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What Admissions Officers Look for in Your College Essay?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Anna Smist, a Yale Admissions Officer, i n a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Writing about specific moments.

• Appealing to Admissions Officers

When it comes time to submit these essays, you will either be applying through QuestBridge , the coalition application , or the common application . Essays are one of the most important portions of a student’s college application. They present an irreplaceable opportunity to paint a picture for the admissions officers of who you are. College essays do pose their unique set of challenges, but there are tricks to help students with this process. 

To get started, think about the purpose behind these essays. A student has about 500 words or less to convey their story to admissions officers. When you’re writing, your topic doesn’t have to be about anything specific; it can be more general. Some of the best essays students have submitted were not about detailed descriptions of their interests but an experience.

You can start with a general topic, such as your interests or extracurricular activities, and then dive deeper into a specific experience you had in one of those topics. An example could be writing about a relationship that you have with someone, but, instead of talking about the relationship, you can reflect on a conversation you had with them. This will bring a personal aspect to the essay and make the reader feel more connected to you as the writer. Similar things can be done with places. If you want to write about a place that has meaning to you, you can dive into a particular event that happened at that location and why it has meaning to you. Your essays are all about bringing the reader into your life, and the best way to accomplish that is by writing about specific events.

Appealing To Admissions Officers

Making your story unique.

Students shouldn’t write about anything too general, and there are no cookie-cutter expectations for students’ essay topics. When you approach your essays, try to write about something only you can talk about. There are thousands of students writing about the same topic as you are, so you have to find a way to differentiate yourself from the others. This is what admissions officers are looking for in your essays. They want to read about a unique story or memory that no other student could have written about except for you. 

Let Your Voice Shine Through

Ultimately, when it comes from your voice or your view, it’s going to sound unique and different. Think about books and movies. Many are over the same topic, but the way the story is told matters a lot. When you read a novel from the first-person perspective, you get inside that person’s head for a moment and get to see how they think. Reading essays is something admissions officers really like because they get to know the student. When you are writing your essay, make sure your voice comes through . Admissions officers want to know what kind of student you are and how you will fit into their campus community. The best way for them to understand this is through your essays. 

Students often share topics or stories that the admissions officers might not be familiar with. For example, when writing about your diverse experience in terms of sexuality, gender, or race, the admissions officer reading it might not be familiar with your exact experience. No matter your topic, make sure you provide some context to your essays so that no matter who the admissions officer is, your story will come across.

If you’re looking for some examples of college essays to help get you started, check out this post: 19 Stellar Common App Essay Examples .

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How Colleges Read Your Application: A 4 Step Process

How selective colleges read your application.

Bonus Material: Behind-the-Scenes Look at College Admissions

Do you know what happens after you submit your application?

In our post What College Admissions Officers Look For , we took a high-level look at what colleges look for in students.

In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into how they actually read and process your application.

We’ll focus mostly on the mechanics and structure of the admissions reading process at selective schools like Princeton, NYU, Stanford, and Vanderbilt.  

Plus, we give our readers free access to our Behind-the-Scenes Look at College Admissions, which examines two actual applications to Columbia College and their admission decisions. Grab this below.

Download Behind-the-Scenes Look

Here’s what we cover:

• Where Did We Get Our Data?
• Step 1: Screen and Sort
• Step 2: Individual Reads
• Step 3: Committee
• Step 4: Final Decision

Major Takeaways

• What About COVID-19 and College Admissions?

How I Got Into Princeton Series

• Bonus: Behind-the-Scenes Look at College Admissions

What Data Did We Use?

Many parents are surprised when we explain that a lot of information about the admissions process is publicly available. Like burger chain In & Out’s “secret” menu, much of the process is not so secretive anymore!

For example:

• Many former Ivy League admissions officers have written books and articles revealing the “secrets” of the college admissions process
• NYU admissions officers share their experiences on an official school blog
• New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg was given behind-the-scenes access of the admissions process at Wesleyan University and wrote a book about it
• Lawsuits against schools like the University of Texas at Austin and Princeton University claiming discrimination in the admissions process have produced detailed, publicly available information about the admissions process at those schools

For this article, we reviewed the above sources (and many more) to dig into the admissions process at several schools, including:

• Dartmouth College
• Duke University
• Hamilton College
• Harvard University
• New York University
• Princeton University
• Stanford University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Texas at Austin
• Vanderbilt University
• Wesleyan University

Note : These sources were published between 2002 to 2017. While certain details might now be different, the overall process should not have changed much.

The College Admissions Reading Process

Each college has its own specific way of judging applicants. The general admissions process of the schools we researched, however, is remarkably similar!

Selective admissions processes typically follow these four steps:

•  Screen & Sort – organizing the apps and sending them to the appropriate admissions officer
•  Individual Reads – one, two, three, or more individual reads to form initial impressions
•  Committee – deliberation of applications among a group
•  Final Decision – the lucky few are selected, financial aid packages are created, and acceptance letters are mailed out

We’ll take a deep dive into each of these steps next.

Step #1: Screen and Sort

Selective schools can receive upwards of tens of thousands of applications! Take a look at this table to see the stats for 2020.

2020 Applications and Admittances

The first part of the admissions process is getting organized! This usually means sorting and sending applications to the appropriate regional team.

Admissions officers are often assigned to a geographic region. In addition to reading applications from their region, they are also responsible for recruiting students and getting to know the local high schools and guidance counselors.

Numerical Scoring

Numerical scores are sometimes calculated for each applicant. This is simply an attempt to incorporate some sort of organization and scientific rigor into a very qualitative process.

• Princeton assigns Academic and Non-Academic ratings  on a 5 point scale (1 is the highest rating, 5 is the lowest). They also have a rating for “Institutional Priority.”
• Stanford gives scores in multiple categories : Tests, High School Records, Letters of Recommendation, Non-Academic, Support (Letters of Recommendation), Non-Academic, Self-Presentation and Intellectual Vitality

How are these scores generated?

Depending on the school, a staff member or regional coordinator may scan the application and apply the initial scores before the first read, initial readers may be responsible for generating this score, or the scores may be computed automatically by a computer system.

The Academic Index for Recruited Athletes

If you are a recruited athlete in the Ivy League (and increasingly in other schools as well), you are also assigned an Academic Index. This is calculated based on standardized test scores and high school GPA . Academic Indexes range from around 170 to 240.

The purpose of the Academic Index, or AI, is to ensure that:

• Every recruited athlete meets a minimum AI of at least 176
• The academic credentials of recruited athletes is no more than 1 standard deviation below that of the rest of the student body

Ivy League institutions have agreed to uphold these standards to keep the athletic playing field competitive while maintaining high academic standards. Just like the other ratings used in college admissions, a high AI is great, but it won’t guarantee admission.

Step #2: Individual Reads

The main job of the first reader is to pass an initial, fair judgment on a new application.

First readers have varying levels of experience. Some are hired part-time to supplement the admissions team. Some are fresh out of college.

Immediately after graduation, my college roommate served as an admissions officer for Princeton University, responsible for first reads in his region. This was his first job, and he was 22 years old when he started.

After the first read, which often takes less than 10 minutes, an initial idea of how competitive the candidate is forms. In some cases, the first reader assigns a written recommendation of Accept, Deny, Likely, or Unlikely (or some other variation).

The first reader is sometimes responsible for creating an application summary card and creating detailed notes for each application.

Application Summary & Notes

The application summary card lists key details about the applicant. Admissions officers are responsible for reading thousands of applications over the course of several months and will often review an application file at various times, so summary cards are essential for allowing a quick scan of an application and refreshing their memories.

Note-taking is also essential. Admissions officers often take important notes on a card that follows the application from officer to officer and ultimately to committee. Nowadays, physical reader cards might be replaced with digitized versions, but the idea is the same.

If the application goes to committee, the first reader may be responsible for presenting/summarizing the application to the committee group and advocating for the applicant.

Second and Third Reads

Some schools (e.g. NYU) will go to committee after the first read. Many other selective schools have two or more reads before the next stage of the process.

Admissions readers and officers go through intensive training to provide standardized and objective judgements. However, they have varying levels of admissions experience and their assessments and opinions might be shaped by their individual backgrounds and preferences.

Or, perhaps the first reader was having a bad day and missed something. Maybe he has more knowledge about science achievements and extracurriculars, while a colleague has broader knowledge about music and athletic achievements.

The second and third read can be thought of as a validation or second opinion for the first read.

This additional perspective is especially helpful for more subjective and difficult to judge scenarios, like these:

• How do you rate an underrepresented minority at an under-resourced school with a great essay, okay grades, and few extracurriculars because he was working after school?
• How much do you value the impact of certain “hooks,” like alumni legacies, 1st generation students, exceptional talent, or departmental needs?
• How do you make subjective judgments about character and personal qualities to determine “fit” for the class?

According to a Dartmouth admissions officer who kept her identity a secret,

“You expect it to be more numbers driven than it is, but the message we always got was to make sure we consider everything else in the application…There’s a high degree of subjectivity, at least in the first read, but that’s what the second and third read are for. The probability that you get two people in a bad mood is … lower than the probability that you get one person in a bad mood.”

Many schools make sure most applications receive at least two full reads before going to committee.

The second reader will add additional input and notes to the applicant’s file. The second reader often agrees with the comments and recommendations of the first reader but sometimes they will disagree.

The first and second reads (and third reads, etc.) are usually done individually and at home on the admissions officer’s own time.

Faced with an increasing number of applications, admissions teams from schools like the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore are implementing a team-based method of reading applications to further streamline the process.

According to the Daily Pennsylvanian :

“Under Penn’s new regimen, admissions officers split into teams of two and read one application at the same time in the office. Then they discuss the application together and come to a consensus before passing it along.

After the team of two screens the application, it is given to admission officers responsible for the geographic region where the applicant lives. An exceptional applicant may skip this step and be handed immediately to a selection committee that includes school-based representatives. This committee will make the final decision on a potential acceptance.”

Not Everybody Goes to Committee After Individual (or Team) Reads

Some schools can make a decision after the initial reading process without sending the application to committee.

• Schools with very quantitative admissions processes (e.g. large state schools) can make decisions without significant group deliberation
• A senior admissions officer may have ultimate discretion to make the final decision after reading the notes and scores from the initial reading process

In The Gatekeepers , which takes an in-depth, behind the scenes view of Wesleyan’s admissions process, New York Times journalist Jacques Steinberg shares his observations and research about the reading process at different schools.

He talks about Stanford’s committee process, or lack of it:

“At Stanford, for example, the officers rarely met as a committee, which meant that the odds of someone sympathetic being able to advocate to the group…are low.”

At Wesleyan, when readers arrived at a consensus on an application, the director of admissions would often endorse the choice, forgoing the need for committee deliberation.

“In the main round, in which there would be nearly six thousand applicants, each application would be read by two officers and then sent on to Greg Pyke, the interim director of admissions. If the two readers were in consensus on a decision, Greg would likely endorse the choice. But if there was a split recommendation, he would probably send that application to the committee for consideration during a series of meetings in early March.”

For many schools, however, final decisions are made in Committee, where a group of individuals discuss student applications and pass final judgment.

3. Committee

Every school has a slightly different committee process, but the overall idea behind committee judgement is similar.

A group of individuals gets together to discuss and decide the fate of your application. The group considers the notes, scores, and recommendations of the initial readers. A discussion ensues and each officer can share their opinion on the fit of the candidate for the school.

Hamilton’s Committee Process: Senior Officer Has Final Say

In Creating A Class , Mitchell L. Stevens describes the Committee process at Hamilton, a selective liberal arts school:

“The primary form for evaluative storytelling in the office was committee, the weeks-long series of meetings during which officers consider and collectively determine the fate of applications. In contrast to the quiet solitude of reading and rating, storytelling was collaborative and often highly theatrical.”

Admissions officers from the initial reading process use their “pink sheet” (application summary form) and read off key details from the application (grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essay comments, recommendation letter summaries, family information, initial recommendations for Admit/Defer/Wait List/Deny) to a committee of at least three officers. The Dean or Assistant Dean is present.

After the presentation and a discussion (sometimes debate) between committee members, the most senior officer has final authority over each decision.

At Hamilton, committee evaluations for easier decisions can take 5 minutes, but some cases can take 30 minutes or more.

Wesleyan’s Committee Process: Quick Discussion & Majority Vote

In The Gatekeepers , Jacques Steinberg describes the very fast committee process at Wesleyan:

“It was those committee hearings, coming just days before final decisions were due, that provided the most visible drama of the admissions process. In a form of sudden death, each applicant would be discussed by the committee for no more than five minutes, after which a vote would be called…the majority, again, would carry the day.”

NYU’s Committee Process: All Applications Debated in Committee

NYU admissions officer Rebecca Larson describes the committee and final judgment process in the official school admissions blog :

“Our team re-reviews the notes the first reader took on your application. The first reader will discuss your grades, the rigor of your curriculum, extra-curricular involvement, fit for NYU, quality of your essays, and what your teachers/counselor had to say about you. Once we read those notes, the committee discusses what to do with your application. We may vote to admit, deny, wait list, or refer a student to a different program at NYU–there are lots of different outcomes for each application.”

Sometimes committee goes smoothly and other times the group is split between a particular decision. While we all get along well, we will get into arguments over some students. The benefit of committee comes from the diverse perspective each admissions counselor brings to the group–one counselor may see something in an application that another counselor doesn’t, and that dialogue is really important as we build the class.

We do this 63,000 times! Then we go back and look at our admissions decisions one last time to make sure all students received an individualized and holistic review. Once our decisions are finalized, applications are sent over to the Office of Financial Aid where students are packaged with scholarships, loans, grants and work study opportunities.”

Harvard’s Committee Process: 2 Step-Process Involving Faculty

Harvard uses a two-step committee process that involves the faculty. A subcommittee discusses and votes on an applicant, and then they present their recommendations to the larger full committee. Harvard’s Dean Fitzsimmons describes the process in an interview with the New York Times :

“Each subcommittee normally includes four to five members, a senior admissions officer, and faculty readers.

Once all applications have been read and the subcommittee process begins, the area representative acts as an advocate, and summarizes to the subcommittee the strengths of each candidate. Subcommittee members discuss the application, and then vote to recommend an action to the full Committee. Majorities rule, but the degree of support expressed for applicants is always noted to allow for comparisons with other subcommittees.

Subcommittees then present and defend their recommendations to the full committee. While reading or hearing the summary of any case, any committee member may raise questions about the proposed decision and request a full review of the case.

Many candidates are re-presented in full committee. Discussions in subcommittee or in full committee on a single applicant can last up to an hour. The full Committee compares all candidates across all subcommittees, and therefore across geographic lines.”

4. Final Decision

By the end of committee, colleges will be close to the finish line.

Colleges must consider the size and selectivity of the various schools within their College (e.g. Engineering vs. Arts and Sciences). They also must consider their institutional priorities, like strong athletics and diversity, as they make their final decisions.

Typically, after the final decision, admitted applications get sent for consideration of scholarships, loans, grants, and work study opportunities before final decisions letters are mailed out.

To recap, in this post, we took a comprehensive look at the mechanics of the application reading process.

Here are some big takeaways:

1. The admissions reading process of selective schools is remarkably similar

The process will most likely resemble some version of these four steps:

• Individual reads
• Final decision

Larger, less selective schools will have a less “holistic” approach that make quicker decisions based mostly on academics.

There’s no need for you to spend an inordinate amount of time researching the reading process of all the schools on your list. Understand the general reading process (which you’ve already done if you’ve made it this far) and you’ll be set!

2. Your application is read quickly

Admissions officers will often average less than 15 minutes to assess your entire application. How long exactly? It varies by school. Check out former UVA Associate Dean of Admission Parke Muth’s interesting post about “fast and slow reads .”

What should you do with this information? Make a strong first impression! Quickly and effectively communicate your strengths in your application.

3. Admissions officers are real people!

For example, NYU admissions officers look like this:

Rebecca Larson (the admissions officer in the middle) really likes One Direction, looks forward to the the snacks her colleagues bring in for their committee meetings, and genuinely seems like she’s having fun at work.

What should you do with this information? Put a face on the process to make things less intimidating and help you create a more personal application.

4. Quantitative scoring is often used, but the process is very qualitative and subjective

Numbers and guidelines are used to create a standardized, efficient sorting process. However, at the end of the day, your application is being judged by real people with emotions and feelings. What’s more, colleges have something very specific they’re looking for.

What does this mean you should do? Tell a story through your application that is personal and emotionally engaging and you might be able to convince an admissions officer to go to bat for you during committee!

It can be discouraging to hear that your application is read fairly quickly.

However, please do not confuse “quickly” with “not carefully.” Admissions officers are experts in digesting a lot of information in a short amount of time. They understand the impact their decisions have and are extremely deliberate in their decisions. Most admissions officers genuinely care about your prospects and are looking for ways to accept, not reject you.

COVID-19 and College Admissions

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced the way that colleges look at applications.

It’s revealed a lot about equity and access, for one thing. It’s also made it difficult for students to zero in on certain aspects of applications, like extracurricular activities and standardized test scores.

COVID has definitely impacted what colleges look for in applications, especially from a judgment perspective. You can learn more about this in our post COVID and College Admissions .

Has it changed the structure of admissions? Likely not. Officers might be changing how they look at aspects of applications, but the process probably remains the same.

Interested in how other successful applicants have navigated the college admissions process?

We’ve created an entire series that takes a deep dive into the journeys of current and past Princeton students.

Check out Erica’s story , the first in this series.

“People telling me that I was worthless only drove me to study more, to work harder, to prove them wrong.”

You can find a summary of all of these stories here: How I Got Into Princeton Series .

So, now what? If you’re in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, you’ll want to focus on the Golden Rule of Admissions and developing your Three Pillars .

As you put pen to paper and start working on your application and college essays (ideally in the summer before senior year), keep in mind how your application will be read to keep things in perspective.

We’d also like to give you access to our Behind-the-Scenes Look at College Admissions, which debriefs two real applications to Columbia College and their admission decisions.

Greg Wong and Kevin Wong

Greg and Kevin are brothers and the co-founders of PrepMaven and Princeton Tutoring. They were engineering majors at Princeton and had successful careers in strategy consulting and finance. They now apply their data and research-backed problem solving skills to the college preparation process. Their unique approach places a heavy emphasis on personal development, character, and service as key components of college admissions success.

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The #1 college essay myth (and what college admissions officers really look for), what to write about.

Brad Schiller

College essays are not the place to "just tell your story."

It's not that “tell us your story” is wrong for college essays. It’s just severely misleading. 

Yes, college admission offices give this advice all the time. But if you look at how they actually evaluate essays, you’ll see that what they look for goes well beyond “your story.”

This article will walk you through: 

• why colleges (and sometimes even guidance counselors!) give this misleading advice; 
• what admissions officers actually look for; and 
• how to deliver it for them. 

As college essay coaches who’ve helped thousands of applicants get into great colleges each year, we’ve examined the question of why the “tell your story” advice is so ubiquitous, and you need to know what’s really going on. 

Read the Table of Contents to see what we'll cover in this article:

Colleges say they want applicants to tell their story

Let’s go on a journey of discovery through the internet. What advice do colleges give about writing the essays they require?

We found one striking pattern (emphasis added): 

• [The essay] is an important part of your application because it gives you the chance to tell us your story as an applicant. — BU
• Tell a good story. Most people prefer reading a good story over anything else. So... tell a great story in your essay. — Tulane Apps 101: Ten Tips for an Epic College Essay .
• Your transcript and standardized test scores tell your academic story, your extracurricular activities, recommendations, essay(s) and background, tell your personal story . — William & Mary
• In [successful] essays, students were able to share stories from their everyday lives to reveal something about their character, values, and life that aligned with the culture and values at Hopkins. — Johns Hopkins  
• Tell your story. Some of my most memorable offers of admission have gone to students who like to color outside the lines. — Canisius College
• The college application process is a wonderful opportunity for self-discovery. You will find out things about yourself, what motivates you and what excites you. This is a passage to an exciting new chapter in your life. We want to get to know you and your story. — Muhlenberg College

Here are some videos that popped up as we researched this question:

And here’s an article from the Washington Post that ranked high in our search:

True, not every admissions department used the word “story.” 

We also found (emphasis added) —

• The point of the personal statement is for you to have the chance to share whatever you would like with us . — Harvard
• Be honest, be open, be authentic—this is your opportunity to connect with us . — MIT
• These essays are an opportunity to tell us about yourself in your unique voice . — CalTech
• Essay writing is an excellent opportunity for personal expression and original thought. — Northwestern
• The authenticity of the writing is what makes it effective. — Johns Hopkins - WaPo article
• “Imagine UC was a person. If we met face-to-face, what would you want us to know about you? These personal insight questions allow you to tell us. — University of California — see also their video on the topic:

In this category of advice, while the admissions offices don’t use the term “tell your story,” they’re still suggesting that you simply share something interesting about who you are, and connect with them in the way that you would with a friend.

However, when you look at how colleges actually evaluate essays, it turns out that this advice is wrong at worst and incomplete at best . So let’s do that now.

What college admissions officers really look for

Let’s hop back into the internet for another journey of discovery. This time, let’s search for clues about what college admissions officers do when they’re in the process of actually reading your essays.

As some readers know, at Prompt, we’re pretty excited about a lawsuit that made much of Harvard’s admission process public. 

The lawsuit revealed that “share whatever you would like with us,” as the college claims (see above) isn’t necessarily helpful advice. 

Instead, admissions officers review “ humor, sensitivity, grit, leadership, integrity, helpfulness, courage, kindness and many other qualities” in determining a personal rating for each applicant, according to coverage (emphasis added). 

Yes, this means that Harvard admissions officers give applicants cold, hard numbers based on whether their essays reveal things like grit and courage. So what if, based on their advice, you simply shared an interesting story about your passion for the theater or for playing sports? So that they could get to know you?

You’d be out of luck. Because without specifically focusing on an interesting, authentic story that also reveals something about your character, you’re unlikely to write an essay that they rate highly.

There are also clues that other colleges are looking for more than just a nice story or the “true you.” 

Here are some approaches we found to the process of assessing admission essays:

• Emory University specifically takes into account “ intellectual curiosity and the potential to contribute to community life on campus.” 
• According to the dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, “We expect [applicants] to have high test scores and grades. That’s a given. So another way for us to think about merit for those applicants is, what did they do with that opportunity they were given? How far did they travel in their high school journey?”  ‍
• “It's quick and easy for candidates to share, and for admissions readers to assess a candidate's 'what,’” says the dean of admissions at Lafayette College, “However, the hope is to find the 'how' and the 'why' behind an applicant's 'what'. If a candidate is a chemistry loving, slam poet who pole vaults, cool, that's 'what' they are. But, 'HOW' and 'WHY' have they become a chemistry-loving, slam poet who pole vaults? Too many candidates stop at the 'what' and do not give the 'how' and the 'why.'”
• "As an admissions officer, I analyzed students' personalities ,” says the former admissions head at Dartmouth. “If … the student came off as arrogant, entitled, mean, selfish, or, on the flip side, funny, charming, generous, witty , I wrote that exact trait in my notes. It's not enough just to be smart at top schools. Students must also show that they'll be good classmates and community builders ."
• “We want to enroll students who will contribute to the life of the campus , so we are eager to see how you have contributed to your high-school community or the community in which you live,” says an officer at Dickinson College.
• “Applicants who are able to convey that they have spent their high school years exploring different classes, activities and opportunities immediately grab my attention,” says an officer at Drake. ‍
• According to an officer at DePauw University, “a successful applicant should highlight an ability to overcome obstacles and garner results . It’s about proving you can produce outcomes .” 
• During the pandemic, 315 admission leaders (including all the heavy-hitters, such as the Ivys), signed a “ Care Counts in Crisis ” statement, assuring applicants that they most value 5 attributes: self-care ; academic work; service and contributions to others; family contributions ; and extracurricular and summer activities.

Some supplemental essays also show what colleges value. For example, these are all about intellectual curiosity:

• Stanford — The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
• University of Washington — [T]ell us about something that really sparks your intellectual interest and curiosity , and compels you to explore more in the program/area of study that you indicated.

Once you start looking more closely at how colleges actually make their decision, you see that colleges really care about a number of specific characteristics .

5 traits admissions officers look for in your college essay

The point of a college essay is to prove you’ll be successful on campus and beyond. As Emory admissions dean John Latting says, “The whole [admissions] process is about finding potential .”

The way you prove your potential is by showing that you have 5 special characteristics. They go by various names, but at Prompt we’ve boiled them down to:

• Drive — going above and beyond what’s expected
• Intellectual Curiosity — manifesting your love of learning
• Initiative — Changing the status quo
• Contribution — Giving back to the community
• Diversity of Experiences — Having a unique background or experiences that give you a new perspective.

Go back to the last section and see how often these words (or similar ones) come up — you’ll see that it’s extremely often. 

To take a specific example, here how these characteristics align with the categories unearthed from the Harvard admissions litigation:

• Grit — that’s Drive
• Leadership — that’s a combo of Drive, Initiative and Contribution
• Helpfulness — that’s Contribution
• Courage — that’s adjacent to Drive and Initiative
• Kindness — well, that’s Contribution again

Now if you’re carefully comparing this list to the quote above, you’ll notice that we’re missing:

• sensitivity, and 
• Integrity. 

That’s because it’s true that they don’t match up to our 5 Traits. Humor is wonderful if you’ve got it, but “your college essay might not be the best place to try on that funny writer voice for the first time,” to quote the dean of admissions at Lawrence. (Diversity of experiences is similar, in a way, in that it’s a wonderful-to-have, but not something you can force if you just don’t have it.)

Integrity is a must-have — but most good essays around the 5 Traits should demonstrate integrity. Needless to say, any essay that implies a lack of it is a bad essay. As to sensitivity, well, if you’ve got it great. Not sure that one’s really make-or-break.

The point is that your essays aren’t a friendly “get to know you” space. They’re a vital component of your application; the colleges are grading your essays. And to score high you need to write about an experience in which you showed one or more of the qualities that they’re looking for — one or more of the 5 Traits. (If the experience also happens to showcase integrity and a sense of humor, all the better!)

Why colleges don't share what they're really looking for

At Prompt, we study the pronouncements of college admissions officials obsessively . We’ve gotten to know them , we read books about them, we follow them on Twitter. 

We don’t think that college officials are “lying” when they present this advice. Rather, there are many reasons why their advice isn’t as helpful as they probably think it is. Here are a few:

First , as we noted above, the advice to “tell your story” or “get to know us” or “be authentic” isn’t wrong. It’s just misleading because it isn’t clear about what actually gets evaluated. Most admissions officers probably think they’re giving helpful advice.

Second , offices are intentionally vague because it gives them more room to maneuver. If they say they’re looking for X in essays, everyone will write X . They want wiggle room for kids who write Y. 

Third , they may be thinking in different modes when they think about “writing an essay” compared to when they settle down to “evaluate” an essay. In Originals , Adam Grant describes how different these two modes can be. His book describes an experiment that randomly assigned some participants to think like managers and others like creatives. Those in the “manager” mode evaluated novel products correctly only 51% of the time; those in “creative” mode were correct far more often, at 77% of the time.

This is kind of the opposite. Admissions officers likely think broadly when giving advice for writing essays — they might be thinking about how they’d like to read essays, or how great essays are original, or focus on small, everyday topics. But that likely goes out the window when it comes to getting through a stack of essays on their desk and using them to assign “personal scores” that can be used to advance or reject applications. 

Bear in mind how overworked admissions readers are. According to an evaluator at Brown, “[W]e keep up a rigorous reading pace with the regular decision applicant pool. We were expected to read five applications per hour, which equates to 12 minutes per application. In those 12 minutes, I reviewed the application, standardized test scores, the transcript, the personal statement, and multiple supplemental essays — all while taking notes and making a decision on the admissibility of the applicant."

Make sure you write your essay to appeal to that “boring, bureaucratic” admissions officer. The one getting through a pile of essays, on a hungry prowl for qualities that will show success. We’ve got some stats to prove it can make up to a 10x difference in your chances of admission. 

Our team of expert writing coaches have helped 50,000+ student write 90,000+ essays that have boosted their chances of admission. Create an account to use free college essay resources , or explore college essay coaching options today .

Related posts:

• The Purpose of College Essays
• The Qualities Admissions Officers Look For
• Great Academics Aren't Enough
• What Harvard Admissions Data Reveals

The above articles and a step-by-step guide to approaching the college essay writing process can be found in our Help Center .

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Admissions Officers Discuss 3 Common Essay Topics

A college essay topic doesn't have to be unique to be a good choice for applicants, experts say.

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Admissions officers look at much more than the topic students select when assessing college essays.

Grades and test scores may measure a student's academic potential, but those factors fail to capture his or her personality. That's where the college essay comes in. The college essay offers students the chance to tell their own story to admissions officials.

How important is the college essay? It ranked as the fifth most important factor in the admissions process in a 2019 National Association for College Admission Counseling survey. The essay followed other factors: high school GPA , grades in college prep courses, strength of curriculum at a student's high school, and SAT and ACT scores.

High school students may worry about not having an original topic for their college essay – that anything they write about will be something admissions officers have read countless times before.

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But admissions deans and directors from several colleges told U.S. News that it's OK if applicants write about a common subject.

"Overuse of a topic doesn't make it a bad topic," says Whitney Soule, senior vice president and dean of admissions and student aid at Bowdoin College in Maine.

How common an essay topic is matters less than a student's ability to express something significant about himself or herself.

"It's not just about the topic, but why it's important to you and how you can showcase who you are as a student and an individual through that topic," says Jennifer Gayles, director of admission and coordinator of multicultural recruitment at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Here are three examples of common college application essay topics that admissions officials say are fine for students to write about as long as they do so thoughtfully.

The Big Game Essay

Many high school students play sports, so it's understandable that athletics comes up fairly often in college essays.

One potential pitfall of a sports-focused essay is that students spend too much time describing what happened in the game, meet or competition and not enough time on how it affected them personally, some experts say.

Laura Stratton, director of admission at Scripps College in California, says she remembers reading a well-written sports essay in which the author wrote about being benched. The student was a senior and had played throughout the season, but she found herself on the sideline during the final game.

"The self-awareness the student showed of being a good team member and showing up for her teammates and continuing to be positive even though it wasn't the personal experience that she wanted to have, it said a lot about her character and about the type of roommate she would be or classmate she would be," Stratton says, "and that landed really well with the readers."

It's also fairly common for students to write about a sports-related injury in response to a college essay prompt about overcoming a challenge or failure, says Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions at Duke University in North Carolina. One of the 2019-2020 essay prompts for The Common Application – an application platform that allows students to submit their materials, including the essay, to multiple colleges at once – focuses on overcoming obstacles, according to the platform's website.

"If that's what has really mattered to the student, if that's something that has generated a lot of thought on their part, then I think it's a great essay topic," Guttentag says.

Essays That Focus on Service-Based Activities

College essays about service to others, either at home or abroad, can be moving to read but difficult to effectively write, given the short amount of space students are allotted for a college essay, some experts say. The Common App essay is limited to 650 words, for example.

"The idea of other people who are less advantaged being used as the vehicle for someone's increased self-awareness is how that can come across sometimes," Guttentag says, "and I think that can be difficult to pull off."

A student's motivation for choosing this topic also matters. If applicants decide to write about service, they should do so because their experience has led to thought and reflection, not because they feel like this is a topic admissions officers expect them to write about, Guttentag says.

Essays That Focus on a Meaningful Relationship

Students don't have to write about a major turning point in their essay, Soule says. They can instead reflect on something from their day-to-day life that they find meaningful. For some students, this may mean writing about a relationship with a parent, grandparent or other key figure in their life.

"I think that those can be great essays if the student is keeping top of mind that at the end of the essay we should know something about them as a person and how that relationship has affected and shaped them," Stratton says, "not just the great things about their grandma."

For example, Soule says she remembers a strong essay in which a student wrote about being a sibling. The student talked about what his relationship with his younger brother was like at different points throughout his life.

There wasn't any big, dramatic moment that the story hinged on, Soule says. The essay just reflected on how the student and his brother had grown up and evolved in relation to one another.

"That was really personal," Soule says, "and it also demonstrated a person who could see himself in relationship to other people, which is a hugely important quality, particularly when we're building a community of people who are going to be living together and learning together."

While students may ask themselves, "How important are college essays?" the answer is simple: important enough for college admissions that they should invest the time and effort to do their best and make the topic their own – even if it's common.

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Frequently asked questions

What are colleges looking for in the essay.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

• Extracurriculars, especially sports
• Role models
• Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
• Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
• Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
• Overcoming a difficult class
• Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

• Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
• Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
• Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
• Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
• Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

• Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
• Focuses on you and your experiences
• Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
• Is creative and original

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

• Return to the beginning with a “full circle” structure
• Reveal the main point or insight in your story
• Look to the future
• End on an action

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

• For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
• For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
• Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
• Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

• Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
• Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
• Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

• Your personal information
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• College application essays
• Transcripts
• Standardized test scores
• Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

• Use a standard, readable font
• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
• Stick to the word count
• Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

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A Step-By-Step Guide on How College Admissions Officers Read Your Application

September 6, 2018

This winter, after weeks, months, and years (yes, years) of preparation, you are going to submit your college applications. But don’t you want to know what happens next?

As you get ready to apply to colleges, it’s important to understand what actually happens in the admissions office. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be in a better position to craft a successful application.

When your application process ends, the hard work at admissions offices is just beginning. The weeks and months after application deadlines trigger the busiest time of the year for college admissions officers across the country. Having worked in admissions at Johns Hopkins, Bowdoin, Regis College, and George Washington University, I am going to demystify what happens behind the closed doors of admissions offices...

1. Your application is added to the digital “stack” with thousands of other applications.

You click submit, and the waiting game begins. Paper applications used to be placed in a massive stack, but colleges now move thousands of data points through an online process, built for their specific parameters. In many cases, an application and its supporting components may never be printed. But have no fear, the software is very precise. Every school will have their own methods to streamline the wave of application materials coming their way. Computerized systems will flag any missing components and mark completed applications as ready to read.

2. Your application is sorted into a pile (usually by region), which means you are evaluated against students from your geographic area.

At the places that I have worked, we followed a “geographic territory” model. Simply put, each member of the admission office managed a geographic section of the world. Larger states or areas with big application numbers were split among several  college admissions officers . Schools use past admissions data to gauge their most popular areas. Southern California, for example, could be broken into multiple territories for some schools based on the number of applications they receive.

3. Your regional admissions officer receives the pile and reviews your school profile.

I have been fortunate enough to read applications from around the world. This experience showed me the importance of context. There are too many high schools for college admission officers to be familiar with each of them. Even in a single territory, there will be too many schools to intimately know every single one. This is why the information from your high school’s report is crucial. It sets the stage for the application review.

“School profiles” and information from your guidance counselors give college admissions officers the averages, course information, and knowledge to understand what your specific academic experience actually means. Without context, what does your 4.2 GPA really indicate? Without understanding the course rigor available to you, what is the significance of 2, 4, or 6 AP classes? Colleges will not make decisions on any application without examining all such information available to them.

4. Your application is read for the first time...in 11 minutes.  

After an admissions officer has learned all that they can about your school, it’s time to read your application! All  college admissions officers  have their style, so I will walk you through mine: typically, I spent about 11 minutes reading an application, and read well over 1,000 student files each year. While 11 minutes was my average, there were memorable students that drew me in, and I spent more time learning their stories. Weaker or more typical applications might take less time to go through. After reading the school profile, I started with the factual information inside of the application, taking notes about the content.

5. College admissions officers take shorthand notes on your application.

Every admissions office has agreed upon shorthand for our rapid notetaking. This includes abbreviations for common activities and honors, as well as commentary shortcuts like DNS (does not stand out) and LMO (like many others), used to quickly describe unremarkable candidates. Every section of the Common Application helped me learn more about the applicants. I became familiar with their families (what did their parents do?), activities outside of school (how did they spend their time?), and their character (what kind of person were they?). After this, I moved onto my school’s supplemental essays, high school transcript, and usually finished with the letters of recommendation.

Throughout the process, I continually asked myself the same questions: Could I picture this student succeeding on campus? What communities would the applicant likely join? Would the student be a good fit for my school? How did the application stand out against others that I had read? What was exciting about the stories being told? The answers to these questions led naturally to my next set of decisions.

6. Your application receives a recommendation and might even get a second read.

Traditionally, college admissions officers can recommend to admit, deny, or waitlist an applicant (options like defer might also be in the mix). In my experience, an application can go on a few different paths after this first read. It may be sent on for a second read, meaning another admissions officer will voice an opinion. Because admissions spaces are so competitive, sending an application directly to the acceptance folder was rare. Senior level admissions staff or the dean of admissions monitored the admit, deny, and waitlist piles to ensure nothing was missed and that institutional priorities were considered. Of course, each institution is unique and will emphasize different values year-to-year—for example, Johns Hopkins might need a bassoon player one admissions cycle, while Northwestern might be looking for more Slavic Studies majors instead. It’s not really as simple as that, but this is part of the reason why you may be accepted at one school and face rejection at another.

Thousands of applicants don’t make the cut in these first few reads. If your application makes it to committee, that’s an accomplishment in itself! But the competition is only going to intensify…

7. If selected, your application is presented at committee and voted on.

Committee is the place where the class is shaped. This is where decisions are made. This is the time when individual admissions officers pitch the most memorable students that they hope to convince the rest of the committee to admit. In my experience, committee is usually a smaller subset of the admissions office, led by senior admissions officers or the dean.

One by one, college admissions officers present the applicants that they feel deserve acceptance . I presented some cases that lasted just a few minutes and some that lasted half an hour. I only brought cases to committee that I was excited about, that stood out, and that I thought would make my institution better. I didn’t always get the decision I wanted for my chosen students, but together we worked towards the greater goal of creating the strongest possible incoming class. Ultimately, decisions were made by vote, consensus, or a feeling in the room. After weeks and weeks of committee, we came to many conclusions, but our work wasn’t done yet.

8. You get in... or you don’t (depending on pull-backs).

One of the hardest parts of working in admissions is a process that I learned as “pull-backs.” Inevitably, each college has only a certain number of admissions slots. College admissions is also a statistics game. Data is analyzed over and over until the incoming class comes together. As this process happens, “pulling-back” potential admits ensures that institutions do not “over admit” their class. Pull-backs can happen in a multitude of ways, but in my experience, I was given the opportunity to look back at my territory and select students for reconsideration by the dean. This did not trigger an automatic rejection or waitlist, but the process did make applicants vulnerable. The dean’s goal of a well-rounded class took into account a myriad of variables, situations, goals, and institutional interests. Once the data returned clean, everything would be frozen until decision day. On that day, we stayed late after work and watched the decisions go out, eagerly thinking about our favorite students receiving their acceptances.

This is a very hard job! I absolutely loved my time in admissions and it was an honor to shape the institutions where I worked. Now that I work with students on the other side of the process at InGenius Prep, here is my advice: you cannot control this process, but you can be smart and deliberate about your path. Find a set of schools that really fit you. Create a solid foundation and a theme that helps the admission officer get to know you well. Make yourself memorable and easy to present in committee. If you can do that, you’ll find success.

Tags : officers , former admissions officers , college admissions , Admissions Committee , Admissions Officers , college admissions advice

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What Admissions Officers Look For In Your Essay

By Brianna Burrows

There are many requirements to apply to college, such as your SAT score or TOEFL score. There is one element to the application process that can be the most difficult for students: the essay. Your essay, or personal statement, is a key deciding factor in your application. A majority of colleges and universities believe the essay to be of considerable or moderate importance to determining your acceptance. Many students wonder though, what do admissions officers look for in my essay? Here are some elements that admissions officers look for in your essay.

What Makes You Unique?

You are competing with a lot of other students who have similar test scores and grades. Therefore, your essay or personal statement is your opportunity to showcase what makes you stand out from others. This is your chance to humbly brag about your life. Admissions officers look for unique experiences beyond traditional education such as volunteer work, travel, or overcoming personal adversity. Make sure to pick one specific experience to write about. You don’t want to write about your whole life story as your transcripts, grades, and test scores already cover a wide extent of your life.

Can You Write?

In college, you are going to be spending a tremendous amount of time writing. Your essay provides insight into your ability as a writer. Writing is an essential skill with most professions today. Writing is going to be involved whether you’re writing emails or writing a report. Your writing should be organized well with proper structure and syntax. Also, make sure to have no grammar and spelling mistakes. Your writing should be meaningful and appealing to your reader. The voice of your writing should be similar to the way you speak. If you talk like a smart 18-year-old, then write with vocabulary that an 18-year-old would use. You shouldn’t be trying to use your SAT vocabulary words in your essay.

What Will You Contribute to the Community?

Admissions officers want to know how you will enhance your community if accepted. Colleges are increasingly aware of the value of cultural diversity in the student body. If you are an international student, simply saying you are not from ‘here’ is not enough. How will you bring your culture to the community and share it with students? This ties into what makes you unique. Be specific about your cultural experiences and how you might share them with the campus and surrounding community.

It’s important to  remember that some undergraduate and graduate programs may not require a personal statement . It is best to check your specific department’s requirements. If you spend a fair amount of time working on your essay or personal statement, you’re bound to impress your readers.

Brianna Burrows

Brianna Burrows is a freelance marketing specialist and alumna of Northeastern University. She specializes in event management, social media management, and content branding. Follow her on Twitter   here .

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What Do College Admissions Look For In Your Application?

EssayEdge > Blog > What Do College Admissions Look For In Your Application?

Admissions officers review numerous applications, frequently reading as many as fifty per day. Although it’s impossible to predict exactly what a particular college is looking for in its applicants, in general, colleges want to admit a mix of students who can handle the academic workload and make a positive contribution to the college experience—for themselves and their classmates.

To get a favorable reaction from admissions officers, your application should demonstrate:

• Serious intent to pursue a college-level education.
• Genuine desire to attend the particular college.
• Match between your interests and abilities, and what the school needs and has to offer.
• Ability to think clearly, logically, and creatively.
• Ability to write engaging, thoughtful essays that keep your reader’s attention and differentiate you from the other applicants.

Table of Contents:

What Admissions Officers Look For

You —The person behind the GPA, the test scores, the extracurricular activities, and even the mailing address.

Surprise —An unexpected angle on your topic, even if the experience you’re writing about seems ordinary.

Sincerity —Writing as yourself, without pretension and without taking yourself too seriously; relying on your own vocabulary, rather than the thesaurus or the words your parents think you should use.

Thoughtfulness —Thinking about your experiences and their meanings, to yourself and to others; showing through your reflections that you are a person on whom nothing is lost.

How To Help Them Find It

Think About Who Your Audience Is —Five or six recent graduates of the college you’re applying to and an experienced director of admissions will read your essay. This is an overworked audience on whom your essay needs to make a vivid and memorable impression.

Focus —Instead of generalizing about your experience (“I enjoy sports”), be as specific as you can be. Write about the thrill of catching a fly ball deep to center field just before it became a home run, or of a Little League career spent waiting for someone, anyone, to hit the ball to your position so that you could stop studying the grass and watching the butterflies.

Use Precise And Economical Language —Imagine that each word you write costs you a dollar, and that you don’t have unlimited funds.

Before:  “On a yearly basis, we would spend five hours driving to the lake, where I never gave up the hope of meeting the boy that would be my Prince Charming.”

After:  “Every August, we trekked to Lake Apponaug, where I always hoped to meet my Prince Charming.”

Give Your Essay Momentum —Make the parts work together and move toward a thoughtful conclusion. In an essay about the summer you spent working in a marine research laboratory, a paragraph on the unreliable bus that took you there each day should be eliminated.

Special Circumstances

If you want to explain special circumstances affecting your application to the admissions committee, don’t be apologetic or frightened. Simply put an asterisk or footnote next to the issue in question and explain the situation at the bottom of the page or where there is room. In extreme cases, such as when an illness or death in the family affected your grades, you could even write a separate letter. Frequently, colleges will provide space on the application for you to inform them of these circumstances. Just be sure you don’t tell more than they need or want to know, or draw unnecessary attention to negative points.

EssayEdge Extra: Words of Wisdom from Admissions Officers

“We take the essay very seriously, and so should the applicant. Highly selective schools read every piece of information in a file, including essays. While the essay can never be so good that it compensates for everything else in the application, essays are important to us because we make very fine distinctions among applicants.”— Admissions Officer, Williams College

“I also try to learn through applicants’ essays something about their personality, character, and what is important to them as individuals. How might you as an applicant convey this? Before you begin to write your essay, reach down to the base of your feelings and try to figure out what is essential that we should know about you and that we might not learn from other areas of your application. Think of what it is you want to tell us, then think of certain events in your life or about people or influences that you can talk about that demonstrate what you want to communicate.”— Admissions Officer, Columbia University

“A student’s ability to be introspective and reflective really comes through in the essay and provides meaning to the reader. Look back over your high school years, both inside and outside of school, and attempt to view this period within the context of the bigger picture and grander scheme of your life. Reflect upon what this period has meant to you within the framework of your life, and ask yourself where you see yourself heading.”— Admissions Officer, University of Pennsylvania

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

“Many students mistakenly think that a great essay must be about some topic or event that would be fascinating or compelling to any reader. However, at Duke we look at style just as much as content. In their search for exciting content, applicants often overlook the fact that a well-written essay about a rather “everyday” subject can be far more compelling than a poorly-written essay about a fascinating subject.”— Admissions Officer, Duke University

Your audience is the first thing you should remember when writing an application essay. When you know what’s expected of you, the chances of satisfying the expectations of admissions officers significantly grow. EssayEdge editors can review college essay to indicate the flaws and help you correct them quickly.

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Are you wondering how the college admission process works? Maybe you want to know how many admissions officers will be reviewing your application? In this article we will discuss how college admissions decisions are made, key college application strategies, and more. So if you are wondering what college admissions officers really look for in an applicant, read on! 

What goes into the “holistic admissions” process?

College admissions rates are becoming increasingly more competitive. The Class of 2026 college acceptance rates is currently at a record low. This is why it’s important to plan ahead so you can stand out! Especially if you’re serious about attending an Ivy League college . In this article, we will review key admissions factors so that you can start thinking more seriously about your high school career, college applications, and whether hiring a college admissions consultant is right for you.

What college admissions officers are looking for is passionate and talented students who will contribute meaningfully to a vibrant and diverse college community. This can look different depending on the school you are planning to attend. In fact, if you made a list of questions to ask a college admissions officer, you’d likely receive  slightly different answers depending on the school. Thankfully, though, there is a lot of overlap! 

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement. The “holistic admissions” process strives to consider each student as an individual rather than as a set of statistics. So while grades, test scores, and academic achievements are important, they are not the only deciding factors. 

AP classes and challenging course loads

The most obvious college admissions advice is to take your high school classes seriously. Work hard to get good grades! Colleges want to admit students who are passionate about learning and demonstrate commitment and hard work by achieving good grades and pursuing a challenging course load. Demonstrate your ability to work hard and manage your time wisely by taking advanced courses and succeeding in them.

It’s important to remember that taking advanced classes is just as important as earning a high GPA. Impress college admissions officers by taking challenging classes, especially on topics that interest you. College admissions committees

What are the differences between IB, AICE, and AP classes?

Do you know the difference between AP and IB classes? Click here to read more

want to admit students who have defined interests, follow their passion, challenge themselves, and continue to grow throughout their high school careers. Keep this in mind as you sit down with your high school guidance counselor or your counselor for college admissions to discuss how many AP Classes should you be taking . 

For example, if you are a strong writer, prioritize taking AP Literature. Similarly, if you are interested in studying political science in college, prioritize taking AP history classes. Remember, it’s important to challenge, but not overwhelm yourself. Ultimately this means you should take advanced classes in subjects you are passionate about, without feeling pressured to take every AP class available to you. 

High school GPA

An impressive high school GPA shows that you are a talented student capable of completing college-level work. Consistently earning good grades shows that you have strong organizational and time management skills, as well as strong study habits. It also shows that you are responsible and committed to your studies.

Having a good high school GPA is an important college admissions factor, but you need to make time for other activities in your schedule as well. Admissions officers want to admit students who will meaningfully contribute to the campus community through extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities.  In other words, you need more than just good grades to get into college. 

SAT and ACT test scores

Standardized test scores are another college admissions factor. Prepare for your SAT  and ACT by planning ahead and designing a personalized study plan. Consider using our 4-week intensive SAT study guide or our 8-week intensive SAT study guide to help get you started. 

You may even decide to hire a college admissions advisor to help connect you with further resources. College admissions advising services can help you better manage your time and effort. This is especially important if you are serious about attending an Ivy League college .

Although more schools are becoming test-optional, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the SAT or the ACT. Submitting impressive SAT or ACT scores will only serve to your advantage. Distinguish yourself from your peers by taking these tests. Remember, the SAT and ACT are important tests, so make sure you read up on plenty of tips for the SAT before the exam! Tweet

Meaningful extracurricular activities

As you prepare for college, remember that admissions officers favor students who pursue their interests both inside and outside of the classroom. It is not enough to get good grades (although this is important!). You also have to be involved in extracurricular activities — in addition to considering possible internships, and volunteer opportunities, as well as how to use your summers in high school . 

High school guidance counselors and teachers often praise “well-rounded” students, but the truth is, colleges want to stand out students and well-rounded student bodies . It’s not enough to do a little bit of everything. Colleges want to admit students who invest themselves fully and commit to four years of an extracurricular activity. Superficial interest in a variety of activities will not impress college admissions officers.

Colleges are less interested in admitting well-rounded students than admitting students who specialize (and excel!) in something. So if you want to stand out, find something you are passionate about and commit yourself fully to it! 

Letters of recommendation

College letters of recommendation help college admissions officers gain a more complete understanding of who they are as a person. It adds texture and dimension to your college application. A successful letter of recommendation will help you stand out by making your college application memorable. 

Letters of recommendation add further credibility to your application. If teachers, coaches, and mentors vouch for you and provide compelling examples of leadership, teamwork, and perseverance, college admissions committees will take note. Colleges want to see that you have people who believe in you and your ability to succeed. So choose your college recommendations carefully! Ask teachers you’ve taken several classes with and can write positive and detailed letters of recommendation.

College essay (personal statements and supplemental essays)

Start your personal statement early! College admissions officers use college essays to figure out who you are as a person. They add depth to your application and allow you to win the people in admissions over. College admissions officers want to see what motivates and inspires you. Who you are and what you are passionate about. In addition to your personal statement, you may need to write supplemental essays as well. 

For your personal statement, write about something important to you that is not already a part of your application. For example, if your

involvement in sports is already listed in your college application, try writing about something else instead. Write about the moment that you realized you wanted to be a doctor. Or the summer you spent visiting your extended family in Brazil. College admissions officers want to curate a diverse, harmonious student body so use each aspect of your college application to your advantage.

Your personal statement and supplemental essays are an important part of your application, so be sure to seek out college admissions essay help. Share your essay with your teachers, guidance counselor, and college admissions counselor. Ask for feedback. Read examples of successful college essays and take note of their strengths. Write several drafts and always remember to proofread!

Moving forward: key college application strategies

The college admissions process can seem overwhelming. Especially because it has so many factors: College essays, letters of recommendation, SATs, extracurriculars, supplemental essays, high school GPA, AP Tests, and more. This is why it is important to ask teachers, mentors, and your high school guidance counselor for advice for applying to college and more generally, for advice for seniors . 

It’s important to research college admissions requirements thoroughly and to remain organized throughout the college application process. Make a list of deadlines and requirements to refer back to. For example, how many letters of recommendation do you need? Will you need to write any supplemental essays? 

Applying to college is a lot to keep track of, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! Make a list of questions to ask a college admissions officer. Consider reaching out to the admissions department. You may also consider hiring a college admissions counselor for additional support during this time. College admissions counseling services can be a worthy investment. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, reach out to learn more about our services ! 

• May 18, 2022
• 10th Grade , 11th Grade , 9th Grade , College Admissions

What do college admissions officers look for in an applicant?

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What Do College Admissions Officers Really Look For? 10 Tips for Seniors

In other words, show up in every single way possible. They are watching how you interact with them!

Tip 2: Ask yourself how you can contribute toward a balanced class.  

Admissions officers want to see the balance you can bring to an incoming class. In other words, what do you offer that other applicants do not?

Even if you make a good case for yourself on your application, you still might not get in. Schools need to develop a well-rounded class. In other words, let us say that the majority of individuals applying for a college have chosen pre-health majors. You, as an English major, may have a pretty good shot because you bring diversity to the group. (Note: This in and of itself does not guarantee your admission to a college.) Every school presents different needs. Every year, however, colleges need a well-balanced group of incoming freshmen.

Tip 3: Your personality matters and should shine through in your application. 

You may wonder how you can show your personality through something as uncreative as a college application, but you can. Show your penchant for creativity in the ways you list your interests on your application. Explain how your extracurricular activities have shaped you in an attention-grabbing activities section on the Common App.

For example, you have some space to write about these activities:

• 50 characters: Position/leadership description
• 100 characters: Organization name
• 150 characters: Activity details, honors won, and accomplishments description.

How do you use language to describe even the briefest of descriptions in your extracurricular activities section? Do not be afraid to show who you really are, rather than your perception of what a college or university wants. Be you!

Tip 4: Academic performance matters, but so does a specialty. 

Colleges and universities want to see that you have an awesome GPA. They also want to see that you are involved in extracurricular activities. But instead of loading up on 100 activities over the course of four years of high school, hone in on just a few. 

If it is already too late and you think you spread yourself pretty thin over the course of four years, no worries. Display the activities you’ve been involved in, but show the depth of your involvement in one or two in particular. Show not only how you were the president of the entrepreneurial club, but detail (in an interesting way!) how you engineered a desktop tablet. Share how each student desktop served as a touchscreen and the teacher’s board interacted with what students wrote on their desktops. (That would be a cool invention!) 

Tip 5: They want to see meaningful extracurricular involvement. 

How deep into your extracurricular activity did you go? Did you dive deep into the inner workings of the school government or make amazing changes for the better for your community? Again, rather than getting involved at the surface level in dozens of activities, you choose to dive in deep and make true change and lasting impact.

Tip 6: They want you to demonstrate informed interest.

Admissions officers and schools want you to know that you are interested in them. It is really disheartening for an admissions officer’s school to become just another “checkmark” on the Common App. In other words, if you applied to a particular school but do not really want to go to it, the college or university will take note.  

Actually demonstrate a keen interest in the schools that you apply to because the admissions officers will give your application a second look, particularly if you lead with something like, “I knew I wanted to become a Michigan State University Spartan from the day my aunt gave me a Spartan helmet for Christmas.”

And, of course, be genuine about it!

Tip 7: They want you to write an active, engaging essay.

Boy, do they ever. 

Essays that launch out of the gate with a compelling narrative make an impact. You have no idea how many essays admission officers read that plod on in the same tired gait or start with the same phrase: “I learned a lot of lessons during COVID-19.” 

Check this out. 

I put my hand to my bedroom door, then jerked it back. 

The sound of crackling, splintering wood cut through the shrill fire alarm. I could feel my heart up somewhere near my Adam’s apple, sweat slicking my face. 

  I had to get to my sister’s room. But how? The only way through was my bedroom door, and smoke was billowing under it like some sort of demented, ethereal entity nobody on earth would ever mistake as friendly. Heck, touching the doorknob was out of the question. 

  But my baby sister was across the hall, and our home was engulfed in a California wildfire. Yes, one of the wildfires you’ve watched on the evening news.  

  Well, I would keep reading. Wouldn’t you?

  You may think you have nothing to write about. “Nothing dramatic has ever happened to me,” you say? (In that case, you are probably lucky that nothing this dramatic has ever happened to you!)

Tip 8: SAT and ACT scores still matter. 

Many of my clients have applied to selective universities without submitting test scores. However, it is important to remember unless they are completely test blind, colleges and universities will still look at your test scores if you choose to submit them. 

Compass Education Group is nationally respected for their test prep and academic tutoring services. They are always at the forefront of SAT and ACT trends while keeping up with the latest admissions data. I have been able to have them present to my Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) regional group for the past couple of years to stay apprised of the test prep changes. Interestingly, test scores mattered significantly for applicants, especially to highly selective colleges, in the 2020-2021 application cycle . Check out the video below to learn more how test scores were a major admissions factor for applicants submitting scores.

Tip 9: Recommendation letters matter more!

So, what is crucial in this changed admissions environment? 

Recommendation letters. 

You better have great recommendation letters as part of your application. Application letters can give college admissions officers a more robust, in-depth look at your personality, ambitions, and future goals. Applicants with outstanding letters of recommendation always have a competitive advantage. 

And admissions officers are looking for great ones.

Tip 10: Overall, admissions officers want to learn who you are. 

How are you coming across as an applicant? Admissions officers can learn a lot about applicants from their territories (admissions offices split up students into different areas of the country) based on their essays and other quick summaries. If you come across as mean, arrogant, selfish, or another undesirable characteristic, try writing your essay again. Ask someone you trust for his or her honest opinion as to how they would rate you based on your essay. 

Why not go for humor, charm, or show your obvious love of service to others? Colleges and universities (even at the most competitive schools) need students who will serve as teammates with their classmates and excellent community members.

How can you give admissions officers the best possible glimpse of your personality? Try to inject it throughout your application and essay so you become so compelling that they cannot help but admit you. It works!

Make the Best Impression Possible 

As I mentioned before, I have had the pleasure of getting to know dozens of admissions counselors over the years. In my support of clients, I can honestly say that when the students follow these golden rules from admissions counselors, they significantly help their odds of being admitted. 

Need help putting together the best package possible for admissions officers? Let us dive into the process together at Campus to Career Crossroads . We will help you navigate this often complex journey. We will help you put your best foot forward.

What do admissions officers look for in a personal statement?

Your personal statement gives you an opportunity to expand on your own unique life experiences. Admissions officers want to see well-written personal statements that showcase compelling experiences beyond your extracurricular activities or classes. You may want to share any number of compelling stories — how your family escaped a fire like the essay above describes, how you sailed around the world or another experience that changed you. Remember, it does not have to be a major experience. You can write about something simple, such as how treating a dog with a limp made you realize you want to become a veterinarian.

What do admissions officers read first?

Admissions officers read your basic information first, so make sure you have all your basic information correct. Spell your name right, get your address correct and double-check your cell phone number! (Yes! You would not believe how many students make mistakes on their basic information!)

What are the top three things that you want a college admissions officer to know about you?

First, they want to see that you have taken challenging classes in high school. Above all else, they want to know that you can succeed at their institution. If you have taken rigorous courses in high school, admissions officers will see that it is more likely that you will succeed in college. 

Next, they want to see a strong essay with evidence of personal growth. Showcase what you want them to know about you, or what you think offers the most compelling personal story about yourself. You have so much to offer the world. What can you do to show that in your essay?

Finally, you want a college admissions officer to know that you are passionate about attending their college or university. If you indicate that their college or university is on the “second tier” of your choices, how do you think they will feel about that? 

Probably not very good.

What do admissions counselors look for?

Overall, admissions counselors want to get to know you. Beyond your personal statement and essay, make sure you communicate. Call, email, schedule Zoom calls, and meet them in person. They want to get to know a human being, not just a profile on a computer screen or piece of paper. You are a real person with hopes, dreams and aspirations. Show them that in as many forms as you can. Admissions counselors love that!

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What Do Colleges Look for in an Essay? Examples & Tips

What is a College Essay?

The college essay is an essential element of the college application process. It presents an opportunity for students to personalize their college application, beyond grades and scores. It can also be one of the more nerve-wracking parts of the application process. 

If you are reading this article, you are like applying to college and taking the process seriously. The quality of the college you attend will have a big effect on your entire life, and taking a few hours to make your application the best it can possibly be may be the most lucrative time investment you will ever make.

What do colleges look for in an essay from applicants?

So, what do colleges look for in an essay? The answer is similar to what colleges look for in an applicant. To hit the right notes, you need to consider the perspective and even the mission statement of the college, which of course values intelligence, a good work ethic, and the type of personality that will represent the school. 

Therefore, the core aspects that admissions officials at any institution look for in an essay are:

·         Intelligence

·         Strong communication skills

·         Ambition and goals

·         Creativity

·         Proactivity and self-direction

·         Interest in education and self-betterment

These elements are not based on any abstract moral consideration–colleges want students who will make their institution stronger. They will look for evidence of these traits in your personal essay, as grades only reflect a few of these core aspects and abilities. 

Beyond these considerations, remember that an admissions officer (an actual human being) will read your essay and respond to it both rationally and emotionally. In many cases, that emotion is boredom. Keep in mind that these officials read hundreds of application essays each admissions season. But if your essay can successfully win them over, then you’ll be getting a letter that begins with a “We are delighted to announce…”

Qualities Colleges Look for to Include in Your Essay

Most achievements that colleges are looking for will be reflected in your college application, and therefore, these have been left off of the list below. The achievements showing your passion and drive, as well as your internal and external motivations, will be the ones to include in your application essay. 

Challenging extracurricular activities

Colleges want to see students who stretch themselves beyond the limits of the classroom. The kinds of activities you choose say a lot about your personality and even your morals. Whether or not you stick with your chosen undertakings exhibits your ability to commit to important projects in the long term.

Volunteer and work experience

Any experience you have that shows true commitment, leadership qualities and an interest in community is beneficial to your application. Include the organizations or companies you worked for and what your responsibilities were at each one. If you received any promotions or special recognitions, be sure to mention those as well.

Talents and passions

More colleges are moving away from accepting students who did the most “stuff” to looking for those who focus their energy in specific areas that they’re passionate about. Schools want to see what makes you special and how hard you’re willing to work at the things you care about.

Obstacles or challenges you have overcome

One of the most important aspects of a good college student is their ability to learn from mistakes and overcome challenges in order to achieve success. This is especially true for Common App Essay prompts . In your essay, focus on what exact difficulties or challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learned from this experience. After all, admissions officials are more impressed by a student who came from an adverse situation and still achieved success than they are with a student who had every advantage handed to them and skated by on position and intelligence.

What is a well-written essay?

Admissions officers read a lot of essays, and a well-written one can make a refreshing change. Students should check their essays to make sure they clearly meet these criteria:

• Does the essay provide a direct answer to the essay question?
• Does it have a strong opening paragraph that captures the reader’s interest?
• Does it put forth a comprehensive argument or narrative? Does the student make a point and stick to it?
• Does it have a natural style that’s comfortable for the student and appropriate for the subject matter?
• Did the student use effective word choice, syntax, and structure?
• Does it contain correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling?
• Is it succinct? Did the student pay attention to the recommended length?

How to Write About Positive Qualities in an Application Essay

The rule of thumb here is always “Show–don’t tell.” When writing a college essay, skip generalized information. Instead, provide real, specific examples to support your statements. Your attention to detail will help make you more memorable to an admissions officer who has to read hundreds, if not thousands, of essays. 

For example, instead of “I love hiking,” you could say, “After reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, I decided my next adventure would be climbing Mt. Everest.” What’s the difference between these two sentences? The first says you like something, while the second one illustrates that you do—but not only that, it also shows your level of commitment and your desire for challenge. Of the two example sentences, which do you think maximizes your use of words and would be more interesting to admissions officers?

Bad example: Claim without proof My teacher once told me that I was the most skilled and intelligent student she’s ever taught, and I believed her. When I set a goal, there’s no stopping me. I’ll work at it until it’s achieved—even if it’s to my own detriment.

Good example: Showing with concrete evidence In sophomore year, I decided to set a goal to raise more money for Relay for Life than any other student involved. I asked my neighbors, family, teachers, and even my paster, who sat through my 20-minute prepared speech about why donating to this campaign would be the best use of his money. I spoke to community groups. I did three straight weekends of door-to-door fundraising. And in the end, my efforts paid off—I succeeded in raising over $500 more than any other student.

Showing initiative and ambition

Initiative and ambition are top qualities that colleges look for in an applicant. Students who exhibit these traits will bring a positive and driven attitude with them to college, where it will help them contribute to the campus and succeed in their academic endeavors.

The college essay should always show how you took some kind of action—it shouldn’t just include things that happened to you as a passive individual. For example, rather than simply writing about how it was emotionally difficult when your older sibling got sick, discuss specific coping strategies you developed during that time or ways that you contributed to helping your sibling and family.

Showing self-reflection and growth

Personal growth is one of the most popular topics to write about since it represents what the admissions essay is all about: helping the college gain better insight into your personality and character. Some schools ask targeted questions — “What was the most challenging event you have ever faced, and how have you grown from it?” — while others leave the topic open: “Describe an event that has had great meaning for you. Explain why and how it has affected you.”

One of the most successful strategies is to use a past event as a lens through which you can assess who you were and the person you became, how you have grown and changed, and your transformation. Most children are curious, but were you the one who asked your teacher what caused the change of seasons of the year and then created a solar system model and explained the concept to your classmates? Though you may think that your topic needs to be bold and unique, this is not necessary to craft an effective essay. Instead, success lies in painting an accurate and vivid picture of yourself — one that will show admissions officers that you have much to offer their school.

Structure your essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end

When you include the basic plot elements of setting, introduction, conflict, and resolution, not only will your essay be more fun to read, it will be easier to write. And when writing is easier, you are usually having more fun and pouring more of yourself into your writing. You will find that this often translates into a more compelling story as well since passion and interest are hallmarks of any good story told to a friend or included on the page of an adventure or romance novel. When structuring your narrative arc, include the lessons you have learned from these experiences: How did you change? What did you learn? What did/do you plan to do differently because of these experiences? Anyone can write about how they won first place in a competition or spent a fantastic vacation in Europe. The important stuff is not in the itinerary, but rather in the diary–what you learned from the experience and how it impacted you.

Essay Introduction #1: Focus on Your Personal Qualities

One approach when beginning your application essay is to start by describing positive character traits you possess and then showing examples of times you demonstrated those traits.

Starting with your qualities A student wants to show that he is determined and tenacious. He thinks about times when he went above and beyond what was necessary to succeed in high school. He thinks of how he became the only student at his school to participate in three or more AP classes while also being involved in multiple sports and extracurricular activities. He also thinks of his volunteer work with his church at a local homeless shelter, where he made friends and connections with shelter guests and high-profile members of the community. These are the qualities around which his essay is focused.

Essay Introduction #2: Focus on a Personal Story

Another way to approach your essay topic is to start with a story and then work show examples that demonstrative your positive qualities.

Starting with a story A student’s sibling has been fighting cancer for the past three years, and he feels that this is an important experience that has shaped who he is today. He considers how the difficulties of this experience have changed him and help distinguish him from other applicants. 

From introducing his story at the beginning of his essay, this applicant can tie in the positive qualities he exhibits with the finer details of his personal story: 

• He is independent, as he needed to deal with taking care of a loved one in a serious and sustained way that his peers did not need to deal with.
• He is focused, as dealing with regular medical emergencies has not deterred him from achieving good grades and being part of his community.
• He is empathetic, as he understands personally how hard times can impact people.

Whatever essay topic you choose, your essay should provide admissions officers concrete evidence that you are an ideal candidate for their school. Your essay should have a memorable introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and guides the rest of your essay.

Repeat Your Qualities in the Essay Conclusion

Although your essay introduction is crucial in starting your essay off in a clear and impactful direction, how you end your essay is also important as it is the last thing that will remain in the reader’s mind. One surefire way to write a strong essay conclusion is to repeat the important qualities you discussed earlier. Recall details about your personal story or repeat the qualities you introduced at the beginning of the essay. Here is an example of what a good conclusion can capture what colleges are looking for in an essay: 

Concluding your essay by repeating your qualities During my high school years, my qualities of leadership, initiative, and hard work have help shape me to become the strong student I am today. As the head of our school’s volunteer group, I showed that even a teenager can make a big impact. As a student achieving high grades in all three of my AP courses, I demonstrated my dedication to education about all. Finally, as a daughter of working-class immigrant parents, I have used my value of hard work to achieve things my parents never thought possible. These values have contributed to making me the conscientious and successful student and person I am now, and they will surely continue to assist and guide me in my academic and professional career.

Interesting Essay Topics to Write About

There are hundreds of resources available online about writing college essays (including How to Write the Common App Essay ). And while you can find dozens of interesting and fruitful essay topics that have worked, here are just a few more that are not too specific and can be molded to fit your unique profile and personal story. 

1. A unique extracurricular activity or passion 

2. An activity or interest that contrasts heavily with your profile

3. A seemingly insignificant moment that speaks to larger themes within your life 

4. Using an everyday experience or object as a metaphor to explore your life and personality 

5. An in-the-moment narrative that tells the story of an important moment in your life

Additional Tips for Writing an Essay Colleges Will Love

Choose a strong essay topic.

First, whichever structure you will use, you need to ask yourself what you actually want to accomplish in life (esp. in terms of career) . This gives you your goals. You need to choose a program that helps you reach these goals—otherwise, you should seriously reconsider whether you should even be applying!  

If you are using the “Story” structure…

The story is going to be your topic, so make it an engaging tale… but remember you are not here to show that you are the next Shakespeare. There are three ways to go here: a story/description about yourself that shaped who you are and shows who you are. A story/description of something completely different that inspires you or is a metaphor for who you are.

If you are using the “Conveying passion for a subject” structure…

In this case, you have your topic (the subject you are passionate about), but remember the essay should be about what it means to you (don’t get bogged down in describing the subject itself). Use each subsequent paragraph to illustrate how you show passion for the subject or topic you have chosen. Be sure to use concrete details within the paragraph, but begin each paragraph with a “mini-thesis statement” that gives the reader a clear and concise summary of how you demonstrate your passion in a particular way.

Engage the Reader with Your Essay’s Narrative

The admissions officer will not be interested in a mere list of your personal qualities, extracurriculars, or accomplishments. This information is included elsewhere in your application. Instead, focus on showing who you are in your essay through a narrative that includes concrete details. 

But how can you plan the topics included in your narrative essay? First, grab a pen and jot down important experiences that spring to mind. Your experience could be something negative that eventually turns out to be positive or vice-versa. The most intriguing part of a negative experience is how you handled it and, hopefully, came out on top. Give your reader a setting to help them feel like they’re a part of your story and experience this moment of change with you.

Focus on what you care about most

Consider this a kind of brainstorming exercise. Close your eyes and imagine what drives you, motivates you, excites you, and inspires you to pursue great things (or at least fantasize about doing them). This might include a hobby, a genre of music, an important person in your life, a pivotal memory or experience, a book—anything meaningful that you consider part of your identity or that defines you. 

Start by listing these items and creating a word web of other relevant or secondary aspects of this one idea, person, object, or experience. Write some brief sentences about exactly why it is important to you. Once you have your list and a few sentences written, it should be a bit easier to narrow your topic to just one or two things at most.

Essay Editing for College Application Essays

One thing all schools look for in an essay is a document that is free of errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and style. Admissions essay editing services are ideal for international students who struggle with English or simply want to take their essays to the next level. Students should take care to choose a company that’s reputable and employs highly qualified editors .

Check out Wordvice’s array of professional English editing services and proofreading services , including essay editing services, to learn how our editors can improve your essays and help you get into your dream school.

Character Counts: What Are Colleges Looking For?

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What Character Traits Do Colleges Look For?

What do colleges look for besides grades when they read your application? They take into account more than your GPA and test scores. Your character and the personal qualities you can bring to a college are important, too. That's why you need to think about your goals, accomplishments, and personal values. Then, you can figure out how you can best express those in your applications.

Top Character Qualities Colleges Want

"What is it that makes you unique, and how will you contribute to the life of our campus?" That's the answer to what do colleges look for in essays, according to Earl Johnson of the University of Tulsa. University applicants who demonstrate the following qualities of a good college student have more to contribute to a school:

• Willingness to take risks
• Sense of social responsibility
• Commitment to service
• Special talents or abilities

Overall, colleges want a mix of students to create a rich campus community. They want the class valedictorians, says Marty O'Connell, executive director of Colleges That Change Lives. However, they also are looking for "students who are going to be involved in a lot of activities, and students who are musicians, and students who are athletes, and everything in between."

Your College Application Shows Your Personality Traits

So how do you show colleges what's special about you? The positive characteristics of college students are not easy to measure. Nonetheless, admission officers look at the items listed below for clues about what makes you unique.

Extracurricular activities : What you do outside the classroom reveals a lot about you. That’s why some applications ask for details about extracurricular activities . But remember, it's not the number of activities that counts. Then, what do admission officers look for? It's more about what you've learned and how you've grown from participating in these activities.

Summer jobs and activities : Your summer experiences provide insight into your character. Holding a summer job at a fast-food restaurant can build as much character as attending a prestigious summer learning program . Even staying at home to help out with babysitting or household chores like cooking for the family shows character. It's all about what you've gained, what you've learned and how you communicate that.

College essay : The college essay gives you the opportunity to show the admission officers who you are and how you will contribute to the college campus. What are admission officers looking for in a college essay? Creativity, self-awareness, and a good command of grammar top the list.

Mike Sexton, vice president for enrollment management at Santa Clara University, says that when admission officers read student essays, they ask themselves, "Would you like this person to be your roommate? Would you like to work on a group project with this person?" The essay can reveal the answers to these questions more than any test score can.

Letters of recommendation : Recommendation letters can tell a lot about the kind of person you are. A teacher who knows you well can give insight into your leadership ability or your collaborative approach to team projects. A school counselor or administrator can also offer valuable information about your service to the school community.

What characteristics are important to colleges?

Admissions officers are looking for academic excellence and character strength. When you look at a list of characteristics of college students, you probably recognize many of them in yourself. Colleges are looking for leaders who are compassionate and caring about others. They want innovators who are passionate about their pursuits and willing to take risks. So, what do admissions officers look for? They want students who have clear goals and can demonstrate that they can achieve them.

What kind of students do colleges want?

Colleges are looking for students who will succeed academically, be involved, and use their talents to help others. When college admissions specialists review your application, they are asking themselves, "What qualities best describe this applicant?" It's your job to give them the clues they need to make a favorable decision.   

How can I stand out to colleges?

The essay you write as part of the application process is one of your best chances to stand out. What do college admissions look for in an essay? Reveal your passions, talents, and character with a well-written essay. Ideally, your college essay will illustrate a project or situation that contributed to your personal growth. Many applicants find that taking the time to write a thoughtful essay also helps them figure out what to look for in a college they have been considering. 

When they review your application, admissions officials will also look closely at your extracurricular activities and what you did with your time during summer breaks. They are seeking evidence that your presence will positively impact the campus community. 

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What Are College Admissions Officers Looking For in the Application Essay?

by Carol Barash, PhD, Founder and CEO of Story To College

Between 2005 and 2011, the number of applications the average admissions officer was responsible for reading went from 359 to 622. To distinguish between many students who have strong grades and test scores, admissions officers rely on the application essay–while they simultaneously have less time to review each student’s work.

In our conversations with college admissions officers–from schools including Yale, Rochester, and Brandeis–Story To College has discovered a major gap between what colleges look for in applications and what students most often reveal. Here are our takeaways on what colleges are looking for in an applicant’s personal essay (sometimes it’s also called a “personal statement”):

1. A unique perspective

Students live in a world where “achievement trumps character,” according to Jon Burdick, Dean of Undergraduate Admission at the University of Rochester. Panelists at the College Board Forum in 2012 agreed, referencing recent cheating scandals at top high schools and colleges (Stuyvesant, Harvard) and their echoes in the news from business, finance, and journalism.

College admissions, on the other hand, is all about character–especially integrity. Colleges look for young people who work with a sense of purpose and commitment, not the student who does generalized “community service.” They look for students who have persevered through adversity, rather than people who make excuses or who expect other people to solve life’s problems for them.

Admissions officers look for students whose essays reveal their character and perspective through their real experiences, not contrived situations.

2. Authentic voice

Admissions officers say most essays they read are safe, generic and do nothing to make them remember or want to advocate for the students who wrote them. Admissions readers seek authenticity in students’ essays, the one place where they can hear students speak in their own voice.

Most students, however, fail to leave an impression–or worse, leave the impression that someone else wrote the essay for them.  “We react negatively to anything that sounds 42 and packaged,” said Marcia Landesman, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale. Colleges are looking for students who are authentic and real; no one else can do that work for them.

It is more important that a college application essay sound like the applicant than the writing be polished like a critical essay in school.

3. Strong writing

Admissions officers do read for writing quality. Application essays should be error-free examples of the student’s best work. The consensus among admissions officers is that most students don’t spend enough time on their essays to make a real impact.

Successful college admission and scholarship essays are stories, not arguments. When we pushed admissions officers on what they meant by “strong writing” in our round-table, they revealed that they didn’t mean a slick, polished style. They said, “a compelling story.” The neuroscience of storytelling teaches us that if you can reveal your character through a compelling narrative, admissions officers form stronger connections with you through your writing.

Story To College draws on the neuroscience of storytelling to teach students how to write essays that admissions readers remember. Their courses and coaching are built around the Story To College Moments Method®, a revolutionary neuroscience- and performance-based curriculum designed to dramatically expand students’ writing and speaking mastery. To learn more, visit their website, storytocollege.com .

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what do admissions officers look for.

Hello! I'm starting to get more serious about college applications and I'm just curious about what exactly admissions officers tend to look for in an applicant. What factors really make an applicant stand out? Do they prioritize academics, extracurriculars, or personal qualities? Any advice would help, thanks!

Admissions officers look at a variety of factors when evaluating college applicants, and each college has its specific criteria. However, there are some common elements that most schools consider. These factors can be broadly divided into academics, extracurriculars, and personal qualities.

1. Academics: This is often the first aspect that admissions officers look at. Your academic record—grades, coursework (including the rigor of the curriculum), and test scores (if applicable)—helps them gauge your intellectual abilities and potential. Schools usually use something called the Academic Index, which represents the strength of your grades, test scores, and, if available, class rank. Meeting this index requirement is crucial for your application to be considered.

2. Extracurriculars: Admissions officers view your involvement in extracurricular activities as an indicator of your passion, commitment, and potential contributions to the campus community. They categorize activities based on the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars, with Tier 1 being the most impressive and Tier 4 being the most common. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a balanced mixture of high-quality activities, with a focus on a few that show your commitment and leadership skills.

3. Personal qualities: The personal qualities you exhibit in your essays, recommendations, and other application materials are another important aspect that admissions officers consider. They look for qualities such as resilience, empathy, creativity, and curiosity. Your essays are a great opportunity to showcase your personal qualities and demonstrate how you've grown and matured over the years.

In general, admissions officers look for a combination of these factors, with the weightage of each varying depending on the college and its admission philosophy. A well-rounded applicant is someone who not only excels academically but also participates actively in extracurriculars, and demonstrates strong personal qualities.

To stand out, focus on what makes you unique and try to spike in a particular area of interest. This could be your academic specialty or an extracurricular activity where you've achieved exceptional success. Additionally, highlight your personal growth and showcase your individuality through your essays, as this is often a critical factor in helping admissions officers differentiate between similarly qualified applicants.

Ultimately, it's essential to remember that each college has its own distinct admission criteria, so research each school to ensure your application aligns with their specific requirements and values.

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.