10 Tips for a Winning College Essay

Let the admissions office see your personality through your essay.

1. Don't "recycle" essays. Nothing will land your application in the trash faster than an essay that sounds like it has been used before.

2. Don't overextend. Don't take on too big of a topic, and don't adopt a "preachy" tone. The admissions office does not want a lecture.

3. Be yourself. Choose a topic that is meaningful to you. Speak in your own voice. Write what you feel, not what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.

4. Accentuate the positive. You can describe the negatives, but emphasize how the experience changed you (for the better) and what you learned from it.

5. Write in the Active voice. The passive voice implies that things happened to you instead of you taking charge. Example: "I have been taught many lessons about life through volunteering," should be "I have learned many lessons about life through my volunteer work."

6. Captivate your audience. Your essay should be engaging and memorable. Draw readers in with a quick, enticing introduction and give them a reason to finish your essay.

7. Ask people for input. Whether it's a teacher, counselor, friend or parent, ask someone you respect for some candid feedback. Is it confusing? Boring? Ask them to be honest, and don't be disappointed when they are.

8. Leave time for rewriting. Write a first draft and let it sit for a few days. Look for weak or dull spots, and spelling and grammatical errors. Never let your first draft be your final draft.

9. Revise, reword. Put your draft into shape through various rewrites. Read the essay aloud to find awkward sentences or problems.

10. Pursue perfection. Have your English teachers look it over. Quadruple-check the spelling. Type your essay carefully.