What are good ways to 'show, not tell' in a college essay?

You’re absolutely on the right track—"show, not tell" is one of the best ways to make your college essay stand out. Instead of just making claims about your traits, you want the reader to experience moments with you and draw their own conclusions. It’s all about using specific details, storytelling, and creating scenes that illustrate your qualities.

Take your example about resilience. Instead of saying, "I am a resilient person," you could write about a particular afternoon where you faced a huge setback (maybe failing the audition you prepared months for, or missing out on an academic award you really wanted). Focus on the details: What you saw and felt in that moment, what thoughts ran through your head, the exact steps you took afterward. For instance:

"The rejection email hit my inbox at 11:03 pm. Instead of closing my computer and going to bed defeated, I grabbed a notebook and started outlining what I could do differently for next time. I emailed my mentor—apologizing for the late message—asking for honest feedback. By sunrise, I had a new plan."

Notice how this lets the reader see your response, without you having to label yourself as resilient—they’ll get it through your actions.

Here are some tips and examples:

1. **Use vivid imagery and dialogue.** Instead of, "I love helping others," try: "I balanced plates of pasta in the crowded dining room, bending close to hear Ms. Diaz ask about her daughter’s college search. Every Thursday, these little conversations became my favorite part of volunteering."

2. **Focus on moments, not summaries.** Don’t just list what makes you great; zoom in on a specific event. For example, if you want to show leadership, describe the split second you had to make a tough decision at a club meeting, and how you handled different opinions in the room.

3. **Show emotions through actions.** Instead of "I was nervous about speaking up in class," try describing your sweaty palms as you raised your hand, or how your voice wavered, but you kept going.

A great test: If you covered up all "I am" or "I believe" statements in your essay, would someone still get a sense of who you are? If yes, you’re showing. It’s totally normal to have a mix of showing and a little telling, but try anchoring big traits in clear, specific moments or scenes.

And don’t stress too much—your first draft is the place to experiment. You can always revise later to swap out telling for showing. Good luck, and trust that sharing your story with details and honesty will make a strong impression!