Does your stomach get tight when you think about writing your college essay? Does your head start to swirl with worries? “What should I even write about?” “What if I don’t stand out?” “What if my essay flops and I miss my dream school?” Putting it off for another day without writing it may feel easier. Don’t. Here’s your nudge to get going.
Start early, start now. Here's how:
Read other students' writing to get familiar with what your future school is looking for. You’ll get a feel for what kinds of stories to tell, and understand the type of students who attend each college. Take this time to get to know your future classmates and start to study what makes their essays stand out.
When reading, look for:
Once you've seen what works, turn back to yourself. What stories from your past will reveal the real you? As the memories start flowing, take mental notes.
You don’t have to conquer this essay in isolation. In fact, some of the best ideas come from conversation. Use the people around you to brainstorm topics, experiment with different framings and get feedback on your ideas. Share the stories you might write about with your parents, friends, teachers, or peers.
Notice which ideas spark interest and which ones fall flat. Which stories light you up and flow out of you without much effort? You might dread the process of actually writing your college essay, but talking about your topic should be fun.
You have a stand-out story to tell. The trouble is finding it. After talking through your reflections, your great ideas will be top of mind. Transfer those mental notes onto paper. Remember to choose stories that are specific, personal and true. Avoid writing the same, tired essay that admissions officers have read 100 times by going small. Brainstorm real moments from your “normal” life that have shaped you.
Push through the instinct to go broad and lofty here. It’s all about highlighting your Mundane Miracle, the moment that’s true, authentic and entirely unique for you.
The only way to get good is to get going. The pressure to choose just one, perfect topic can feel paralyzing. Don’t sweat. This is practice, no need to stick to this story for your final essay. So far, all the steps you have taken are like reps at the gym; you’re building up muscle that will allow you to write a compelling college essay.
Here’s one exercise to help structure your practice:
Step 1: Write down one of your potential essay topics. (Don’t stress about being perfect – just choose!)
Step 2: Write down two main points within your topic. Eventually, these will expand into paragraphs.
Step 3: Write your answer to the "So What?” question. Why does this story matter to you? What came from this moment that impacted you in such a big way?
Step 4: Write a hook for your story. Think back to the conversations you’ve already had. What details made your audience smile, laugh, or lean in? How can you drop your reader into your memory?
Step 5: Read through everything you’ve written and write a “blurry thumbnail.” This doesn’t have to be polished either. Don’t get caught up in perfecting the details or adding your snazziest language, just be sure to connect your major points from beginning to end.
And now you’re off! You no longer have to stare at a blank page, with a blinking cursor mocking you. You’ve written a draft of one possible essay to use in your application. Use the momentum you’ve just created to keep going. If you’re not happy with your current draft, review your list of ideas, choose a new topic and work through step 5 again.
If you love what you've got so far, keep writing! Once you’re happy with your draft, check out the 5 mistakes students make when writing their essays (according to admissions officers) to be sure you didn’t fall into any of the common traps!