What actually makes a college essay stand out?
I'm starting to brainstorm for my Common App essay, but I keep second-guessing my ideas. Everyone says you have to "stand out"—but how do you actually do that? Do colleges want something super dramatic or just a really honest story?
I feel like all my experiences are kind of typical (for example, I moved schools, joined clubs, etc.), but maybe it's more about how you write it? Would love to hear tips or what worked for other people, especially stuff people wish they'd known before they wrote their essays!
I feel like all my experiences are kind of typical (for example, I moved schools, joined clubs, etc.), but maybe it's more about how you write it? Would love to hear tips or what worked for other people, especially stuff people wish they'd known before they wrote their essays!
7 months ago
•
18 views
Camille Luong
• 7 months ago
Advisor
Great question—this is something a lot of applicants worry about! What really makes a college essay stand out isn't necessarily having an earth-shattering or incredibly dramatic topic. Admission officers read thousands of essays, so what they remember most are the ones that reveal something deeply personal, offer a unique perspective, or give them a true sense of who you are beyond your resume.
The key is specificity. A typical experience (like moving schools or joining a club) can be fresh if you right it with honest, vivid detail and connect it to your unique thoughts or growth. Instead of writing, "I moved to a new school and it was hard, but I adjusted," zero in on a single moment—a hallway conversation, a mistake you made trying to fit in, or a tradition from your old school you tried (and failed) to replicate. Then, show how that moment changed how you see yourself or your approach to new situations.
What doesn't stand out: essays that stay surface-level or try to tell the whole story in broad strokes. Focus on the 'why' and 'how' of your experience, not just the 'what.' For example, I once worked with a student who wrote about always being late to school—not dramatic, but she explored how that reflected her struggle with perfectionism and honesty. It was funny, specific, and revealed her character.
Some practical tips:
- Use specific anecdotes and sensory details (what did you see, hear, feel in that moment?)
- Show vulnerability or genuine self-reflection (admit what scared or challenged you, and how you grew)
- Consider structure—can you start with a snippet of conversation, a question, or an unexpected observation?
Finally, stay true to your voice. Admissions officers want to hear you, not what's "supposed" to impress. Sometimes, quiet stories told with honesty and insight are most memorable. Focus less on what happened and more on what it meant to you.
Wishing you luck as you brainstorm—you might surprise yourself with how unique your story is when you dig deeper!
The key is specificity. A typical experience (like moving schools or joining a club) can be fresh if you right it with honest, vivid detail and connect it to your unique thoughts or growth. Instead of writing, "I moved to a new school and it was hard, but I adjusted," zero in on a single moment—a hallway conversation, a mistake you made trying to fit in, or a tradition from your old school you tried (and failed) to replicate. Then, show how that moment changed how you see yourself or your approach to new situations.
What doesn't stand out: essays that stay surface-level or try to tell the whole story in broad strokes. Focus on the 'why' and 'how' of your experience, not just the 'what.' For example, I once worked with a student who wrote about always being late to school—not dramatic, but she explored how that reflected her struggle with perfectionism and honesty. It was funny, specific, and revealed her character.
Some practical tips:
- Use specific anecdotes and sensory details (what did you see, hear, feel in that moment?)
- Show vulnerability or genuine self-reflection (admit what scared or challenged you, and how you grew)
- Consider structure—can you start with a snippet of conversation, a question, or an unexpected observation?
Finally, stay true to your voice. Admissions officers want to hear you, not what's "supposed" to impress. Sometimes, quiet stories told with honesty and insight are most memorable. Focus less on what happened and more on what it meant to you.
Wishing you luck as you brainstorm—you might surprise yourself with how unique your story is when you dig deeper!
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)