Eight Tips for Writing a Winning College Application Essay

As the school year winds down, if you're a high school junior, I'm betting that your college application essay isn't one of your main concerns right now. It probably doesn't even make it into the top 20. But trust me, this topic will work its way up to the top of your priorities list sometime before you show up for the first day of senior year. And if you don't get a major jump on the essay this coming summer, I promise, you'll live to regret it. Better to deal with the essay now, when your brain isn't consumed with AP Euro History or Macro Economics.

1. Don't be afraid. It's only an essay-250 words minimum. It's a requirement, but it isn't nearly as important as your grades, course choices, test scores, extracurriculars, honors and achievements, and recommendations. A well-written, standout essay will certainly enhance your application, but it's not a magic wand. It won't make up for grades or test scores that are way below an institution's acceptance standards. However, a really terrible essay-one that doesn't answer the question, makes no sense, or is rife with typos and grammatical errors-can hurt you. It can be a deal-breaker, especially if your qualifications put you on the borderline between acceptance and rejection.

2. Why do you have to write an essay, anyway? There are three main reasons why most colleges require an essay. First, they want to see if you can write. Because if you can't, you're going to have problems in college. (Many colleges and universities have found that high school students need to work on their writing skills and they have instituted required writing courses for incoming freshmen). Second, they really do want to find out a bit about you: will you fit into the culture of the school? What talents and assets will you bring to the school? Are you mature enough to go to college? And third, they want to see if you can follow directions, put time and care into the project, and can approach the given topic in a thoughtful manner.

3. The Common Application vs. the school's own application. According to the Common App's Website, their "membership of more than 300 institutions now represents the full range of higher education institutions in the US: public and private, large and small, highly selective and modestly selective, and East Coast, West Coast, and every region in between." You can fill out the Common App and send it to one or all of the 346 participating schools and they all swear they will give it equal consideration to their own app form. So it's a no-brainer, right? Right, EXCEPT: if you plan to apply early decision. Early decision, while not as common as it used to be, is binding. You only use it when you fall in love with a school and you know it's the place you truly want to be. In this case only, I think it's worth using the school's own application. It personalizes the process a bit, and in effect, says to the admissions staff, "I don't want to apply anywhere else, so why should I bother with the Common App?" In this case your essay will be personalized to the questions that school feels are most important.

4. The topic. The Common App essay prompts are so general that basically, you can write about practically anything. Here are a couple of their topics:

- "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you."

- "Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence."

- "Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you."

- And the truly "anything goes" suggestion: "Topic of your choice."

It doesn't really matter which question you choose. But there are two main caveats: Don't be boring/clichéd (do you know how many essays those overworked college admissions counselors read each fall?). Most important, be yourself; let your personality shine through. What really matters is the execution. (See next tip).

Boring/clichéd is "how I won the big game in double overtime." Better to write about why Coach Dave is an amazing role model or why you love running. Equally terrible topics are "my family vacation to Gstaad" or "my lovable dog Sam." Oh, and don't write about the process of writing the essay-that's sure to put the admissions person right to sleep. Make it specific, make it personal, and make it memorable.

5. Do it yourself. No matter how tempting, don't let Daddy, Mommy, or Aunt Sally write your essay. Believe me when I tell you: the admissions counselor can tell. While it's perfectly OK (and even recommended) to show your first draft to a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult, it's critical to tackle the essay on your own. Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Sally won't be going with you to college. You need to start thinking for yourself if you're going to make the leap from high school to college. Read over the Common App questions and see which one appeals to you. Then make a list of possible ways to explore that question. When my son was applying to college he decided to write about "an event that has had a great influence on my life." I was impressed, surprised, and pleased when I read his essay about how the 2000 presidential election, with all of its intrigue about "hanging chads" and possible voting fraud had first peaked his interest in politics. He was 10 years old during that election! If he had come to me for advice about choosing an essay topic I certainly wouldn't have come up with the one he chose. Trust your instincts. Approach the task like the wonderful 17-year-old you are.

6. Take the lead. Obviously, your essay must conform to accepted rules of writing: it must have an introduction, a middle, expository section, and an end. I'm assuming that after 11 years of schooling, you know the basics.

Probably the most important part of the essay is the first sentence, what's known as the lead. This is where you grab the reader's interest, making him or her hungry to read on. Here's an example of a bad lead (taken from an actual essay by a student with whom I worked): "A fashion business career is clearly a profession that I aspire to have in my future. It not only is one of the most exciting and diverse industries, but a field that I can truly see myself excelling and being successful in." Fortunately we re-worked the essay, and the writer received an acceptance letter to her first choice school. FYI, here's the new, improved, personalized lead: "It was one of those 'aha' moments: my godmother, a fashion buyer, had invited me along on a photo shoot. As I watched all of the people involved in making it happen, I was just fascinated. I saw the incredible level of passion and excitement they all shared and I knew at that moment that I wanted to be a part of it." Get it?

7. Make it shine. Once you've written your first draft (congratulations!), put the essay aside for a week or so. Then go back to it and see what you think. Does it answer the question? Does it have a powerful lead, exposition, and conclusion? Does it conform to the required word count? Is it typo-free? Work on your essay until it's perfect. Think of it as an apple that you plan to give to your favorite teacher. You're going to polish it and polish it until it is the most absolutely gorgeous apple on the planet! Now is the time to share your essay with your parents, English teacher, or guidance counselor. Listen to their advice, but remain true to your self. Make sure your personality comes through.

8. Don't wait until the last minute! OK, I know I began this article by urging you to write your college admissions essay the summer before your senior year. But I also know that teens sometimes have a tendency to put off what they may consider an unpleasant task until they absolutely have to deal with it. If you wait until the last minute to complete your college applications, write your essays, ask your teachers for recommendations, etc., you will add unnecessary layers of stress to an already stressful situation. You'll have to deal with all the details involved in the college application process while you're juggling a challenging course load, volunteer work, a job, standardized tests, sports, friends, etc. The essay is one thing you can cross off your "to-do" list before your schedule gets too hectic.

With a little planning and a lot of thought, you'll be able to hit the "send" button on your college applications feeling confident that your essay will give you the added boost you need to ensure the arrival of those coveted fat envelopes next spring.