Your College Essay

So here it is. You've collected good grades and stellar recommendations. You've passed the tests and written a résumé to rock the Ivy League, and now you're sitting in front of your computer to write ... the essay.

Don't panic. In fact, the essay should be your favorite part of the college application process. Why? Because this is your opportunity to present who you really are. You're not a list of grades, or extracurricular activities, or places you've worked. You're a person, and admissions offices send letters to people, not lists.

Here are some ideas to help guide you:

• One of the questions you'll probably have is why you're interested in this particular college. Don't go on and on about the college—the admissions office already knows about it. Instead, talk about why you'll be a perfect fit for the school—how you see it helping you, and how you see yourself helping it.
  
• Use social media to your advantage. By now you've heard all the horror stories of college admissions directors who found pictures of potential students getting drunk—or worse—and tossed the application then and there. But you can use social media to your advantage by making it into a sort of portfolio, showcasing photographs of your volunteer work, your art, your play, your sports. Then refer to it in your essay. Not only will they get to see the portfolio, they'll see that you're savvy about your online image.
• Write about something that is uniquely you. The admissions office has seen all the generic essays already. In particular, stay away from the story of a pilgrimage to your grandparents' country of origin, an essay on a recent natural disaster (or indeed any recent news), and how you came to understand that your Parents Were Right. Don't think about what the admissions office is looking for: think about who you are. An essay can be as intimate or all-encompassing as you choose, but your choice of subject is just as important as the way you write it.

Want some more ideas for college essays? Look into my mentoring program that will help you with this and all your other college-related questions. Together, we'll reach your goal!