Reflect on an experience that changed your life for the better. An essay that focuses on this topic gives the admissions committee insight into your character and the things that you're passionate about. Don't simply provide a narrative of the experience; reflect on the experience in the context of the impact it had on you. Perhaps your summer job as a camp counselor inspired you to pursue a degree in special education because of a camper you met.
You don't want to make excuses in your college entrance essay, but if your application shows a sharp shift in grades or an imbalance between grades and test scores, you can use the essay to explain this discrepancy. However, explain it in a larger context. For example, if you experienced a family tragedy during your junior year, and that impacted your first-semester grades, explain the situation. Provide insight into how this event built your character or improved your outlook.
Students often struggle with open-ended essay questions, but take advantage of these questions to write about what motivates you. Not all students know what they want to do before they start college, but if you do, talk about it. More import, explain how the school you're applying to can help you achieve your career goals. If you want to be an investigative journalist and the school has a top journalism program, make the connection. Talk about the opportunities you foresee in college and explain how you'll tackle them.
Write about an influential person in your life in your entrance essay. Choose someone who impacted your life in a positive way and influenced how you think or behave. Talk about that influential person in the context of your own life. What did his actions teach you? Did they inspire you to become a better person? Most important: How will those changes benefit the school if they admit you?