No college application is complete without a personal essay. Essays are divided into two categories: 

• Common app essay: The common app essay is a 650-word essay that you need to submit through the common app (or other such applications like the Coalition application or universal application). This essay is about you and gives admission counselors a reflection of who you are. 

• University-specific essays: The college-specific essays are essays that you write for individual universities. They show your interest in that particular university. These essays can vary in word limit depending on the university you apply to. Some universities may ask for no essays at all while others may ask for four essays of 500 words each. 

Essays to universities in the US are offered in a variety of topics but almost all of them seek to ask you the following three things:

• Who are you and what have you achieved?

• Why are you a good fit for our university??

• Why our university?

So here are some tips that will make it easier for you to write the perfect essay.

1. Break the essay question into parts and choose a story from your life that best fits the topic. Then create an outline and make sure that you answer all the questions. 

2. Give the admission counselors something that they can remember! They are reading over 100 applications each day and at the end of the day, if they remember your story, you’re in! Tell your story and make it unique. Advertise yourself!

3. Don’t just narrate a story rather reflect on it. Anyone can write about how they won a big game or how they scored well on an exam. Universities want to know your personality and who you are at your core. Describe what you learned from the experience and how it changed you.

4. Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer and rate your essay: Is the essay interesting? Do the ideas flow logically? Does it reveal something about the applicant? Is it written in the applicant’s own voice? Make sure to say something that hasn’t been said.

5. Don’t tell them what you think, they want to hear. Tell them who you are and be truthful. The rest will fall in place. Admission counselors are experienced and read 100s of essays on a daily basis. They will find out if you are making something up or not telling the real story.

6. Start early. Don’t write about the first thing that comes to your mind. Think about more ideas. Write multiple drafts and make your essay concrete. We have seen students revising their 15th draft sometimes. It’s never too much! 

Make sure you get your essays reviewed by people who know you well. Also, make your friends, parents, and teachers read your drafts and incorporate their suggestions. Our counselors at UniRely can assist you with the essays and help make sure that your application stands out!