The main aim is to show that you are an applicant with unique experience and personality.
College essay templates can be found online. This template contains instructions on how to format a college application essay and what to write in each paragraph. We strongly recommend that you do not use templates. Your essay will look trite and boring. You have to think of many ideas on your own.
However, instead of using templates for your college essay, we encourage you to conduct research. You can find applicants’ blogs or read many sample essays to grow your imagination and experience.
First of all, ensure that your document corresponds to the rudimentary college format essay requirements. Here are the main things to check:
Many colleges and universities allow candidates to submit their essays by mail. But the truth is that many schools prefer to receive writings by email. It significantly simplifies their work. In addition, it is still better to choose the preferred method of delivering the essay.
In addition, by sending your essay by email, you deprive yourself of the fear that the delivery will fail. Of course, it happens that emails are accidentally lost or may arrive at a different address. However, such incidents are much less than problems with mail. Digitalization has considerably simplified the process of filing documents and essays.
Using quotes and references in a college format essay requires accuracy and tact. Links and citations are a powerful, but somewhat tricky topic. That’s why you should only use them in your text if you know exactly what you’re using it for:
If i will be copy-and-pasting into a text box:.
Copying and pasting an essay can mess up the spacing between paragraphs. So make sure all paragraphs are separated by tabs or line breaks if tabs don’t work.
The font will probably be standardized, but if not, choose a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial (choices may be limited) and choose a normal size (12 pt).
Formatting such as bold and italics may be lost when copying and pasting. Bold and italics also may not work in text fields and are not recommended.
It is also worth mentioning that when transferring an essay, your text may lose many characters. Unfortunately, they may even be replaced. Therefore, it is worth checking the finished text again. Let’s check what format should a college essay be in for you to use one of these.
Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:
Luckily, you can open Word in almost any text program. If you send your essay as a download, you will most likely submit a .doc or .docx file. The downside is that MS Word files are editable. Also, conflicts can occur between different versions of MS Word (2010, 2016, and Office 365).
It is worth using the PDF format to leave the essay view intact. It allows you to preserve all characters. Moreover, no one can edit your text. It is a great tactic, but it is worth making sure you are legally allowed to deliver the document this way. Some schools may not be ready to receive PDF essays.
It is also possible to choose MLA or APA college application essay format if you send it as a file. We’ve also collected some college essay format examples . Here are the main characteristics of the MLA style:
Add the title page that contains several items (all are centered):
Essay format for students plays a big role, and sometimes even small mistakes can easily ruin the impression of your writing. What do we mean?
These simple steps will help you avoid common essay formatting mistakes and demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail. Correcting formatting errors is something that requires constant attention. However, with practice, you can easily change the formatting to suit any requirements.
Do not include the title if it is the same as the essay prompt. This way, you will waste your word count;
Do not write a wall of text. It makes your college paper format look like a mess. Divide the main body into several paragraphs.
Avoid writing sentence by sentence without transitions. Add linkage between the sentences and paragraphs.
Find someone you trust to read your essay and give you constructive feedback. It could be a trusted teacher, parent, school counselor, or college student. It is best to choose someone familiar with the purpose of the college essay.
Don’t let anyone else write this essay for you. No one will tell about you the way you tell yourself. In addition, you will not be able to answer later during the interview. Instead, you can turn to EssayEdge for help editing your college essay.
Use a real example. Add events and vivid details from your life. It will add color and persuasiveness to your personal statement. Your example shows that you embody the traits valued by the university.
Essay writing is a skill that is easy to learn but hard to master. While not a very exciting part of the applicant’s experience, it is best not to skip it. Formatting improves readability and makes the essay easier to understand. The difficulty is that even if you have studied how to write such documents properly and found a good college entrance essay template , you may still need assistance. EssayEdge professionals can help you not only to show your personality but also to format your essay properly.
When citation style, heading format, or other factors are constantly changing, it draws extra attention, and the reader’s concentration on the text is reduced. Therefore, to avoid such problems, applicants should start practicing in advance, and find a professional editor if necessary.
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Bonus Material: Download 30 essays that worked for Princeton
Are you a rising high school senior preparing for the admissions process and aiming for one of those coveted spots at selective universities? Are you looking for help figuring out how to structure your college admissions essay to maximize your chances of acceptance?
We’ve guided countless students through the application process to acceptances at the country’s most selective colleges. In this blog post, we’ll share some of our proven advice on how to structure and format your college admissions essay to make the best impression on admissions officers.
We’ve also included a set of 30 successful college application essays that helped students get into Princeton. There are few better resources to help your brainstorming than essays that you know worked!
Download Thirty Essays that Worked for Princeton
Jump to section:
What makes a successful college essay Types of College Essay Formats The Narrative Essay Format and Example The Montage Essay Format and Example The “I am…” Essay Format and Example The Creative/Artistic Format and Example Next Steps
You can think of a college essay’s effectiveness as being made up of two things: the content, and the narrative structure. In other words, you need to have a strong topic, but you also need to structure and format the way you write about that topic in a specific way. Without the right format, even the most unique and moving topic won’t wow the admission committee.
We’ve written extensively about our step-by-step process for ensuring that you have the right topic in our post on the Diamond Strategy here . It’s a proven method for topic selection, and we encourage everyone to read it and use it.
Your choice of topic is going to heavily influence what format will work best for your college essay. Below, we’ll go into several specific college essay formats (with successful college admissions essay examples!), and we’ll discuss when to use each one.
In this post, we’ll talk about four kinds of structures or formats that have been proven to work again and again for successful college admission essays.
Remember: although each of these formats can be broken down into something like a template, it will always get its power from the specifics of your story and your experiences. Take a look at any of these successful college essays that worked and you’ll see that, no matter the format, the key to each is tons and tons of specific detail.
Also remember that these formats are not always interchangeable : if you want to write about what you learned from a pivotal moment in your life, you’ll probably want The Narrative and not, say, The Montage.
The Narrative Essay format is one of the most popular and one of the most commonly seen on “Essays that Worked” blogs–and with good reason! This essay structure lets you tell a detailed story, keeping admissions counselors engaged while also conveying key insights about you as an applicant.
Here are the typical components of a Narrative Essay:
So what does it look like? Let’s take a look at an actual sample essay from our Thirty College Essays that Worked for Princeton and break it down.
Drop the reader right into the middle of a crucial moment, describing it like a scene in a film or movie.
To him, I was a stranger. He could not recall that I had fervently cared for him every day for the past five weeks. As I laughed at his trademark joke for the third time that day, he felt a familiar, but unidentifiable gratitude. When I mentioned a detail about his past, he blushed, realizing that I, a perceived stranger, knew him better than himself. The only recollection he had of me was of a girl with an unmatched dedication to his happiness. This man was one of the patients I encountered during my volunteer internship at Expressions, a hospital program for adults with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Notice how this begins the story with no preamble. If your essay topic is about a major event in your life, one of the strongest ways to begin your college essay is by jumping right into it.
Once you’ve hooked the reader with your story, zoom out and provide more context and background information. How did you get there? What brought you to that moment?
On the second day of the internship, I strode through the door, eager to delve into my new daily responsibilities. As I approached the patients, I anticipated, somewhat naively, a chorus of welcomes and friendly receptions. But instead, I was met with puzzled glances and polite, but reserved greetings. I realized that no one remembered who I was. For the next several minutes, I questioned my purpose in a program where I could not permanently impact the participants. What motivation did I have to go beyond mediocrity when, no matter the quality of my service, I would be forgotten? But it was that morning, as I poured each patient a cup of coffee, smiled, and reintroduced myself, that I constructed my personal motto: “Initiative requires no incentive.” Throughout the rest of the day, I found motivation through mundane, yet meaningful moments, like helping a patient complete a crossword or color a picture. It was in those moments that I learned that dedication is not derived from a desire to make memorable change, but from a will to contribute to your community no matter the reward.
You want to maintain a high level of detail and specificity, but you also want to zoom out enough to make sure your reader understands the background and context of your story. This essay does that perfectly by explaining the internship and the student’s initial involvement. More importantly, it shows us what the student was thinking at the beginning, which provides an opportunity for growth and learning.
The narrative works because it’s about how you, as a student, college applicant, and human, have changed and grown through the experience you describe. So the next part of your essay should describe some element of change as it develops through this story. Take a look below:
Over the next few weeks, I discovered that because the patients had no recollection of the past, they cherished the present moment. It was this principle of mindful existence that taught me to love the moments of doing, rather than linger in the memories of “I have done.” To fulfill this principle, I sought to paint each moment with cheer and consideration. Through all their bursts of frustration, shivers of discomfort, and tears of untraceable nostalgia, I strove to offer warmth and support. On several occasions, I brought in my tutu and pointe shoes and performed a ballet variation. As I taught the participants ballet steps, the room rang with laughter and amusement. Hoping to inspire the creativity I find so empowering, I also orchestrated events from poetry slams to watercolor classes to recipe exchanges. By incorporating my individuality into the program, I reinvented my role as a volunteer, a community member, and an individual.
This process of “discovery” is one of the keys to the Narrative Structure. This college essay format is designed to let you bring out the personal growth that accompanied this event. In the body paragraphs, the author shows how she developed and “reinvented” her role through this experience.
As you bring your essay to a close, you should actively reflect on what has changed throughout this narrative. The closing can be short and sweet, and often refers back to the original story you told in the first paragraph.
On my last day at the program, I was leading a jewelry-making activity, when I noticed one of the participants becoming agitated. She was, among all the group members, the patient in the most advanced stage of memory loss and the patient I accompanied most often. I drew up a chair next to her and offered my help. Her head, previously hunched over scattered bracelet pieces, slowly lifted and her eyes turned to meet mine. As her eyes flickered across my face, I saw in her expression that she was searching for a thought, creeping to the forefront of her mind. Then, carefully she said, “Your name is Dana, right?” It had been nearly a year since she had remembered the last five minutes, yet she had remembered my name. As I smiled and nodded, she began to tear up, and we both silently rejoiced in the realization that she had momentarily overcome her disease. In that instant, my continuous acts of compassion, whether previously forgotten or anonymous, came to fruition. Service became more than the completion of routine tasks or the collection of volunteer hours; it became the responsibility to foster hope and prosperity within my community, the nation, and humanity.
This final paragraph beautifully brings the entire essay to a close: it recalls the opening paragraph, but now gives it a new and more positive spin. It also tells the admissions committee what this student has learned through this narrative. This student comes away from the experience with a new understanding of service.
This is one of the best examples of a successfully executed college essay in the Narrative style. It hooks the reader in from the beginning, making us want to figure out what’s going on. Then, it gives us the context we need to understand how the writer got to this point and who they are. Most importantly, it concludes the narrative by showing real, impressive personal growth in the student’s perspective on the world, ending with a reflection on what this writer values and brings to a college.
Yours will look different, of course. But if you want to understand why the narrative essay structure works, this impactful essay is a great place to start.
You can find more successful narrative essay examples in our Thirty College Essays that Worked for Princeton .
The Narrative Structure is great if your essay topic can be conveyed through a single crucial moment or experience. But what if you want to show the admissions committee at your dream university some aspect(s) of your personality that can only be conveyed through multiple moments?
Here are the key elements of a Montage Essay:
That’s the kind of topic the Montage Essay Format is designed for. You won’t go into as much detail as you would in the Narrative Essay. Instead, you will present the admissions committee with a series of snapshots from your life, all connected by a common theme.
These snapshots can be actual events, or they can be creatively selected items from your life that tell universities something about you–you might create a montage of what’s on your bookshelf or what kind of bumper stickers are on your car, for example.
Give us a bit of context for whatever unites the montage by setting it up. Alternatively, you can just jump right into one of the montage moments (like in the Narrative Format). The best option here will depend on your specific essay.
We can see an example from our collection of thirty actual sample essays below:
“You know nothing, Jon Snow” Being an avid Game of Thrones fanatic, I fancy every character, scene, and line. However,Ygritte’s famous line proves to be just slightly more relatable than the incest, corruption, and sorcery that characterizes Westeros. Numerous theories explore the true meaning of these five words, but I prefer to think they criticize seventeen-year-old Jon’s lack of life experience. Growing up in a lord’s castle, he has seen little about the real world; thus, he struggles to see the bigger picture until he evaluates all angles. Being in a relatively privileged community myself, I can affirm the lack of diverse perspectives —and even more, the scarcity of real-world problems. Instead, my life has been horrifically plagued by first world problems.
This introductory paragraph opens with something creative and catchy, then explains the purpose. It also sets up the montage that will follow: “the first world problems.”
Naturally, this is the biggest part of the Montage Format. The pieces of your montage can be short (as in the below example) or fairly long. The most important thing is that they are detailed, unique, and come together to tell the university admissions officers something about you.
I’ve written a eulogy and held a funeral for my phone charger. I’ve thrown tantrums when my knitted sweaters shrunk in the dryer. And yes, I actually have cried over spilled (organic) milk. Well, shouldn’t I be happy with the trivial “problems” I’ve faced? Shouldn’t I appreciate the opportunities and the people around me? Past the “feminism v. menimism” and “memes” of the internet, are heartbreaking stories and photos of life outside my metaphorical “Bethpage Bubble.” How can I be content when I am utterly oblivious to the perspectives of others? Like Jon Snow, I’ve never lived a day in another person’s shoes. Fewer than three meals a day. No extra blanket during record-breaking winter cold. No clean water. I may be parched after an intense practice, but I know nothing of poverty. Losing a loved one overseas. Being forced to leave your home. Coups d’état and dictatorial governments. I battle with my peers during class discussions, but I know nothing of war. Denial of education. Denial of religion. Denial of speech. I have an endless list of freedoms, and I know nothing of oppression. Malaria. Cholera. Cancer. I watch how Alzheimer’s progresses in my grandmother, but I know nothing of disease. Living under a strict caste system. Being stereotyped because of one’s race. Unwarranted prejudice. I may be in a minority group, yet I know nothing of discrimination. Flappers, speakeasies, and jazz. Two world wars. Pagers, hippies, and disco. I’m barely a 90’s kid who relishes SpongeBob episodes, and I know nothing of prior generations. Royal weddings, tribal ceremonies, and Chinese New Years. I fast during Ramadan, but I know nothing of other cultures. Hostile political parties. Progressive versus retrospective. Right and wrong. I am seventeen, and I know nothing of politics.
This montage is really a list of the first-world problems of the writer and the things the writer “knows nothing” about. In writing this list, however, the student is making clear that they’re aware of the limits of their own experience, and that kind of self-reflection is crucial for a winning college essay.
Each montage essay must end by clearly drawing a lesson. The question every admissions officer will be asking is: what do all of these moments tell us about you?
Is ignorance really bliss? Beyond my community and lifetime exists myriad events I’ll never witness, people I’ll never meet, and beliefs I’ll never understand. Being unexposed to the culture and perspectives that comprise this world, I know I can never fully understand anyone or anything. Yet, irony is beautiful. Embarking on any career requires making decisions on behalf of a community, whether that be a group of students, or a patient, or the solar system. I am pleased to admit like Jon Snow, I know nothing, but that will change in college.
This reflection really doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. In just a few sentences, this author shows us why the montage matters: this student understands the limits of their experiences and knowledge, and, most importantly, is eager and willing to work to overcome them.
For more successful college application essays like this, check out our collection of actual sample essays below:
This format is the most direct way to approach a personal essay. By using this structure, you will directly present the admissions officers with some crucial aspect of your personality, background, or interests.
This essay format is best for students who want to highlight a particular quirk, lifelong challenge, or important aspects of their demographic background.
This kind of essay generally follows this structure:
Like all college admissions essays, this will require you to be specific and detailed. But, it might not involve much of an actual story or narrative (though it can!). Take a look at the breakdown of the example below to see how it’s done.
This essay structure depends on hooking your reader’s attention from the first line, so you want to start with something memorable, unexpected, and maybe even a bit confusing. Though often this means saying “I am…” it could just as easily be “I believe…” or “I have…”
I am an aspiring hot sauce sommelier. Ever since I was a child, I have been in search for all that is spicy. I began by dabbling in peppers of the jarred variety. Pepperoncini, giardiniera, sports peppers, and jalapeños became not only toppings, but appetizers, complete entrées, and desserts. As my palate matured, I delved into a more aggressive assortment of spicy fare. I’m not referring to Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the crunchy snack devoured by dilettantes. No, it was bottles of infernal magma that came next in my tasting curriculum.
Here’s a classic example of how to start. “Hot sauce sommelier” is unusual and quirky enough that it holds the reader’s attention. Admissions officers will want to keep reading to see why this matters.
This can take different forms: you can explain how you came to be, say, a hot sauce sommelier. Or you can tell us what that looks like in your everyday life. It’ll depend in large part on what your individual story is, but the key is specifics, specifics, specifics.
Despite the current lack of certification offered for the profession which I am seeking, I am unquestionably qualified. I can tell you that a cayenne pepper sauce infused with hints of lime and passion fruit is the perfect pairing to bring out the subtle earthy undertones of your microwave ramen. I can also tell you that a drizzle of full-bodied Louisiana habanero on my homemade vanilla bean ice cream serves as an appetizing complement. For the truly brave connoisseur, I suggest sprinkling a few generous drops of Bhut Jolokia sauce atop a bowl of chili. Be warned, though; one drop too many and you might find yourself like I did, crying over a heaping bowl of kidney beans at the dining room table. Although I consistently attempt to cultivate the rarest and most expertly crafted bottles of molten spice, like an oenophile who occasionally sips on five dollar bottles of wine, I am neither fussy nor finicky. I have no qualms about dousing my omelets with Cholula, dipping my tofu in pools of Sriracha, or soaking my vegetarian chicken nuggets in the Frank’s Red Hot that my mom bought from the dollar store. No matter the quality or cost, when gently swirled, wafted, and swished; the sauces excite my senses. Each initial taste, both surprising yet subtly familiar, has taught me the joy of the unknown and the possibility contained within the unexpected.
Check out all specific details the writer uses in this portion of the essay! These moments both show the student’s skill as a writer and, more importantly, convey their very real passion for hot sauce. It doesn’t matter that it’s a little bit silly: what matters is showing the university that this student is dedicated to something .
As always, these essays have to end with a bit of introspection: you’ve told us the story, now explain why it matters, as this student does.
My ceaseless quest for piquancy has inspired many journeys, both gustatory and otherwise. It has dragged me into the depths of the souks of Marrakech, where I purchased tin cans filled with Harissa. Although the chili sauce certainly augmented the robust aroma of my tagine, my food was not the only thing enriched by this excursion. My conquest has also brought me south, to the valleys of Chile, where I dined among the Mapuche and flavored my empanadas with a smoky seasoning of Merkén. Perhaps the ultimate test of my sensory strength occurred in Kolkata, India. After making the fatal mistake of revealing my penchant for spicy food to my friend’s grandmother, I spent the night with a raw tongue and cold sweats. I have learned that spice isn’t always easy to digest. It is the distilled essence of a culture, burning with rich history. It is a universal language that communicates passion, pain, and renewal. Like an artfully concocted hot sauce, my being contains alternating layers of sweetness and daring which surround a core that is constantly being molded by my experiences and adventures. I’m not sure what it is about spiciness that intrigues me. Maybe my fungiform papillae are mapped out in a geography uniquely designed to appreciate bold seasonings. Maybe these taste buds are especially receptive to the intricacies of the savors and zests that they observe. Or maybe it’s simply my burning sense of curiosity. My desire to challenge myself, to stimulate my mind, to experience the fullness of life in all of its varieties and flavors.
This student makes clear to colleges why this aspect of their personality matters. It has helped them learn and travel; it shows the student’s desire to “challenge” themselves and to “stimulate their mind,” which is exactly what a top-tier university is looking for.
I’m cheating a little bit here: by definition, there’s no real format to these Creative/Artistic Essays. These are the most unique, the toughest to pull off, and the riskiest essays. But for certain students, they’re undoubtedly the right choice.
Although these essays aren’t as easy to bulletpoint out as the above, creative personal essays will always contain the following elements:
The Creative/Artistic Essays make your essay stand out to colleges, but require careful planning and editing to pull off. If you’re an artist type, or, alternatively, if you feel your application needs something to separate you from the pack, these can be the right choice.
Consulting with one of our expert college essay coaches can be the best way to ensure that your Creative/Artistic Essay helps and not hurts your application.
Below is a successful example, and some analysis of why this essay works:
“Is it bigger than a breadbox?” “Yes.” I have always been tall, decidedly tall. Yet, my curiosity has always surpassed my height. Starting at a young age, I would ask countless questions, from “How heavy is the Earth?” to “Where does rain come from?” My curiosity, displayed in questions like these, has truly defined me as a person and as a student. Therefore, it is not surprising that I became transfixed the first time I played 20Q (the electronic version of Twenty Questions). Somehow, a little spherical device guessed what I was thinking. The piece of technology sparked my curiosity and instilled in me a unique interest in 20Q. This interest would later reveal valuable character traits of mine while also paralleling various facets of my life. “Does it strive to learn?” “Yes.” I became determined to discover how 20Q guessed correctly. After some research, I discovered artificial intelligence, more specifically, artificial neural networks—systems which learn and improve themselves. This idea fascinated me. I wanted to learn more. I read avidly, seeking and absorbing as much information as I could. When given the opportunity years later, I signed up for the first computer programming class available to me. I found myself in an environment I loved. I would stay after class, go in during free periods, make my own apps, and work over Cloud-based IDEs. I prized the freedom and the possibilities. “Is it driven?” “Yes.” After my introduction to 20Q, I began to play Twenty Questions (the traditional parlor game) and became determined to rival the guessing accuracy of the artificial intelligence. At first I was mediocre. However, through long car rides with family, good-natured yet heated competitions with friends, logical strategy, and time, I became more effective. I discovered the “secrets” to success: practice and perseverance. “Does it apply what it learns?” “Yes.” As 20Q implements what it learns, so do I. Throughout high school, I applied the “secret” of practice to my basketball career. I spent countless hours sharpening my skills in 90° summer heat to 20° late-winter cold, countless afternoons playing pickup games with my friends, and countless weekends traveling to AAU basketball tournaments. As a result, I became a starter for my school’s varsity team. I applied another “secret,” this time the “secret” of perseverance, by dedicating myself to physical therapy after knee surgery in order to quickly return to football. Later that year, I became the first player in my grade to score a varsity touchdown. “Does it attempt to better itself?” “Yes.” Once I became proficient at Twenty Questions, I strengthened my resolve to become masterful. To do so, I needed to become a skillful inquisitor and to combine that with my analytical nature and interpersonal skills, all of which are vital for success in Twenty Questions. Because I had been debating politics with my friends since the 8th grade, I recognized that debate could sharpen these skills. I began to debate more frequently (and later more effectively) in English and government class, at the lunch table and family gatherings, and whenever the opportunity presented itself. This spurred in me an interest for how public policy and government work, leading me to attend Boys State and receive a nomination for The United States Senate Youth Program. “Does it think deeply?” “Yes.” So far, I have realized that thriving at Twenty Questions, just like life, is all about tenacity, rationality and interpersonal skills. I have found that, as in Twenty Questions, always succeeding is impossible; however, by persevering through difficulties and obstacles, favorable outcomes are often attainable. As I have become better at Twenty Questions, so too have I improved in many other aspects of my life. Nonetheless, I realize that I still have unbounded room to grow. And much like 20Q, I will continue to learn throughout my life and apply my knowledge to everything I do. “Are you thinking of me?” “Yes.” Source: Johns Hopkins Essays that Worked
Framing this essay as a round of 20 questions is the kind of risky creative move that, in this case, can really pay off.
It works here because it isn’t just being creative or artsy for the sake of it: this format really allows the student to express multiple important aspects of their personality as it relates to their application.
You’ll notice that, like most creative essays, it combines elements of the other essay formats. But it does so in a unique way that can’t be replicated: nobody else can write a 20 Questions style essay without ripping off this author.
If you can find a creative idea like this one that lets you express unique elements of your story or personality in a fun, attention-grabbing structure, then this option might be the best one for you.
You should think of the steps outlined in this blogpost as the middle of the essay writing process. First, you need to brainstorm and select your topic (see our guide on that here) . Then, based on that topic, you can use this post to identify what structure and format will work best for crafting your essay.
If you’ve settled on an essay format, it’s time to move on to actually writing the essay itself. We recommend starting by reviewing some of the past successful essays linked below and by first reading our post on the Diamond Strategy for topic selection.
Of course, there’s no substitute for professional help: our expert essay coaches have helped countless students with brainstorming, topic choice, organization, crafting, and final touches on essays that have helped these students gain admission to Ivies and other elite colleges. If you’re interested in working with one of our college essay coaches, reach out to us here !
Mike is a PhD candidate studying English literature at Duke University. Mike is an expert test prep tutor (SAT/ACT/LSAT) and college essay consultant. Nearly all of Mike’s SAT/ACT students score in the top 5% of test takers; many even score above 1500 on the SAT. His college essay students routinely earn admission into their top-choice schools, including Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth. And his LSAT students have been accepted In into the top law schools in the country, including Harvard, Yale, and Columbia Law.
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Home > Blog > How To Write a College Essay: Top Tips and Strategies
Writing a college essay can seem daunting, but it’s your chance to shine and stand out from other applicants! This guide walks you through the steps to create a compelling and memorable essay that showcases your unique qualities.
We will cover everything from brainstorming ideas to final proofreading. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes and stay focused on the prompt. We will also provide tips on using online tools to help you perfect your essay .
Follow these steps on how to write a college essay. They will help you craft an essay that reflects who you are and show why you’re perfect for your chosen college!
Learning how to write a good hook for a college essay is essential as a great hook can captivate your reader’s attention from the start.
Begin with a bold statement, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid scene. The goal is to intrigue your readers and make them want to read more.
Tip: Revisit your hook after writing the essay to ensure it ties seamlessly with the rest of your story.
A college essay helps admissions officers understand who you are beyond grades and test scores. It’s your chance to showcase your writing skills, personality, and what you’ll bring to the campus community. Think of it as a personal statement that highlights your strengths and experiences.
Tip: Reflect on what makes you unique and how you can contribute to the college community.
Writing a college essay involves several steps to ensure your final piece is polished and impactful. Let’s take a look at a few key things that will help you create a well-structured and engaging essay.
Start by brainstorming a college essay topic that reflects your experiences and values. Consider moments of personal growth, challenges you’ve overcome, or activities that define you. Write down several ideas and choose the one that resonates most with you.
Tip: Discuss your ideas with family members or friends to get different perspectives.
You need to draft an outline for your essay as this will help you organize your thoughts and ensure your essay has a clear structure. Divide your essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion. Outline the main points you want to cover in each section.
Tip: Keep your outline flexible. You might find new ideas as you start writing.
Begin writing your first draft without worrying about perfection. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. Start with your hook and follow your outline to develop your story.
Tip: Don’t stress about word count in your first draft. You can trim or expand later.
After completing your first draft, set it aside for a few days. Return to it with fresh eyes and revise for clarity and flow. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and word choice. Ensure your essay reflects your voice and personality.
Tip: Reading your essay aloud can help catch awkward phrases and errors.
Ask others to read your essay and provide feedback. Choose people who know you well and can offer constructive criticism. Consider their suggestions but ensure the final essay reflects your voice.
Tip: Be open to feedback but stay true to your story.
After revising based on feedback, write your final draft. Ensure it meets any specific requirements, such as word limits or essay prompts. Your final draft should be polished and free of errors.
Tip: Double-check for typos and formatting issues before submitting.
A great college essay goes beyond listing achievements. It delves into the deeper aspects of your personality and experiences. Let’s explore how to create an engaging and authentic essay that stands out.
Instead of listing achievements, show how they’ve impacted you. Use anecdotes and vivid details to illustrate your points. This approach makes your essay more engaging and memorable.
Admissions officers want to understand what drives you. Focus on deeper themes such as personal growth, resilience, and values. Explain how your experiences have shaped who you are today.
Write in your own voice and avoid trying to impress with big words or complex sentences. Authenticity resonates more than a polished facade in any type of essay . Admissions officers want to see the real you.
While it’s important to be humble, don’t shy away from highlighting your achievements. Explain how these accomplishments reflect your strengths and potential.
Tip: Connect your achievements to your future goals and how the college can help you achieve them.
If you’re unsure of how to write a college essay about yourself, remember that you’re not the only one! Writing essays about yourself can feel strange, but it’s essential to show college admissions officers exactly who you are. This is an opportunity to bring your grades off the paper and create a more holistic image of you.
Start your essay with a clear story or experience that highlights your personality and values. Use vivid details to paint a picture of your life. Be honest and authentic—the admissions committees want to see the real you.
Tip: Use specific examples from your life to illustrate your points. Instead of saying, “I’m hardworking,” describe a time when you worked hard to achieve a goal.
Understanding how to write a “Why this college” essay can significantly improve your college application and make you stand out. When writing about why you want to attend a particular school, do your research.
Mention specific programs, professors, or campus culture elements that appeal to you. Explain how these aspects align with your academic and career goals.
Tip: Avoid generic statements like “I love the campus.” Be specific about what excites you about the college and how it fits your aspirations.
If you want to write the best college essay, you must avoid common pitfalls that can weaken your application. Here are some key mistakes to watch out for.
Avoid vague statements that could apply to anyone. Be specific about your experiences and aspirations. For example, instead of saying “I love helping others,” describe a time you volunteered at a local shelter. This approach shows your unique experiences and personal growth.
Admissions officers want to see your individuality and genuine passion. A specific story leaves a lasting impression and makes your essay memorable. Use detailed examples to illustrate your points and make your essay stand out.
Make sure you answer the essay prompt directly. Tailor your essay to the specific requirements and questions posed by the college. Read the prompt carefully and address all parts of it. Avoid writing a generic essay that doesn’t fit the prompt. Colleges want to see how well you can follow directions and respond to their questions.
By addressing the prompt directly, you show attention to detail and respect for the application process. This also ensures your essay is relevant and focused.
Stick to one or two main ideas and develop them thoroughly. An overly wordy essay can lose the reader’s interest. Focus on quality over quantity in your writing. Too many ideas can make your essay feel scattered and confusing. Choose your most compelling stories and explore them in depth.
This approach helps maintain a clear and engaging narrative. The admissions officer will appreciate essays that are concise and well-organized. Clear writing reflects clear thinking, which is crucial in a college essay.
Spelling and grammar errors can distract from your message. Always proofread your essay multiple times and consider using tools like Smodin’s AI essay grader to catch mistakes. Errors can make your essay look careless and unpolished. A well-proofread essay demonstrates attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Reading your essay aloud can help catch awkward phrases and errors. Ask friends or family to review your essay as well. Fresh eyes can spot mistakes you might have missed. Using an AI essay grader can provide additional insights and corrections.
What should i write about in my college essay.
Write about a topic that is meaningful to you and reflects your personality and values. Choose experiences that have shaped who you are.
Most college essays are around 500-650 words. Check the specific requirements for each college you’re applying to.
The importance of the college essay varies by school. For highly selective colleges, it can be a key component of your application. For others, it may be less critical.
You can use the same core essay, but make sure to tailor it to each college’s prompt and specific requirements.
Be authentic, show your unique perspective, and focus on deeper themes. Use vivid details and anecdotes to bring your story to life.
Writing a college essay can be challenging, but it’s an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities. By following these steps on how to write a college essay, you can create a compelling and memorable piece. Remember to be authentic, focus on deeper themes, and proofread carefully.
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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the proper format for a college essay.
Hi all, I'm beginning to work on my college essays, and I'm wondering what the correct format or layout should be. Is there a specific guideline? Any dos or don'ts I should be aware of before starting? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Hello! Formatting your college essay can vary slightly depending on the application platform (Common App, Coalition, individual college application), but in general, there are some standard guidelines you can follow.
1. Font and size: It's best to use a legible, professional font like Times New Roman or Arial in size 11 or 12.
2. Line spacing: Use double spacing for your entire essay.
3. Margins: Set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
4. Alignment: Align the text to the left. Avoid center or right alignment.
5. Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph. Typically, you can use the tab key or set a 0.5-inch indentation.
6. Header: Since some colleges might print out your essay, include a header with your name, the title of your essay (if you have one), and the page number on the top right corner of each page.
7. Word count: Be sure to adhere to the specific word count limit set by the application platform or college. For the Common App, the personal statement has a limit of 650 words. Individual colleges may have their own essay prompts with varying word count limits.
8. Proofread: Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and clarity. It's always helpful to have someone else review your essay as well.
Here are some content dos and don'ts to keep in mind:
1. Do start with a strong hook: An engaging opening line or paragraph can captivate your reader and set the tone for the rest of your essay.
2. Do stay focused: Address the essay prompt directly. Share details that reveal your unique personality, skills, and perspectives, but avoid going off on tangents.
3. Don't use clichés: Steer clear of clichéd topics, and aim to provide a fresh take on the chosen theme by using your unique experiences and insights. This is your chance to showcase your individuality.
4. Avoid overly formal language: Write the way you speak, but ensure your essay is clear and coherent. Colleges want to hear your genuine voice.
Lastly, remember that your college essay is an opportunity to share your personality, values, and experiences with the admissions committee in a way that isn't readily apparent from the rest of your application. Take your time and write a thoughtful and engaging essay, as it can play a significant role in your admissions decision.
Best of luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.
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Published on September 29, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on June 1, 2023.
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, if you write too little, it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.
Word count guidelines for different application types, how to shorten your essay, how to expand your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.
Each university has a different suggested or required word count depending on which application portal it uses.
Some application portals will allow you to exceed the word count limit, but admissions officers have limited time and energy to read longer essays. Other application portals have a strict limit and will not allow you to exceed it.
For example, in the Common App , the portal will not allow you to submit more than 650 words. Some colleges using the Common App will allow you to submit less than 250 words, but this is too short for a well-developed essay.
Application portal | Word count | Strict limit? |
---|---|---|
Common App | 250–650 | |
Coalition App | 500–650 | |
UC App | Four 350-word essays |
For scholarship essays , diversity essays , and “Why this college?” essays , word count limits vary. Make sure to verify and respect each prompt’s limit.
Don’t worry too much about word count until the revision stage ; focusing on word count while writing may hinder your creativity. Once you have finished a draft, you can start shortening or expanding your essay if necessary.
On some application portals, you can exceed the word limit, but there are good reasons to stay within it:
Here are some strategies for shortening your essay.
It’s good to use vivid imagery, but only include relevant details. Cut any sentences with tangents or unnecessary information.
My father taught me how to strategically hold the marshmallow pierced by a twig at a safe distance from the flames to make sure it didn’t get burned, ensuring a golden brown exterior.
Typically, my father is glued to his computer since he’s a software engineer at Microsoft. But that night, he was the marshmallow master. We waited together as the pillowy sugary goodness caramelized into gooey delight. Good example: Sticks to the point On our camping trip to Yosemite, my family spent time together, away from technology and routine responsibility.
My favorite part was roasting s’mores around the campfire. My father taught me how to hold the marshmallow at a safe distance from the flames, ensuring a golden brown exterior.
These college essay examples also demonstrate how you can cut your essay down to size.
Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay. If a word doesn’t add value, cut it.
Here are some common examples of wordiness and how to fix them.
Problem | Solution | |
---|---|---|
We had done a lot of advance planning for our science project. | We had done a lot of planning for our science project. | |
I didn’t know whether or not I should tell the truth. | I didn’t know whether I should tell the truth. | |
When I was a child, I came up with an imaginary friend named Roger to get away from my parents’ fighting. | When I was a child, I invented an imaginary friend named Roger to escape my parents’ fighting. | |
Unnecessary “of” phrases | The mother of my friend was Marissa, who was a member of our church. | My friend’s mother Marissa was a fellow church member. |
False subjects “There is/there are” | There are many large-scale farms in America, but there is a local sustainable farm preserved by my family. | America has many large-scale farms, but my family preserves a local sustainable one. |
Unnecessary qualifiers | I pretty much just wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins. | I wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins. |
Passive voice | Most of the German chocolate cake was eaten by me. | I ate most of the German chocolate cake. |
Unnecessary helping verbs | I am going to be attending my school’s annual carnival. | I will attend my school’s annual carnival. |
If you want to save time, you can make use of a paraphrasing tool . Within the tool you can select the “short” mode to rewrite your essay in less words. Just copy your text in the tool and within 1 click you’ll have shortened your essay.
If you’re significantly under the word count, you’re wasting the opportunity to show depth and authenticity in your essay. Admissions officers may see your short essay as a sign that you’re unable to write a detailed, insightful narrative about yourself.
Here are some strategies for expanding your essay.
You should include detailed examples that can’t be replicated by another student. Use vivid imagery, the five senses, and specific objects to transport the reader into your story.
My mom cooks the best beef stew. | The sweet smell of caramelized onions and braised beef wafts from the kitchen. My mother attends to the stew as if it’s one of her patients at the hospital, checking every five to 10 minutes on its current state. |
The shepherd’s pie reminded me of familiar flavors. | Reminding me of the warm, comforting blanket from my childhood, the shepherd’s pie tasted like home. |
His hands were cracked and rough. | His hands were cracked and rough like alligator skin. |
If your essay lacks vulnerability or self-reflection, share your feelings and the lessons you’ve learned.
Be creative with how you express your feelings; rather than simply writing “I’m happy,” use memorable images to help the reader clearly visualize your happiness. Similarly, for insight, include the follow-up actions from your lessons learned; instead of claiming “I became a hard worker,” explain what difficult tasks you accomplished as a result of what you learned.
After my best friend Doug moved away, it was really hard. Before, we used to always talk about video games, barter snacks during lunch, and share secrets. But now, I’m solo. | Before my best friend Doug moved away, we used to do everything together. We would spend countless bus rides discussing and strategizing sessions. At lunch break, we would barter Oreos and Cheez-Its while confiding in each other about whom we wanted to ask to the school dance. But now, I’m Solo, like Han without Chewbacca. |
My mother’s death was difficult. My father’s grief made it difficult for him to take care of me and my brothers, so I took care of them. | After my mom passed, my grief was overwhelming, but my father’s was even deeper. At 13, I cooked, cleaned, and took care of my two younger brothers. Although the household responsibilities were tiring, I liked一and needed一the stability and purpose I derived from the new routine. |
If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Academic writing
Communication
Parts of speech
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.
You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.
If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.
If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.
You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.
There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .
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Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't─your personality. It can give admissions officers a sense of who you are and showcase your writing ability. Here are some things that admissions officers look for in a personal essay for college.
Knowing how to start a college essay can create a strong opening paragraph that immediately captures the reader’s interest. You want to make the admissions officer reading your essay curious about what you say next.
Colleges want to see that you have a command of the basics of good writing, which is a key component of success in college.
Admissions officers also want to see that the student can give a direct answer while sticking to a comprehensive narrative. When writing college essays, consider the point you want to make and develop a fleshed-out response that fits the prompt. Avoid force-fitting prewritten pieces. Approach every personal essay prompt as if it's your first.
Writing college essays isn't about using flowery or verbose prose. Avoid leaning too heavily on the thesaurus to sound impressive. Choose a natural writing style that’s appropriate for the subject matter.
Also, avoid stressing about trying to write what you think colleges want to see. Learning how to draft a good essay for college is about showcasing who you are. Stay true to your voice. Keep in mind that authenticity is more important than anything else.
Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential. Proofread several times after you've finished. Then ask a teacher, parent, or college English major to give it a quick read as well.
Finally, admissions officers value succinctness. Remember to pay attention to the recommended essay length or word count.
For more on how to write a college essay, check out these Tips for Writing Your College Admissions Essay .
A personal essay for college applications is an opportunity for admission admissions panels to get more insight into who you are and what you have to offer. It's often the most personal component of the application, going beyond grades and standardized test scores. Essays usually have open-ended prompts, allowing you to flex your writing skills and make a personal statement.
Learning how to write a successful essay for college is crucial. This essay's exact weight on your chances of acceptance varies from one school to the next. But it's an element of your application that all admissions teams consider. Your essay could be the thing that gets you off a waiting list or gives you a competitive edge over other applicants.
Knowing what to include in a college essay is half the battle. Admissions teams look for many things, but the most influential are authenticity, writing ability, character details, and positive traits. The purpose of the essay is to shed light on your background and gain perspective on your real-world experiences.
Because you'll want to tailor each application to each school, expect to write multiple personal essays. Advisers typically recommend starting these pieces during the summer before your senior year of high school. This will give you ample time to concentrate on writing a college essay before you're hit with schoolwork.
Good writing skills matter, but the best college essay is about the quality of your response. Authentic stories in a natural voice have impact. The story you want to tell about yourself will work better for you if it’s told in language that’s not overly sophisticated. Work with a writing coach for help with the academic aspects. Make responding with substance a priority.
You don't need life-changing moments to impress an admissions panel. Think about your personal experiences. Describe moments that left a lasting impact. The important thing is to have a fleshed-out narrative that provides insight into your life and way of thinking. Some of the best essays revolve around meaningful moments rather than flashy ones.
Most colleges provide open-ended prompts. Using the topic as inspiration, think about critical milestones or essential lessons you learned during your academic career. Tell stories about real-life experiences that have shaped the person you are. Write them down to brainstorm ideas. Choose stories that highlight your best traits.
Good topics when writing college essays include personal achievements, meaningful lessons, life-changing challenges, and situations that fostered personal growth. It's best to avoid anything too intimate or controversial. You want to open up, but it's not a good idea to go overboard or alienate members of the admissions panel.
Read the prompt and essay instructions thoroughly to learn how to start off a college essay. Some colleges provide guidance about formatting. If not, the best course of action is to stick with a college standard like the MLA format.
The average length of a personal essay for college is 400─600 words. Always read the prompt. Follow the instructions provided in the application.
Turn to your school counselor for review. They understand what college admissions panels are looking for, and they can provide valuable insight into your piece's quality. You can also reach out to English teachers and other educators for proofreading.
Related articles.
COMMENTS
Again, we'd recommend sticking with standard fonts and sizes—Times New Roman, 12-point is a standard workhorse. You can probably go with 1.5 or double spacing. Standard margins. Basically, show them you're ready to write in college by using the formatting you'll normally use in college.
1. In-the-moment narrative. This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you. This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue ...
Clearly delineate your paragraphs. A single tab at the beginning is fine. Use a font that's easy to read, like Times, Arial, Calibri, Cambria, etc. Avoid fonts like Papyrus and Curlz. And use 12 pt font. You may want to include a college essay heading with a page number and your application ID.
This guide to how to format the Common App essay and other college essays is dedicated to helping you take some of the guesswork out of punctuation, style, grammar. We'll also share some common college essay grammar mistakes students make and show you how to fix them. How to use the guide: We recommend skimming the document, reading the ...
The college application essay has become the most important part of applying to college. In this article, we will go over the best college essay format for getting into top schools, including how to structure the elements of a college admissions essay: margins, font, paragraphs, spacing, headers, and organization.. We will focus on commonly asked questions about the best college essay structure.
Fonts: Standard college essays typically use a uniform font for consistency and readability. Times New Roman is the most widely accepted font, though Arial is sometimes permitted. The font size is usually set to 12 points. Font should be consistent across the entire document. Line Spacing: Most college essays require double spacing ...
Learn how to format and outline your college application essay with two examples of effective structures. Find out what to avoid and what to include in your essay to impress admissions officers.
On your college application essay, use the first paragraph as an introduction, and the last paragraph as your conclusion that wraps everything up. Put the meat of the essay in between. Let the story build and flow to its natural conclusion. Mastering College Essays: Insider Tips from FLEX College Prep. Watch on.
Learn how to write an effective college essay with tips, examples, and feedback. Find out how to format your essay, avoid common mistakes, and showcase your personality and experiences.
Don't Repeat. If you've mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don't repeat it again in your essay. Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.
Body: The body of your college application essay should include about 1-4 paragraphs that tell your story with enough detail to include all necessary facts and information. Remember that this is your story, so portray yourself and your feelings authentically. Share your thoughts. Be vulnerable.
Here are some guidelines to help you format your essays properly: 1. Font: Choose a standard, legible font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should generally be 12-point, as it's large enough to read comfortably but not too big. 2.
Add the surname and a page number in the upper right corner of the document. The title should be centered and in title case, but not bolded, underlined, italicized, and so on. Indent the first line in the paragraph by using «Tab». To format a college essay correctly, use a double space. Make 1-inch margins on all sides.
Learn four types of college essay formats and see examples of successful essays that worked for Princeton. Find out how to use the narrative, montage, "I am..." and creative/artistic structures to showcase your personality and achievements.
Read the prompt and essay instructions thoroughly to learn how to start off a college essay. Some colleges provide guidance about formatting. If not, the best course of action is to stick with a college standard like the MLA format.
What should I write about in my college essay? Write about a topic that is meaningful to you and reflects your personality and values. Choose experiences that have shaped who you are. How long should my college essay be? Most college essays are around 500-650 words. Check the specific requirements for each college you're applying to.
Hello! Formatting your college essay can vary slightly depending on the application platform (Common App, Coalition, individual college application), but in general, there are some standard guidelines you can follow. 1. Font and size: It's best to use a legible, professional font like Times New Roman or Arial in size 11 or 12. 2. Line spacing: Use double spacing for your entire essay.
Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance. Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the ...
This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.
Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor. 1. Start Early. Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school.
Your college essay's format should be as simple as possible: Use a standard, readable font. Use 1.5 or double spacing. If attaching a file, save it as a PDF. Stick to the word count.
Revised on June 1, 2023. Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.
Here are some things that admissions officers look for in a personal essay for college. 1. Open Strong. Knowing how to start a college essay can create a strong opening paragraph that immediately captures the reader's interest. You want to make the admissions officer reading your essay curious about what you say next. 2. Show You Can Write.