Wed, Mar 12, 2025 11:30 AM

Class of 2025, a well-crafted college essay can be the deciding factor in whether an Admissions Representative becomes your student’s biggest advocate. Not only can essays impact college acceptances, but they can also be the key to winning major scholarships.

As the competition heats up, colleges carefully evaluate GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation. If a tie exists between two student’s – their unique essay will often be the deciding factor. So, how can your student write a standout college essay that makes admissions officers say, “Yes, we want you here”?

First, students need to fully understand the prompt before starting their brainstorming. They should take time to explore different ideas and select a compelling topic that highlights their unique qualities, traits, and characteristics. Once they have a direction, they should create an outline to organize their thoughts before writing.

Second, the first draft of the essay should focus on storytelling rather than perfection. Afterward, they should read and revise their essay multiple times, checking for flow, punctuation, grammar, clarity, and the all-important: word count. Does your student tell a compelling story that will catch the reader’s attention for all the right reasons. Reading the essay out loud can help identify awkward phrasing or errors that might be missed otherwise.

Third, it is always good to get feedback from a trusted teacher, mentor, or family member. But students should be cautious about allowing these individuals to over-edit their essay. Admissions officers can tell when an essay has been polished too much, losing the student’s authentic voice.

Finally, colleges are increasingly aware of AI-generated essays and many schools now screen for AI-written content. A computer-generated essay lacks the personal touch that makes a student stand out so proceed with caution when it comes to allowing AI to create your student’s essay. Student’s need to write their own essays because when they get to college – they will have to continue to produce their own work.

With 19 years of experience reading thousands of college essays, I know what admissions officers are looking for. Let’s craft an essay that captures your student’s unique story and boosts their chances of being admitted and receiving scholarships.
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