If you’re looking for help with college essays, you already understand how important this piece of the application truly is. It’s not just about writing polished paragraphs. It’s about helping your teen tell a story that admissions officers will remember.
In today’s ultra-competitive college admissions landscape, the personal essay is more than just another box to check. It’s one of the few opportunities your teen has to truly stand out.
Admissions officers read thousands of applications filled with similar GPAs and test scores. What makes one student memorable over another? From my years of work in admissions, I can tell you that it’s often the essay.
A well-crafted college essay brings your teen’s personality, values, and potential in a way no transcript can. It shows they can reflect, communicate clearly, and think deeply about what matters to them.
In this blog, I’m sharing some of the same tips I give my students in our college consulting program to help with college essays.
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My Go-To Advice for Writing a Standout College Essay
1. Start by brainstorming your topic before focusing too much on the prompts. The Common App offers several options, including an open-ended prompt. It’s more important to identify a meaningful, personal story first, and then choose the prompt that best fits what you want to say. Here are the Common App prompts for 2026-2027.
2. Capture the reader’s attention in the first sentence. Your reader is likely reviewing hundreds of essays. If you start with a bold hook or statement, it will entice them to read more!
3. Be authentic. Tell the reader who you are, not what you think they want you to be. It’s ok to be honest. Show your growth, curiosity, or resilience. The reader needs to hear your voice in the essay.
Don’t worry about complex sentences or impressive vocabulary. Write naturally. Your essay can be funny if that’s your personality. Just be YOU!
What is it that makes you unique? What can you bring to the table (campus)? Tell a story that nobody else is going to tell. Ask yourself, could somebody else tell the same story? If so, then you need to add more details to make it your own. If you can’t find enough detail, then choose a different topic.
4. Use descriptive language. Try not to repeat information that’s already on your application. You can expand on an activity that you have listed on your application, but make sure you provide details and stick to one topic.
If it makes sense within the context of the essay, give your story a twist or reveal something unexpected.
Your story should only account for about 10% of your essay. Why it matters should account for 90% of your essay.
5. Stay focused and clear. Don’t write about your entire life. Just focus on one particular experience and make sure you stay within the word limit. It’s usually around 650 words for the Common App.
6. Proofread, revise, and proofread some more! Your first draft is never your best. Read it out loud and have others review it, such as your parents, teachers, college counselor, etc.
7. Start early. As one of our college consultants who helps with college essays, I encourage all rising seniors to begin writing during the summer before 12th grade. Starting early means less stress in the fall and more time to craft something truly compelling. This is especially important for students with ADHD, executive function challenges, or learning differences who may require more time.
Depending on how many colleges you’re applying to, you could be facing several supplemental essays. Having a clear plan is key to staying organized and reducing stress. I always have my students start with the personal statement first. This is something you can begin before the Common App opens on August 1.
Once supplemental essays are released, you should prioritize those with the earliest deadlines, followed by your top-choice schools. The good news is that many prompts are similar, so supplemental essays can often be reused and thoughtfully adapted for each school on your list. In reality, most students end up writing about 3–5 core essays, then tailoring them to fit each school’s specific questions.
A note about using AI… you should always think of AI as a tool, not a writer. AI is appropriate to use for brainstorming ideas, organizing thoughts, and light editing. It becomes a problem when students use it for writing full drafts. When this happens, AI replaces the student’s voice. Admissions officers often can tell if an essay is written by AI. If it’s too perfect and doesn’t sound like a teenager wrote it, that’s a red flag. The essay should feel real, imperfect, and human.
What Admissions Officers Don’t Want to Read About
1. Generic topics. So many essays have been written about mission trips and sports accomplishments (or injuries!). If you choose to write about these topics because they’re important to you, focus on the part of the story that reveals something deeply personal or unusual. If you write about a mission trip, don’t just talk about how you “helped others.” Instead, focus on what you learned from the experience.
2. Hot topics/controversial issues, such as politics or religion. If an opinion or idea is an important part of who you are, don’t be afraid to write about it, but be sure to be respectful of both sides of an issue. Remember, regardless of your individual opinions, your essay is a professional document. You don’t know the position of the person reading your essay.
3. Loss or hardship. It’s okay to write about a tragedy or devastating event, but the focus should be on how you grew from it, not just what happened. Admissions officers are looking for resilience, insight, and personal growth. Be sure your essay reflects how the experience shaped your perspective or values, rather than dwelling solely on the hardship itself.
Examples of Excellent Essay Topics that I’ll Always Remember
I’ve read tens of thousands of application essays over the years, and some of the ones I still remember came from simple, everyday moments.
The essay topic does not need to be about an extraordinary or “impressive” story, like your quest to cure cancer or starting a nonprofit. A genuine, thoughtful story will always be more compelling than one that’s trying too hard to impress.
Here are a few of my favorites that highlight how students can think outside the box. I’m sharing these, not to copy, but to provide inspiration while brainstorming topics:
- I love topics where students compare their story to something familiar. One student wrote about her first rollercoaster ride. She didn’t simply describe it. She used it as a metaphor for the ups and downs of her life: the anticipation, fear, lack of control, and eventual excitement. The essay explored how she learned to embrace uncertainty and trust the process, ultimately highlighting her growth, mindset, and ability to navigate change.
- Another student wrote about a six-hour car ride with his grandmother, but the essay wasn’t about the road trip itself. It focused on the conversations they had along the way and how hearing grandma’s stories shifted his perspective on family, resilience, and time. The essay was about listening, perspective, and appreciating moments that might otherwise feel ordinary.
- I typically encourage students to avoid writing about sports injuries because it’s such a common theme. But one of my students took a unique approach, turning an overused topic into an essay that really stood out. Instead of focusing on the injury itself, he wrote about becoming the “unofficial assistant coach” during his recovery. Through this experience, he discovered leadership, patience, and the importance of supporting others. The essay highlighted meaningful growth and a sense of identity beyond the sport.
Get Personalized Help with College Essays and the Entire Application Process
Essay writing is one of my favorite parts of working with students! My approach is rooted in coaching, not ghostwriting. I always start with a brainstorming activity to help students uncover a meaningful story, then move into what I call a “messy first draft.” From there, I provide ongoing feedback, guiding students on structure, clarity, and reflection. The goal is always the same: a final essay that is 100% the student’s voice – just a little stronger, clearer, and more impactful.
If you’d like personalized support, I’m here to help! Schedule a free call with one of our Educational Specialists to discuss our one-on-one college consulting program and how I’ll help with college essays and strategically guide your teen through each step of the college admissions process.
ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTHOR:
Jen Foldvary, M.Ed., is a College Consultant at Educational Connections. She previously worked as a private high school college counselor and as the Associate Director of Freshmen Admission at the University of Toledo. Jen holds a Bachelor’s in Special Education and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from The University of Toledo. She began her career as a special education teacher.