Read the essay requirements. Each school has different guidelines for admissions essays---some ask for a personal statement, others give a general topic to write about and even others provide a list of specific questions. Thoroughly understanding the requirements is essential to writing a winning essay.
List potential topics on paper as you brainstorm. Think of experiences and relationships that impacted you as a person or student. Bates College recommends discussing an experience or relationship that changed your perspective or challenged your beliefs. List significant experiences that affected you, and choose the one that had the most impact.
Develop an outline. List the specific items that you want to discuss in your paper. Relate each item to the topic and include an explanation of how the topic relates to your academic success, character or ability to succeed in college.
Write your first draft based on the outline. Incorporate a thesis into your introduction so that the admissions committee knows "where you're going and what you're trying to communicate from the outset," according to Carleton College.Make sure that each paragraph supports the thesis you establish in the introduction and gives specific examples.
Revise your draft. Look for gaps in information, repetition and generic statements. Ensure that your essay is a personal reflection that tells the admissions committee why you're ready to attend its school. Also, look for typos, grammatical errors and awkward phrasing.
Check that your final draft meets the college's requirements. It should fall within the appropriate word count or page range and effectively answer the question, if the school provided one. If the school requested a title page, header or footer or any other formatting standards, ensure that your essay meets them.