Determine the scope and slant of your essay. You can conduct extensive research into the school and its degree programs to determine how the school will be able to best meet your academic and vocational needs, or you can choose to be creative and provide a story from your past that shows who you are and what your character is like. Finding a balance between the two is also an effective approach.
Brainstorm to determine which direction to go with your paper. Think about different life experiences that you may have had that might make interesting stories to include in an admission essay. These stories should point to episodes in your life that show your unique qualities and characteristics that set you apart from other applicants. You can also brainstorm about what degree programs or fields of study you wish to pursue.
Select one story that you can use for your essay. Your essay will likely be about 500 words, so more than one story from your past is unlikely to fit within the parameters of the essay. Choose a story that you can remember as many details as possible about. A story that includes both a narrative retelling of events and insightful introspective insight into who you are will help the admission committee see who you are and and that have developed a sense of self awareness that some college students do not develop until they have been in school for several years.
Write an introduction that hooks the reader. Randall Hansen of Quintessential Careers suggests that your essay reader will likely read your essay for about one or two minutes at most. Spending the most time developing your introduction is a good way to leverage your time so that you can draw the reader into the essay. Begin your essay with your personal story. Rather than just telling a story, however, immerse the reader in your past and take them right into your story. Make the story central essay.
Research the institution to which you are applying. Determine which fields of study you intend to pursue. Research the strengths of the school you are applying to and how the programs offered will benefit you if you decide to attend school there. Tie your personal story to your choice of school and degree programs so that the reader is led to believe that your admission is the natural culmination of your lifelong journey towards the moment in which you were admitted to the school.