, 9. use real life examples (“show, don’t tell”), 10. keep the tone inspirational & positive, 11. stay away from dreary & boring conclusions, the editing phase, 12. proofread and ask for help, 13. take advantages of resources, but where you do apply.

The scholarship essay is your chance to make a case for yourself and to show the committee why you deserve to win. It gives you the chance to show your personality and what you’re most proud of in life. Your scholarship application should inform, but your scholarship essay should persuade. Scholarship committees read hundreds, or even thousands, of essays, so making your application stand out from the rest is crucial.

Luckily, you don’t need perfect writing skills to make it happen. With a few scholarship essay tips and tricks in mind, you can easily bring your scholarship application to the next level.

Here are our 13 scholarship essay tips to help you succeed:

If you wait until the last minute to write your scholarship essay, the quality will likely suffer. To make sure that you have enough time for the planning phase, create a calendar ( like this one ) with the deadlines and requirements for all the scholarships you want to apply for. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming and proofreading!

Hot tip : If you use Going Merry to find and apply for scholarships , you can save your favorite scholarships, and then our dashboard will keep track of all your upcoming deadlines for you. We’ll even email you reminders so you don’t miss out! Learn more about how Going Merry works here .

The best way to give the scholarship committee what they’re looking for is to actually know what they’re looking for. Figure out who their ideal candidate is and how you fit into that picture. But be careful not to cater to their expectations too much.

Don’t sacrifice your voice and personality to fit the bill. Rather, take a look at your strengths and then determine how you can spin them to become the ideal candidate.

Hot tip : Not sure how to do this? Check out the “Financial Literacy for Hispanic Women” and “Life Happens” scholarship essays here , for examples of past winners who’ve clearly taken the scholarship provider’s missions into account.

It might seem like one of the more obvious scholarship essay tips, but many applicants make their first mistake before they even begin – they don’t read the directions. Exceeding (or not meeting) the word count can hurt your chances since it shows that you didn’t prepare your essay as well as other applicants. Also, double check to make sure you’re responding thoroughly to all parts of the prompt and that you’re following the correct scholarship essay format.

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Your topic can have a heavy impact on how well your essay turns out. If you choose a topic that bores you, you’ll likely bore your reader too! Try to choose a topic that you’re passionate about or that interests you in some way, rather than a topic that you feel you should write about – that way, your personality and excitement can shine through in your writing!

Many scholarship essays use the same essay prompt. Some scholarship providers even use the ones from the Common App or allow you to choose your own topic. This means you can literally copy and paste your essay to submit to multiple applications (yay!).

Other times, scholarships use similar essay prompts, or ask questions that can be answered in the same way. You might be able to slightly change an existing essay, rather than writing a new one altogether. For example, these two prompts can often be answered the same way:

Discuss a moment or experience that caused significant personal growth.
Discuss a time when you had to overcome an obstacle.

Since overcoming an obstacle often results in personal growth, if you have an essay for one of these prompts, you can usually tweak it to make it work for the other prompt.

Hot tip : Going Merry makes it easy for you by combining scholarships with similar essay prompts into application bundles . This way, you can apply for multiple scholarships with just one essay. Sign up today .

Since the introduction is what draws the reader into your essay and convinces them to keep going, it should be one of the strongest parts of your essay . Instead of starting off with a general overview, why not hook your reader with a surprising first line?

For example, which of these two opening lines pulls you into the story more? Which one makes you want to keep going?

My first time traveling abroad was during a family vacation to Mexico in 2010.

It was 2010; I had just crossed the border into Mexico and my life was about to change.

The second sentence gives the reader something to look for; it makes them curious about not only how your life changed during your trip but also why it changed. It gives the readers unanswered questions and they have to keep reading to find the answers.

Overall, you’ll want to give your reader a quick preview of what they can expect from your essay – think of it like the written version of a movie trailer. Why should they keep reading?

After the introduction, it’s important to make sure that your reader can follow along with your essay without too much effort. Creating a basic outline is a great way to make sure this happens!

To create an outline, first organize your thoughts. Write down the main points that you definitely want to cover in your essay. Next, organize those thoughts into various sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Your ideas can either be in sentence form, short phrases, or simple words – whatever you prefer! Lastly, make sure your ideas flow in a logical order and, if necessary, add more detail under each point. Check out this source for more information .

Also, try to avoid going off on a tangent by taking the time to determine which information is relevant and which isn’t . Similarly, consider just how much detail you should include. Providing some detail can make your point clearer or more compelling, but too much detail can bog down your essay.

Hot tip : Check out Joseph Lee’s “What makes a good doctor?” essay here , for an example of a well-structured scholarship essay.

Connecting with an audience through writing can be challenging but, when done right, it can create a very powerful connection between the reader and the author. Showing your emotions is a great way to do that and to get the reader personally invested in your essay. Showing emotion can help the reader see you as a person, rather than a faceless author. Even though it’s crucial, it’s one of the scholarship essay tips that people tend to ignore the most.

We all have vulnerabilities, so don’t be afraid to show them. Scholarship committees don’t expect you to be perfect and want to see how you’ve grown as a person and handled the obstacles that life has thrown your way. In fact, opening up about times where you felt nervous or scared demonstrates maturity and self-awareness – two great qualities for a scholarship applicant to have.

Hot tip : Check out Jesus’ winning scholarship essay here, which discusses a really tough moment in his life. It’s a great example of showing vulnerability.

Instead of telling your reader about your experiences, show them. Don’t be afraid to provide real-world examples of your experiences and/or how you’ve changed as a person. Nearly every applicant will have a somewhat similar response to the essay prompt and your personal examples are your chance to transform your essay from generic to unique.

Consider the difference between these two passages explaining why the scholarship applicant wants to pursue a career in science:

VERSION 1: I have always been interested in science, even from a young age. Since my family supported my interest enthusiastically, I continued to pursue it throughout school. As I’ve gotten older, though, my scientific endeavors have become increasingly complex.

VERSION 2: Too young to enter the school science fairs, I took to my family. Force-feeding different animal food to my siblings and parents, I graphed their favorite types. While I was only six, my family has never forgiven me; my “experiments” remain the family joke. Nevertheless, I have progressed from my dog food days, leaving taste tests for DNA gel electrophoresis experiments. [ essay from Lauren Croda ]

Which is more engaging? While Version 1 explains things and may be well-written, it’s a bit boring, right? Version 2 makes the subject come alive and showcases the author’s quirky personality. While anyone (and probably many applicants) could write Version 1, only Lauren could write Version 2. It helps her stand out. That ‘s the power of examples and “show, don’t tell.”

One of the most important scholarship essay tips is based entirely on your perspective and tone. Nobody wants to read a depressing and self-pitying story. Even if you’re writing about difficult or sad events in your life, try and keep the tone positive and inspirational. Rather than just writing about how you were negatively affected by an event, focus on how you grew from the experience and overcame the obstacle.

Most people use the conclusion to simply paraphrase their entire essay…but don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Do something surprising and innovative. Make your essay interesting and attention-grabbing from the first letter until the last period.

One great way to bring your conclusion to the next level is to leave your readers with an interesting question for them to think about. For more ideas, check out these helpful tips .

Scholarship Essay Tips - Student on computer

As much as we like to believe that we’re perfect, we all make mistakes…which is why it’s so important to take the time to proofread your essay. One great way to find mistakes is to read your essay out loud. For more ideas, check out these helpful tips .

Once you’ve taken the time to proofread your own essay a few times, have someone else do it for you. Asking a family member or friend for help can provide you with a different perspective on your writing and a second set of eyes might catch a mistake that you didn’t.

When it comes to writing, you don’t have to do it completely on your own. Check out some of our resources including scholarship essay examples from Going Merry winners ,; a breakdown of why these 5 scholarship essays worked; and our guides to writing personal statements , academic goals essays , or career goals essays .

If you’re in college, most schools have a writing center that offers free feedback and guidance to students. They might even have some insightful scholarship essay tips that you (or we!) didn’t think about. Some high schools, communities, or libraries might also have similar services.

Now that you’re writing stellar essays, start applying for scholarships! Here’s a list of 10 scholarship search sites , but we’d just recommend you go straight for the best one: Sign up for free with Going Merry , and then upload your essays to your documents section. Get started with your scholarship applications today.

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Make Your Essay STAND OUT

Hi Everyone,

I have been editing a lot of admission essays and I just wanted to share some general tips and some of the biggest mistakes I have seen over and over. (This is not just my thoughts; I attended several webinars on admission essays WITH REAL ADMISSIONS OFFICERS sharing their do's and don't's, from very different colleges.)

Tip 1: Share YOU. The admission officers want to "meet" you in your essay and get a sense of how you are so they can decide if they are a good fit for you and vice versus. What do you want them to know about you? That you are a loyal friend? Resilient person? Curious learner? Give examples of instances where you have displayed/practiced that.

Tip 2: Do not start with a quote. Quotes are great for adding to your point/argument but the officers get really sick of essays that start with a quote. Often, I recommend the quote be moved further in the essay. Often the quote supports a point made later in the essay and it makes more sense to have it with that paragraph.

Tip 3: Drama is not necessary. It's ok if you have a dramatic story to tell, but admission officers get frustrated when so much time is spent telling the story that they don't read much about what you learned from the situation and how it shaped you. If you do have a big story, leave plenty of space to highlight how it changed you. Descriptive language shows your writing skills, but have balance and don't spend too much time describing.

Tip 4: USE A THESAURUS. I cannot highlight this enough. This is my personal tip; the thesaurus added zing to my writing. Out with the commonly used phrases and words, in with the specific adjectives and strong active verbs. Find yourself using a phrase/word over 3 times? Grab the thesaurus or look up Wordhippo. Also, never assume the new word fits perfectly; look up the definition yourself to varify that this word gives the flavor you want.

Tip 5: Avoid wordiness. Many essays I edited were over the word limit. I combed through each sentence and found places where 3, even 6, words were used instead of 1. Wordiness can be hard to identify as the author because you feel every word has reason. Find a picky proofreader and amazingly, you find yourself within the word limit with clarity and smoother flow.

Tip 6: Avoid writing "biographies". Writing about influential people in your lives can be a great essay, but admission officers say that these essays make them want to admit the influential person, not the student. It may be a beautifully written epoch, but it simply tells how great this person is and not you. Some people are very embarrassed to write about their experiences and accomplishments but it is what the admission officers want to see. Remember, they want to see YOU, not your grandfather or aunt.

These are my top tips, gathered from experience and the personal advice of current admission officers. Hope this helps somebody and please, if you have any questions or other tips, comment below!

This was EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you so much.

You are very welcome! Good luck with your essay!

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How to make your College Essay Stand out in 2022
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How to write a college essay that stands out from the crowd
How to Make Your Essay Stand Out : Tips & Examples
7 GREAT College Essay Tips to Help You Stand Out
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COMMENTS

How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out
Keep the comparison simple. Use a few other literary devices such as imagery or anecdotes to enrich your extended metaphor. Avoid making cliché comparisons. Don't exaggerate or make an unrealistic comparison. In the example below, a student uses the extended metaphor of a museum to explore the theme of identity.
How to Write a Stand-Out College Essay
What actually makes a compelling essay is not what you choose to write about but how you write about whichever topic you choose. The essay will stand out because of your voice, your perspective, and your way of experiencing the world. You will not be penalized for what you have not experienced or achieved, as admissions officers understand that ...
7 Ways to Make Your College Application Essay Stand Out
1. Choose a Thoughtful Title. College essays are not typically required to have a title, but crafting one can be a powerful tool to make your essay stand out right away — which is why Benjamin Caldarelli, co-founder of Princeton College Consulting, recommends adding one. He says a strong, simple title is perfectly effective, though you may be ...
12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay
Write With the Reader in Mind. Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another. Use transitions between paragraphs. Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know.
23 College Essay Tips To Stand Out
Small changes in placement can have a big impact on how your essay flows. Avoid "writing like a suburb," which is writing with lots of evenly sized paragraphs (1). This can make for a boring reading experience. Instead, use paragraph breaks freely and make your essay be like Paris, with a variety of paragraph lengths.
How to write a standout graduate admissions essay
Reflect before you begin your application essays. Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper. Write freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft. Take your time. Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective. Gather feedback from a trusted source. Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits.
How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out: Essential Tips
Here are some keys for making this routine work: Daily writing sessions can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour. Give yourself a slight buffer to first think through what you want to write about, then a chunk of time to write, and a few more minutes at the end to consider what your next step will be.
Seven Ways to Make your College Essay Stand Out
Just as you want to prepare the best answers to your college interview, here are seven tips for writing an engaging essay that will stand out from the rest! 1. Your first paragraph should grab the reader. The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission's reader. It is imperative, then, that the introduction to the college essay ...
How can I make my college essay stand out?
This will make your essay more engaging and memorable. 4. Be clear and concise: Ensure your essay is well-structured, with a clear focus, and avoid unnecessary jargon or overly complex language. 5. Edit and revise: Give yourself enough time to review and revise your essay multiple times.
5 Tips for Making Your College Essay Stand Out
After speaking to admission professionals from coast to coast, we've found these five tips will help you and your application stand out from the crowd. 1. Make sure you understand the prompt. Easy enough, but you'd be surprised how often students stumble on this point. Read and reread the prompt to make absolutely sure you know what's ...
How can I make my college essays stand out?
Hello! It's great that you're looking to make your college essays stand out. Here are some tips to help you craft unique and memorable essays: 1. Be authentic: Write about something that genuinely interests you or has had a significant impact on your life, and let your voice shine through. 2. Be specific: Instead of talking about broad, general topics, focus on specific experiences, events, or ...
5 Ways to Make Your Scholarship Essay Stand Out
Tell a Story. A standout essay hooks the reader from the first sentence, says Monica Matthews, author of the scholarship guide, "How to Win College Scholarships." Think about the structure of the ...
7 GREAT College Essay Tips to Help You Stand Out
Standing out in a sea of 10,000+ students applying to colleges and submitting amazing college essays can be a big task. Use these 7 tips when writing your ma...
9 tips to make your college admissions essay stand out
Whatever institution it is, the essay could play a major role in the decision process and students should take their time crafting a great essay to submit with the rest of their college application. Here are nine tips that can help your college admissions essay stand out from the crowd. Grab the reader's attention early. Admissions readers ...
How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out
essay topic. In each admissions season, applicants are tasked with showcasing their personas without resorting to overdone college essay topics or cliche metaphors. The best way to stand out is to discuss something that deeply matters to you, no matter how insignificant it may seem to others. These 5 college students at Yale, Harvard ...
How do I make my application essay stand out?
The key to making your application essay stand out is to choose a topic that showcases your personality and experiences in a unique way. Don't worry about having a groundbreaking story; instead, focus on telling your own story in an engaging manner. Here are a few tips that might help: 1. Reflect on your personal experiences: Think about ...
7 Unique Ways to Stand Out on Your College Applications
The good news is there are plenty of ways to make your college applications stand out other than writing a Pulitzer Prize-worthy essay. Here are just a few. 1. A top-notch portfolio. If you're planning to major in Art, Graphic Design, Film/Photography, or Creative Writing, chances are you'll be asked to .
Top 7 Tips That Make Your Essay Stand Out
Well, here are a few tips that can make your essay stand out: 1. The First Paragraph Should Grab the Reader's Attention. The introduction to your essay should capture the reader's attention and make the reader want to read more of your paper. A robust and straightforward title is often very effective.
How To Make Your College Essay Stand Out
Yes, we said your essay should focus on bringing out your personal qualities. While it is easy to keep discussing your accomplishments, try to connect your essay to the world. Connecting your personal experience to the world either in a historical, cultural, intellectual, or philosophical context will help elevate your essay.
How to Come Up With College Essay Ideas that Stand Out
You want your essay to stand out. You want it to showcase your individuality and convince readers that you belong at the college. One of the best ways to come up with a college essay idea is to spend lots of time brainstorming ideas until you finally find one that works for you. Keep in mind that this brainstorming activity isn't one that you ...
How do I make my college essay stand out?
Hi there! It's great to see you're thinking about your college essay early on. One way to make your essay stand out is to focus on a specific story or experience that has shaped you as a person. Rather than trying to cover multiple aspects of your life, pick one moment that showcases your growth and personality. Use vivid details and strong language to engage the reader and make them feel like ...
Scholarship Essay Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out
10. Keep the Tone Inspirational & Positive. One of the most important scholarship essay tips is based entirely on your perspective and tone. Nobody wants to read a depressing and self-pitying story. Even if you're writing about difficult or sad events in your life, try and keep the tone positive and inspirational.
Stand Out in High School
BigFuture Ambassador Program. Student leaders can play a special role in arming peers with resources and information about planning, paying and preparing for college. Make sure your college application showcases who you are in and out of school. While grades and test scores are important, colleges also want to see the person you're becoming and ...
Make Your Essay STAND OUT
Find a picky proofreader and amazingly, you find yourself within the word limit with clarity and smoother flow. Tip 6: Avoid writing "biographies". Writing about influential people in your lives can be a great essay, but admission officers say that these essays make them want to admit the influential person, not the student.