Describe the specific reasons you chose this school. According to the SUNY Buffalo English Department, a good entrance essay discusses the characteristics that make a school the right place for you. Mention the faculty, resources and opportunities that make you particularly interested in that school over any other school. An admissions committee wants to know that an education from their institution is meaningful to you and is not just a random choice.
Persuade the admission committee why you are a better choice for acceptance than another student with similar interests and grades. The University of California Berkeley Career Center recommends you focus on conveying a specific purpose throughout your essay: that you are uniquely suited to performing well at the school. Discuss specific experiences that make you special, such as internships and challenges you have overcome.
Cite examples from your academic experience that show you are capable of meeting college's academic challenges. The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recommends providing specific details instead of generalizations; instead of boasting of your "superior research skills," tell the admissions committee about the summer you spent helping your biology teacher in his lab.
College is not just about academic success; the admissions committee will want to know that you are capable of handling the social side of college life. The Bates College Admission Office recommends sharing stories of personal growth such as a time your beliefs were challenged. Point to jobs, volunteer work and other specific examples of your maturity.
Academic potential is not all a school looks for. Harvard College, for example, seeks to enroll well-rounded students just as much as they seek applicants who excel in one specific area. Do not spend your high school years preparing a brilliant admission resume at the expense of exploring your passions and interests outside of school. While admissions committees appreciate signs of good citizenship and academic seriousness, people who lead balanced lives, not grade-seeking zombies are the students, are more likely to eventually distinguish their alma mater.