College Essay

Writing Tips

Brainstorm

“What makes you, you?”

When thinking about your essay
topic remember that this is the
time to tell the admissions office
something about yourself that
they cannot see through your
grades or athletics or clubs.

Go to:
How to tell a unique story

Research
Remember
there are
some things
that you just
shouldn't write
about.

Read other tips

Click here for
more no no’s
in essay topics.
 Don’t overthink it!

Don’t just assume that uniqueness equals extraordinary. Maybe you were
not a composer at 3 years old but you did learn how to deal with things
you can’t control when little Bobby told you that you had a big head in 3rd
grade.
*a special thanks to my nephew Jonas for this topic

Rough Draft
Just start writing!

You will re-work the

essay several times
most likely, so start
anywhere.

It can be in outline form

or paragraphs,
whichever you prefer.

But just get started, this

is the hardest part.
Proofread

Have someone else read your

essay before submitting to your
colleges.

Teachers are a great

resource for proofreading.
They know you and what you
are capable of, and they
know grammar! It is a win
win!

Submit +
So you submitted your essay…
you are flying high now…. Wait?
What’s that? Oh! That’s right!
Now it is time to work on
scholarships!
Check out the
JHR Student Services webpage
the scholarship bulletin is linked
at the bottom of the home page.