When deciding who to accept into their programs, colleges consider a number of criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more and more colleges have moved away from considering test scores.
However, many colleges (including Harvard until 2026) have instituted a “test-blind” admissions policy that places less emphasis on other elements of the college application. The policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to take tests, or who suffer from test anxiety.
So what does this mean for you?
Your college essay, traditionally a requirement of every college application, is more important than ever.
The college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to an admissions committee that must sift through thousands of applications each year. It’s your chance to stand out as someone who deserves a spot in that class.
A well-written, thoughtful essay—one that reflects who you are and what you believe—can go a long way toward distinguishing your application from the many forgettable essays that admissions officers read. After all, officers may be relying more on essays now that many colleges no longer consider test scores.
Below, we’ll discuss some strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the crowd. We’ll cover how to start your essay, what to write in your college essay, and the elements that make a great college essay.
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Grab the Reader Right From the Start
You’ll be competing with a ton of other applicants for the attention of admissions officers, so start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that grabs their attention right away. This could be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.
Starting your essay on a strong foundation with a clear thesis statement can often help you along the way. If your assignment is to tell a great story, a bold beginning can be a natural way to get there, serving as a road map, engaging the reader from the start, and setting a purpose for your writing.
Be Authentic
Most importantly, choose a topic or perspective that is consistent with who you are. Readers can sense when a writer is being inauthentic.
Inauthenticity can mean using overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it can mean choosing a frivolous topic that doesn’t say much about you.
Use your own voice, sense of humor, and natural speech.
Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s truly important to you and not something you’ve chosen just to impress others. You can write about a particular experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but don’t be afraid to write about your weaknesses.
Being honest about a trait, situation, or childhood background that you want to improve may be more memorable to readers than a sloppy victory speech.
Focus on Deeper Themes
Many essay writers think they’ll impress the committee by filling their essays with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, such as sports wins or volunteer work. But that’s not the point. Admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.
They want to know what brought you to this point in your life. They want to read about the realizations you may have gained through your struggles and triumphs, not just how many games you won on the soccer team or how many people you served at the soup kitchen.
Tell the reader how winning a soccer game helped you grow as a person, a friend, a family member, or a leader. Make connections to your volunteering at the soup kitchen and how it inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?
Try Something Different
If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from a completely new perspective. While many students may choose to write about their triumphs, for example, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your defeats?
If you are a particularly gifted writer, you may play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the answer to the question until the last sentence.
You want to avoid common themes, such as sports-related obstacles or triumphs, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, summaries of personal accomplishments, or overcoming obstacles.
However, these themes are popular for a reason. They represent the breadth of most people’s lives after high school. As such, it may be less important to avoid these topics than to take a fresh approach.
Show, Don’t Tell
As you develop whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.
The most engaging writing “shows” by setting the scene and providing anecdotes, rather than simply listing accomplishments and activities. Repetitive lists of activities are also boring. Admissions officers want to know about your emotional journey, too.
