Brainstorm ideas for your essay. Give yourself at least a week to think about and write down topics. Get the creative juices flowing by writing down notes on your most impressive accomplishments, your most admirable skills, important moments in your life, struggles you have overcome, your hopes for the future and anything else that comes to mind. Write down everything, even if think you won't use it.
Narrow your list to five or six choices. Brainstorm more on each idea to see if one stands out among the rest. Think strong descriptive paragraphs filled with personal anecdotes when you choose an idea. The topic of the essay isn't as important as the way you tell it. Ask yourself if you can write an essay that tells the admissions committee something unique about yourself.
Write an outline. Include an introduction and conclusion, as well as several paragraphs in the body, each with a different element that adds to your story. Use a thesis sentence to sum up the main point you make in the essay. This sentence should serve as a guide to keep you on track as you write. Remember, Ivy League schools receive thousands of applications from talented and accomplished students. Mention a few of your weaknesses and state how you plan to overcome them, rather than writing the entire essay on your most impressive accomplishments.
Write the essay based on your outline. Refer back to your brainstorming in Steps 1 and 2 for anecdotes or stories you can build into your essay. Use proper spelling and grammar and write in a style that's natural. The way you write something says as much about you as the story itself. Admissions committees look for an essay where your personality comes through.
Proofread and revise your essay, then set it aside for a few days. Ask some of your teachers to criticize the first draft and make any needed revisions.