What are the most important college essay guidelines I should follow?

Great question—focusing on the most essential guidelines is a smart way to start your college essays with less stress! Here are the most important things to keep in mind:

1. Answer the Prompt Directly: Each school (including Michigan and the UCs) crafts their prompts with intention, so always answer directly. Don’t recycle essays word-for-word if the questions aren’t identical. For example, if Michigan asks about ‘community,’ focus clearly on that aspect in your response.

2. Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use specific examples and stories to illustrate your qualities or experiences, rather than just stating them. For instance, instead of saying "I’m a problem-solver," describe a situation where you tackled a challenge in a creative way, like organizing a club fundraiser with very limited resources.

3. Be Personal and Reflective: Make your essay about YOU. Dive into why your experiences matter to you and how they’ve shaped you. Reflection is as important as the story itself, and colleges look for insight into your thinking and growth.

4. Avoid Cliches/Overused Topics: If you’re going to write about something common (like sports injuries or a moving experience), focus on a particular moment or unexpected angle. Make it unique to you by highlighting something rarely discussed.

5. Clarity, Structure, and Polish: Organize your essay clearly—intro, body, conclusion is a safe structure, but some essays are impactful with a creative format (dialogue, flashbacks, etc.), as long as clarity isn’t sacrificed. Start strong to grab attention, and end with a thoughtful conclusion or a forward-looking statement.

6. Authentic Voice: Write in a style that feels like you. Don't use overly formal or complicated words you wouldn't usually use. Admissions officers want to hear your true voice.

Formatting Rules: For most applications (like the Common App, UC Application):
- 12-point standard font (Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri)
- Standard 1-inch margins
- Single-spaced for the UC essays, and usually double-spaced for uploads (but always check the guidelines)
- Keep within word limits! Don’t go over; applications often cut off excess text.

Tip: Always copy-paste your essay into the application platform early, so you can see how it looks with their formatting. Sometimes spacing or indentations change.

Final Advice: Have several people proofread—teachers, counselors, or trusted friends can catch grammar mistakes and let you know where your meaning isn’t clear. But don’t let too many edits water down your voice.

Starting early and outlining your main ideas is a great way to avoid last-minute stress. Good luck—you’re already ahead of the game by researching!