Choose an essay topic that is relevant to your life. Ultimately, what you choose to write about should concentrate on a topic of real significance to you. Colleges will evaluate your essay choice to learn about your preferences, mental processes, depth of knowledge, critical thinking abilities and creativity. An impressive essay will be personal, well thought-out and concise. Good topics to write about include your family, your sports team, a favorite vacation or a best friend.
Organize any ideas you have so you can start to create a focus for your essay. All essay prompts aim to get to know the writer better, so it's best to start by writing down traits about yourself. Make a list of characteristics about yourself as a person and how those characteristics can be considered your strengths. For example, you can write about whether you are committed and responsible or whether you're diligent and attentive. Next to each trait, write down four to five pieces of evidence you have to back up those characteristics. After that list is completed, make a second list that aims to highlight your accomplishments and why you are proud of them. For example, if you were on the honor roll for four consecutive years in high school, it is worth mentioning in the exercise. You can also make a list of places you have been to, such as different countries you have visited, and explain how those experiences have impacted your life. After the lists are completed, consider researching yourself by talking with your parents, friends and peers to see what they have to say about you as a person. Write down what is said so that you're later able to compare it with your lists.
Write your draft essay with three parts in mind: the introduction, the body and the conclusion. Your introduction should give the reader an idea of the essay's content focus. To be the most effective, the introduction should be descriptive but also concise. The essay's body should be written like a narrative and should back up your introduction. The body is the opportunity to tell the story you want to convey and should be told through description and narration. The essay's conclusion should be brief and should summarize your introduction and your body; the purpose of the conclusion is to pull the entire essay together so it is comprehensive and informative.
Begin editing your drafted work after you decide you have a good body of writing to work with. Read the essay from start to finish, and begin correcting the essay of any and all grammatical errors. Check the essay for syntax and overall comprehension. Go back to areas you are unsure of, and change the language. Keep the language as simple as possible. Proofread the essay again, and have your parents, relatives or friends go over your work to make suggestions. The goal for the essay is for it to be impressive and highly regarded by admissions staff -- keeping it clear and focused is the most effective way to accomplish this goal.