What are the best college essay guides for the Common App prompts?
I'm starting to brainstorm for my Common App essay and I'm getting a little overwhelmed with all the advice out there. I've seen people talk about a bunch of different essay guides online, but it's hard to know which ones are actually helpful and which are just generic.
Has anyone here used any specific college essay guidebooks or online resources that were especially useful for writing a strong Common App personal statement? I'd really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. I'm hoping to find something that gives clear examples and step-by-step advice without sounding too rigid. I'm also open to suggestions for YouTube channels or websites that helped you out.
If there are any specific exercises or tips from these guides that really made a difference for you, I’d love to hear what worked! I want my essay to stand out but still sound like me.
Has anyone here used any specific college essay guidebooks or online resources that were especially useful for writing a strong Common App personal statement? I'd really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. I'm hoping to find something that gives clear examples and step-by-step advice without sounding too rigid. I'm also open to suggestions for YouTube channels or websites that helped you out.
If there are any specific exercises or tips from these guides that really made a difference for you, I’d love to hear what worked! I want my essay to stand out but still sound like me.
4 months ago
•
11 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Navigating all the Common App advice can definitely be overwhelming, but a few resources really stand out for being helpful and actionable without being stuffy or formulaic.
A classic guidebook that tons of students recommend is College Essay Essentials by Ethan Sawyer (aka The College Essay Guy). This book walks you through brainstorming, structuring, and drafting with practical exercises, and it features real essay examples, which can be super useful for sparking your own ideas. One really helpful exercise from his book and website is the "Values Exercise"—you list your personal values and then brainstorm moments in your life that reflect those values. It helps you find an authentic angle and avoids cliché topics.
Online, College Essay Guy’s website is packed with free resources, example essays, and step-by-step personal statement guidance. The YouTube channel of College Essay Guy is also excellent if you prefer video content—you'll find breakdowns of strong essays and live brainstorming sessions which can help demystify the process.
Another great book is On Writing the College Application Essay by Harry Bauld. It focuses a lot on finding your unique voice and what makes an essay truly memorable (rather than what you think admissions officers want to hear). There’s one section about avoiding overused topics and how to dig deeper into your own stories—that can be eye-opening if you’re feeling stuck on what to write about.
For websites, Johns Hopkins Admissions posts real, successful essays each year with commentary on why they stood out. Reading these can help you understand what makes an essay both personal and effective. If you're looking for exercises, try the "Twenty Questions" exercise (which just means having someone ask you rapid-fire questions about memorable moments or quirks until you stumble on a good story—sometimes the best ideas come out this way).
In short: College Essay Essentials (book and website), On Writing the College Application Essay (book), College Essay Guy’s online library and YouTube, and the Johns Hopkins admissions essay blog are proven resources with clear, storytelling-focused advice. Many students find that reviewing several real student essays (and reflecting on why they work) is just as powerful as following a step-by-step writing guide. Most importantly: use guides as inspiration, but let your voice and story come through.
A classic guidebook that tons of students recommend is College Essay Essentials by Ethan Sawyer (aka The College Essay Guy). This book walks you through brainstorming, structuring, and drafting with practical exercises, and it features real essay examples, which can be super useful for sparking your own ideas. One really helpful exercise from his book and website is the "Values Exercise"—you list your personal values and then brainstorm moments in your life that reflect those values. It helps you find an authentic angle and avoids cliché topics.
Online, College Essay Guy’s website is packed with free resources, example essays, and step-by-step personal statement guidance. The YouTube channel of College Essay Guy is also excellent if you prefer video content—you'll find breakdowns of strong essays and live brainstorming sessions which can help demystify the process.
Another great book is On Writing the College Application Essay by Harry Bauld. It focuses a lot on finding your unique voice and what makes an essay truly memorable (rather than what you think admissions officers want to hear). There’s one section about avoiding overused topics and how to dig deeper into your own stories—that can be eye-opening if you’re feeling stuck on what to write about.
For websites, Johns Hopkins Admissions posts real, successful essays each year with commentary on why they stood out. Reading these can help you understand what makes an essay both personal and effective. If you're looking for exercises, try the "Twenty Questions" exercise (which just means having someone ask you rapid-fire questions about memorable moments or quirks until you stumble on a good story—sometimes the best ideas come out this way).
In short: College Essay Essentials (book and website), On Writing the College Application Essay (book), College Essay Guy’s online library and YouTube, and the Johns Hopkins admissions essay blog are proven resources with clear, storytelling-focused advice. Many students find that reviewing several real student essays (and reflecting on why they work) is just as powerful as following a step-by-step writing guide. Most importantly: use guides as inspiration, but let your voice and story come through.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)