7 Hints for College Essays

by Shelley Honeycutt

As we finish up our 10th college application season at College Advisors NE, we have a few hints to share when crafting a winning college essay. Over the years, we have witnessed students struggle to tell their stories and succumb to the boring, formal, or clique versions. We have also seen what a quality essay can yield in terms of college acceptance. However, a fantastic college essay cannot replace a weak transcript, but it can help you stand out. Here are a few hints to keep in mind:

1. Be ready to break all the rules! Great essays typically break a few "college essays rules." The first one is writing in an informal tone instead of a formal tone.
2. Put the time in to write well. Your essay will not be written in one session; expect to have many drafts. Typically the artistic corner is turned after the 6-8th draft in our experience. 
3. Be ready to prove your statements. You cannot just say, "this experience helped me mature" you need to provide examples. 
4. Write the essay in the first person. You can shift between tenses and use pronouns like I, me, mine, and we. Example: What I came to realize... Of course, your English teacher will not like these hints.
5. Be authentic! Most importantly, be truthful about your feelings, your struggles with maturity, and admit failures. But do not overshare.
6. Answer the thought bubbles. When reading your essay out loud, pay attention to the thought bubbles that pop-up. If these thoughts make you question whether the writer is being honest about their feelings, then you must address them in the essay somehow. 
7. Be brave enough to scrap an essay topic that is just not working for you. I know this sounds cruel, but it is for your own good. 

Lastly, we have found that great essays are never about solving world peace in your spare-time while completing your last year of high school. Great essays are typically about common experiences that the student can pull authentic lessons from and project how these revelations will impact their future while admitting a few failures along the way. Be sure to check out (and share) our short video on this topic along with essay examples.

About the Author: Shelley Honeycutt is the leading College Visionary at Pivotal College Years, a sophisticated yet affordable college planning portal for students. She also manages a private college planning company in New England, College Advisors NE. Shelley is the author of numerous articles on College Admissions, Financial Aid, College Funding, and College Debt.