Most college essays will ask for you to write based on a central topic. The topic you select for your essay reflects your preferences and interests. The memorable essays are usually personal reflections that reveal your character. Tell a brief story that sheds light on an enriching experience or how you worked out a difficult problem in the past. Keep your focus narrow and personal.
The college essay is a chance for you to write about your values, preferences, and future plans. Your grades and SAT scores will reflect some part of your academic skills, but the essay is where you can express yourself as a person and the things that make you unique.
Write about your strengths and weaknesses and how you intend to put to use or strengthen the skills you have. Rather than cataloging every extracurricular activities and accomplishments, use the essay to emphasize the skills you have and for which you strive. More important than a student with perfect test scores and no experience in the community, colleges and universities are looking for responsible, well-rounded students for their campuses.
An engaging essay is carefully written with a clear focus but should also be enjoyable to read. You may want to use figurative language or humor to interest your reader, but don't be flippant. Use your writing to show that you are a mature and thoughtful individual. Your essay will most likely be remembered if you can evoke genuine emotions from your reader. Make every word count.
Keep the word count in mind. An admissions committee has numerous application essays to process and will not have time to read your essay if it exceeds the word count limit. Do not settle to write as minimally as you can, but do stick to the word count limit. Going over the limit does not impress anyone, but it does demonstrate your inability to follow directions.
Give yourself plenty of time to develop a polished essay. You will need to proofread and edit before submitting it with your application. After you have completed the first draft, go back and re-read what you have written. Have a teacher or advisor read your essay to provide you with positive and constructive feedback if needed. Make sure your thoughts are clear and organized. Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Careless mistakes may hurt your application. Do not rely on spell check only, as it will not pick up certain misspellings or the misuse of words. Never use seventy-five cent words when penny words will do. Good writing is demonstrated by the use of the right words in the right context and getting your point across in a clear and concise manner.