How to Write a Compelling College Essay: Tips from our Feature in Edina Magazine
- Alison Rosengren
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Last summer, I spoke with Mollee Francisco at Edina Magazine about the challenge that college applicants face to craft personal statements that are both authentic and outstanding, all in just 650 words. I think her piece sums up a lot of what's special about the essay writing process, and why I love guiding students through it.
You can check out the article here: https://edinamag.com/college-application-essays-are-an-introspective-journey/.
And read on for the rundown of the essay-coaching tips that I highlight in the piece.
The College Essay is an Opportunity for Introspection
The college application essay is an introspective journey, not just a writing assignment. We encourage students to explore their experiences, values, and goals deeply before they even begin writing. Here's how you can get started:
Identify your top values. How would your friends describe you in 3 words? What value is at the center of the community where you feel most at home? What does your family value?
Make a list of all the identities you hold. These can range from "dog-lover," to "sister," to "soccer player." There's identity in everything you do and in everything you are.
Reflect on what you're curious about— bonus points if it's not tied to a class at school. What are the things that you fall down rabbit holes researching? What's an activity that you could do for hours without realizing time is passing? What's your most niche passion? Your weirdest hobby?
“It’s really an exercise of self. You want to try to write a story that no one else can write."
These questions will help you brainstorm the unique combination of values, identities, and interests that shape who you are. This is a great place to start the journey of discovering what makes your story unlike any other applicant's.
Looking for more brainstorming activities?
Identifying the Key Messages in your Story
Once you've have completed your brainstorming, it's time to identify the themes that tie it all together. Take the student who plays tennis, loves video games, and is an aspiring mechanical engineer. Perhaps she sees the same mechanical precision in how she puts topspin on a tennis ball reflected in the organization of her team's strategy at the start of a Fortnite battle. This stage of the process is all about finding unexpected connections across your activities, values, identity, and interests.
Take a look at your brainstorming exercises, together with your activities list. You can circle the places in your story where the same value shows up again and again. In another color, circle the places where anything related to your future major or aspiring career shows up. And so on. This is how your key messages start to develop.
The key messages provide a framework for your story.
“They’re learning how to tell their story. It’s an important life skill for everything from essays to job interviews.”
Once you've uncovered your key messages, the next step is selecting an essay topic that allows you to communicate one or two of your key messages. Stay tuned for more on how to choose your essay topic!
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