In continuation with our “you ask, we answer series,” we’re shelling out a step-by-step guide for writing the coolest college essay ever:
Stop googling “best common app essays” and “common app essay examples.” Unless you’re reading one of our guides, of which there are many, you’re probably going to read a bunch of essays about sports, community service, and leadership opportunities. If you’re reading an essay online, that means it’s been done before. Killer college essays are new, not spruced-up renditions of personal statements you found on Reddit.
Open up a blank Google document, a word document, or grab a pen and paper if you’re old school. Write down everything that might be a good idea.
Take a long hard look at your activities section and cross-reference it with your “maybe” list from step #2. If there’s any overlap, cross those items off immediately. We know that you worked hard and have been pursuing your extracurricular activities for almost four years. But you only have a few chances to explain who you are to your dream college, so you can’t double down on anything. They don’t need to see that you’re on the robotics team in your activities section, and then read about what doing robotics means to you in your common app essay. It’s time to think of something brand new.
Use our blog to familiarize yourself with what a common app essay should accomplish. It’s not about your grades, your performance in high school, your test scores, or other numerical metrics. It’s not a space to brag about how smart you are, or how many teams you’re on. It’s a 650-word piece of creative non-fiction that explains your personality, how you think, and what’s it’s like to hang out with you.
This is an old trick that rarely fails: text your friends and family and ask them to describe you in a few adjectives or phrases. Type (or write) your findings into your brainstorming document from step #2.
Read over everything. Then go on a run, or walk if you’re channeling leisurely vibes. Play with your pet. Don’t ask your parents what you should write about. Watch your favorite show and relax!
Come back to the document. We’re willing to bet you’ve been thinking about those words and phrases. Cross off the ones that don’t feel genuine, and then think about what quality you want to show. Are you dependable? Do you cook your family dinner every night? Are you intellectually curious? Are you good and level-headed in tough situations? Think about this for a while!
Create a top three list: the three adjectives that make you feel good. The words you want to show (not tell) those who will soon be reading your essay.
Brainstorm stories that exemplify those traits. Here is where things get tricky: you don’t need to think of the biggest story possible. Think about the everyday occurrences, the mundane even. Go small. Why? Colleges want to know what you’re like on a random Tuesday, not once in a blue moon. If you’re truly curious, you don’t need to be on vacation to show that.
Keep brainstorming until you’ve thought of at least five stories. If you’re stuck, you might be brainstorming for the wrong characteristic. This step should take quite a bit of time, don’t marry an idea until you’ve thought about it for a few days.
Try writing out a story. Keep this in mind: at its core, your common app essay should read as a story with a beginning, middle, and end that speaks to one of your personality traits. You can have some fun with the structure later, but not until you’ve got the basics down.
Surprise! That first story was just a fun way to shake off the cobwebs. Write another story. Then one more. These don’t need to be at word count, and grammar doesn’t count here. You’re just getting in the swing of drafting things out.
Read over everything you’ve got then take another break. Think about how the writing process feels so far. Don’t give up too easily, but don’t force an idea that doesn’t work.
Decide which story you’re going to go with, and flip everything on its head. Try writing it backwards, in poetry, in the form of a play, consider a triple vignette structure. At this point, you can start to get creative. Play around and expect for things not to work. Prepare yourself for it to feel weird and like you’re not getting anywhere. This is part of the writing process!
Once you’ve got a rough draft that you only partially hate, take another little break. Close the computer and go on another walk. Don’t show it to your friends who are no better qualified to write than you are. You are the only person on earth that is qualified to write an essay that is strictly about yourself.
Finish the rough draft and print it out. Yes, a hard copy.
Edit it with a pen and paper, then type is back into the Google doc. Take this rendition through several rounds of edits until you’re sure that it’s perfect.
Not happy with where you ended up? Go back to step #1 and start all over. You can also read some of our tips here, here, here, and here.
Now, let’s talk about a timeline that makes sense. When working with TKG clients, we aim to have the common app essay finished no later than August 1st. This is because that’s when the supplements come out, and it’s best to have your college essay done before you start those. We recommend dedicating a few months this summer to getting your common app essay done. If you’re super busy this summer, start now. Keep August 1st in mind as you create a schedule that works for you. You cannot write this essay in one day – so start sooner than you think you need to. And remember, the common app essay is about your personality. The supplements are where you’ll flex on ‘em about how studious you’ll be as a college student.
Get in touch with us here if have no idea where to start, we’d love to help.