Outline your thoughts before you begin. This will help you organize your thoughts and keep you from rambling on and on.
Follow all directions. Some colleges might have guidelines for your to follow or give you a prompt to write about. If they do, make sure you do each one.
Write about who you are. This means to write about you and what makes you unique, as well as where you want to end up in your life. If you have not quite figured that out yet, it is okay. State some of your interests (such as art, history, etc.) and what you plan to pursue while in college.
State your goals. Ask yourself the following question: Where do I see myself after college? Once you have stated your goal, talk about how you plan to achieve it during college and afterwards.
Write about what makes you special. It will be safe to assume that you are applying to a college that has limited spaces and that other applicants will probably have just as many awards and recommendations as you do. In order to stand out, think about what truly makes you unique and how that has played a part in all your successes. Really sell yourself on this one. Colleges are looking for people that stand out, and you want to make sure your star shines brighter than the other applicants'.
Proofread your statement more than once. This not only goes for grammar and punctuation, but for the smoothness of the essay's wording. Perhaps you did not express yourself as clearly as you could have. Read the essay out loud to see if it makes sense. Do not assume that once you are finished the first time that everything is ready to send.