Posted 4 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025
A guide for high school students
Your college application essay is your opportunity to showcase who you are beyond transcripts and test scores. It's a chance to highlight your personality, values and experiences in a way that helps admissions counselors understand what you’ll bring to a college community.
Whether you're wondering how to start a college essay, what to write about or how to stand out in college applications, the tips below will guide you through how to write a great admissions essay that’s both thoughtful and compelling.
How to write a great admissions essay
Your goal is to show how your experiences have shaped you and how you’ll contribute to a vibrant campus community. Here are our top college application essay tips to help you get started.
Tip 1: Focus on a strong story
Choose a central story, experience or moment that reflects your character and growth. The admissions team wants to learn about who you are, not just what you’ve done. Personal anecdotes — especially ones that reveal growth, resilience or leadership — are often the most powerful.
Tip 2: Get outside perspectives
Stuck on what to write about? Ask friends, teachers or family members what they see as your strongest qualities. They might spark ideas you hadn’t considered. Check out the application essay ideas below to help brainstorm.
Tip 3: Don’t repeat your résumé.
Avoid listing academic achievements or extracurricular activities. That information already exists in your application. Instead, focus on the “why” behind your involvement and how it shaped you.
Tip 4: Show, don’t just tell.
Instead of saying, “I overcame obstacles,” describe the specific challenges and moments of growth. Paint a picture with small details or anecdotes. This will bring your story to life and help you stand out in your college application.
Tip 5: Be authentic.
Use your real voice. Do not rely on AI to write the essay for you. Avoid overly formal or flowery language. Essays that are honest, original and personal resonate the most with admissions readers.
Tip 6: Keep it forward-looking.
Reflect on how your past experiences have prepared you for college — and beyond. Admissions staff want to know how you’ll contribute on campus and what your future goals look like.
Tip 7: Think about community.
Show how you plan to get involved. Whether it’s through clubs, service organizations, leadership roles or creative pursuits, the admissions team appreciates applicants who are excited to be active in their campus community.
College application essay examples
Your topic should reflect your experiences, values and voice. Many schools offer specific prompts to help guide your writing. For example, as part of the UW-La Crosse application, students are asked to respond to one of the following:
- Tell us about any circumstances that may have impacted your academic performance.
- Tell us why you are interested in attending UW-La Crosse and what aspects of the campus are especially important to you.
Not sure how to choose a topic? Ask yourself:
- Have I overcome a significant challenge?
- Do I hold a deeply rooted personal value?
- Have I shown long-term commitment to a cause or activity?
- What skill or interest have I developed deeply—and why?
- Is there a person, character or mentor who shaped who I am today?
- Have I solved a difficult problem that led to growth?
How to start a college application essay
Your opening paragraph matters. Begin with a hook — an engaging first sentence that draws your reader in. This could be a vivid memory, a bold statement or a thought-provoking question.
The rest of the introduction should give the reader a sense of what your essay will explore while showcasing your voice and personality.
Application essay format
When formatting your essay, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Start with an introduction and use clear paragraphs to organize your thoughts.
- Avoid using slang or abbreviations (e.g., “LOL,” “OMG”).
- Use a professional tone, but don’t shy away from letting your personality come through.
- Edit and format on a computer, not a mobile device, to prevent formatting errors.
- Don’t include links to external content — admissions staff may not be able to access them. Instead, describe any supporting material directly in your essay or include it as a separate supplement.
Common application essay mistakes
Proofreading is essential. Your writing ability is part of what colleges are evaluating. Common errors to avoid:
- Confusing there, their and they’re
- Misusing too and to
- Mixing up it’s and its
- Confusing then and than
- Using affect when you mean effect
- Mixing up peek, peak, and pique
- Writing run-on sentences
- Switching tenses unnecessarily
- Skipping a final spell check
Once you've edited your essay, have a teacher, counselor or peer review it. A second pair of eyes can help you catch errors and strengthen your message.
How long should a college application essay be?
Most colleges offer guidance on length. At UWL, each essay response should be between 250 and 650 words. If no word count is provided, aim for 350–400 words — enough to tell a focused, meaningful story without overwhelming the reader.