What are the best strategies for writing a strong college-level essay?

Feeling overwhelmed by college essays is totally normal, but with the right approach, you can create something memorable and authentic. The biggest shift from a typical high school essay to a strong college essay is voice and personal insight—admissions officers want to get a genuine sense of who you are beyond your transcripts.

Aim for language that sounds like you on your best day: polished and clear, but not stiff or overly academic. It’s perfectly fine (and often recommended) to use a conversational, engaging tone. For example, instead of “I partook in various extracurricular endeavors,” try “I joined the robotics club because I was obsessed with figuring out how things work.” That kind of relaxed honesty makes your writing much more readable.

Storytelling is key—start with a specific moment, conflict, or turning point from your life, and use it as the lens through which you reflect on your growth. Let’s say you were overwhelmed during your first debate tournament and forgot your entire argument. Rather than focusing just on the outcome, share what you felt in that exact moment (panic, embarrassment, determination) and how it shifted your perspective or motivated an unexpected change in your life.

Go beyond just narrating events—dig into what you learned, how you changed, or why you act or think a certain way. Admissions officers remember essays that illustrate how an experience shaped you. For example, instead of simply stating, “I learned teamwork,” you might describe the night you stayed late to help a struggling teammate and how that shifted your understanding of leadership.

Practical strategies to get started:
- Brainstorm unusual or meaningful moments from the past few years—focus on stories only you could tell
- Free-write for 10-15 minutes just describing a single memory or emotion; don’t worry about structure at first
- Use a hook—a vivid detail, problem, or question in your opening line—to draw readers in
- Get feedback from friends or teachers who know you well; ask if the essay sounds like you
- Revise for both clarity and voice—make sure there are moments of personal analysis and genuine reflection

The best essays are authentic, specific, and introspective. Don’t be afraid to take risks by being honest, showing vulnerability, or highlighting a quirky passion. Stories about small moments—like the first time you cooked a complicated dish and totally burned it—can be surprisingly powerful when you reflect on why it mattered to you.

Remember, your essay doesn't need to impress with big words or grand achievements—it just needs to reveal who you are beyond your GPA. Good luck, and enjoy the process of discovering your own story!