Where can I find helpful 'Writing College Essays' PDFs or resources?

There are several reliable places you can find helpful guides and PDFs for writing college essays, especially if you’re just starting out and want a step-by-step approach. University admissions offices often provide official guides on their websites—these are directly aligned with what admissions committees expect. For example, Yale and Johns Hopkins both share sample essays and breakdowns of what makes them effective. If you look up “Yale Undergraduate Admissions Essay Advice” or “Johns Hopkins Essays That Worked,” you’ll find great resources to download or review.

Nonprofit organizations that support college access can also be a goldmine for essay resources. The College Essay Guy offers a comprehensive “College Application + Supplemental Essays” PDF and free downloadable templates. They include brainstorming exercises, outlines, checklists, and sample essays. Their website also breaks down different types of prompts to help you organize your thoughts. Another solid source is the Common App’s own essay resources, featuring a prompt guide and tips from admissions officers.

If you’re looking for specific examples and checklists, consider using:

- College Essay Guy’s “Essentials Guide to Writing Your College Essay”.
- The Common App’s “Ready, Set, Apply!” PDF.
- The University of California’s Personal Insight Questions Guide, which you can apply to other schools as well.

One way to use these guides: first, do a creative brainstorming exercise (some guides ask you to list your values, an object you treasure, or memorable experiences). Then, look at their breakdowns of strong essays. For example, notice how a strong essay is often about a specific moment rather than a whole life story. One student wrote about trying to make the perfect pancake—which showed off perseverance, humor, and growth, all without being generic.

Print out a couple of these checklists and use them to track your progress, from brainstorming all the way to polishing your final draft. Good luck—you’ve got a great head start by searching for resources now!