* Write about something personal that tells a story about you. Write about something you know or have experienced.  The essay needs to give the reader a sense of who you are.  While the essay should address something personal, be very careful exploring topics that are generally uncomfortable or taboo.  For some good examples of bad topics, read this.

* Follow directions. Be sure that your essay addresses the question that is asked and that the length of the essay falls within the range indicated – generally 250-500 words in length, or one to two pages. Applications often include instructions on essay topic and length.  Admissions officers reading through hundreds – sometimes thousands – of applications appreciate students who adhere to the guidelines.

* Begin your essay with a clever opening. An attention grabbing beginning is likely to catch the eye of the reader.  Be sure the rest of the essay passes muster so you can hold the reader’s attention.  The essay should be engaging and the body and conclusion need to support what you set out to discuss in your opening.

* Avoid submitting your resume in essay form. Don’t repeat yourself by restating your extracurricular activities in your personal statement.  Your activity sheet should include all of these involvements and achievements already.  Your essay needs to explore a topic that is not already described in your application—unless you have something compelling to share about a particular experience that cannot be captured on your activity sheet.

* Proofread your essay. Review the essay with an eye for mechanics.  Correct all typos and grammatical errors.  Be mindful of your tone.  Make sure that your essay is neither too formal, nor too informal.  Any careless mistakes will signal to the admissions officer that you are not serious about your candidacy.

Remember that there is a real, live person reading your application.  Writing the college essay is a challenge, but also a great opportunity for you to share who you are and what makes you unique.

One of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits, shared a post last week entitled, “Life is Poetry.” It begins with a quote attributed to the venerable Mahatma Gandhi: “My life is my message.”

It’s a quote that resonated with me and I thought it might resonate with you also.  In a lot of ways, your application essay will be your message to an admissions office.  I think this is what makes it such a difficult part of the application process.  What message do you send?  Which of your ideas, thoughts or experiences will help your case?

There is new documentary called In 500 Words or Less that follows 9 high school seniors as they grapple with, among other things, writing the college essay.  (I’ve only been able to view the trailer, as it’s still only available through select screenings.  You can visit the In 500 Words or Less Facebook page for a listing of their current screenings.  For now, there are screenings scheduled in New York City, Austin, Orlando and St. Louis in October and November.)  When it becomes available to the wider public, I’ll post it on my blog.

Until then, I’d like to hear from you: what is your strategy for choosing your college application essay topic?  What do you hope to convey to the admissions committee by your choice of topic?

1. Demonstrate leadership.

Selective colleges aim to attract student leaders to their campuses.  Community service projects can provide terrific opportunities for you to showcase your leadership talents.  Be sure to keep an accounting of the ways in which you’ve helped an organization or project grow, as these can make good talking points for interviews and essays.  Simply founding an organization that is a reflection of your interests can also be perceived as leadership.  So if you’re having trouble finding an opportunity that is a reflection of your interests, create one!

2. Discuss the experience in an essay.

Even if you did not found a community service organization or play a leadership role within one, writing a thoughtful piece about the experience can turn what appears to be a run-of-the-mill resume item into a compelling part of your application package.

3. Use your letter of recommendation.

The letter of recommendation can sometimes be used to your advantage in ways that may not be apparent to you.  If the admissions office discourages the use of addenda, simply ask your recommenders if they would feel comfortable including their thoughts about your service work in their letters to colleges.  Explain why this is important to you and offer them a resume detailing your service.  Ultimately, it is up to the person writing the recommendation whether or not they will include this information, but taking the all important step of helping to craft this thread of your life story into your admissions application should bode well for you.

4. Consider the rest of your application.

Finally, keep in mind that all of this will be considered in the context of your entire application.  If it is apparent that you have very a strong interest in music, offering free lessons at your local community center will not only help to support a theme that is already developing in your application, but will give your application some depth and dimension.  If you pick a service project at random to highlight, it may or may not have a similar effect.  Reading an application from an introverted student who also tutors disadvantaged youth in her spare time can help an admissions officer envision a student on campus who is capable of interacting with others and contributing to her college community.