You've identified your unique narrative and chosen your essay topic—now comes the moment many students dread: actually writing the essay. Staring at a blank page with 650 words to capture your essence can feel overwhelming, but the writing process doesn't have to be intimidating when you understand the structure and techniques that make essays memorable.
The difference between a good college essay and a great one often comes down to execution. While your story and narrative provide the foundation, how you tell that story determines whether admissions officers at top universities will remember you among thousands of other applicants.
📘 Before you dive in, watch our "Secrets to a Standout College Application Essay" webinar, hosted by our Dewey Smart founder and CEO, Michael Gao. In just one hour, you'll discover the exact methodology that helped students get into Columbia, UPenn, and Brown:
✅ How to start strong: Outline vs. free-write
✅ Storytelling techniques that stand out
✅ Creative formats: chapters, dialogue, montage
✅ Editing tips to refine voice and flow
When it comes to beginning your college essay, you have two viable paths, and the best choice depends on your personality and writing style.
If you prefer organization and clear roadmaps, creating an outline can provide the structure you need. However, avoid falling into the trap of the traditional five-paragraph essay format. Admissions officers have read countless essays that follow the intro-three body paragraphs-conclusion structure, and it rarely stands out.
Instead, think of your outline as a flexible framework. Plan your key points, but leave room for creativity and natural flow. Your outline should guide you, not constrain you.
If you're someone who thinks better through writing, embrace the chaos of a brain dump. Start writing everything you can think of related to your topic. Let your thoughts flow naturally onto the page without worrying about organization or word count.
This approach often works well for students who tend to overthink structure. You can write multiple paragraphs and stories, then organize them later. Many successful essays emerge from this organic process because it allows authentic voice and genuine emotion to surface naturally.
Remember, you're not writing an academic paper—you're telling a story that happens to be about you. Think less like a history professor writing a textbook and more like a novelist crafting a compelling narrative.
This classic writing advice is particularly crucial for college essays. Instead of stating "I learned the importance of teamwork," show the reader a specific moment when you experienced teamwork in action. Use sensory details, dialogue, and concrete examples to make your experiences come alive on the page.
Your opening sentence should grab the reader's attention immediately. Admissions officers read hundreds of essays, so you need to give them a reason to engage with yours from the very first line.
Consider starting with:
While you don't want to be gimmicky, thoughtful creative elements can make your essay memorable. Some successful techniques include:
The key is ensuring these elements serve your story rather than distracting from it.
While there's no single "correct" structure for college essays, successful essays typically follow a pattern that keeps readers engaged while building toward a meaningful conclusion.
Start with a specific anecdote or moment that hooks the reader and introduces your main theme. For example, if your narrative centers on curiosity and problem-solving, you might open with a scene of you taking apart a broken appliance to understand how it works.
This opening story should feel like a natural entry point into your larger narrative, not a random event you've chosen simply because it's dramatic.
After your opening hook, build your story chronologically. This doesn't mean you need to cover years of your life, but there should be a clear progression that helps readers follow your journey of growth or discovery.
Each paragraph should advance your narrative while revealing something new about your character, values, or perspective.
By the time readers reach your conclusion, your main message shouldn't be a surprise—your story should have been building toward it all along. However, the conclusion is where you explicitly state your narrative and connect it to your future goals.
This is your opportunity to clearly articulate why you're interested in your chosen field of study and what you hope to contribute to the college community.
While the chronological narrative structure tends to be more engaging, some students find success with the montage approach. This structure involves taking your central theme and exploring it through three different examples or experiences.
For instance, if your theme is "finding beauty in unexpected places," you might write three paragraphs about discovering beauty in mathematics, in urban architecture, and in community service. While this approach can work, it tends to be less dynamic than a cohesive narrative.
Check out other blogs we've written on perfecting college essays.
Once you've completed your first draft, the real work begins. Editing is where good essays become great, and it's a step many students rush through to their detriment.
The most important editing technique is reading your essay aloud. Don't just read it silently or skim through it—actually speak the words. If you stumble while reading, that's a sign the writing needs smoothing.
Reading aloud helps you identify:
Ask yourself these critical questions:
Getting input from others can be valuable, but be strategic about whose opinions you seek. Too much feedback from too many people can pull your essay in different directions and dilute your authentic voice.
Choose two or three people whose judgment you trust—ideally including someone with college admissions experience—and focus on their most consistent feedback.
Several mistakes can undermine even the best essay topics:
Trying to cover everything: Remember, you have 650 words to tell one compelling story. Don't try to summarize your entire high school experience.
Using overly formal language: Your essay should sound like you, not like a academic paper. Use your natural voice while maintaining appropriate professionalism.
Ending weakly: Your conclusion should leave readers with a clear understanding of who you are and what you'll bring to their campus.
Forgetting your audience: Remember that admissions officers are reading your essay to learn about you as a potential member of their community.
While some students can navigate the essay writing process independently, many benefit from college essay guidance. Professional college counseling services can help you identify when your essay isn't working and provide specific suggestions for improvement.
Experienced counselors have read thousands of successful essays and can spot issues that might not be obvious to students or parents. They can help you strengthen your narrative, improve your structure, and ensure your authentic voice comes through clearly.
Whether you're aiming for Ivy League admissions or other competitive programs, professional guidance can make the difference between an essay that gets overlooked and one that gets you noticed.
The college application process represents a significant investment of time and effort. Getting professional support for such a crucial component can be one of the best decisions you make during your high school college prep journey.
