Tips for Writing a Standout College Application Essay

Of all the aspects of applying to colleges, the college application essay stands out as one of the more difficult — and important — parts. When test scores and other criteria are comparable among applicants, college admission specialists turn to the essay to determine the best matches for the institution. Here are some tips to help develop standout essays.

Start with a Strong Foundation

Your college application essay should be a reflection of you and your academic achievements, dreams, and strengths.  Take some time to really think about what sets you apart from others, and how that may influence your educational goals. Ask yourself what you hope to gain from the institution and what you have to offer in return. Do you have any strengths in a particular subject? How can you use those strengths? 

Cultivating a strong foundation for your essay, one that is uniquely you, will help your essay stand out among the hundreds, or even thousands of other applicants. 

Reach Out to Your Resources 

You have a plethora of resources at your disposal, and using them can give you that extra leg up over the other applicants. These resources may include:

• High School Teachers
• Friends
• Family
• Co-workers
• Local Special Interest Groups
• Industry Experts
• Print and Online Material 

It’s important to develop a clear understanding of your essay’s topic and how that ties into you as a student and young adult. Going the extra mile by using these valuable resources will be reflected in your essay, letting your essay shine through the hundreds of other generic essays.

Write and Revise and Repeat

It may be tempting to wait until the last minute to write your essay, or to simply write the essay quickly and call it done. However, for your college application essay to really stand out, you need to start early, revise often, and polish it to a shine. Your essay is a reflection of you as a student and as a young adult, and as such, should be the very best that you can do, free from technical errors.

Additional Tips for College Application Essays 

• If a topic isn’t provided, pick one that you feel strongly about, have experience in, or have studied in the past. 
• Don’t let yourself fall victim to academic dishonesty before you even start, and avoid essay writing services and plagiarism at all costs.
• Get honest feedback from family, friends, and respected teachers, and consider their suggestions.
• Find out what your friends are writing about and write on a different topic.
• Get additional application coaching from experienced professionals, such as the dedicated staff at A Plus Program’s College Consultation program. 

For more information about application writing and tutoring services, please read our faqs or contact the expert team at A Plus Program today.