10 tips for college essay

Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

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12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

College admission committees sift through thousands of college essays each year. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

Pamela Reynolds

When it comes to deciding who they will admit into their programs, colleges consider many criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more colleges are no longer considering test scores.

Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for “test-blind” admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we’ll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We’ll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s genuinely important to you and not a subject you’ve chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You’ll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer’s attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that’s not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don’t Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.

The most engaging writing “shows” by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people’s lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

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Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you’ve had some time to forget what you’ve written. Often, you’ll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer’s tip : Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don’t Repeat

If you’ve mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don’t repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you’ve answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups—a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

“While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would,” the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here’s our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

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About the Author

Pamela Reynolds is a Boston-area feature writer and editor whose work appears in numerous publications. She is the author of “Revamp: A Memoir of Travel and Obsessive Renovation.”

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College admissions

Course: college admissions   >   unit 4.

• Writing a strong college admissions essay
• Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes
• Brainstorming tips for your college essay
• How formal should the tone of your college essay be?
• Taking your college essay to the next level
• Sample essay 1 with admissions feedback
• Sample essay 2 with admissions feedback
• Student story: Admissions essay about a formative experience
• Student story: Admissions essay about personal identity
• Student story: Admissions essay about community impact
• Student story: Admissions essay about a past mistake
• Student story: Admissions essay about a meaningful poem

Writing tips and techniques for your college essay

Pose a question the reader wants answered, don't focus exclusively on the past, experiment with the unexpected, don't summarize, want to join the conversation.

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• How to Write a College Essay

College admissions experts offer tips on selecting a topic as well as writing and editing the essay.

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Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App, an application platform accepted by more than 1,000 schools.

For college applicants, the essay is the place to showcase their writing skills and let their unique voice shine through.

"The essays are important in part because this is a student's chance to really speak directly to the admissions office," says Adam Sapp, assistant vice president and director of admissions at Pomona College in California.

Prospective college students want their essay, sometimes called a personal statement, to make a good impression and boost their chances of being accepted, but they have only several hundred words to make that happen.

This can feel like a lot of pressure.

"I think this is the part of the application process that students are sometimes most challenged by," says Niki Barron, associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York, "because they're looking at a blank piece of paper and they don't know where to get started."

That pressure may be amplified as many colleges have gone test optional in recent years, meaning that ACT and SAT scores will be considered if submitted but are not required. Other schools have gone test-blind and don't consider such scores at all. In the absence of test scores, some admissions experts have suggested that more attention will be paid to other parts of an application, such as the essay.

But just as each applicant is unique, so are college admissions policies and priorities.

"Being test optional hasn't changed how we use essays in our selection process, and I wouldn't say that the essay serves as a substitute for standardized test scores," Barron wrote in an email. "A student's academic preparation for our classroom experience is always front and center in our application review process."

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against college admissions policies that consider an applicant's race. The ruling, though, does not prohibit students from writing essays on how their race has affected them, which experts say could significantly affect how students approach this portion of their applications.

Essay-writing tips offered by experts emphasize the importance of being concise, coherent, congenial, unique, honest and accurate. An applicant should also flex some intellectual muscle and include vivid details or anecdotes.

From brainstorming essay topics to editing the final draft, here's what students need to know about crafting a strong college application essay.

Getting Started on the College Essay

How long should a college essay be, how to pick a college essay topic, writing the college essay, how the affirmative action ruling could change college essays, editing and submitting the college essay.

A good time for students to begin working on their essays is the summer before senior year, experts say, when homework and extracurricular activities aren't taking up time and mental energy.

Starting early will also give students plenty of time to work through multiple drafts of an essay before college application deadlines, which can be as early as November for students applying for early decision or early action .

Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App , an application platform accepted by more than 1,000 schools. Students can submit that application to multiple schools.

Another option is the Coalition Application, an application platform accepted by more than 130 schools. Students applying through this application choose from one of six essay prompts to complete and include with their application.

In addition to the main essay, some colleges ask applicants to submit one or more additional writing samples. Students are often asked to explain why they are interested in a particular school or academic field in these supplemental essays , which tend to be shorter than the main essay.

Students should budget more time for the writing process if the schools they're applying to ask for supplemental essays.

"Most selective colleges will ask for more than one piece of writing. Don't spend all your time working on one long essay and then forget to devote energy to other parts of the application," Sapp says.

Though the Common App notes that "there are no strict word limits" for its main essay, it suggests a cap of about 650 words. The Coalition Application website says its essays should be between 500 and 650 words.

"While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you'd hoped it would," the Common App website states.

The word count is much shorter for institution-specific supplemental essays, which are typically around 250 words.

The first and sometimes most daunting step in the essay writing process is figuring out what to write about.

There are usually several essay prompts to choose from on a college application. They tend to be broad, open-ended questions, giving students the freedom to write about a wide array of topics, Barron says.

The essay isn't a complete autobiography, notes Mimi Doe, co-founder of Top Tier Admissions, a Massachusetts-based advising company. "It's overwhelming to think of putting your whole life in one essay," she says.

Rather, experts say students should narrow their focus and write about a specific experience, hobby or quirk that reveals something personal, like how they think, what they value or what their strengths are. Students can also write about something that illustrates an aspect of their background. These are the types of essays that typically stand out to admissions officers, experts say. Even an essay on a common topic can be compelling if done right.

Students don't have to discuss a major achievement in their essay – a common misconception. Admissions officers who spoke with U.S. News cited memorable essays that focused on more ordinary topics, including fly-fishing, a student's commute to and from school and a family's dining room table.

What's most important, experts say, is that a college essay is thoughtful and tells a story that offers insight into who a student is as a person.

"Think of the college essay as a meaningful glimpse of who you are beyond your other application materials," Pierre Huguet, CEO and founder of admissions consulting firm H&C Education, wrote in an email. "After reading your essay, the reader won't fully know you – at least not entirely. Your objective is to evoke the reader's curiosity and make them eager to get to know you."

If students are having trouble brainstorming potential topics, they can ask friends or family members for help, says Stephanie Klein Wassink, founder of Winning Applications and AdmissionsCheckup, Connecticut-based college admissions advising companies. Klein Wassink says students can ask peers or family members questions such as, "What are the things you think I do well?" Or, "What are my quirks?"

The essay should tell college admissions officers something they don't already know, experts say.

Some experts encourage students to outline their essay before jumping into the actual writing, though of course everyone's writing process differs.

The first draft of an essay doesn't need to be perfect. "Just do a brain dump," Doe says. "Don't edit yourself, just lay it all out on the page."

If students are having a hard time getting started, they should focus on their opening sentence, Doe suggests. She says an essay's opening sentence, or hook, should grab the reader's attention.

Doe offered an example of a strong hook from the essay of a student she worked with:

"I first got into politics the day the cafeteria outlawed creamed corn."

"I want to know about this kid," she says. "I’m interested."

The key to a good college essay is striking a balance between being creative and not overdoing it, Huguet says. He advises students to keep it simple.

"The college essay is not a fiction writing contest," Huguet says. "Admissions committees are not evaluating you on your potential as the next writer of the Great American Novel."

He adds that students should write in the voice they use to discuss meaningful topics with someone they trust. It's also wise to avoid hyperbole, as that can lose the readers' trust, as well as extraneous adverbs and adjectives, Huguet says.

"Thinking small, when done right, means paying close attention to the little things in your life that give it meaning in unique ways," he says. "It means, on the one hand, that you don’t have to come up with a plan for world peace, but it also means thinking small enough to identify details in your life that belong only to you."

The Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action has left some students feeling in limbo with how to approach their essays. Some are unsure whether to include racial identifiers while others feel pressure to exclude it, says Christopher Rim, CEO and founder of Command Education, an admissions consulting company.

"For instance, some of our Asian students have been concerned that referencing their culture or race in their essay could negatively impact them (even moreso than before)," Rim wrote in an email. He noted that many students he works with had already begun crafting their essays before the ruling came. "Some of our other students have felt pressure to disclose their race or share a story of discrimination or struggle because they expect those stories to be received better by admissions officers."

Some of the uneasiness stems from what feels like a contradictory message from the court, Rim says. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., said the ruling shouldn't be construed "as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise." But he added that colleges may consider race only if it's tied to an applicant’s individual experiences or qualities, such as demonstrating courage against discrimination.

Personal essays shouldn't serve as a way for universities to ask students about their race as a means to admit them on such basis, Roberts added.

Rim says he expects there to be a lot of confusion from parents and students as they navigate that line when writing their essay. He says his guidance will vary with each student depending on their specific situation.

"For a student from an immigrant family, sharing their racial and cultural background may be integral to understanding their identity and values and therefore should be included in the essay," he says. "On the other hand, a student who has never meaningfully considered ways in which their race has shaped their life experience and worldview should not push themselves to do so in their essay simply because they believe it will better their chances."

While admissions officers try to learn about students via the essay, they are also gauging writing skills, so students want to make sure they submit top-notch work.

"The best writing is rewriting," Sapp says. "You should never be giving me your first draft."

When reviewing a first essay draft, students should make sure their writing is showing, not telling, Huguet says. This means students should show their readers examples that prove they embody certain traits or beliefs, as opposed to just stating that they do. Doing so is like explaining a joke to someone who's already laughed at it, he says.

"Let’s say, for example, that the whole point of a certain applicant’s essay is to let admissions officers know that she thinks outside the box. If she feels the need to end her essay with a sentence like, 'And so, this anecdote shows that I think outside the box,' she’s either underestimating the power of her story (or the ability of her reader to understand it), or she hasn’t done a good enough job in telling it yet," Huguet says. "Let your readers come to their own conclusions. If your story is effective, they’ll come to the conclusions you want them to."

After editing their essay, students should seek outside editing help, experts recommend. While there are individuals and companies that offer paid essay help – from editing services to essay-writing boot camps – students and families may not be able to afford the associated fees. Some providers may offer scholarships or other financial aid for their services.

The availability and level of feedback from free essay advising services vary. Some college prep companies offer brief consultations at no charge. Free essay workshops may also be available through local high schools, public libraries or community organizations. Khan Academy, a free online education platform, also offers a series of videos and other content to guide students through the essay writing process.

Colleges themselves may also have resources, Barron notes, pointing to pages on Hamilton's website that offer writing tips as well as examples of successful admissions essays. Likewise, Hamilton also holds virtual panel discussions on writing admissions essays.

Students have other options when it comes to essay help. They can ask peers, teachers, school counselors and family members for help polishing an essay. Huguet says it's typically wise to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to seeking feedback on essays. Too many perspectives can become counterproductive, he says.

"While it can be valuable to have different perspectives, it's best to seek out individuals who are experts in the writing process," he says. "Instructors or professors can be helpful, particularly if they possess subject expertise and can provide guidance on refining arguments, structure and overall coherence."

Proofreaders should not change the tone of the essay. "Don't let anyone edit out your voice," Doe cautions.

And while proofreading is fair game, having someone else write your essay is not.

When an essay is ready to go, students will generally submit it online along with the rest of their application. On the Common App, for example, students copy and paste their essay into a text box.

Sapp says even though students often stress about the essay in particular, it's not the only thing college admissions officers look at. "The essay is the window, but the application is the house," he says. "So let's not forget that an application is built of many pieces."

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10 Tips for Writing a College Admissions Essay

Weighted more heavily than ever before, the college essay is essential..

Posted November 24, 2021 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

• College admission essays are more important than ever before.
• With most schools now test-optional, it is imperative to stand out in your written responses.
• Time management skills, brainstorming time, a classic style, and extensive research can help produce a strong essay.

Game on! It’s the fall of your senior year of high school and you are ready to apply for college. Or are you? The process actually begins well before.

Weighted more heavily than ever before, the college essay is essential. With most schools now test-optional and applicant numbers rising, this is one area where you can shine. So, flex – it’s time to show off… but also remain humble. How is that possible? A mix of preparation and strategy.

Based on my extensive experience, here are my top 10 tips to shine through a college essay:

1. Kill Your Drafts. Prepare to compose many, many drafts of the same essay, and don’t ever go with your first one. Prepare to toss out 90% of your first draft. I’m a professional writer, and I never get my first, fifth, or even 10th draft right. Accept the process — no shortcuts. On a first draft, you usually answer the prompt 75% in. Editing is also necessary because you will be repurposing your core essays for multiple schools.

2. Time Management . Set aside chunks of time on weekends and create deadlines for yourself. Hold yourself accountable. It’s about time management — you will need to master this skill to be successful once admitted to college. Think ahead about when you will be busy. The summer between junior and senior years is pivotal. Set your own deadlines and stick to them.

3. Persuade, Inform, Entertain. Admissions officers read thousands of answers to the same essay prompts. Put yourself in their shoes. How can you be memorable? By being different. This means: Get to the point! Tell your story in a self-aware and captivating way. The very first word must be a hook. Application essays are meant to entertain as much as inform, persuade and show off your creativity , intelligence , writing ability, efficiency, and self-awareness.

4. Stand Up and Stand Out. There is no other you. We each have our own stories. So think about the elements in your life that in combination and/or individually make you you. Always show (NEVER tell) your values, grit, and determination.

5. Mentors Are Key. Find a mentor to advise you through the writing process. Even if you are lucky enough to have a college counselor, if you attend a typical U.S. public high school, you are one of hundreds of that particular counselors' students. As much as they love to help you, they just don’t have the bandwidth nor do they have this specific training. (College counseling is an entire industry with countless advisors and price points. So do your research to find someone you can work with well ahead of your senior year).

6. Flex the Brain. Brainstorm exercises are a must to mine your memory for relevant, interesting stories to share. They help you gain the awareness necessary to understand your values, struggles, fears, motivators, and inspirations to share with the admissions committee. What transformative events have occurred in your life? What lessons have you learned? Produce a list of touchpoints that include your favorite quotations, books, classes, foods, and more.

7. Be Active. It will be too late to join a club and become its president in the fall of senior year, so it is important to pursue extracurricular interests well beforehand. Colleges often require an extracurricular activities resume in which you detail:

• Type of activity (athletics, arts, work, etc)
• Participation grade levels
• Timing of participation (during school year, summers, etc)
• Hours per week and weeks per year
• An interest for which activities you wish to continue in college

Think of every activity you are involved in through the lens of contribution. How do you contribute to your teammates, team, school, or larger community? And how will this transfer to your new college environment?

8. Have a Timeless Style. The key to entertaining an admissions officer is to create a jazzy, well-paced essay. As you know, we have all lost our attention spans. We quickly flick through shows and have become attuned to TikToks. Don’t let this happen to your application. Have fun with word choice, onomatopoeia, poetic verse, italics, dialogue, zeitgeisty references, made up words, and lyrics.

9. Do Your Research. Figure out the factors that are important (or not) to you: geography, size, areas of study, professor-student ratios, and more. You can read the university rankings but take them with a huge grain of salt. The factors they take into account may not resonate with you. For example, do you care about their athletic facilities? Get in touch with current students and alumni to learn more about the school – use LinkedIn. Of the 4,000+ schools out there, certainly a handful will be the “the perfect fit” for you.

10. Befriend Teachers . Build solid relationships with your high school teachers junior year — especially with math and English teachers who will be writing your recommendations. Create a resume/CV for them so they know who you are outside of the classroom. Teachers can always add a supportive and new dimension to your application that you as the applicant could never capture.

Most importantly, enjoy this process. You are embarking on an opportunity you have been working toward your entire lifetime. Mobilize your resources, roll up your sleeves, and good luck!

Teru Clavel writes about comparative international education, and author of World Class: One Mother's Journey Halfway Around the Globe in Search of the Best Education for Her Children.

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How to Start a College Essay to Hook Your Reader

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What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of the college essay introduction, tips for getting started on your essay, 6 effective techniques for starting your college essay.

• Cliche College Essay Introduction to Avoid

Where to Get Your Essay Edited for Free

Have you sat down to write your essay and just hit a wall of writer’s block? Do you have too many ideas running around your head, or maybe no ideas at all?

Starting a college essay is potentially the hardest part of the application process. Once you start, it’s easy to keep writing, but that initial hurdle is just so difficult to overcome. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you jump that wall and make your essay the best it can be.

The introduction to a college essay should immediately hook the reader. You want to give admissions officers a reason to stay interested in your story and encourage them to continue reading your essay with an open mind. Remember that admissions officers are only able to spend a couple minutes per essay, so if you bore them or turn them off from the start, they may clock out for the rest of the essay.

As a whole, the college essay should aim to portray a part of your personality that hasn’t been covered by your GPA, extracurriculars, and test scores. This makes the introduction a crucial part of the essay. Think of it as the first glimpse, an intriguing lead on, into the read rest of your essay which also showcases your voice and personality. 

Brainstorm Topics

Take the time to sit down and brainstorm some good topic ideas for your essay. You want your topic to be meaningful to you, while also displaying a part of you that isn’t apparent in other aspects of your application. The essay is an opportunity to show admissions officers the “real you.” If you have a topic in mind, do not feel pressured to start with the introduction. Sometimes the best essay openings are developed last, once you fully grasp the flow of your story.

Do a Freewrite

Give yourself permission to write without judgment for an allotted period of time. For each topic you generated in your brainstorm session, do a free-write session. Set a time for one minute and write down whatever comes to mind for that specific topic. This will help get the juices flowing and push you over that initial bit of writer’s block that’s so common when it comes time to write a college essay. Repeat this exercise if you’re feeling stuck at any point during the essay writing process. Freewriting is a great way to warm up your creative writing brain whilst seeing which topics are flowing more naturally onto the page.

Create an Outline

Once you’ve chosen your topic, write an outline for your whole essay. It’s easier to organize all your thoughts, write the body, and then go back to write the introduction. That way, you already know the direction you want your essay to go because you’ve actually written it out, and you can ensure that your introduction leads directly into the rest of the essay. Admissions officers are looking for the quality of your writing alongside the content of your essay. To be prepared for college-level writing, students should understand how to logically structure an essay. By creating an outline, you are setting yourself up to be judged favorably on the quality of your writing skills.

1. The Scriptwriter

“No! Make it stop! Get me out!” My 5-year-old self waved my arms frantically in front of my face in the darkened movie theater.

Starting your essay with dialogue instantly transports the reader into the story, while also introducing your personal voice. In the rest of the essay, the author proposes a class that introduces people to insects as a type of food. Typically, one would begin directly with the course proposal. However, the author’s inclusion of this flashback weaves in a personal narrative, further displaying her true self.

Read the full essay.

2. The Shocker

A chaotic sense of sickness and filth unfolds in an overcrowded border station in McAllen, Texas. Through soundproof windows, migrants motion that they have not showered in weeks, and children wear clothes caked in mucus and tears. The humanitarian crisis at the southern border exists not only in photographs published by mainstream media, but miles from my home in South Texas.

This essay opener is also a good example of “The Vivid Imaginer.” In this case, the detailed imagery only serves to heighten the shock factor. While people may be aware of the “humanitarian crisis at the southern border,” reading about it in such stark terms is bound to capture the reader’s attention. Through this hook, the reader learns a bit about the author’s home life; an aspect of the student that may not be detailed elsewhere in their application. The rest of the essay goes on to talk about the author’s passion for aiding refugees, and this initial paragraph immediately establishes the author’s personal connection to the refugee crisis.

3. The Vivid Imaginer

The air is crisp and cool, nipping at my ears as I walk under a curtain of darkness that drapes over the sky, starless. It is a Friday night in downtown Corpus Christi, a rare moment of peace in my home city filled with the laughter of strangers and colorful lights of street vendors. But I cannot focus. 

Starting off with a bit of well-written imagery transports the reader to wherever you want to take them. By putting them in this context with you, you allow the reader to closely understand your thoughts and emotions in this situation. Additionally, this method showcases the author’s individual way of looking at the world, a personal touch that is the baseline of all college essays.

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4. The Instant Plunger

The flickering LED lights began to form into a face of a man when I focused my eyes. The man spoke of a ruthless serial killer of the decade who had been arrested in 2004, and my parents shivered at his reaccounting of the case. I curiously tuned in, wondering who he was to speak of such crimes with concrete composure and knowledge. Later, he introduced himself as a profiler named Pyo Chang Won, and I watched the rest of the program by myself without realizing that my parents had left the couch.

Plunging readers into the middle of a story (also known as in medias res ) is an effective hook because it captures attention by placing the reader directly into the action. The descriptive imagery in the first sentence also helps to immerse the reader, creating a satisfying hook while also showing (instead of telling) how the author became interested in criminology. With this technique, it is important to “zoom out,” so to speak, in such a way that the essay remains personal to you.

5. The Philosopher 

Saved in the Notes app on my phone are three questions: What can I know? What must I do? What may I hope for? First asked by Immanuel Kant, these questions guide my pursuit of knowledge and organization of critical thought, both skills that are necessary to move our country and society forward in the right direction.

Posing philosophical questions helps present you as someone with deep ideas while also guiding the focus of your essay. In a way, it presents the reader with a roadmap; they know that these questions provide the theme for the rest of the essay. The more controversial the questions, the more gripping a hook you can create. 

Providing an answer to these questions is not necessarily as important as making sure that the discussions they provoke really showcase you and your own values and beliefs.

6. The Storyteller

One Christmas morning, when I was nine, I opened a snap circuit set from my grandmother. Although I had always loved math and science, I didn’t realize my passion for engineering until I spent the rest of winter break creating different circuits to power various lights, alarms, and sensors. Even after I outgrew the toy, I kept the set in my bedroom at home and knew I wanted to study engineering.

Beginning with an anecdote is a strong way to establish a meaningful connection with the content itself. It also shows that the topic you write about has been a part of your life for a significant amount of time, and something that college admissions officers look for in activities is follow-through; they want to make sure that you are truly interested in something. A personal story such as the one above shows off just that.

Cliche College Essay Introductions to Avoid

Ambiguous introduction.

It’s best to avoid introductory sentences that don’t seem to really say anything at all, such as “Science plays a large role in today’s society,” or “X has existed since the beginning of time.” Statements like these, in addition to being extremely common, don’t demonstrate anything about you, the author. Without a personal connection to you right away, it’s easy for the admissions officer to write off the essay before getting past the first sentence.

Quoting Someone Famous

While having a quotation by a famous author, celebrity, or someone else you admire may seem like a good way to allow the reader to get to know you, these kinds of introductions are actually incredibly overused. You also risk making your essay all about the quotation and the famous person who said it; admissions officers want to get to know you, your beliefs, and your values, not someone who isn’t applying to their school. There are some cases where you may actually be asked to write about a quotation, and that’s fine, but you should avoid starting your essay with someone else’s words outside of this case. It is fine, however, to start with dialogue to plunge your readers into a specific moment.

Talking About Writing an Essay

This method is also very commonplace and is thus best avoided. It’s better to show, not tell, and all this method allows you to do is tell the reader how you were feeling at the time of writing the essay. If you do feel compelled to go this way, make sure to include vivid imagery and focus on grounding the essay in the five senses, which can help elevate your introduction and separate it from the many other meta essays.

Childhood Memories

Phrases like “Ever since I was young…” or “I’ve always wanted…” also lend more to telling rather than showing. If you want to talk about your childhood or past feelings in your essay, try using one of the techniques listed earlier (such as the Instant Plunger or the Vivid Imaginer) to elevate your writing.

CollegeVine has a peer essay review page where peers can tell you if your introduction was enough to hook them. Getting feedback from someone who hasn’t read your essay before, and thus doesn’t have any context which may bias them to be more forgiving to your introduction, is helpful because it mimics the same environment in which an admissions officer will be reading your essay. 

Writing a college essay is hard, but with these tips hopefully starting it will be a little easier!

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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

• Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
• Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
• Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

See the full essay example

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

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.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Undergraduate Writing: Top 10 Writing Tips for Undergraduates

Top 10 writing tips for undergraduates.

Most undergraduate students at Walden have been out of high school or college for several years, so academic writing can feel unfamiliar. Just like anything else, though, writing is a skill you will learn to develop with practice. Below are the Writing Center’s top undergraduate writing tips to help you get started.

1. Plan Your Time

Walden courses are fast-paced, often with a paper assignment due every Sunday night. No matter how hard you try, you cannot write a perfect, polished essay at the very last minute. Schedule studying and writing times throughout the week, taking into account your work and family responsibilities. You might find that writing a little bit each day, in chunks, helps manage your assignment load. For more planning tips and tools, see the Academic Skills Center’s page on Managing Time/Stress and the Writing Center’s Assignment Planner .

2. Know the Academic Writing Expectations (AWE)

The School of Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Studies created the AWE to help you build your writing skills with each course level. In early courses, you practice writing compelling sentences and paragraphs and integrating evidence. Later on, you learn more about citations and references in APA style, as well as essay-level skills. Consult the AWE for your current course level. Do your abilities match the expectations listed? Use the AWE to create goals for yourself.

3. Use the Assignment Instructions and Rubric

Within your courses, there are several powerful tools to help focus and develop your writing. First, the assignment instructions give you important information about the length of the assignment and the topics you should cover. Use these instructions as an outline as you are writing. Second, the rubric tells you how your work will be assessed. If a certain part of the assignment is worth more points on the rubric, you know you should devote a lot of attention to it. For more tips on writing and revising using your assignment materials, listen to this podcast episode or view our Revising webinar .

4. Get Comfortable With Writing

At Walden, most communication with peers and professors occurs in writing. You are also assessed on your writing via discussion board and essay assignments. This attention to writing can be scary, especially for students who have been away from an academic setting for some time. You might need to start journaling or find a writing buddy to feel more comfortable. See our Writing Through Fear blog post for more tips.

5. Read Your Professor's Feedback

One of the fundamental ways to learn is through the written feedback from your professor. This might seem like a simple statement, but some students do not ever access this written feedback, and so they miss out on a valuable opportunity. When you receive your grades in Canvas, click on the individual assignment title to bring up the professor’s general comments. In those comments, you should see your attached submission with specific feedback embedded. Read our page on Using Feedback for more tips and download a feedback journal as a way to keep track of suggested improvements.

6. Make an Argument

In most assignments, you need to discuss a topic and have a reason for discussing that topic. Rather than just summarizing, you need to analyze and convince your reader of something. For example, if your topic is electric cars, your purpose might be to convince the reader that electric cars are an efficient alternative to gas cars. This means that every paragraph will be part of your overall goal to argue this point. Kayla explores the importance of argument in her blog post Argue Is Not a Dirty Word .

7. Practice Academic Integrity

As an academic writer, you use information from books, journal articles, and trusted websites to support your argument. To present this information ethically and with integrity, you need to give credit to the original source. At Walden, students give credit through APA citations in the text. Citations should accompany any ideas, information, or phrasing from others. You will gain familiarity with citing sources as you progress through your program; for now, see our  Using and Crediting Sources playlist  for an overview.

8. Organize Your Ideas

All of your discussion posts and papers should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. An introduction provides background on the topic and includes your thesis statement. In essence, the introduction prepares the reader for all of the main points you will be making in the body. The body is where you develop your argument, paragraph by paragraph . Your conclusion acts as a summary and helps the reader understand the significance of the information presented.

9. Develop an Academic Voice

A formal, direct, and precise voice is expected in college-level writing. This means that you should avoid informal language such as colloquialisms, slang, metaphors, clichés, and jargon, as well as questions and contractions. Instead of having a conversation with the reader, you are an authority building an argument. The reader needs to trust in you.

10. Revisit Grammar and Sentence Structure

Because the goal of academic writing is to clearly communicate, you should ensure that your writing follows proper American English grammar and sentence structure rules. Otherwise, a reader might become confused. The Grammar page of our website provides explanation on many common grammar concerns. You might also find Grammarly helpful; Grammarly is an automated program that identifies potential sentence errors and offers revision tips.

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10 Universal Tips for College Essay Writing

Jackson Schroeder

Writing a college essay can be intimidating, particularly if you consider yourself to be a math or science person and not a stellar writer. But don’t be too worried. Although grammar and style do play a role in how admissions officers interpret your essay, it’s the content of your essay that matters most. 

Essays give you the opportunity to set yourself apart from the crowd and show college admissions committees who you truly are and what you’re interested in. 

These following tips can help steer you in the right direction so you can leave a lasting impression on admissions officers and boost your chances of being accepted into your dream school. 

1. Write about yourself

Admissions departments ask you to write an essay because they want to get a better sense of who you are, not only as a student, but also as a person. They want to know about your passions and interests, the way you think, and how you respond to challenges. These are the things that will hook your readers in. 

“Schools are really trying to gain insights into what the passions and interests of a student are,” Rodney Morrison, the Associate Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook University, told The University Network (TUN).

Before drafting your essay, self-reflect and consider what you care about. You shouldn’t tell your entire life story. Instead, try to focus on one or two important aspects of your life that have helped shape you, and be sure to write in your natural voice. 

“(T)he best essays we read are those where the genuine voice of a high school student (that’s you) comes through loud and clear and we really get a sense of who you are,” Hannah Mendlowitz, a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Recruitment at Yale University, wrote in a Yale blog . 

“I do have favorite essays that I can remember, but they have no particular topic in common,”  she added. “Instead, they are the ones where at the end I have a grasp on what it might be like to have a conversation with the writer, to be in the same room as them.”

Additionally, make sure you try to avoid using any outside quotes unless you are directly asked to. Admissions officers want to read your words, not other people’s.

On its website, Johns Hopkins University lists several examples of essays its admissions department found impressive during the last admissions cycle. Those essays are available here . 

2. Answer the question

This may seem obvious, but whichever essay prompt(s) you answer, you must answer in full. Don’t get caught up in the intro or go off on a side-tangent. Make sure you entirely understand the question you are asked and continue to check back throughout the writing process to ensure that you’re on track. 

Essay questions are carefully worded and intended to encourage students to explore and explain a specific thought or belief. So, incomplete answers would be detrimental to the way admissions officers perceive your response. 

Take this Common App question for example: “ 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? ”

The meat of this question lies in the second half. If you spend the entire time giving background, you may get sidetracked and miss out on explaining what you learned — the most important part of the question.

3. Don’t cater to the admissions officer

Don’t make the mistake of catering your writing to admissions officers instead of writing from the heart. Disingenuous writing is easy for admissions officers to see through. After all, they read thousands of essays.

“Don’t write about what you think the admissions office wants to hear. Really write about the things that are important to you,” Morrison told TUN. “That’s really what (admissions officers) want to get out of it … the things that are important to the students, not what the student thinks the admissions officers want to hear.” 

4. Start early and write multiple drafts

Typically, you’ll be able to read essay prompts months before you have to submit an application. The Common App typically releases its prompts on August 1 each year. For the 2020-21 cycle, however, the Common App has already announced that the essay prompts will be the same as in the 2019-20 cycle. 

Writing a draft or two and waiting a couple of days to proofread can help you put together a compelling essay. With a clear head, you’ll be able to pick up on any grammatical mistakes and determine whether your essay is ready to submit. 

Starting early also gives you time to have teachers, peers, or family members proofread your essay. They can catch what you missed and tell you whether your essay is truly interesting from the perspective of an outside reader. 

5. Use your space wisely

Typically, essays shouldn’t exceed 650 words, which is the cap set by the Common App. And some colleges and universities that have their own essay prompts, like Yale , ask applicants to answer questions in as few as 35 words.

So, essays need to be tight and have strong narrative flow. Don’t use up too many words in the intro or wait too long to get to the meat of your essay. This can be done by acknowledging your most compelling point during the brainstorming period prior to writing. 

6. Don’t use humor if you aren’t funny

This may sound a bit harsh, but just because you heard somewhere that admissions officers like humor in the essays they read doesn’t mean you should squeeze an awkward, cringe-worthy joke in your writing. Forced writing is easy to recognize. 

“If you’re not a humorous writer . . . now is probably not the best time to try it,” Morrison told TUN. 

If you feel that humor is your strong suit, you don’t need to necessarily shy away from it, but don’t overuse it. You never know how admissions officers will perceive a joke. They could perceive it as confusing or even offensive. Don’t make someone wince while reviewing your entry.

7. Don’t fake a sophisticated vocabulary 

You want the words you include in your essay to sound organic. Even more so than failed humor, a forced vocabulary can kill an application essay. 

“Don’t try to use really big SAT words if you don’t typically use them,” Morrison told TUN. “You really want it to sound like it’s coming from you.”

Synonyms aren’t interchangeable, so don’t simply plug and place from Thesaurus.com. Every word has a distinct nuance to its meaning, and there is a time and place for every word.

Admissions officers have read enough essays to know when writing is organic and when it isn’t. Big words don’t impress admissions officers, but deep thoughts do.

8. Try to stand out from the crowd

You should always view your college essay as your opportunity to stand out from the crowd. So, while writing your essay, try to be unique, not generic. 

“Most schools — particularly competitive schools — they are really trying to pick and choose between a lot of qualified applicants,” Morrison told TUN. “If you’re generic and (admissions officers) can’t tell the difference between you, someone else, and the other thousands of applicants, it doesn’t do you a good service.”

You don’t need to have endured a traumatic or life-altering experience to draft a unique and memorable essay. You should consider your application essay as an opportunity to help the admissions officers evaluating your application develop an understanding of who you are and what makes you stand out — something that the numbers in your transcript can’t describe.

9. Don’t let proofreaders change your message

Proofreaders are great. However, peers or teachers — or anyone else proofreading your drafts —  should not alter or suggest any changes other than punctuation and grammar. It’s your essay, and you should be the one writing it. You’re the applicant, and admissions officers want to know about your thoughts and experiences. 

“Revise and edit, but be sure not to lose the sense of individuality that only you can put into words,” Mendlowitz wrote. “Have someone proofread, but don’t get too much help. My colleagues and I can tell when an essay is written more by a parent or, dare I even say it, a college consultant than by a student – and I can promise you that those pieces are not very good.”

10. Don’t waste your conclusion

Don’t draft a meaningless conclusion by simply regurgitating what you already stated. Instead, use the conclusion as an opportunity to round up your thoughts and put a bow on your essay. Eloquently and succinctly remind the admissions officers reading your essay of your thesis statement and leave them with a lasting impression. 

For more college application advice, check here .

Don’t underestimate the importance of a college essay. If you’re applying to selective institutions especially, the essay is what can set you apart from a crowded pool of other qualified applicants. Take the essay seriously, start early to give yourself time, and follow the tips in this article. 

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Watch CBS News

10 tips for writing a great college essay

By Lynn O'Shaughnessy

August 29, 2013 / 7:47 AM EDT / CBS News

Tip No. 1: Write a compelling mini story

Tip No. 2: Head to Essay Hell

Tip No. 3: Stay away from the pack

Tip No. 4: Don't try to be funny

Tip No. 5: Write vividly

Tip No. 6: Write a grabber opening line

Tip No. 7: Cut when necessary

Tip No. 8: Don't count on your high school English teacher

Tip No. 9: Add a Title

Tip No. 10: Don't psych yourself out

View all articles by Lynn O'Shaughnessy on CBS MoneyWatch» Lynn O'Shaughnessy is a best-selling author, consultant and speaker on issues that parents with college-bound teenagers face. She explains how families can make college more affordable through her website TheCollegeSolution.com ; her financial workbook, Shrinking the Cost of College ; and the new second edition of her Amazon best-selling book, The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price .

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• International Student
• Essay Writing Center
• Admission Essays

Top 10 Tips for College Admissions Essays

In the admissions process, US colleges and universities generally use three criteria for determining which students to accept and which to reject:

• Previous coursework – your college preparatory work and grade point average (GPA)
• Standardized test scores – SAT and ACT are the two most respected.
• Admission/Entrance essays

Of the three criteria, the college entrance essay provides you with the greatest opportunity to distinguish yourself from your competition and show off the person behind the statistics. This article will help in writing a college essay and help you boost your chances of being accepted by an American university or college

Planning Your Essay »

• #1: Understand the Admissions Board Psychology
• #2: Determine Your Essay Goals
• #3: Distinguish Yourself from the Other Applicants
• #4: Contribute to the University
• #5: Understand and Answer the Essay Prompt

Writing Your Essay »

• #6: Write with Specific Details
• #7: Demonstrate College-Level Diction
• #8: Demonstrate College-level Style
• #9: Have Someone Proofread Your Essay
• #10: Pay Attention to Deadlines

Section 1: Planning Your Essay

Tip #1: understand the admissions board psychology.

When you have compiled all the pieces of your application and sent it to the college/university of your dreams, all of your hard work gets placed in a pile with hundreds of other applications. Then a small group of admissions officers will review each application, looking over the scores and coursework and reading the college application essays.

The key to convincing the admissions officers is in understanding what they are looking for. They want students who will:

• Succeed once they are admitted;
• Contribute to the educational experience of other students; and,
• Bring honor and prestige to the university once they graduate.

In your college admissions essay, you want to portray yourself as a student who will meet those needs. Of course, the specifics of what qualifies as “succeed” or “bring honor” will depend a bit on the particular university, but all admissions officers share these three goals.

Before you write your college admissions essay, take a few minutes and jot down some answers to the following questions:

• How can I reassure the admissions board that I will succeed in their school?
• How will I show that I am determined and ambitious; that I will not get poor grades or drop out?
• How can I contribute positively to the educational experience of other students?
• How might I bring honor and prestige to the university?
• What are my long-term goals? Might I win an award someday, or start a business, or improve a scientific process?

Your answer to these questions will help you frame the content of your essay .

Tip #2: determine your essay goals.

Along with the three questions above, you should contemplate how you want the admissions officers to perceive you. After reading your college admissions essay, what should they think of your personality and activities?

Most students want the college admissions board to view them as responsible, dependable, and academically ambitious. These are excellent essay goals, but you should also consider the essay in relation to your classwork. If your classwork already shows that you are studious and determined (because you have taken a wide variety of advanced classes), then you may want to highlight another feature of your personality.

Along with developing an image of your character, writing the college admissions essay allows you to feature other aspects of your life that are not reflected in your pre-college coursework. Some aspects to consider:

• Have I worked at an interesting or relevant job?
• Do I belong to any clubs or organizations?
• Have I demonstrated leadership or teamwork?
• Have I demonstrated compassion or community-responsibility?

Tip #3: Distinguish Yourself from the Other Applicants

This bit of strategic thinking should be fairly easy. As an international student, you by definition are different from the bulk of American citizens who apply to American universities. However, it is not enough to simply say, “Well, I’m not from around here.” Instead, you need to reference the strengths of your home culture. You don’t need to elaborate at length; a sentence or two should be enough to ensure that the admissions board pays attention to you.

Remember that you are more than just an international student from an interesting background; you are a complete person with a lifetime of experiences. You should take some time to think about what else makes you different from most the other hundreds of students writing college admissions essays. Add those features (plays piano, excellent at football, speak five languages) to your growing list of essay goals.

Tip #4: Contribute to the University

Remember that one of the goals of the admissions board when reading college admissions essays is to find students who will enhance the educational experience of other students. In other words, how can you contribute to other students’ learning? As with tip #3, you already have an edge by being an international student.

One of the general goals of education is to broaden people’s experiences, so that they come to realize the limits of their own intellect, and then grow beyond those limits. As an international student, you offer other students an opportunity for cultural diversity. As with Tip #3, it is not enough to assume the college admissions board will recognize this benefit. You need to highlight it in your essay. Again, a sentence or two should be enough to accomplish this goal.

Again, remember that you are more than just an international student. You have so much more to contribute to the campus social and learning environment than just your home culture. Take a few moments to consider what else you may contribute.

• Maybe you are excellent at study groups or other forms of collaborative work.
• Maybe you will join a student organization or athletic team.
• Maybe you will write for a student newsletter or blog.

Whatever you feel you can contribute, add that to your list of essay goals.

Tip #5: understand and answer the essay prompt.

At this point, you’ve come up with more ideas than you can possibly fit into one essay. Now you need to focus your goals to only three or four ideas – the ones that will make you the most attractive to the college admissions board. No matter what the prompt asks, you want to ensure you include those three or four ideas in your college admissions essay.

The concept is to present a few ideas very well, rather than list all your ideas poorly. A narrowly focused essay will be much more effective than a general, vague one.

Reading and answering the prompt may seem a bit obvious, but it’s often the obvious that people ignore. You should take the time to read and re-read the essay prompt, so you can answer it fully. Don’t be intimidated; unlike some college exams, the college application essay prompt is not designed to trick you. However, you must demonstrate that you can read and follow directions. Think of that great pile of applications. The admissions officers are looking for a reason to disregard candidates. Don’t let them reject you because you hastily overlooked a sentence in the essay prompt.

On the other hand, the prompt is designed to give you some freedom for creativity, which will allow you to work in those three or four key ideas that you have developed through tips 1 through 4. You are encouraged to find novel ways of answering the prompt, so long as you do indeed answer the questions provided.

If you need more help choosing a topic , you can find some tips on our Choosing a Topic for Your College Essay page.

Section 2: Writing Your Essay

At this stage in the college admissions essay writing process, you have considered the goals and psychology of the college admissions board. You have produced a list of ideas/attributes/details about yourself that colleges will find appealing. You have narrowed that list to the three or four most important ideas – the ones that will get you into your preferred college/university. Now it is time to actually write the essay.

Tip #6: Write with Specific Details

The key to excellent and memorable writing is to write in fine detail. The more specific your essay, the stronger an impression it will make on the admissions board. If you are trying to show that you are a dedicated scholar, don’t write: “I never missed an assignment deadline, no matter how poorly I was feeling the night before.” Instead you write: “In my junior year, I came down with a terrible case of pneumonia. Despite having a 103 degree fever and being required to stay in bed, I still completed my draft speech on the possible impacts of global warming on agriculture.” The latter will make a stronger impression; and people vote for the people they remember.

As you are writing your essay, ask yourself:

• Is there a specific instance or example that shows this?
• Can I add imagery (colors, shapes) to make it more interesting?
• Can I replace general nouns (“class” or “car”) with something specific (“Honors Geometry” or “Honda Civic”)?

You may be thinking, “I don’t really like to boast about my personality; I prefer to let my record speak for itself.” While you should try to avoid sounding too arrogant, the college application essay is not the time for modesty. The admissions officers are expecting you to celebrate yourself, to underline your strengths and personality, so they can make a quick, accurate judgment about you.

Tip #7: Demonstrate College-Level Diction

Diction (word choice) is the fundamental structure of writing. Your word choice reveals a great deal about your personality, education and intellect. Furthermore, as an international student, you want to reassure the college admissions board that you have an excellent command of the English language (remember: they want you to succeed; they need to know that you can actively participate in English-only instruction).

With this in mind, you should replace lower-level words (bad, sad, thing, nice, chance) with higher-level words (appalling, despondent, phenomena, comforting, opportunity). You might consider looking up SAT/ACT vocabulary words and working a handful of those into your essay.

You should also remove any slang or casual diction; the university is not interested in casual language in their admissions essays.

Tip #8: Demonstrate College-level Style

An American proverb states, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” In other words, you want to present yourself as being ready for the next job. In this instance, you want to show that you already have college-level writing skills. So, in writing your college application essays, you should write with the following features in mind:

• Write primarily in complex sentences, rather than simple or compound sentences;
• Include figurative language such as a metaphor, a simile, personification; and
• Include a trope or scheme, such as chiasmus, oxymoron or anaphora.

As with tip #7 , this serves two functions: 1) it distinguishes your essay from those that are poorly written; and 2) it reassures the admissions board of your excellent command of written English.

Tip #9: Have Someone Proofread Your Essay

This is one of the most important tips on this list. Everyone who writes knows that the words in your head don’t always make it onto the page the way they should. Because you know what it should say, it’s easy to trick yourself into thinking the essay says something that it doesn’t. For this reason, you should ask a friend or a relative (or an English teacher) to look over your essay and check your:

• Grammar: did you write in complete sentences? Do all your subjects and verbs agree?
• Diction: are all the words used properly for an American audience?
• Organization: have you grouped sentences together coherently?

Tip #10: Pay Attention to Deadlines

College admissions essays require a tremendous amount of work. As you work and rework the essay, pay attention to the admission deadlines and requirements. Every school has their own system for how and when to file your application. Do not assume that, because one school uses e-mails and PDFs, that another school does as well.

The best way to stay organized through the college admissions process (and at the university when courses begin) is to rigorously maintain a calendar that includes:

• Final deadlines
• Reminders of upcoming deadlines
• Process deadlines (breaking larger tasks into smaller steps)

Bonus Tip: Post, but Don't Panic

At some point, you will file your college admissions application. After you post it, please don’t panic. With these tips, and your determined intellect, you have an excellent chance of being accepted to an American university.

Take a look at our college essay samples to get an idea of what colleges are looking for in your essay.

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75 Best Scholarships for High School Seniors

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Save on tuition and supplies with scholarships for high school seniors! Here are some of the best scholarships to apply to in 2024! 

As any parent knows, college is a huge expense and one that often leaves families stretching their budgets. Fortunately, there is an abundance of college scholarships for high school seniors and undergraduates. We’ve rounded up some of the best scholarships that are available to students across the country.

Our top picks include popular scholarships, those with high dollar amounts, and those with wide accessibility. We’ve listed these scholarships in order by the deadline. As 2025 approaches and more scholarships open, we’ll be adding to the list, so don’t forget to check back!

Hip Tip: Though our list focuses more on national scholarships, there are a plethora of state-based and local scholarships too! Some other helpful sites to find college scholarships include Bold.org , Scholarships.com , Scholarships360 , and Access Scholarship s.

Scholarships for high school seniors:

1. Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes

• Deadline : Last Day of Every Month
• Award: $2,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates
• Details & How to Apply: Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae gives away scholarships every month. Applying is super easy. Just fill out the straightforward form!

2. Too Cool To Pay For School Sweepstakes

• Deadline : Quarterly (Last day of March, June, September, & December)
• Award: $1,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates who are enrolled full-time.
• Details & How to Apply: Too Cool To Pay For School Scholarship

Entering the sweepstakes for this scholarship is a cinch! Just fill out the quick form and cross your fingers that you get picked!

3. Appily Easy Money Scholarship

• Deadline : Rolling
• Who Can Apply? High school students planning on enrolling in college
• Details & How to Apply: Appily Easy Money Scholarship

Need some extra funds for school? There is no essay or minimum GPA required to apply for this scholarship offer. Just fill out the form and submit!!

4. UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship

• Deadline : April 6, 2024
• Award: Up to $10,000 for 2 winners, up to $5,000 for 30 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who have epilepsy, have an immediate family member with epilepsy, or are a caretaker to someone with epilepsy
• Details & How to Apply: UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship

Students impacted by epilepsy may be eligible to apply for this scholarship. There is no GPA or financial need requirement, but the top applicants will have demonstrated academic and personal achievement and have participated in extracurricular activities. Immediate family members of UCB, Inc. employees are ineligible.

5. Help America Hear Scholarship

• Deadline : April 7, 2024
• Award: $4,000 + 2 ReSound Hearing Aids
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors with hearing loss
• Details & How to Apply: Help America Hear Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to give those with hearing loss a leg up at school. To apply, submit a 500 – 1,500 word essay about living with hearing impairment and your goals for the future.

6. Build A Better Future Scholarship Program

• Deadline : April 8, 2024
• Award: $10,000 each to 5 students plus an extra $5,000 to the top finalist
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are passionate about helping their communities.
• Details & How to Apply: Build A Better Future Scholarship Program

Applicants who design, work on, and submit their plans for a community improvement project may win a $10,000 tuition scholarship. The top finalist will receive an additional $5,000 to continue funding their project. To apply, submit a 2-5 minute video along with 5-10 photos showcasing your work in action.

7. Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship

• Deadline : April 15, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 3 students
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and undergraduates studying political science, history, cultural anthropology, or geography
• Details & How to Apply: Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship

To apply, describe how you plan to make the world a better place thanks to the lessons you’re learning in political science, history, cultural anthropology, or geography courses.

8. U.S. Bates Scholarship

• Deadline : April 11, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 3 winners, renewable for up to 4 years ($20,000 total)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors headed to college that are children or step-children of U.S. BAC (International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers) member
• Details & How to Apply: U.S. Bates Scholarship

Children of U.S. BAC members may apply for this renewable scholarship. You have the potential to collect $20,000 over a four year period. Be prepared to submit your transcript and a possible essay.

9. Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship

• Deadline : April 12, 2024
• Award: Up to $3,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college freshmen who are looking to make music a “central part of their future”
• Details & How to Apply: Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school seniors and undergrads celebrates those with a passion for music. Vocalists and those who play an instrument may apply. Submit a music sample and an essay regarding your musical intentions. See the guidelines on the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society website .

10. Musicians Making A Difference Scholarship

• Award: $5,000 each to 2 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors enrolled in college for Fall 2024 and who have performed solo or with an ensemble either through school or the community
• Details & How to Apply: Musicians Making A Difference Scholarship

Applying for this scholarship is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to write a short 600-word essay. Share why you think you should be chosen, how you’ve positively impacted your community, and how this scholarship will help you with your post-graduation plans and career goals.

11. ESA Scholarships for Children of First Responders

• Award: Varies – Up to $12,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors who have parents who are first responders
• Details & How to Apply: ESA Scholarships for Children of First Responders

Over 20 awards will be given out by the Electronic Security Association and the first round winners will be considered for an additional award of either $12,000 or $3,000.

12. Addiction Resource Scholarship Essay Contest

• Deadline : April 12, 2024, & Summer 2024 (exact date to be announced)
• Award: $1,000 to first place, $250 to second place
• Who Can Apply? 18-year-olds who are enrolled in a 4-year school and pursuing a university degree
• Details & How to Apply: Addiction Resource Scholarship Essay Contest

To apply, write an essay about the connection between substance abuse and mental health among college students. Essays should be no more than 1,200 words. Apply in April for the scholarship to go towards your Summer 2024 college courses or apply in the summer for your scholarship to go toward your Fall 2024 tuition.

13. Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship

• Deadline : April 13, 2024
• Award: $5,000 ($2,500 per year for 2 years)
• Who Can Apply? Graduating high school seniors who are enrolling in a 2-year community college, technical college, or specialized program for those with learning disabilities or ADHD
• Details & How to Apply: Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship

Those with a documented learning disability or ADHD diagnosis can apply for this scholarship. The winner will receive $5,000 over the course of two years.

14. Anne Ford Scholarship

• Award: $10,000 ($2,500/year over 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? Graduating high school seniors who are enrolling in a 4-year college or university and have a learning disability or ADHD
• Details & How to Apply: Anne Ford Scholarship

Unlike the Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship, the Anne Ford Scholarship is for graduating high school seniors headed to a four-year institution. Those with a documented learning disability or ADHD diagnosis can apply for this scholarship. The winner will receive $10,000 over the course of four years.

15. Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers Program

• Deadline : April 14, 2024
• Award: Up to $7,500 + possible Summer 2025 internship
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are entering STEM fields and have at least a 2.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers program

Interested in pursuing a STEM career? Consider joining SPHE and applying for this scholarship program. They gave out 346 scholarships last year!

16. Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

• Award: $10,000
• Who Can Apply? Students between the ages of 8 and 18 who have worked on an inspiring service project within the past year
• Details & How to Apply: Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Have you recently participated in an extraordinary service project? If so, consider applying for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The award is given to those who demonstrate courage, tenacity, positive spirit, generosity, and  a high moral purpose. Winners receive $10K towards their education or their service project. Plus, the lucky winner will also receive media coverage and networking opportunities!

17. Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship Program

• Award: Up to $7,500 + possible summer internship
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors attending college in the next year and are interested in pursuing actuarial science
• Details & How to Apply: Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship

The Organization of Latino Actuaries (OLA) wants to encourage the future generation to join their ranks. If you’re a student interested in following in their footsteps, consider applying for one of their scholarships. Some winners receive $5,000 and a summer internship. Others receive a $7,500 scholarship. Head to their website to see if you qualify.

18. Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

• Award: $1,000 to each of the 5 recipients
• Who Can Apply? High school and undergraduate students who have at least a 2.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Have you overcome adversity? Professional cornerback, Alex Austin, has paired with Access Scholarship to possibly help you out. Write a 500-word essay about your experience and submit it along with the application form. Five lucky winners will each receive $1,000 towards their education.

19. Minority Cosmetic Science Scholarship

• Award: $5,150
• Who Can Apply? High school or undergraduate BIPOC students studying cosmetic science or natural cosmetology
• Details & How to Apply: Minority Cosmetic Science Scholarship

Curly Hair Crisis awards this scholarship to BIPOC students pursuing studies in cosmetic science and related fields like cosmetology, anthropology, botany, chemistry, biochemistry, herbalism, microbiology, To apply, write an essay about yourself and how you plan to impact the hair, skin, and/or nail industry.

20. Mamie Marie Clay Matthews Memorial Scholarship

• Award: $1000 each to 3 winners
• Who Can Apply? African American high school juniors and seniors  with religious affiliation who are pursuing education, engineering, horticulture or theology
• Details & How to Apply: Mamie Marie Clay Matthews Memorial Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship, write a maximum of 1,000 words using the following prompt:

“Please tell us about yourself and how you plan to positively impact the world through your field of study. Tell us the importance of the interconnectedness of faith, family, and friends.”

21. Ronran Glee Literary Scholarship

• Award: $2,000 each to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and 2-year or 4-year undergraduate students
• Details & How to Apply: Ronran Glee Literary Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school students and undergrads aims to promote the practice of close reading. To apply, write a 600 – 2,000 word essay from the following prompt:

“Please select a paragraph of your choosing (provide a copy of the paragraph in your response), preferably from an ancient literature or philosophy book, and write a short essay expounding your understanding of the writer’s underlying meaning of the text. Avoid summarizations and vague language that wanders from your central thesis that should be stated at the beginning of your essay.”

22. Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

• Award: $7,500 each to 10 winners
• Who Can Apply? Taiwanese American high school seniors and college freshmen who have at least a 3.0 GPA and can demonstrate financial need
• Details & How to Apply: Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

Are you a descendant of a Taiwanese citizen? This is one of the college scholarships for high school seniors that you may be eligible to receive. All majors are accepted, but you must demonstrate your household income is at or below the Federal/State/County Low Income Level.

23. E-Waste Scholarship

• Deadline : April 30, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school, college, or graduate students
• Details & How to Apply: E-waste Scholarship

Students can easily apply for this scholarship that promotes awareness about the impacts of e-waste. To apply, submit a 140-character message about e-waste. If you are chosen as one of the top 10 finalists, you’ll then be asked to write a 500 – 1,000 word essay.

24. RealtyHop Scholarship

• Deadline : April 30, 2024 and August 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college undergraduates
• Details & How to Apply: RealtyHop Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded twice a year to students who exemplify ambition, diligence, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. To apply, use your school email address and submit a 500-word essay.

25. Rover Scholarship

• Deadline : May 1, 2024
• Award: $2,500
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, college undergraduates, and graduates with a GPA of 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: Rover Scholarship

Write a 500-word essay for your chance to win this scholarship. Family members of Rover staff members are ineligible, but family members of dog walkers or sitters may apply.

26. Victoria Soto Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Up to 12,000 each to 4 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors,
• Details & How to Apply: Victoria Soto Memorial Scholarship

Winners of this scholarship demonstrate academic excellence, participate in extracurricular activities, and possess leadership skills. Two of these scholarships will go to local high school students in Stratford, Connecticut, one scholarship to a student in the state of Connecticut, and one to a student from anywhere in the country. Winners must demonstrate “the spirit to Live, Laugh, and Love life and education as Vicki did.”

27. Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

• Award: Up to $5,000 for up to 4 years
• Who Can Apply? Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are in a printing or graphics program at a higher education institution in the USA and are pursuing a career in printing technology, printing management, graphic communications, packaging, or publishing
• Details & How to Apply: Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

Winners of this scholarship can get up to $5,000 per year for up to 4 years. The award will be paid directly to the school’s financial aid office.

28. Exceptional Youth Scholarship

• Deadline : May 17, 2024
• Award: $10,000 each to 10 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who have devoted at least 100 hours to community service or mentoring
• Details & How to Apply: Exceptional Youth Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school seniors is a great opportunity. Students who have spent considerable time volunteering or doing community service initiatives can apply. Head over to their website to download the application instructions .

29. Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship

• Deadline : May 18, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who play a sport or do community service and live in NJ, CT, NY, or PA
• Details & How to Apply: Morgan Levine Dolan Scholarship

This scholarship is sponsored by the personal injury law firm of Morgan Levine Dolan. It is open to high school and college students in select states. Apply if you play a sport or do community service.

30. Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship for High School Seniors

• Deadline : Early deadline is May 22, 2024, and the official deadline is September 5, 2024, OR until 3,000 applications have been received
• Award: Four-year, full-tuition scholarship
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors in the class of 2025 with at least a 3.7 GPA and who are headed to a 4-year college or university.
• Details & How to Apply: Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship

This is one of the college scholarships for high school seniors that students will want to apply to receive as it will completely pay for tuition. To apply for this scholarship, students must have a strong work ethic and demonstrate excellence in extracurricular activities and active participation in community service or civic-minded areas. 25% of the scholarships will go to students pursuing careers in education, nonprofits, government, and/or military and have a stated professional goal of public service. Only 3,000 applications will be reviewed so aim to apply sooner rather than later.

31. There’s Space For Everyone Scholarship

• Deadline : May 31, 2024
• Award: $3,000 each to 8 recipients
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduates enrolled in school
• Details & How to Apply: There’s Space for Everyone Scholarship

Extra Space Storage gives out these educational scholarships that celebrate students committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Fill out the application form and write a statement about your commitment to those principles and how furthering your education will allow you to continue to uphold them.

32. American College Foundation (ACF) Visionary Scholarship

• Deadline : June 1, 2024
• Award: $5,000 grand prize, $1,000 to five additional finalists
• Who Can Apply? High school students of any grade
• Details & How to Apply: ACF Visionary Scholarship

Students don’t need to show financial need to score this scholarship. Simply fill out the application, submit your transcript, and write a 500-word essay on why college is important to you.

33. The Lep Foundation for Youth Education – CURE Cancer Support Scholarship

• Award: $5,000
• Who Can Apply? Students who have been diagnosed with cancer and whose treatments are a financial burden
• Details & How to Apply: CURE Cancer Support Scholarship

The Lep Foundation for Youth Education wants to help students with cancer afford tuition. Applying for the scholarship is simple. You’ll need a letter from your physician confirming your diagnosis. You’ll also need to write a one-page essay about your condition and the challenges your family has had to face due to cancer and cancer-related treatments.

34. Digital Marketing Scholarship

• Deadline : June 1, 2024
• Award: $4,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college undergraduates pursuing a major related to digital marketing and will take at least 10 credit hours in the Fall of 2024.
• Details & How to Apply: Digital Marketing Scholarship

Digital Marketing is the way of the future and if you have a desire to study a related field, there is a scholarship for you! To apply, write a 500-word statement about your life story, your intended field of study, your future career, and how you will make an impact on the world. A panel of three judges will pick a winner by July 15, 2024.

35. Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High school seniors
• Details & How to Apply: Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship

Time to show off your storytelling skills! Write an essay about your life story, intended field of study, career, and how you plan to impact the world. The most compelling essays will win a $5,000 award.

36. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

• Deadline : June 5, 2024
• Award: Up to $15,000
• Who Can Apply? High school students who have not been a finalist in previous years
• Details & How to Apply: Stuck at Prom Scholarship

This fun contest encourages students to use their creativity. To enter, you’ll need to create a prom outfit using Duck Brand Duct Tape. You’ll be judged on workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories, and the use of Duck Brand Duct Tape. To get started, take a video or write an essay documenting your project. Then, snap at least one high-resolution photo of yourself wearing your masterpiece and head to the scholarship website to submit your entry.

37. Ayn Rand Scholarships – The Fountainhead Essay Contest

• Deadline : June 7, 2024 for Summer (deadlines for fall and winter will be announced soon)
• Award: $25,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors worldwide.
• Details & How to Apply: The Fountainhead Essay Contest

This is a rolling scholarship that comes around in the summer, fall, and winter. Each season has a new deadline and prompts related to Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead . High school students can currently apply for the summer season. Each essay must be between 800 – 1600 words and double-spaced. This season’s prompt is:

“In conversation with Peter Keating, Roark says “to get things done, you must love the doing, not the secondary consequences.” What evidence is there in the story that Roark loves the doing? What are the secondary consequences he does not prioritize? How does his love for his work guide his major life decisions? How does Roark’s approach to his work relate to the overall theme of the novel? To answer all of these questions, give specific examples from the novel.”

38. Ayn Rand Scholarships – Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

• Deadline : June 14, 2024 for Summer (deadlines for fall and winter will be announced soon)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students worldwide.
• Details & How to Apply: The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

This is a rolling scholarship for high school seniors and those already enrolled in college. The contest comes around in the summer, fall, and winter. Each season has a new deadline and essay prompt related to the book Atlas Shrugged . Students can currently apply for the summer season.

Each essay must be between 800 – 1600 words and double-spaced. This season’s prompt is:

“Over the course of the novel, Hank Rearden struggles to resolve a dramatic internal conflict. What are the conflicting premises or ideas in his soul, and how does he eventually resolve this conflict? In what way does Rearden’s conflict represent the conflict within the best of American businessmen, and a central conflict in American culture? Judging from how Rearden resolves his conflict, how do you think the author might propose resolving the cultural conflict?”

39. $2,000 CollegeVine “No Essay” Contest

• Deadline : June 30, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All students are eligible
• Details & How to Apply: $2,000 CollegeVine “No Essay” Contest

Don’t miss out on this easy opportunity. All you have to do is enter and the winner will be chosen by a lottery system.

40. Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

• Deadline : July 20, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All grade levels
• Details & How to Apply: Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

Have you recently experienced a loss? Write a 200-800 word essay on the following prompt:

“How has the loss of a close family member or loved one caused you to focus on what matters most in your life and what you want to “fight” to achieve?”

41. Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

• Deadline : July 24, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate STEM students who demonstrate financial need
• Details & How to Apply: Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

To apply, submit a short essay or video talking about how you’ve overcome adversity and why you are passionate about pursuing STEM.

42. Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

• Deadline : July 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All high school, undergraduate, and graduate students starting school within the next 12 months
• Details & How to Apply: The Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

It’s simple to apply for this merit-based scholarship. Fill out the application form and submit a maximum of 250-word essay. The essay can be about why you deserve the scholarship, your academic or career goals, or any topic of your choice.

43. Trinity Thomas’ Uplifting Others Scholarship

• Award: $1,000 each to 3 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have inspired others
• Details & How to Apply: Trinity Thomas’ Uplifting Others Scholarship

Gymnast Trinity Thomas has paired up with Access Scholarships to award 3 lucky winners $1000 each. To apply for the scholarship, fill out the application form and write a statement about something you did to encourage, uplift, or inspire someone else. The statement needs to be 500 words or less. In addition to describing the experience, make sure to include the influence the experience had on your life.

44. TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship Award

• Deadline : September 20, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.25 who have demonstrated a unique form of sportsmanship, compassion, or kindness
• Details & How to Apply: TrophyCentral Sportsman Scholarship Award

Are you a high school senior headed to college in the fall of 2024? If you’ve demonstrated sportsmanship, compassion, and//or kindness, head over to TrophyCentral to apply for their scholarship award. Special consideration will be given to those entering a branch of the military or who are the first generation in their family to attend college. To be eligible, you must have an average GPA of 3.25 throughout your first semester of junior year.

45. Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated September 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: Full Tuition
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a low family income
• Details & How to Apply: Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

Need a full-ride to college? Questbridge National College Match Scholarship wants to make it happen. Low-income students are welcome to apply. If you “match” with a school, your tuition, books, supplies, boarding, and more will be covered. There is no specific GPA requirement, but winners demonstrate academic excellence.

46. The Gates Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High-performing, low-income, minority students who are high school seniors with a GPA of 3.3 or above.
• Details & How to Apply: The Gates Scholarship

Did you exhibit outstanding academic achievement? High school seniors who are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific American, and/or Hispanic American are eligible to apply for this generous scholarship. You must be Pell-eligible and have a GPA of at least 3.3. If that’s you and you’re in the top 10% of your class, consider applying!

47. Epic Flight Academy Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship

• Deadline : October 1, 2024
• Award: Up to $20,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors who want to pursue aircraft mechanic training
• Details & How to Apply: Epic Flight Academy Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship

When it comes to your dreams, the sky is the limit! Those interested in joining an aircraft mechanic program can apply for this sizable scholarship. You must be willing to start training within 12 months of receiving the scholarship. To apply, you’ll need two letters of recommendation, have to write an essay, create a YouTube video, and take an aviation-related photo. See the complete guidelines on the scholarship website.

48. Heisman High School Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated October 2024 – Applications open starting in August. Check back soon!
• Award: $10,000 to 2 National Winners, $2,000 to 12 National Finalists, $1000 to 88 State Winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who participated in an eligible sport while also doing volunteer service or demonstrating leadership.
• Details & How to Apply: Heisman High School Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship, you must have participated in one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games ,  the   Paralympic Games,  or the  National Federation of State High School Associations . A school official will need to review your application.

49. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Competition

• Deadline : October 31, 2024
• Award: $35,000 to grand prize winner, up to $21,000 given to other finalists
• Who Can Apply? High school students
• Details & How to Apply: VFW Voice of Democracy Youth Scholarship Competition

This scholarship for high school students pays out BIG. Contestants are to submit a 3 – 5 minute audio essay, a typed version of the essay, and an application form. See the VFW website for more information.

50. Prudential Emerging Visionaries Scholarship

• Deadline : November 2, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school students ages 14-18
• Details & How to Apply: Prudential Emerging Visionaries Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate an inspiring commitment to positive change. To apply, fill out the application form and share your solution for change.

51. Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship

• Deadline : November 8, 2024
• Award: $250,000
• Details & How to Apply: Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship

This prestigious competition seeks to find the future’s brightest talents in the fields of science and mathematics. The top finalist will receive a whopping $250,000 which is the largest award currently being given to a high school senior.

52. Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship for High School Seniors

• Deadline : November 16, 2024
• Award: Up to $55,000 per year
• Who Can Apply? High school students with a GPA of 3.5 who have demonstrated financial need and will attend a 4-year accredited undergraduate school
• Details & How to Apply: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

This is one of the very best college scholarships for high school seniors. Students can get up to $55,000 PER YEAR to pay for tuition, books, living expenses, and fees. Any course of study qualifies as long as it is at an accredited 4-year undergraduate school and will result in a baccalaureate degree. The foundation accepts applicants with a family income up to $95,000.

53. The Elks Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated November 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: Up to $7,500 per year to 500 students
• Details & How to Apply: The Elks Foundation Scholarship

You don’t need to be an Elks member to apply for this scholarship. With 500 recipients, there are plenty of scholarships to go around, so throw your hat in if you can!

54. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated December 2024 – application window opens in Fall 2024! Check back soon!
• Award: Up to $40,000 + a possible summer internship at Amazon
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with financial need who are planning on pursuing computer science or engineering and have at least a 2.3 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

Passionate about STEM? Consider applying for the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship. It’s designed to support low-income, high-performing students. It’s one of the best college scholarships for high school students as 400 students will win scholarships up to $40,000!

55. National Honor Society Scholarship

• Deadline : November 28, 2024  -application window opens on September 16, 2024!
• Award: Varies
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are active members of the National Honor Society and in good standing with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: National Honor Society Scholarship

Are you part of the National Honor Society? If so, you can apply for one of the best college scholarships for high school seniors. This year, the NHS is giving away $2 million in scholarships to 600 lucky students. These students will example scholarship, service, leadership, and character. When the application window opens, head on over to their website to apply. The top 25 finalists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to collect their award.

56. Imagine America Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated December 2024  – Application window opens in September 2024!
• Award: $1,000 to up to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school graduates with a 2.5 GPA who have participated in community service during senior year and have demonstrated financial need.
• Details & How to Apply: Imagine America Scholarship

This is one scholarship that doesn’t require an impeccable GPA. Up to 5 winners will be chosen. The catch is that the $1,000 must be used towards tuition at one of the schools that support the scholarship. The full list of schools can be found on the Imagine America website.

57. Science Ambassador Scholarship

• Deadline :  December 13, 2024 (applications open in Fall 2024)
• Award: Full-Ride Scholarship
• Who Can Apply? Female high school seniors and undergraduates studying STEM
• Details & How to Apply: Science Ambassador Scholarship

Women who are serious about studying STEM fields should consider applying as this is one of the best college scholarships for high school seniors. You’ll be expected to create a video explaining a STEM topic that you are passionate about.

58. Stromberg Chicken’s $1,000 Scholarship 

• Deadline : December 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? College students and high school seniors 18 and older who plan to enroll in agricultural studies or a related field
• Details & How to Apply: Stromberg Chicken’s $1,000 Scholarship

Do you have eggs -cellent writing skills? Enter to win this scholarship by submitting a short, 500-word essay. There are three prompts to choose from: The Benefits and Challenges of Backyard Chicken Farming, The Role of Chickens in Sustainable Living, or The Benefits of Integrating Chickens into a Home Garden Ecosystem.

One aspect of this scholarship that we love is that there is no GPA requirement or application forms. The money can also be used towards tuition, books, computers, accommodation, or any other education-related expense.

59. Unigo $10,000 Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High school students 14 years and older.
• Details & How to Apply: Unigo $10K Scholarship

Looking for easy scholarships for high school students? Apply to the Unigo $10K Scholarship. You just need to submit a 250-word response to the question:

“Would you rather be smart, funny or rich? Why?”

60. The Dell Scholars Program

• Deadline :  Anticipated December 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: $20,000 each to 500 students
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who participated in a college readiness program, are low-income and have at least a 2.4 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: The Dell Scholars Program by Michael & Susan Dell

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation gives away tons of scholarships every year to low-income students headed to college. If you participated in an eligible college readiness program during high school, you may be eligible to apply.

61. National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated January 2025 – check back soon!
• Award: Up to $5,000
• Who Can Apply? 2024 high school seniors planning to pursue a career in government service
• Details & How to Apply: National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship

Applying for this scholarship takes a little effort, but it may be worthwhile for interested students. To apply, you must write a one-page essay about why you plan to pursue a career in government service. If George Washington’s Delaware River crossing inspired you, make sure to include that information in your essay. You’ll also need to submit a recommendation from your principal or guidance counselor, your transcripts, and national testing scores. You must also be available to attend the Scholarship Awards Ceremony (transportation, food, and lodging for the ceremony have been paid for in the past).

62. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

• Award: Up to $25,000
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school students, undergraduates, and grad students in good academic standing
• Details & How to Apply: Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Last year, applicants had to submit a 2-minute video detailing their passion and how they are planning to pursue it. They also had to mention why their passion makes the world a better place and how they will create a positive impact. With a payout of up to $25,000, this is one college scholarship worth trying to win!

63. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships

• Award: Up to $35,000 over 4 years
• Who Can Apply? Minority, college-bound high school seniors who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence
• Details & How to Apply: Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships

This is a very competitive and prestigious college scholarship that will be worth its while to any winner. In addition to a hefty scholarship amount, you’ll also receive mentoring and have the opportunity for networking and community service. About 60 scholarships are given out annually and you do not need to be an athlete to apply.

64. The Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

• Award: $7,500 each to up to 5 recipients
• Who Can Apply? Female high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduates studying a non-medical STEM field and have a 3.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: The Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

This helpful scholarship is available to women studying a non-medical STEM field. You must be enrolled as a full or part-time student at a 4-year institution for the upcoming school semester.

65. The Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship

• Award: Up to $10,000 to 2 recipients ($2,500/year for up to 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? College-bound female high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: The Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship

To win this scholarship, you must demonstrate a passion for women’s golf and helping the younger generation to love and participate in the game. You do not need to be playing collegiate golf to apply.

66. BigFuture Scholarship For High School Seniors

• Deadline : Varies
• Award: One $40,000 winner and one $500 winner
• Who Can Apply? High school students in the class of 2025
• Details & How to Apply: BigFuture Scholarship

This unique scholarship provides an incentive for high school students to apply to colleges. There is no essay or GPA requirement to apply. Head on over to BigFuture’s website and follow the instructions. Students will need to create an account and then create a career list, college list, and scholarship list. You’ll also have to fill out a FAFSA form and apply to at least two of the colleges on your list before the deadline above. Special consideration is given to those with a family income of $60,000 or less.

67. Engbretson Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : March 1, 2025
• Award: $20,000
• Who Can Apply? 2025 Graduation high school seniors who demonstrate financial need, have at least a 3.75 GPA or are in the top 5% of the graduating class, and received a 28 ACT or 1240 SAT score.
• Details & How to Apply: Engbretson Foundation Scholarship

High achievers who are in financial need can apply for this sizable scholarship. Visit the link above to see if you qualify. This award frequents many lists of the best college scholarships for high school seniors.

68. Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Award

• Deadline : Anticipated March 2025 – Check back soon!
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college students planning to college in the next year
• Details & How to Apply: Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Award

Applying for this scholarship couldn’t be easier! Head on over to Niche’s website and fill out the entry form with your name, birthday, and contact information. There are no essays or long answers required to apply. One student will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced on April 15, 2024. Good luck!

Hip Tip : Niche also has a $2,000 No Essay scholarship that is worth checking out!

69. “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated April 1, 2025 – C heck back soon!
• Who Can Apply? Any students of any age, field of study, or GPA can apply
• Details & How to Apply: “Be Bold” No-Essay $25,000 Scholarship

This is one scholarship opportunity you’ll want to take! The “Be Bold” scholarship is open to students of any education level or GPA. Head over to their website to apply. You’ll create a profile and your mission is to make it BOLD. That does not mean you need to be the best or most accomplished student. Instead, Bold.org is looking for those who are earnest, determined, and moving. Get creative and have fun! The boldest profile wins!

70. Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated March 2025 –  Check for soon!
• Award: Up to $15,000 per student ($5,000/year for up to 3 years)
• Who Can Apply? Black high school students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, computer information systems, or a business field and have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship

Black high school students who love computers and engineering should consider this sizable scholarship. Be prepared to have to write a short essay on how you plan to engage the technology industry in your future career.

71. Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated April 2025 – Check back soon!
• Award: Up to $40,000 per student ($10,000/year for up to 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors & college freshman – junior years with at least a 2.5 GPA and pursuing an eligible STEM major
• Details & How to Apply: Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship

This is one of the best scholarships for high school students and college undergraduates in STEM fields. You may be eligible if you are enrolled or plan to enroll in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.

72. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

• Deadline : Anticipated 2025 – check back soon!
• Award: $20,000 each to 150 students
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors headed to a 4-year college who have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation  

The Coca-Cola Foundation hands out scholarships every year and due to the amount given, they are some of the best college scholarships for high school seniors to receive. If you’re a high achiever, keep an eye out for this scholarship to open!

73. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

• Award: Up to $40,000 ($10,000/year for 4 years)
• Details & How to Apply: GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Do you demonstrate leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within your community, school, or workplace? Apply for this hefty scholarship that pays up to $10,000 per year for four years! This is one of the top-rated college scholarships for high school seniors.

74. ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

• Deadline : Last business day of each month
• Award: $1,000 per winner, 4 winners per month
• Who Can Apply? High school and college students age 16 and older who will be enrolled in school within 3 months of the award
• Details & How to Apply: ScholarshipOwl “No Essay” Scholarship

There is a chance to win this scholarship every single month. Applying is super easy as there is no essay required! Head on over to the ScholarshipOwl website to apply. You have about a 1 in 140,000 chance of winning! 🤞

75. Not headed to college right away? Consider the Thiel Fellowship…

• Award: $100,000
• Who Can Apply? Entrepreneurs and/or inventors ages 23 and under
• Details & How to Apply: Thiel Fellowship

College may not be the right choice for everyone. Entrepreneurs and inventors who want to postpone college can apply for the Thiel Fellowship for a chance to receive funds to help them launch their ideas. This grant is given by entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who co-founded PayPal and other companies.

Is there a college scholarship the Hip Community should know about? Tell us about it in the comments!

Apply to our favorite weird college scholarships too! Plus, here’s where to find free college textbooks !

About the writer:

Kara is a writer and photographer from the Midwest. Her creative work has appeared in various publications over the past decade. With a background in finance, she loves to be money-savvy.

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Hey Tahania! Is this this post that’s not loading for you, or certain links? We’d love to check into this more! 🥰

Hello again! We found the issue and it has been fixed if you wanted to check back! 🤗

Thank you so much for this! So helpful! Our son will be a senior next year and it’s our first time navigating scholarships and financial aid…Yikes!!!! Starting a Pinterest board right now!

You’re SO very welcome, Krissy! Glad this will help! 🤗

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Thanks so much for letting us know. We were able to find the issue and it has been fixed! 🙌❤️

Hmm. What’s with that picture though? It’s like it’s saying someone that wears all black etc couldn’t be an A student?

Very sorry for that confusion, Babs. That has been updated. Thanks so much for the heads up on what you were seeing! 🤗💕

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Guest Essay

Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands

By Sarah Bernstein

Ms. Bernstein is a playwright, a writing coach and an essayist in Brooklyn.

“I just can’t think of anything,” my student said.

After 10 years of teaching college essay writing, I was familiar with this reply. For some reason, when you’re asked to recount an important experience from your life, it is common to forget everything that has ever happened to you. It’s a long-form version of the anxiety that takes hold at a corporate retreat when you’re invited to say “one interesting thing about yourself,” and you suddenly believe that you are the most boring person in the entire world. Once during a version of this icebreaker, a man volunteered that he had only one kidney, and I remember feeling incredibly jealous of him.

I tried to jog this student’s memory. What about his love of music? Or his experience learning English? Or that time on a summer camping trip when he and his friends had nearly drowned? “I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “That all seems kind of cliché.”

Applying to college has always been about standing out. When I teach college essay workshops and coach applicants one on one, I see my role as helping students to capture their voice and their way of processing the world, things that are, by definition, unique to each individual. Still, many of my students (and their parents) worry that as getting into college becomes increasingly competitive, this won’t be enough to set them apart.

Their anxiety is understandable. On Thursday, in a tradition known as “Ivy Day,” all eight Ivy League schools released their regular admission decisions. Top colleges often issue statements about how impressive (and competitive) their applicant pools were this cycle. The intention is to flatter accepted students and assuage rejected ones, but for those who have not yet applied to college, these statements reinforce the fear that there is an ever-expanding cohort of applicants with straight A’s and perfect SATs and harrowing camping trip stories all competing with one another for a vanishingly small number of spots.

This scarcity has led to a boom in the college consulting industry, now estimated to be a $2.9 billion business. In recent years, many of these advisers and companies have begun to promote the idea of personal branding — a way for teenagers to distinguish themselves by becoming as clear and memorable as a good tagline.

While this approach often leads to a strong application, students who brand themselves too early or too definitively risk missing out on the kind of exploration that will prepare them for adult life.

Like a corporate brand, the personal brand is meant to distill everything you stand for (honesty, integrity, high quality, low prices) into a cohesive identity that can be grasped at a glance. On its website, a college prep and advising company called Dallas Admissions explains the benefits of branding this way: “Each person is complex, yet admissions officers only have a small amount of time to spend learning about each prospective student. The smart student boils down key aspects of himself or herself into their personal ‘brand’ and sells that to the college admissions officer.”

Identifying the key aspects of yourself may seem like a lifelong project, but unfortunately, college applicants don’t have that kind of time. Online, there are dozens of lesson plans and seminars promising to walk students through the process of branding themselves in five to 10 easy steps. The majority begin with questions I would have found panic-inducing as a teenager, such as, “What is the story you want people to tell about you when you’re not in the room?”

Where I hoped others would describe me as “normal” or, in my wildest dreams, “cool,” today’s teenagers are expected to leave this exercise with labels like, Committed Athlete and Compassionate Leader or Environmentally Conscious Musician. Once students have a draft of their ideal self, they’re offered instructions for manifesting it (or at least, the appearance of it) in person and online. These range from common-sense tips (not posting illegal activity on social media) to more drastic recommendations (getting different friends).

It’s not just that these courses cut corners on self-discovery; it’s that they get the process backward. A personal brand is effective only if you can support it with action, so instead of finding their passion and values through experience, students are encouraged to select a passion as early as possible and then rack up the experience to substantiate it. Many college consultants suggest beginning to align your activities with your college ambitions by ninth grade, while the National Institute of Certified College Planners recommends students “talk with parents, guardians, and/or an academic adviser to create a clear plan for your education and career-related goals” in junior high.

The idea of a group of middle schoolers soberly mapping out their careers is both comical and depressing, but when I read student essays today, I can see that this advice is getting through. Over the past few years, I have been struck by how many high school seniors already have defined career goals as well as a C.V. of relevant extracurriculars to go with them. This widens the gap between wealthy students and those who lack the resources to secure a fancy research gig or start their own small business. (A shocking number of college applicants claim to have started a small business.) It also puts pressure on all students to define themselves at a moment when they are anxious to fit in and yet changing all the time.

In the world of branding, a word that appears again and again is “consistency.” If you are Charmin, that makes sense. People opening a roll of toilet paper do not want to be surprised. If you are a teenage human being, however, that is an unreasonable expectation. Changing one’s interests, opinions and presentation is a natural part of adolescence and an instructive one. I find that my students with scattershot résumés are often the most confident. They’re not afraid to push back against suggestions that ring false and will insist on revising their essay until it actually “feels like me.” On the other hand, many of my most accomplished students are so quick to accept feedback that I am wary of offering it, lest I become one more adult trying to shape them into an admission-worthy ideal.

I understand that for parents, prioritizing exploration can feel like a risky bet. Self-insight is hard to quantify and to communicate in a college application. When it comes to building a life, however, this kind of knowledge has more value than any accolade, and it cannot be generated through a brainstorming exercise in a six-step personal branding course online. To equip kids for the world, we need to provide them not just with opportunities for achievement, but with opportunities to fail, to learn, to wander and to change their minds.

In some ways, the college essay is a microcosm of modern adolescence. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a forum for self-discovery or a high-stakes test you need to ace. I try to assure my students that it is the former. I tell them that it’s a chance to take stock of everything you’ve experienced and learned over the past 18 years and everything you have to offer as a result.

That can be a profound process. But to embark on it, students have to believe that colleges really want to see the person behind the brand. And they have to have the chance to know who that person is.

Sarah Bernstein is a playwright, a writing coach and an essayist.

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2024 Masters one and done picks, DFS lineups, fantasy golf projections, sleepers, longshots from golf expert

Mike mcclure locked in his expert pga golf picks, daily fantasy lineups, fantasy golf projections and sleepers for masters 2024 at augusta national.

Brian Harman will try to become the fourth left-handed golfer to win the Masters when the first major of the season begins on Thursday from Augusta National Golf Club. Harman is eighth in the world rankings and the reigning Open Championship winner who also played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He is less than one month removed from a runner-up finish at the Players Championship, but he is a 55-1 longshot in the 2024 Masters odds. Harman has missed the cut in his last two trips to Augusta National, which could be enough for some people to stay away from him with Masters DFS lineups on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel and Masters fantasy golf picks.

Recent form always plays a role in building a winning Masters fantasy golf strategy, and there is no one in better form than Scottie Scheffler. The World No. 1 won back-to-back tournaments in March and is the shortest favorite to win the Masters in more than a decade, so he could be a popular Masters one-and-done pick for fans who have not used him yet this year. Before locking in your 2024 Masters one and done picks, DFS lineups and fantasy golf projections, you need to see what SportsLine DFS pro and PGA expert Mike McClure has to say . 

McClure is a DFS legend with over $2 million in career winnings, and he's been red-hot on his PGA picks dating back to the PGA Tour restart in June of 2020. McClure uses his proprietary simulation model to analyze the field and crush his  golf picks . He is up almost $9,500 on his best bets since the restart.  

McClure's model predicted Jon Rahm would finish on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scottie Scheffler winning in 2022. 

McClure has been on fire with his One and Done picks in 2024. At The American Express, he backed Justin Thomas, who finished in third place and took home $635,600. At the Genesis Invitational, McClure tabbed Patrick Cantlay, who finished in fourth place at the signature event, as his top OAD pick. At the Cognizant Classic, McClure's top one and done pick, Min Woo Lee, finished in a tie for second place. Finally, at the Arnold Palmer Invitation, another signature event, McClure recommended using Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. The result: Scheffler won the event by five strokes, and Zalatoris finished in fourth place. 

This same model has also nailed a whopping 10 majors entering the weekend. Anyone who has followed McClure's picks has seen massive returns.

Now, McClure has dialed in on the 2024 Masters golf tournament and just locked in his one and done picks, DFS projections and Fantasy Golf predictions. They are a must-see for any player looking for an edge. You can only see McClure's Masters 2024 one and done picks, DFS lineups and Fantasy Golf plays at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Masters One and Done picks

One of McClure's top One and Done picks for the Masters is Brooks Koepka. There is no better time to use Koepka in a one-and-done contest than at a major championship, as he already has five major victories. He has won at least one major in four of the previous seven years, including the PGA Championship last year.

Koepka is still seeking his first green jacket after finishing second last year in a tournament in which he entered the final round with the lead. He has three top-10 finishes in his last five trips to Augusta National, including another second-place run in 2019. There is not another golfer in the world who increases his level at majors like Koepka right now, so he is an ideal one-and-done pick this week.  You can see who else to back at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Masters DFS picks, lineup advice

One golfer McClure is targeting in his 2024 Masters DFS lineups is Justin Thomas. Thomas parted ways with caddie Jim Mackay last week after 2.5 years together, which might be the shake-up he needs to get back on track before the first major of the year. Last year was not a banner season for Thomas, who missed six cuts and posted just four top-10 finishes in 21 events.

However, he opened the 2024 season with back-to-back top-six finishes at the American Express and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Thomas ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approaching the green and ninth in birdie average, and iron play is always critical at Augusta National. He is a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour and has won two majors, so McClure likes his chances of finishing high on the leaderboard in the first major of the season.  You can see the rest of McClure's Masters DFS picks at SportsLine . 

Top 2024 Masters Fantasy Golf picks, projections

One of McClure's top fantasy golf picks is Scottie Scheffler. The 27-year-old product of the University of Texas won PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 2019-20, but he didn't capture his first victory on the PGA Tour until 2022. However, it's been a whirlwind since then, with Scheffler winning three more events over the next two months and rising to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He's now spent 80 total weeks at No. 1, including the last 46 weeks, and won two of the last three events that he's played in. He's an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and he's been 19th or better in all four of his career starts at Augusta National Golf Club. He's top four on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: off-the-tee, around-the-green and approach and a putter change has helped make him statistically average against the field as a putter this season.  You can see the rest of McClure's Masters fantasy golf picks at SportsLine . 

How to make Masters 2024 picks, long shot bets

McClure is also targeting targeting six other golfers with odds of 20-1 or longer who will make a strong run at the green jacket. You can find out who they are, and check out all of McClure's Masters picks and best bets at SportsLine .

Who will win the Masters 2024, and which golfers should you target for your PGA one and done picks, DFS lineups, and Fantasy Golf plays this week at Augusta National Golf Club? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike McClure's Masters 2024 one and done picks, DFS lineups and fantasy golf plays  -- and find out.

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