Welcome to a series of articles I am going to call “Izzy’s Amateur Guide To the College Application Process.” My credentials include the following: being a senior, already submitting all my applications, receiving
some acceptances and receiving an email from the admissions counselor from one of my schools about my essay calling it “one of the more interesting essays [she] has ever read.” This process is very overwhelming, but I assure you that you can do it. In this article, I’m going to go through the personal statement, aka the college essay.
This is arguably the most difficult task that must be completed in the application process, which is why…TIP #1: I highly recommend you start it early. Like start after midterms junior year early. The prompts that the Common App (the website most use to submit their college applications) provide stay the same every year. There are 7 in total that you could write about but most just use prompt 7 – Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Remember, TIP #2: This essay is about you. It’s a personal statement, so make it about you. You’re welcome to write about how another person added to your life, but at the end of the day, it’s about you and what you learned from this person or event.
The hardest part of the personal statement is picking a topic. I want to say it took me 3 months to pick a topic as I started in February and didn’t pick a topic until the end of April. TIP #3: If you’re struggling to pick a topic, a good place to start is to use the other 6 college board prompts to generate ideas. You might decide that you have a great story for one of the prompts and just use that one rather than the free choice prompt. TIP #4: The best format I have found is telling a story where you have learned something that will be useful in college or university. For example- My essay was on me creating a game for myself to study history. The moral was that I can use creativity to counteract any problem I come across, which will be a useful skill to have in college.
TIP #5: Put your voice into your essay. Yes, it should look sophisticated and formal but still have your voice in it. This is your only chance to elaborate on your personality. Grades, activities, and awards don’t fully express how you act day to day. So use this essay to really show who you are. My essay was well written (English teachers opinion, not mine) but still silly and fun, really showing how I am on a day to day. This leads me to one of my most important points. TIP #6: Don’t feel you have to write a sob story. Everyone knows the stereotypes that sob stories get you into ivies. Sure, maybe a few kids get in with such essays, but most of the time, admissions counselors tire of reading one “feel bad for me” essay after another. I’m sure admissions counselors would love to read a positive, light-hearted, fun essay once in a while. If you have an emotional story that is meaningful to you, really – I mean REALLY- this moment has shaped you and taught you an important lesson you can take to college, then write a draft with that topic. Don’t just write a sob story to write a sob story. It can be a good essay if done right and with real feelings behind it. They can tell the difference between an essay with feeling and a sob story just to sob story.
TIP #7: Write multiple drafts with multiple topics. Sometimes you don’t know which topic you will like best until you start writing. I had 5 different essays with 5 different topics before settling on “Yassifiying History.” That might be a bit excessive but the drafts helped me realize if a topic would stick. With my first topic, I stopped after a paragraph, realizing it wasn’t the topic. TIP #8: Pick an event unique to you if you can. There are many common essay topics that people fall into like “the sports injury”, “the sob story,” and “club/ team leader.” Try to be unique and pick a topic few people or just you went through. I feel like a broken record writing this, but this is your personal statement. It should be personal and unique to you.
To help get you started, here are some of the topic a few of my fellow seniors wrote about for this year:
- Yassifiying History: Created a game where they describe history as teen T.V like drama to help study
- Working in a restaurant and the skills it taught them
- Toxic relationships/ friendships: Learning to be the bigger person
- Their name: Meaning and significance of it
- Costco: Connected to his family
- Traders Joes: How it promotes health and being a good, active student
- Grandpa dancing when it pours outside: Seeing the bright side in every situation
At the end of the day, this is your chance to show colleges who you are. Be unique, be creative, and have fun writing it. You should enjoy the topic you write about, not be forcing yourself to do it. A few final tips before we part. TIP #9: Get an English teacher to help you. Every English teacher in this school is more than qualified and is here to help make the best version of your essay so you can go to whatever school holds your heart. TIP #10: Get a few opinions but not too many. I had 4 different teachers read my essay and all their ideas and notes helped get my essay to be the best it could be. But sometimes the notes would be saying to fix stuff other teachers suggested, so limiting your opinions is a better idea. Remember, YOU GOT THIS! There are so many people around to help you so use it. Talk to teachers, guidance counselors, or me. Email me or approach me in the halls. There is plenty of support to help you through this. So good luck and happy writing!
