How do you write a compelling college essay?

Feeling unsure about how to write a compelling college essay is completely normal—so many students face this challenge. The most memorable essays combine a few key ingredients: vivid storytelling, honest reflection, and insight into what makes you unique.

To start, think about a specific moment or small experience that had an outsized impact on you. Instead of writing a broad story about, for example, the importance of community service, focus on a single afternoon where something meaningful happened—like helping a neighbor in distress, or receiving unexpected feedback from someone you were assisting. This makes your essay more specific and memorable because the admissions reader gets to experience the moment with you.

Details should be specific enough to make your story vivid, but you don't have to share anything you’re uncomfortable with. A good test: if it’s something you wouldn’t share with a teacher or friend, or if re-reading the essay makes you anxious rather than a bit vulnerable, it may be too personal. Vulnerability is good, but protect your boundaries.

As for structure, a strong essay often starts with a ‘hook’—a sentence or two that makes the reader curious. It could be a surprising fact, a question, or a description of a moment. From there, briefly tell the story or set the scene, and follow up with your reflections. The 'so what?' piece is just as important as the story. Explain what you learned, how you changed, or why the moment matters to you.

For example, instead of writing “I tore my ACL playing soccer and it was hard, but I persevered,” you could start with: “My crutches clicked down the length of the hallway, an unwanted metronome to a life I couldn’t play the way I used to.” Then, instead of focusing just on recovery, maybe you talk about a hobby you picked up when you couldn’t play soccer, like recording music or starting a podcast. Show the reader how adversity sparked unexpected growth.

Finally, after finishing a draft, ask yourself: Is this a story only I could write? Does it reveal something deeper than what’s on my activities list? If so, you’re on the right track. Personal stories—told with vivid detail and honest insight—are always compelling.