High school seniors can get away with not writing a college essay, but they would be probably only applying to public colleges or for two year programs. For others applying for scholarships, private colleges or honors programs at public colleges, now is the time to crank out the college essay. 

For many students, the college application essay, also known as the personal statement, is the most important part of the college application process. Since colleges don’t give applicants that much space to write, there’s a lot to do.

So what’s it all about? The college essay is anywhere from 400-800 words usually, and the topic is generally on something related to the personality of the student. That means the topic is not very specific but pretty open. A common topic given by colleges is: Discuss an experience that changed you. I have seen some colleges ask applicants to create an interview transcript (line by line summary) of an interview between the applicant and Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. However, there’s no right answer and no formula for success.

The college essay is a chance for students to reveal who they really are. Though students are sending in test scores and grades, the essay is the opportunity to write about motivation, interests, goals, and even more. 

The first key to a good essay is to start early, way way ahead of when it is due. Secondly, students should have 7, 8, or even 15 drafts! 

The good essay may contain some dialogue, or at least some actual experience. I have seen great essays with a description of a past experience – a traumatic, a successful, a personal moment that can provide the reader some insight into what happens in the applicant’s life.

A good essay will have focus on the applicant, the writer and will demonstrate some of the applicant’s characteristics or qualities. 

A good essay will show without telling. In other words, a good essay will find a way not to tell the reader who special or amazing the writer is, but will show it. A good way to do this is of course to use examples.

Finally, a good essay may have a turning point, or a description of the moment when the reader realized or learned something

The essay is not the place to share your opinions on your philosophy of life, of religion, or why you love your mother or why you like (or dislike) biryani. It’s not the place to show off your vocabulary, there’s no need to use SAT words unnecessarily. A few nice SAT words will do nicely. 

Since I have written quite a bit about examples, maybe I should give one right about now. A lot of applicants who are writing college essays wonder what they should write about. There really is no limit, but some good examples might be role models that have shaped or affected the way you are now – it could be a cousin or friend. Another good one is an experience that has changed you and this might be a sports experience or something related to afterschool activities like a performance.  Those are rather traditional, but other great topics I have seen include passions, identity, relationship between the student and their neighborhood or neighborhood, among many others. There are many topics but the focus must always be on the writer, the applicant!  

Let me ask the readers a few questions! How many who read this article have decided not to go to college? How many students have decided to apply to private colleges?

  Author: Muntasir Sattar is a PhD student at Teachers College.