Writing a standout college essay is crucial to securing admission to your dream schools. It’s your ultimate chance to shine and distinguish yourself from millions of other applicants. While the college application process can feel thrilling and overwhelming, your essay offers a unique opportunity to showcase your individuality and make a lasting impression.
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Steps to Make Your College Essay Stand Out
- Your first step is to figure out an original angle to tackle each prompt.
- The next step is to combine two of your activities or interests to build your college essay to lend an original spin.
- Finally, spend time with Google and research scholarly articles to deepen your reflection and reveal your analytical thinking.
This will grab the attention of each of your readers.
The Challenge of Finding a Unique Topic
Discovering topics that are unique to you can be difficult, but this step is essential. An analytical approach that showcases your curiosity and personal growth will resonate with admissions committees.
The final step is you create a college essay, and test scores are only one element. Still, they will not give you the personality or diversity to accompany your application.
We’re aiming to stand out in a sea of applicants truly. But how do you write an essay that grabs the admissions committee’s attention? The key lies in finding a unique topic and angle—entirely your own.
4 Tips to Write a Standout College Essay for Admissions
1. Start with a Truly Unique Topic
The first step in writing a standout college essay is choosing a personal and unique topic. Avoid overused subjects like sports victories, volunteer experiences, or the classic “overcoming adversity” story.
While these can be meaningful, they often result in essays that sound too familiar to admissions officers who read thousands of applications.
Instead, think about what makes you you. What are the passions, hobbies, or experiences that have shaped your perspective in a way that is entirely your own? Perhaps it’s a quirky hobby, a unique family tradition, or a challenge you faced that few others have encountered.
The more specific and personal the topic, the more memorable your essay will be.
2. Combine Two Activities for a Unique Angle
One effective strategy to create a fresh and engaging essay is to explore the intersection of two seemingly unrelated activities or interests.
For example, if you’re both a pianist and a long-distance runner, you might write about how these activities have taught you discipline and patience, but in very different ways.
By combining two interests, you can highlight the similarities between them while also showing off your intellectual curiosity and ability to think outside the box.
This approach not only makes your essay unique but also provides depth, showing that you can draw connections between different aspects of your life in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
3. Showcase Your Intellectual Curiosity
Colleges are looking for students who are not just academically talented but also intellectually curious.
Use your essay to demonstrate this quality by delving into why your chosen topic fascinates you.
Whether it’s a complex question that drives you, a problem you’re passionate about solving, or a concept that challenges your thinking, let your curiosity shine through.
Your essay should reflect your eagerness to learn and your desire to explore new ideas. This doesn’t mean you have to write about a traditionally academic subject.
Even if your topic is something unconventional, like knitting or skateboarding, what matters is that you convey a deep, thoughtful engagement with the subject.
4. Decide What to Lead With
Before you start writing, consider what aspect of yourself you want to highlight the most in your essay. This might be a particular skill, a passion, or a personal quality.
Your college essay should reflect your Point-of-Excellence—something that you excel at and that sets you apart from other applicants.
Once you’ve identified this key point, make it the cornerstone of your essay. Whether it’s your leadership in a club, your innovative approach to a school project, or your perseverance in a challenging situation, focus on telling a story that showcases this strength.
By doing so, you’ll create a compelling narrative that not only captures your unique qualities but also aligns with what colleges are looking for in a candidate.
Conclusion
Writing a standout college essay is all about finding and expressing what makes you unique.
You can craft an essay that truly sets you apart by choosing a distinctive topic, exploring the intersection of different interests, showcasing your intellectual curiosity, and highlighting your Point-of-Excellence.
Remember, the goal is to impress admissions officers and give them a genuine glimpse into who you are. Happy writing!