How to Write a Standout College Essay: Be Real. Be You.
With AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other writing assistants becoming more popular, college admissions officers—and even professors—can often spot when a human didn’t write an essay. These tools tend to produce essays that are overly polished, filled with vague generalities, and lacking in personal detail. What’s missing?
You.
Colleges aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for authenticity. Admissions officers want to hear your story in your voice—not a sanitized version written by a machine. Your personality, your humor, your honesty—that’s what makes an essay memorable.
And here’s a bonus: If you take advanced courses like AP or dual credit, not only are you preparing for the rigor of college-level writing, but you’re also earning college credit in high school, which can qualify you for a Performance Acknowledgment on your high school transcript—a great boost to your application.
What Admissions Officers Are Really Looking For
Here’s what makes a college essay stand out:
Authenticity – Be real, honest, and personal.
Compelling Narrative – A story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Personal Growth – Share how you’ve changed or what you’ve learned.
Alignment – Connect your experiences to the college’s programs or mission.
Strong Writing – Clear, organized, and mostly polished.
Unique Perspective – Show what sets you apart.
True Passion – Write about what genuinely excites you.
Step-by-Step: How to Find Your College Essay Topic
Step 1: Start With You—Not the Prompt
Don’t start by asking, “What should I write about?” Instead, try:
What experiences shaped who I am?
What challenged me to grow?
What moments made me think differently?
Focus on being real, not impressive.
Step 2: Use This Brainstorming Chart to Spark Ideas
Prompt Category | Questions to Spark Ideas | Example Topics |
| What changed the way you saw something? | Moving to a new school, failing a test and bouncing back |
| What do you love doing or learning about? | Baking, robotics, anime, journalism |
| What’s something small or routine that matters to you? | Walking your dog, family dinners, morning playlist |
| What’s something difficult you’ve overcome? | Shyness, language barrier, self-doubt |
| What are you known for by friends or teachers? | Being the “helper,” always curious, making people laugh |
| What’s weird or quirky about you? | Obsession with pens, love of conspiracy podcasts, childhood nickname |
Turning Points
Daily Life
Challenges
What Others SayPick 2–3 that feel meaningful and just explore—no pressure yet!
Step 3: Free Write for 10 Minutes
Choose one topic and write freely—don’t worry about grammar or structure.
Ask yourself:
What happened?
How did I feel?
What did I learn?
Why does it matter?
Let your ideas flow naturally.
Step 4: Find the “So What?”
Once you have some notes or a rough draft, ask:
What’s the deeper message?
What does this reveal about me?
How does it connect to who I want to become in college?
How to Make Your Essay Sound Like You
AI essays sound robotic. Yours should sound human.
Here’s how to find your voice:
Write how you speak—just a little more polished.
Use vivid details: show, don’t just tell.
Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable or funny.
Vary your sentence length and rhythm.
Read it out loud—if it sounds stiff, revise it.
Your tone matters more than perfect grammar.
How to Edit Without Losing Your Voice
Editing is key—but don’t scrub out your personality.
Try these tips:
Read it aloud. Does it sound like you?
Ask someone who knows you for honest feedback.
Read backward to catch grammar or spelling mistakes.
Use AI only for grammar suggestions—not to rewrite your story.
Final Thoughts: Be You
You don’t need perfect grammar or a Pulitzer Prize-worthy topic. What matters most is that the essay is yours. Your experiences, your voice, your reflections.
Yes, use AI to brainstorm or refine punctuation. But when it comes to your story—only you can tell it.
Be bold. Be clear. Be real. Be you.
Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
You've got a ticket in your hand. Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?
Here is the full set of essay prompts for 2025–2026.
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design
