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If you are among the thousands of students applying to college using the Common App platform this year, you may be wondering how to make yourself stand out. A good way to do this is by writing a compelling Common App essay to showcase your personality and aspirations beyond just grades and test scores. This post is here to give you some tips to keep in mind when writing your Common App essay to ensure you stand out!
How To Make Your Common App Essay Stand Out
Maintaining Authenticity
Be yourself: Write about your true values and experiences rather than writing what you think the admissions officers want to hear. This will make your narrative more unique to you and will engage the reader more deeply.
Voice and tone: Write in a way that reflects your natural style of writing. Don’t try to sound overly formal or use a vocabulary that doesn't match the level you usually speak or write.
Tell your story: Keep the essay focused on you. Use personal anecdotes that highlight your growth, struggles, and achievements. This helps the reader connect more deeply with your story.
Avoid clichés: Even though they sound fancy, you should avoid clichéd phrases as these are commonly used by many students and won't help you stand out in the applicant pool. Instead, you should come up with your own creative phrases based on your topic. Examples of clichés to avoid can be found here, along with some examples of how students have used creative phrases instead of clichés.
Avoid exaggeration: Keep your descriptions honest and true to what actually happened. Do not try to make a situation sound fancier or more impressive than what actually happened. Admissions officers can detect when students are trying to brag or exaggerate their experiences.
Creativity and Structure
Start off strong: A good way to make your essay stand out is to captivate the reader with a strong hook. Examples of how to do this can be found in this post here.
Clear structure: Ensure that your essay has a logical flow. This makes it easier for the reader to follow your thought process. Make sure there are smooth transitions between paragraphs and that all the information ties together cohesively in the conclusion.
Have a strong introduction: A strong introduction can make your essay stand out as it sets the scene for the rest of your narrative. This is your chance to grab the admissions officer's attention and make them look forward to the rest of your essay. For more tips on how to write an introduction, see these posts here and here.
Have a memorable conclusion: A memorable conclusion can leave a lasting impact on the reader and strengthen the impact of your narrative. For more tips on how to write a conclusion, see these posts here and here.
Reflection and Depth
Show growth: Highlight how specific experiences have shaped your beliefs, goals, or perspective. Discuss what you have learned from these experiences and how you can apply this knowledge in future.
Future aspirations: Connect your past experiences to your future goals. Discuss how the lessons you’ve learned will help you succeed in college and in your future career.
Provided detailed descriptions: Ensure you describe all examples in depth. For example, instead of just saying "I learned many skills through participating in....", you should give a detailed description of the skills you learned, how you learned them, and how you plan on using them at college or in the future.
Depth over breadth: Focus on 1-2 key experiences or ideas rather than trying to cover too many experiences. This will allow you to fully describe these experiences and provide a well-rounded narrative rather than only briefly describing a large number of experiences.
Proofreading and Polishing
Revise and edit: Make at least 2-3 drafts of your essay. This will help you catch any errors or identify any areas of the essay that you want to change before the final submission. A well-edited essay will stand out amongst the other essays as it looks professional.
Feedback: Seek input from your teachers and counsellors. They can suggest valuable improvements to your work. However, be mindful that the essay's voice should remain yours. Aim to ask only 1-2 people for feedback to prevent your essay from becoming taken over by someone else's ideas.
Stay within the word limit: Ensure you write between 250-650 words. Although 250 words is the minimum limit, it is recommended to write at least 500 words to have an in-depth essay that is impactful on the reader.
We hope that this guide has provided you with some helpful tips on how to make your Common App essay stand out. Good luck with your college applications!
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