It’s college application time. What are admissions counselors looking for? What does it really take to write the best college essays?

My nephew is a high school senior in the throws of applying to colleges. He has identified his first choice college, and is in the process of writing the dreaded and incredibly important college application essay.

As a college that uses the Common App, the essay is truly the one way he will be able to distinguish himself from every other applicant. My brother recently asked for my feedback on the essay, which led me to research what it is that will make one essay stand out from the rest.

Do Your Research

One of the best ways to write successful college essays for your college application is by learning from real college essay examples that worked. With the top applicants from every high school applying to the best schools in the country, it’s important to have an edge in your college application. A good place to start is by reading Harvard application essays from students who made it in, and hear from expert college consultants about what made these work.

Have a Plan

Have a plan around writing the essay. College advising pro Jill Schwitzgebel  of College Initiative advises you to start early. Don’t put the dreaded essay off to the last minute. Spend time on the topic, another time on the opening paragraph, and another time the body of the essay.

Be Your Most Authentic Self

The number one trait admissions counselors are looking for in the best college essay is authenticity.  They are looking for student’s honesty and to share something they are passionate about.  They suggest sharing what you are comfortable with; a student’s personal perspective and experiences.

Does the essay mean something to the student who wrote it? This is especially important as a way for a college to learn something about the student they could not otherwise learn from the rest of the application.  Does the essay expose what is truly unique and interesting about this student?

Find a Compelling Topic

Have the student pencil out 21 fun facts about themselves. Or 7-10 objects that are the most important to them. Topics to avoid are current world events, sports injuries, traditional volunteer work, highlights from an extracurricular activity.

Write with Flair

In addition to the topic, counselors are looking at the student’s writing style and abilities. Make sure the essay is written with the reader (a sophisticated college or university) in mind.

Double Check the Details

The most common mistake counselors see in the essay is an essay with another college’s name on it. This can happen when a college is using the Common App and the student plans to use the same essay for a few different college applications.

You can avoid this issue by not naming a college by name in the essay, or making sure someone reviews the application before submission. Grammar and spelling mistakes are also fairly common, so proofreading is important before submission.

Check and Check Again

Revisit the draft after a week or so and edit it. As parents you can help here by asking your student if deadlines and checking in on their progress would help.

As a parent, avoid the temptation to write the essay for your student. Jill shares that colleges can tell if an essay has been written by a parent. You can help with grammar and spelling feedback, but allow your student to use their voice in the essay.

Good Luck, Young Friends

For more useful information on the college application process check out collegeinitiative.net for terrific articles. And if you are looking for additional resources around planning for college, please reach out. We are happy to share our resources with you.