“What are your tips for college admissions essays?”
Here is what 24 thought leaders had to say.
Crafting an engaging college admissions essay can be a golden opportunity to make a personal connection with the admissions committee. The key is to share a story only you can tell, whether it’s an experience that shaped you, a challenge you’ve overcome, or what inspires your academic passions. Use vivid details and a conversational tone to bring your narrative to life and help the reader walk a mile in your shoes. Focus on being authentic rather than what you think the admissions officers want to hear, as this authenticity resonates more than a perfectly polished image.
In your writing, it’s beneficial to weave in your aspirations and how the college fits into these plans, subtly highlighting why you are a great match for their community. Keeping your essay clear and well-organized is crucial; have someone else review it to catch errors and ensure it flows well. Reflect on what your essay says about you and whether it presents the most compelling version of your story. Remember that your essay is a chance to speak directly to the admissions committee, so make your words count and leave them with a memorable impression of who you are.
Alex Cornici, Writer, Insuranks
Not every story has to be warm. A well-written essay about an awkward dinner, an argument, or a cultural clash can jolt the reader into remembering your piece – just don’t resolve it too cleanly.
Let the tension sit for a moment, and trust your reader to sit with it too. That unease, when crafted with care, can reflect maturity and honesty more than a tidy conclusion.
Highlight the sensory discomfort – the clink of silverware during silence, the heartbeat in your ears, the glance you avoided. These are the kinds of moments that make admissions officers pause and reread a line.
Adrian Iorga, Founder, 617 Boston Movers
The most important tip I can give for a college admissions essay is to start it early. When you start early, you free yourself of the pressure of a looming deadline and can focus a lot better on what you need to write instead of writing to simply get the job done. Starting early also allows one to make the most of their time and review the work that they’re doing. When you review your work in a timely fashion, not only can you proofread it, but you can also make edits. Sometimes small changes can add up to a larger, more well-defined experience.
Aqsa Tabassam, Sales & Marketing Manager, SoPicks
Include a mundane detail no one would fake – those tiny, oddly specific memories that only you could write. Think about the chipped tile in your school’s hallway you used to avoid, or how your hands always smelled like metal after robotics club.
These aren’t just filler; they prove you were there, living it, not crafting a generic highlight reel. Admissions readers wade through thousands of essays that feel too polished or too broad. One small, honest detail can anchor your story and make the whole piece feel real. Authenticity lives in the little things most people overlook.
Chris Aubeeluck, Head of Sales and Marketing, Osbornes Law
Don’t lose sight of the question. College essay prompts are meant to reveal something about you, and if you fall into the trap of trying to impress the reader with everything you’ve done, then you’ll miss the mark.
If the prompt asks you to write about a failure, don’t turn the failure into a success just for the sake of looking good. Focus on what’s being asked. Stick to what’s being asked. Read the question carefully. Then read it again.
Make sure every paragraph you write brings you closer to answering it. Clarity and relevance are far more powerful than trying to squeeze in a highlight reel.
Harry Morton, Founder, Lower Street
When it comes to college admissions essays, the biggest tip I give students is to stop trying to impress and start trying to connect. Admissions officers read thousands of essays, and the ones that stand out aren’t always the most polished – they’re the most personal. One strong story, told honestly, can carry more weight than a list of accomplishments.
I always recommend that students focus on a moment of growth or a challenge that changed their perspective. But it’s not just about what happened – it’s about how they reflect on it. That reflection is where their voice and values come through. And honestly, authenticity wins every time. You can tell immediately when a student is writing what they think the committee wants to hear versus when they’re sharing something real.
Finally, editing is key. A great essay usually goes through several rounds of revision. I always say: write from the heart first, then sharpen with your head.
Peter Reagan, Financial Market Strategist, Birch Gold Group
When I applied to the University of Texas at Arlington, I knew I had to stand out from thousands of applicants. My tip – make your story personal, but purposeful. Colleges don’t merely want to know what you did, they want to know why it mattered and what it taught you about yourself. You want authentic, detailed examples that demonstrate your values, hurdles you’ve overcome and what you learned. Steer clear of cliches such as “I want to help people” unless you can support it with a powerful narrative. Consider your essay to be a conversation where you’re telling them what you’re really like outside of your grades and test scores.
One of the most effective techniques I employed was to choose stronger verbs – replacing vague or passive phrases with strong verbs and precise language that demonstrated initiative and impact. For example, instead of “I assisted with a fundraiser,” I wrote, “I coordinated a local fundraiser that netted $2,500 for hurricane relief.” Like what I’ve said, admissions officers plow through hundreds of essays a week, so the sharpness, clarity, and memorability of your essay makes all the difference!
Aaron Whittaker, VP of Demand Generation & Marketing, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency
It’s easy to list achievements, but a powerful essay explores why those achievements matter to you. Instead of simply stating you volunteered or led a project, explain the deeper motivations behind your actions – what inspired you, what values you learned, and how it shaped your perspective. This gives your essay a reflective and thoughtful quality that sets you apart.
Ashot Nanayan, CEO and Founder I Digital Marketing Expert, DWI
Avoid controversial topics at all cost, no matter how strongly you think they reflect your personality or beliefs. Admissions officers are reading thousands of essays under tight timeframes. You don’t know who’s on the other side of that desk, what their experiences are, or how they might respond to sensitive themes. Even if your point is valid, the risk of it being misunderstood or polarizing is too high. It pulls attention away from your strengths and into territory you can’t control.
When I applied, I had originally drafted an essay around free speech and the pressure to self-censor in classrooms. It was something I had experienced and thought I could write about honestly. However, after reading it again, the tone came across as too heavy and open to misinterpretation. I scrapped the whole thing and started over. I ended up writing about a group project that fell apart midway through the semester, and how I had to pull together a completely new plan under deadline. It showed problem-solving, accountability, and how I handle pressure.
Loris Petro, Marketing Manager, Kratom Earth
When I applied to university, I rewrote my essay three times because it kept sounding fake. Too polished, too stiff. I finally scrapped the whole thing and just wrote it like I was texting a friend about something that changed me. That version landed. I didn’t use fancy language – I just told the truth like I meant it.
If there’s one thing that helped, it was treating the essay like a conversation. Don’t try to impress – try to connect. You’re not writing for a textbook, you’re writing for a person who reads hundreds of these a week. Talk to them. Make them feel something. That’s how you stand out.
James McNally, Managing Director, SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire]
Skip the polished version of yourself and just be real. That’s what actually makes someone want to keep reading. I remember a kid writing about replacing a rotted fence in the middle of a Texas summer. It was a simple story that showed grit better than a list of awards. You’re not writing a resume. You’re giving them a quick window into how you think.
Stick to details only you could write. If your essay could belong to five other people, it’s not specific enough. Talk about the busted drone you stayed up fixing or translating for your parents when no one else could. You don’t need a big lesson. Just a true moment that shows what you’re made of.
Johannes Hock, President, Artificial Grass Pros
Write a line so specific it couldn’t belong to anyone else. A sentence like “I’ve rewatched “Hidden Figures” 17 times just to feel Katherine’s pen stroke” doesn’t just tell us what you love – it shows obsession, memory, and emotion in one breath.
The goal is to anchor your story in details that no AI could invent and no other applicant could fake. Think of the book you’ve read until the pages curled, the lunch you made every Wednesday in seventh grade, or the song you play before every math test. These small, oddly-shaped memories say more than polished reflections ever could.
Specificity doesn’t limit you – it frees you to sound like yourself, not a brochure. It’s the difference between “I work hard” and “I once rewrote a code loop on my birthday cake box, just to see if I could.”
Peter Čuček, Owner, Tuuli
When I wrote my college essay, I opened with the sentence: “I once lost a debate by confusing Aristotle with a salad.” It wasn’t planned – it just happened to be the memory I couldn’t stop laughing about. But that odd little hook made the whole thing flow. The admissions counselor later told me it was one of the few essays she read twice.
So here’s my one tip: start with a weird detail. Something small and personal that no one else would think to write. It sets your tone, makes you memorable, and helps you avoid sounding like every other applicant listing achievements. Weird = human, and human is what sticks.
Danilo Miranda, Managing Director, Presenteverso
When it comes to college admissions essays, my top tips are:
1. Be authentic. Colleges want to know who you truly are, so avoid writing what you think they want to hear. Share a personal story that reflects your real experiences and growth.
2. Be specific. Instead of saying “I’m a leader,” give a concrete example of how you led a project or faced a challenge. Specifics make your essay stand out and feel genuine.
3. Revise carefully. Have someone else review your essay for clarity and feedback. A fresh perspective can help ensure your message comes across clearly.
Tracie Crites, Chief Marketing Officer, HEAVY Equipment Appraisal
Ask a question you never answer – one that lingers in the reader’s mind.
Something like “Why does my grandmother talk to her plants, but not to me?” or “What do ants know about grief?” Questions like these spark curiosity and invite the reader into your world without needing a tidy conclusion.
Let the essay wander through stories, moments, and reflections that circle the question rather than solve it. This technique gives your writing a natural, human rhythm, mirroring how real thought works. It also signals that you’re comfortable sitting with complexity, which colleges value deeply.
A clean moral can feel forced, but a well-crafted question leaves a trail that admissions officers will remember. Curiosity is more memorable than certainty.
When it comes to college admissions, the essay is probably one of the most important factors in getting in. Your GPA, ACT, and SAT scores all do matter, but the essay is basically your branding of yourself and why the university you’re applying for would even remotely consider wanting to take you on board. The best tip I can give is to write a good story that is all about you. College admission officers want to see one thing, and that’s your journey. What were your struggles getting to this point, what hoops did you have to jump through, and even how your own failures came to shape your experiences. The more soul the essay has, the better.
David Magnani, Managing Partner, M&A Executive Search
Let the first draft be a letter to one person you trust. Picture telling your story to someone who knows your heart – a grandparent, a mentor, or even your future self. This helps strip away the stiff, over-polished tone and replaces it with honesty and warmth. Once the story feels real on the page, it becomes much easier to shape it into something compelling for admissions. Readers can tell when a story is personal, and that connection always stands out.
Adam Young, CEO & Founder, Event Tickets Center
When it comes to writing college admissions essays, my biggest tip is to be yourself and let your authentic voice shine through. Admissions officers want to get to know who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Start by brainstorming moments in your life that were meaningful or helped shape who you are today. Pick a story or experience that feels personal to you and use that as the foundation for your essay.
Focus on showing, not just telling. For example, instead of saying you are hardworking, share a moment that demonstrated your dedication; maybe staying up late to complete a project or overcoming a big challenge. Keep your language simple and clear, but make sure your personality comes through. Also, don’t worry about trying to sound perfect or overly formal; it’s okay to sound like yourself.
Finally, don’t rush the process. Give yourself time to write multiple drafts and ask someone you trust to give honest feedback. Editing is just as important as writing. The goal is to have a finished essay that feels true to you and leaves the admissions team with a sense of who you are and what matters to you.
Kristie Tse, Psychotherapist | Mental Health Expert | Founder, Uncover Mental Health Counseling
Write from a specific sensory angle to bring your story alive in a way most essays miss. Root your narrative in a scent, a sound, or a texture that shaped your experience. Maybe your love for engineering began with the warm scent of solder in your dad’s garage, or your debate career echoes in the sharp crack of a gavel.
Sensory storytelling makes the moment feel real and memorable. It slows the writing down and encourages thoughtful, personal detail. Readers connect through what they can imagine experiencing themselves – like the scent of rain or the feel of chalk dust on fingers. If your essay can create that kind of scene, it leaves a lasting mark.
End with a line you’d tattoo – metaphorically speaking, of course. The final sentence should linger long after the essay ends, something quotable that captures voice, growth, and purpose. It’s worth writing the full draft first, then carefully shaping a closer that feels like a signature.
The goal isn’t to deliver a grand conclusion, but to leave a clear, memorable imprint. Reading the last line out loud can help – if it sparks a pause or resonates emotionally, it’s probably strong.
One example: “Somewhere between the quiet library shelves and my grandmother’s kitchen, I found my reason to speak up.” Lines like that tend to stay with readers, and sometimes make all the difference.
Pick a unique angle for your college admissions essay if you want to stand out in a pile of applications. Most essays follow the same rhythm, such as sports, volunteer work, or family hardship, and after a while, they start to sound alike. What makes an essay actually work is when it shows something specific about how you think, not just what you’ve done.
When I applied, I didn’t write about awards or leadership. I wrote about how I used to collect spare change from vending machines and organize the coins. I grouped them by year, looked for printing errors, and kept track of which machines gave the most variety. That habit taught me to notice small details and create structure out of scattered pieces.
The point is, your essay should make someone understand how your brain works. You don’t need a dramatic story. You need one that belongs to you. Admissions officers want to know how you’ll think once you’re on campus, not just how you performed before it. If you can show that through something small and honest, you’re doing it right.
Robbin Schuchmann, Co-founder / SEO Specialist, EOR Overview
Start by telling a story that highlights your unique perspective or experience. Admissions officers read countless essays, so make yours memorable by being authentic and personal. Dive into a moment that shaped your ambitions or character, and don’t shy away from showing vulnerability or growth. This isn’t just about listing achievements; it’s about revealing who you are beyond the grades and scores.
Keep your narrative focused and concise. Every sentence should serve a purpose, either advancing your story or providing insight into your personality. Avoid cliches and generic statements. Instead, use specific details and vivid imagery to paint a picture of your journey. Finally, ensure your essay reflects your voice; it should sound like you, not a thesaurus. Proofread for clarity and grammar, but don’t over-edit to the point of losing your natural tone.
Jose Gomez, Founder & CTO, Evinex
One of my favorite tips for writing a standout college admissions essay is using what I call a “failure loop.” Instead of wrapping your story in a perfect bow, show how the failure still shapes you. Maybe you didn’t win the science fair, but you stayed curious and now run a tutoring club for younger students.
That kind of unresolved ending feels honest and reflective – like you’re still growing. It leaves the reader with the sense that your story isn’t finished, and that’s a powerful way to stand out.
Grant Aldrich, CEO, Preppy
Tell the story backwards. Start with “I just got into my dream school,” and walk the reader back through the dominoes that fell to get you there. It builds tension and feels fresh.
Instead of saving the big moment for the end, lead with it and invite the reader to explore how it all unfolded. This structure makes your essay feel more like a short film than a resume summary. It also gives you the chance to reflect on how each past decision or setback shaped the version of you who earned that acceptance letter.
Just be sure to keep your voice honest and specific – admissions officers want to know the “you” behind the timeline.
Samuel Charmetant, Founder, ArtMajeur by YourArt
