If you’re here, you’ve likely already taken a look at the Common App essay options, felt a little bit of existential doom, and fought the urge to take a long nap (and honestly? Relatable).

But here’s the thing: beginning is the hardest part. Once you start writing, that self-imposed pressure will lift bit by bit, so that’s where this blog post comes in. We’ll break the writing process down into simple steps to help you take a deep breath and get the ball rolling.  

Part 1: Brainstorming

First things first… No matter how well-crafted your essay is, an admissions committee won’t remember it unless you tell a story that grabs readers’ attention and makes them feel something. That’s why brainstorming is actually the most important stage of putting your essay together. Even though we all love a little ~flair~, style is nothing without substance.

These admissions officers sort through thousands of applications annually. Generally speaking, they’re young, stressed, and excited to finish work for the day so they can catch up on Love Island like the rest of us with taste (ahem). It’s easy to psych yourself out by assuming your essay has to tell an unbelievable story, but, ironically, the key to a memorable essay is not a dramatic story but a relatable one.

“Big” topics blend in with every other application about facing obstacles or getting on the honor roll. Beyond that, grief and other hardships are difficult to write about well, and frankly, you shouldn’t have to relive the worst things that have ever happened to you in order to get a college’s attention.

Brainstorm characteristics that show you who are instead. Ask the people closest to you — friends, mentors, family members — what three words they would use to describe you, then what memories made them choose those words. Jot down your own memories related to their suggestions. List everything you can think of that’s part of an ordinary day or week, no matter how trivial the routine seems to you. Do you cook dinner for your family on Sundays? Is it your job to walk the dog or clean the litterbox every day? What do you truly do with your free time — not resume-building activities, but those things you return to for sheer enjoyment? It could be sketching, constructing Lego models, blogging, baking — anything that demonstrates you being you.

Step back, and choose the words that feel most central to your identity.

Now, you’re ready to write.

Part 2: Crafting the Essay

Looking at your notes, choose a story that exemplifies the topic you’ve chosen. It can be anything as long as it has a beginning, middle, and end and shows off something unique about you.

Let’s say you’re an aspiring pre-med student who wants to convey your caring and observant nature. Your other application materials mention relevant classes and extracurriculars, but what a reader won’t already know is the story your mom tells everyone about how you rescued a baby bird in the backyard during junior high.

Voila! This anecdote illustrates that you are attentive to your surroundings, that you take care of the vulnerable, that you seek out information when solving a problem, and that you are gentle and dedicated — in short, that you’d make an excellent addition to any pre-med program.  

Once you have your topic and your story in mind, you can jump right in. Write a draft as if you’re narrating it to a friend. Your essay should tell the entire story, and it should showcase your voice. It’s tempting to go through Thesaurus.com and replace every word with a million-dollar synonym, but forced language sounds bad. These readers already know that you’re smart, so let your tone and style represent the way you express yourself organically.

Part 3: Editing

Last but not least, you should revise and rework your essay several times — at least 3 to 5.

Careful editing ensures that your essay flows naturally, illustrates your character, and sounds conversational while conveying your singular personality.

Let’s return to the baby bird. You wrote a beautiful first draft, but it has too many descriptive details about the backyard. In the second draft, you better develop the analytical side that helps you solve problems and draws you to medicine–but this version makes the process sound mechanical. In a third attempt, you strike the right balance between laying the scene, exploring the vibrancy of your feelings and environment, and highlighting the instincts and skillset that predispose you to a career in healthcare.

Conclusion

It takes time to reach the best version of your Common App essay, but it’s way less stressful when you approach it step by step.

Remember, this essay goes to every school you apply to, so you want it to be your finest work. Pace yourself, and don’t get defeated. Every writer, no matter their talent and experience, has to outline, draft, and revise. No one has ever written the perfect essay on the first try, and you don’t have to do it all in one go, either. (In fact, you really shouldn’t.)

Take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and tackle one task at a time. You’ll have the finished product before you know it.

If you’re still unsure where to start, or want additional help on your Common App essay, reach out to us here. We love working with students to alleviate the stress of college application.