By Barbara Connolly For MediaNews Group – Nov 2, 2020

It’s time to sit down and write your college essays. It seemed simple in your head: all you have to do is write about yourself.

Now that you are sitting in front of your computer, you’re having trouble turning your ideas into that killer essay that will get you where you want to be.

You aren’t alone in this struggle. Most students probably haven’t had many opportunities to write about themselves, and it’s harder than it seems. With the coronavirus pandemic causing many colleges to go test-optional, there’s extra weight on your essay to impress the admissions office and really get your foot in the door. But no need to fret: here are some tips and tricks to get you writing that essay that will get you in.

Write about what you love

If you choose to write about something you genuinely care about, your personality and passion will come across in the essay. It’s very hard to make your reader connect to something that even you yourself don’t feel strongly about, and you risk having an essay that you think is unique, but really doesn’t highlight what makes you special. Read those Common App prompts again and pick the one that excites you the most. Remember, the goal of the personal essay is to get your reader to know you.

Don’t be afraid of the first draft

So often the hardest thing about a writing assignment is getting started, and college essays are no different. The blank page is very intimidating, but you can get over that hump by shifting your expectations of what your first attempt will look like. Rough drafts are supposed to be just that — rough.

Don’t be discouraged if you feel that your essay isn’t turning out like you’ve planned; instead just try to get all of your ideas onto the page. Don’t worry about structure or word count at this point — once you get your thoughts written down in front of you, it’s much easier to figure out how to edit to get your essays to say what you want.

Be prepared to write multiple drafts

Avoid sending that last-minute essay by planning out a schedule that gives you time to write and edit multiple drafts. No essay is perfect the first time, no matter how talented or experienced a writer is. Giving yourself the time to write a second and third draft also gives you a chance to refine your word choice, add detail, and fine-tune your conclusion.

When you sit down to write your second draft, try this tip for consistent editing: rewrite the essay totally from a blank page while your rough draft is nearby to consult. This prevents contradictions that may arise from piecemeal editing and gets you that much closer to your final draft.

You don’t need a once-in-a-lifetime experience to impress the admissions office. Any everyday story can be compelling if you write about it with an attention to detail. Describe the people you are writing about, and include your emotions during the experience.

Think about sensory details and add figurative language. Make your reader feel like they are with you on the soccer field during that big game. Go through your draft and look for clichés. Switch out abstract words such as “passion” and “society” with more evocative words, like “curious” and “people.” Avoid generalizations such as writing that you “always” or “never” do something.

Spend some extra time on a strong opening

That first sentence is your chance to grab the reader’s attention and get them invested in your essay. You don’t want to leave your first attempt as your opening. As you edit your rough draft, you will probably have a better idea of what you are writing about, so you will need to adapt your first sentence to reflect this. Tease your reader with exciting details from your essay — just as a TV commercial would — or hint at the personal growth your essay will describe. You can even look through your draft for strong sentences that can be moved up to fill that opening spot.

Avoid repetition

Chances are you are working under a strict word limit. For the Common App essay, you only have 650 words to tell your story — so it is critical that you use every sentence to move the essay forward. Look through your draft and delete any phrases or sentences that repeat ideas you have already expressed. Take that space and use it to complete your thoughts, add nuance, or beef up your essay’s conclusion.

Follow these tips, and you can find yourself moving along to a polished final draft, ready to blow away your admissions reader and help you get in!

Barbara Connolly, JD, is the founder and director of Birmingham-based College Choice Counseling, and a certified educational planner. She can be reached at barbara@collegecc.com.