In my experience, the college essay gets overcomplicated really quickly. Students feel like it has to be impressive or meaningful in some big way, and that’s usually where things start to go off track.
The essays that work best are actually pretty straightforward. They tell a story. Not a list of activities or a summary of a resume, but one moment or experience the student can walk the reader through. And they don’t try too hard. I’ve seen a lot of essays where a student takes a small challenge and tries to make it sound life-changing…and it just doesn’t land, because it ends up feeling forced.
The stronger essays don’t do that. They explain what happened and why it mattered, and they’re easy to follow, so you don’t get lost halfway through. One idea leads naturally to the next, and by the end, you understand what the student is trying to say. You also come away with a sense of where they’re headed. Not forced, just enough to know what they’re interested in or might want to explore.
For a student approaching it for the first time, the best tip is to think smaller. Instead of asking, “What’s the most impressive thing I’ve done?” it’s more helpful to ask, “What’s something I can actually explain well?” From there, the focus should be on clarity. What happened, why did it matter, and what did you take away from it? If those answers feel honest and make sense, you’re probably in a good place. The goal isn’t to sound perfect but to sound real.
Links Worth Reading
On writing real, not impressive (straight from admissions offices):
Applying to college can be exhausting. Lots of writing, lots of reflection on your academic (and personal) past. While you could apply to a long list of schools, it’s usually better to zero in on a strong few that are a good fit.
Instead of working tirelessly on 20-plus applications, try following some of these suggestions to streamline your process, and end up at a school that genuinely suits you.
1. Pick a few top choices (2–3), a few second choices (3–5), and one or two safety schools.
By mapping out a concrete 6 to 10 schools, you can give each application careful energy. You are a unique student, with unique goals and interests. There’s no need to throw applications at schools of no interest to you. It’s a waste of your time, and money.
If you want a quick way to sort schools into reach, match, and safety, BigFuture compares your GPA or test scores against each school’s middle 50%. If you want a more in-depth way to do so, consider one of our paid memberships for 1-on-1 guidance.
You want to be both realistic and considerate. Don’t just apply to schools based on common knowledge of them. Research programs, curriculums, and specific opportunities offered at schools to make sure the place you are applying genuinely has something to offer you.
2. Visit as many schools as you can.
A big variable often overlooked when applying to schools is how the location will serve you as a person, as well as a student. You want awareness of the actual area you may end up studying in. This will become important when looking into internships, and even potential job options.
Furthermore, if you already know that you thrive when you have access to the outdoors, or city life, museums, art galleries, or whatever your free time entails, make sure you can nurture those parts of yourself while in college. A campus visit shows you things a brochure can’t: the feel of the quad, a class in session, the energy of the dorms. Touring can also offer some insight into campus culture, where you can reflect on how you see yourself as an active participant in these communities. Campus tour guides are usually quite helpful for digging deeper into these sorts of topics, too.
3. Ivy Leagues aren’t everything. Look into specific programs.
Look, we know the big eight are top of many students’ minds when application season rolls around. While we aren’t here to diminish those ambitions, for students with a decent grasp on the area they want to study, it’s important to focus on specific programs. For instance, some of the country’s best nursing programs are based in colleges like Emory University in Georgia, or the University of Michigan, neither of which is an Ivy. Prioritize the best option for your education, not just prestige.
4. Research, research, research.
Your education is meant to serve you beyond the four years you attend. By finding colleges with strong alumni networks and opportunities, or even career pathways extending beyond graduation, you can zero in on the long-term benefits of a certain school.
Researching colleges, how they fit your specific goals, and how you would genuinely contribute to their mission and community also makes the writing easier. The supplemental essays were created to help schools understand applicants on a personal level, to see how a student would actually fit within the school. When you do the research, thoughtful answers to those “Why Us?” questions come more easily, with honest responses informed by what you found.
At Tribs EC, we’re here to help you find these answers and apply to colleges that genuinely excite you. Even if you’re not quite sure what major or program you want, we can help you find the schools that leave room to explore. All members receive access to our Resource Library which includes a number of helpful guides and checklists to help you through the application process. Whatever you’re working toward, we can help you get there.
The personal statement follows students through much of their lives. Sometimes it comes up for middle or high school applications, especially at private and boarding schools.
If you or your child is entering college, you may be intrigued to find out that the longer students are in undergrad, the more their classes often start to resemble grad school. Upper-level classes tend to be smaller, more discussion-based, and more focused, and in many cases, undergrads are with grad students.
Awards, prizes, and scholarships offer potential for a sparkling addition to any resume or application, as well as possible monetary rewards. More than just these tangible benefits, the process of applying is a great exercise for students pre-college who are looking to hone their writing abilities to better succeed with college applications. Many of these scholarships don’t take exponential amounts of time, just some reflection, effort, and persistence if the first one you try doesn’t result in an immediate win.
Let’s be honest, everyone has a dream school. No matter where you are in the world, you’ve likely been influenced at some point to believe there’s an “it” school. Maybe it’s the beautiful campus, the famous alumni, or the excitement of a good basketball game. Whatever the reason, most people have a favorite.
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