Personal Statements / Essays

Click here for professional college essay coaching service providers

The Objective

The objective of a college application essay is to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of who you are beyond grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. It offers an opportunity for you to present your unique personality, values, and experiences, as well as to demonstrate your writing ability.

Specifically, the essay serves the following purposes:

  1. Showcase Your Personality

The essay allows you to express your individuality and share what makes you a unique person. Admissions officers are looking to understand your character, how you think, and what motivates you.

  1. Highlight Your Personal Growth

Many college essays ask you to reflect on a challenge, experience, or achievement that has shaped who you are. Admissions officers want to see how you have grown and what you have learned from your experiences.

  1. Demonstrate Your Writing Skills

The essay provides a chance to showcase your ability to write clearly, concisely, and thoughtfully. Strong writing is important in college, so demonstrating your communication skills is critical.

  1. Explain Your Motivation and Goals

You can use the essay to share why you are interested in attending a particular college or pursuing a specific major. It gives you a chance to connect your experiences, values, and ambitions with the opportunities offered by the school.

  1. Differentiate Yourself from Other Applicants

Many applicants will have similar grades and test scores, but your essay can set you apart by highlighting aspects of your background, personality, and perspective that aren’t visible in other parts of your application.

  1. Convey Your Passion and Interests

Admissions officers want to know what excites and drives you. The essay gives you a platform to talk about your passions, whether they relate to your academic interests, hobbies, or future career aspirations.

Overall, the goal of a college application essay is to give admissions officers insight into who you are as a person and to help them envision how you might contribute to the campus community.

Essay Prompts (Examples)
(in 2024 or recent years)

QuestBridge* Personal Essay

We are interested in learning more about the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your successes. Please describe how the most influential factors and challenges in your life have shaped you into the person you are today. (800-word limit)

Note: QuestBridge is a national non-profit organization that connects high-achieving, low-income students with leading colleges and universities in the U.S. through full scholarships.
More info on QuestBridge: https://www.questbridge.org

Common App

Choose one of the following prompts. (650-word limit)

  1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
  2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
  7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Coalition App

Choose one of the following prompts. 500-650 words.

  1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  2. What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
  3. Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
  4. Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
  5. What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?
  6. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

UC Personal Insight Questions – First-year application

Choose 4 out of 8 questions (350-word limit each)

  1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?

UC Personal Insight Questions – Transfer application

Required:

Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university. (350-word limit)

Choose 3 out of 7 questions (350-word limit each)

  1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
  2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  7. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?

School-Specific Supplemental Essay Prompts (Examples)

For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the areas of study that you previously noted in the application. (200-word limit) – Columbia University

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it (300-word limit) – University of Michigan

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better (250-word limit) – Stanford University

We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise? (300-word limit) – Northwestern University

Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other campus spaces. What lessons have you learned in life thus far? What will your classmates learn from you? In short, how has your lived experience shaped you? (500-word limit) – Princeton University

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. (400-500 words) – University of Chicago

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250-word limit) – USC (University of Southern California)

Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (200-word limit) – Harvard University

Tell us about an aspect of your identity (e.g., race, gender, sexuality, religion, community, etc.) or a life experience that has shaped you as an individual and how that influenced what you’d like to pursue in college at Hopkins.  This can be a future goal or experience that is either academic, extracurricular, or social. (350-word limit) – Johns Hopkins

Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200-word limit) – Yale University

Tips for College Application Essay Writing

Writing a strong college application essay is crucial to making a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

A compelling college essay involves reflecting on your experiences, showcasing your personality, and expressing your thoughts in a clear, engaging way.

Here are some effective tips to help you craft a compelling essay:

  1. Start Early

Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write multiple drafts, and revise. Starting early reduces stress and allows you to refine your thoughts and ideas.

  1. Understand the Prompt

Carefully read the essay prompt and make sure you fully understand what it is asking. Stay focused on answering the question while using your unique voice and experiences.

  1. Brainstorm Ideas

Reflect on key experiences, moments, or values that define who you are. Think about what’s unique about your background, challenges you’ve faced, or passions that drive you. These are the stories that make your essay personal and memorable.

  1. Create an Outline

Before writing, outline the structure of your essay. A typical college essay has:

Introduction: Introduce your topic and grab the reader’s attention.

Body: Develop the main idea or story, discussing its significance and how it shaped you.

Conclusion: Reflect on what you’ve learned and how the experience or idea will influence your future.

  1. Be Authentic

Be yourself and let your genuine voice come through. Admissions officers want to learn about the real you, so avoid exaggerating or trying to sound like someone you are not. Authenticity helps you connect with the reader.

  1. Tell a Story

Engage the reader by telling a compelling story from your life. Instead of listing achievements, focus on an experience or moment that shows your character, growth, or challenges. A well-told story is memorable and can illustrate your values and perspective.

  1. Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of simply stating qualities like “I am hardworking,” use examples and anecdotes that demonstrate these traits. Show how you’ve exhibited determination, resilience, or leadership through specific actions and experiences.

  1. Highlight Personal Growth

Many essays ask about challenges or meaningful experiences. Reflect on how these experiences have shaped you, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve grown. Admissions officers are looking for personal development, maturity, and insight.

  1. Focus on a Specific Theme

Pick one specific topic or theme to focus on in your essay. Avoid trying to cover too many aspects of your life, as it can make your essay feel scattered. Deeply exploring one idea allows you to show depth and clarity.

  1. Hook the Reader Early

Start with a compelling introduction. Whether it’s a vivid anecdote, a surprising statement, or a meaningful question, your first few lines should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.

  1. Keep it Focused and Clear

Stay within the word limit and avoid unnecessary details or repetition. Be concise and get to the point, while ensuring that your writing is clear and easy to follow. Admissions officers read hundreds of essays, so make yours straightforward and impactful.

  1. Revise, Edit, and Seek Feedback

After your first draft, put the essay aside for a day or two and come back with fresh eyes. Revise for content, clarity, and tone. Then, ask a teacher, mentor, or trusted friend to review it and provide feedback.

  1. Be Positive and Forward-Looking

Even if you’re discussing challenges or difficult experiences, focus on how you overcame them and what you learned. Maintain a positive tone that reflects growth and optimism about your future.

  1. Connect to the College

If applicable, tailor part of your essay to show how your experiences or values align with the college’s programs, culture, or mission. This can demonstrate why you are a great fit for the school.

  1. End with a Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion should leave a lasting impression. Tie your essay back to the central theme and reflect on how your experiences have prepared you for college or your future goals.
By following these tips, you can craft an essay that reflects who you are, makes a personal connection with the reader, and enhances your overall application.

College Essay Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some do’s and don’ts to help guide you through writing a strong college application essay:

Do’s:

Do Be Yourself.

– Write in your authentic voice. The admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, so let your personality and values shine through.

Do Answer the Prompt.

– Make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt or question. Stay focused on the topic and make sure your story is relevant to the question being asked.

Do Show Personal Growth.

– Focus on how your experiences have shaped you, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve grown. Reflection is key to making your essay impactful.

Do Start with a Strong Hook.

– Capture the reader’s attention right from the beginning with a compelling introduction. An engaging hook will make them want to continue reading.

Do Use Specific Examples.

– Use specific anecdotes and details to illustrate your points rather than making vague statements. Show how you demonstrated certain qualities or overcame challenges.

Do Be Concise.

– Stay within the word limit and be concise. Every word should contribute to the overall message or theme of the essay.

Do Proofread.

– Carefully proofread your essay for grammatical errors and clarity. A well-polished essay demonstrates attention to detail and care.

Do Get Feedback.

– Ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to review your essay and provide feedback. They can offer valuable insights on clarity, tone, and overall impact.

Do Highlight Your Strengths.

– Focus on your positive qualities, strengths, and potential. Even if you’re discussing challenges, frame them as learning experiences and show how they’ve contributed to your growth.

Do Reflect on Your Future.

– Tie your experiences to your future goals and how they have prepared you for college or your intended field of study.

Don’ts:

Don’t Repeat Your Resume.

– Avoid listing achievements or extracurricular activities. Your essay should provide new insights into who you are, not reiterate information found elsewhere in your application.

Don’t Use Clichés.

– Steer clear of overused phrases like “I want to make the world a better place” or “I learned the value of hard work.” Make your essay personal and original.

Don’t Try to Impress with Big Words.

– Don’t use overly complex vocabulary or academic jargon to sound smarter. It can make your essay sound unnatural. Stick to clear, concise language.

Don’t Write About Controversial Topics.

– Avoid sensitive or controversial subjects like politics, religion, or anything that could alienate the reader unless it’s deeply personal and handled with care.

Don’t Focus on Others Too Much.

– The essay should focus on you. While it’s fine to mention other people in your story, make sure the main focus is on your own experiences, thoughts, and growth.

Don’t Be Negative.

– Even if you’re writing about a challenge or difficulty, focus on the positive outcomes and lessons learned. Avoid a tone of complaining or blaming others.

Don’t Try to Be Someone You’re Not.

– Don’t write what you think admissions officers want to hear. Stay true to your own voice and values.

Don’t Ignore the Instructions.

– Follow the guidelines and word limit. Ignoring instructions can reflect poorly on your ability to follow directions.

Don’t Submit Without Editing.

– Don’t submit your first draft. Always take time to revise, edit, and improve your essay for clarity, structure, and impact.

Don’t Use Humor Excessively.

– While light humor can be effective, be cautious. What you find funny might not translate well to the admissions officer, so use humor sparingly and appropriately.

College Essay Templates

While there’s no one-size-fits-all template for a college application essay, having a general structure to guide you can help ensure your essay is well-organized and impactful.

Here are some customizable templates based on common essay types:

1. Personal Narrative Essay Template

This template works well when you’re telling a story or recounting a meaningful experience.

Introduction:

Start with a hook: an engaging opening that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be an anecdote, quote, or a vivid description.
Introduce the experience or event you’re writing about.
End with a thesis statement: a sentence that indicates the main theme or lesson you’ll explore in the essay.

Body Paragraph 1:

Describe the beginning of your experience.
Provide background information: What was happening in your life at that time? What led up to the event?
Include specific details and sensory descriptions to make the experience come alive.

Body Paragraph 2:

Focus on the turning point or main event of your story.
Discuss the emotions and thoughts you had during this time.
Show how this moment was meaningful to you, perhaps through an internal or external conflict.

Body Paragraph 3:

Reflect on the outcome or resolution of the experience.
Highlight what you learned from the experience and how it shaped you.
Tie this learning back to your personal growth or goals.

Conclusion:

Reinforce the main message or lesson from your story.
Explain how this experience has influenced your future goals or how you approach life now.
End with a forward-looking statement that reflects your aspirations or readiness for college.

2. Overcoming a Challenge Essay Template

Use this template to write about a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.

Introduction:

Begin with a vivid description of the challenge.
Give some context about the challenge and why it was significant.
Introduce the main lesson or theme that the essay will focus on.

Body Paragraph 1:

Describe the specific challenge in more detail.
Explain how it impacted your life or goals at the time.
Include specific details that demonstrate the difficulty you faced.

Body Paragraph 2:

Describe the steps you took to overcome the challenge.
Focus on your mindset and the actions you took to resolve the situation.
Share any obstacles or setbacks you encountered during this process.

Body Paragraph 3:

Reflect on what you learned from overcoming the challenge.
Highlight any skills or strengths you gained (resilience, perseverance, adaptability).
Explain how this experience has prepared you for future challenges or how it has shaped your perspective.

Conclusion:

Reiterate the main lesson or takeaway from the challenge.
Connect this lesson to your future aspirations or readiness for college.
End with a positive, forward-looking statement about your goals.

3. Why This College Essay Template

This essay is used to explain why you want to attend a particular college.

Introduction:

Start with a personal connection to the college (e.g., a campus visit, conversation with a student, or program that excites you).
Briefly mention what drew you to the school in the first place.
Include a thesis statement about why this college is the right fit for you.

Body Paragraph 1:

Focus on academic reasons: specific programs, classes, or professors that interest you.
Explain how these programs align with your academic goals or future career plans.
Mention any research or projects you want to engage in at the school.

Body Paragraph 2:

Discuss the community aspect: clubs, extracurriculars, or campus culture that appeal to you.
Explain how you would contribute to these activities and why they resonate with you.
Highlight any unique features of the school that align with your values or interests.

Body Paragraph 3:

Mention any personal connections or visits to the campus (if applicable) that influenced your decision.
Discuss how the school’s location or resources will support your personal growth and success.
Reinforce how the college’s mission or culture aligns with your goals.

Conclusion:

Summarize your key reasons for wanting to attend the school.
Emphasize how you would be a good fit for the campus and contribute to its community.
End with a forward-looking statement about your excitement for future opportunities at the college.

4. Academic/Career Goals Essay Template

This template helps you discuss your career goals or academic passions in-depth.

Introduction:

Open with a personal anecdote or moment that sparked your interest in the subject or career.
Give a brief overview of your academic or professional goals.
Include a thesis that explains how your experiences and interests have shaped your ambitions.

Body Paragraph 1:

Discuss your early experiences with the subject or field.
Mention any significant moments or influences that sparked your passion.
Explain how these experiences helped you identify your strengths or skills in the area.

Body Paragraph 2:

Describe your current involvement in the field (courses, projects, internships, etc.).
Highlight specific skills or knowledge you’ve gained and how they’ve reinforced your goals.
Include examples of any challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve grown from them.

Body Paragraph 3:

Outline your future goals: what you hope to achieve in the field or profession.
Explain how attending college and studying this subject will help you reach your goals.
Mention specific programs, classes, or opportunities the college offers that will support your path.

Conclusion:

Summarize your passion for the subject and how it’s connected to your future aspirations.
Reiterate how the college’s programs align with your academic and career objectives.
End with an optimistic statement about your future success in the field.

College Essay Structures

College application essays are often most effective when structured in a clear, engaging, and personal way.
Here are some common college essay structures that can help you organize your thoughts and tell your story effectively:

1. Chronological Structure

This structure is useful for storytelling, especially when recounting a personal experience or a series of events over time. It follows a natural, time-based progression.

Introduction: Start with a hook and introduce the event or experience.

Body Paragraph 1: Describe the beginning or background of the story.

Body Paragraph 2: Discuss the main event or turning point.

Body Paragraph 3: Reflect on the outcome and what you learned.

Conclusion: Summarize the key lesson and how it has shaped your future goals.

Best for:

Essays that involve overcoming challenges, personal growth, or meaningful experiences.
Stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

2. Conflict and Resolution Structure

This is a focused, problem-solving structure that emphasizes a challenge you faced, how you addressed it, and what you learned. It highlights growth and resilience.

Introduction: Introduce the problem or challenge.

Body Paragraph 1: Describe the challenge in detail and its impact on you.

Body Paragraph 2: Explain how you addressed or overcame the challenge.

Body Paragraph 3: Reflect on the lessons learned and personal growth.

Conclusion: Tie the lessons to your future goals and aspirations.

Best for:

Essays about adversity, resilience, or overcoming obstacles.
Situations where you can show personal development.

3. The “Three-Part Journey” Structure

This structure is often used to show progression or transformation over time. It works well if you’re describing how you’ve evolved in stages due to a particular experience.

Introduction: Introduce the situation or initial problem.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss how you were at the start of the journey (Phase 1).

Body Paragraph 2: Describe the middle part, where you faced challenges or realizations (Phase 2).

Body Paragraph 3: Explain the final stage, where you achieved growth or resolution (Phase 3).

Conclusion: Reflect on the entire journey and how it has shaped you.

Best for:

Essays about personal transformation, a multi-step challenge, or long-term development.
Topics where growth happened in clear stages.

4. Circular or Full-Circle Structure

In this structure, you start with an anecdote or theme, develop it throughout the essay, and return to it in the conclusion. This creates a satisfying sense of closure.

Introduction: Start with an engaging anecdote or reflection.

Body Paragraph 1: Expand on the anecdote, explaining the background or significance.

Body Paragraph 2: Transition into the main story, challenge, or realization.

Body Paragraph 3: Reflect on the lesson learned and personal growth.

Conclusion: Bring the essay full-circle by revisiting the anecdote or theme from the introduction in a new, deeper context.

Best for:

Essays where the starting point has deeper meaning by the end.
Topics that involve reflection or a change in perspective.

5. Compare and Contrast (“Before and After”) Structure

This structure works well if you want to show how you’ve changed or evolved by comparing two points in your life.

Introduction: Introduce the two contrasting periods, ideas, or experiences.

Body Paragraph 1: Describe the first period or experience.

Body Paragraph 2: Describe the second period or experience, focusing on how it contrasts with the first.

Body Paragraph 3: Reflect on the comparison, explaining how the change or contrast has shaped you.

Conclusion: Summarize the key differences and their impact on your growth or future goals.

Best for:

Essays about growth, changes in perspective, or shifts in identity.
Situations where you want to highlight a “before and after” transformation.

6. Thematic Structure

Instead of focusing on a single event, this structure ties together multiple experiences around a central theme, allowing you to explore how different aspects of your life connect.

Introduction: Introduce the central theme or idea that will link your experiences.

Body Paragraph 1: Discuss an experience related to the theme.

Body Paragraph 2: Explore another experience that connects to the same theme.

Body Paragraph 3: Provide a final example or reflection that ties the theme together.

Conclusion: Summarize the importance of the theme and how it connects to your future.

Best for:

Essays that revolve around a core value, passion, or aspect of identity.
Topics that are too broad for a single story but can be unified through a central idea.

7. Montage Structure

In the montage structure, you combine several unrelated stories or experiences into one essay to highlight different facets of your personality or identity.

Introduction: Open with a central theme or idea that ties your stories together.

Body Paragraph 1: Present one short story or experience that illustrates a part of you.

Body Paragraph 2: Share another story or experience, focusing on a different aspect of your personality.

Body Paragraph 3: Continue adding short vignettes that show various sides of your identity.

Conclusion: Tie all the stories together and reflect on how they represent who you are as a whole.

Best for:

Essays where multiple experiences or interests define you.
Applicants with diverse passions or talents that don’t fit into a single narrative.

8. “Future-Backward” Structure

This approach works well for essays about your goals and ambitions. You start by describing your future aspirations, then work backward to explain how your past experiences have prepared you.

Introduction: Begin with your future goals and where you see yourself in the long term.

Body Paragraph 1: Describe how a past experience relates to your future aspirations.

Body Paragraph 2: Highlight another experience that has prepared you for your goals.

Body Paragraph 3: Discuss any additional steps you’ve taken to get closer to your future ambitions.

Conclusion: Reaffirm your goals and how your experiences have positioned you to achieve them.

Best for:

Essays focused on career goals or academic passions.
Applicants who want to show a clear trajectory toward their future.