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Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for "test-blind" admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don't have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay-reflecting who you are and what you believe-can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we'll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We'll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it's something that's genuinely important to you and not a subject you've chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You'll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer's attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that's not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don't Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you've decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don't tell.

The most engaging writing "shows" by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people's lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you've had some time to forget what you've written. Often, you'll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer's tip: Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don't Repeat

If you've mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don't repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you've answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups-a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

"While we won't as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you'd hoped it would," the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a "Kicker"

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here's our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

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12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay - Harvard Summer School

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College admission committees sift through thousands of college application essays each year. Here's how to make yours stand out.

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July Facebook Live Recap (Essay Q&A)

Dean Einstein, Honors Professor Dr. Wendi Sierra and Senior Admission Counselor, Dalton Goodier, answered questions about application essays in a live chat. Watch the entire video or check out tips on writing a great essay and links below for answers to your questions.

Don't get caught up in writing the perfect essay
Your essay is not the only factor that goes into making an admission decision.While it is important, it is just one piece of several elements used to get to know you as an individual. Use this as an opportunity to share useful information about yourself but don't let it be something you get overly stressed about perfecting.

There are no right or wrong topics or writing styles
We are trying to get to know you and your ability to communicate, so choose to write on something you know and care a lot about. Think of the essay as a reflection of your personality and select whatever topic and style is most representative of your strengths. If you're experiencing writers block, talk it out! A conversation with a family member, friend or mentor can help you figure out what you are passionate enough about to use as an essay topic. Think about things you care about most then backtrack to fit them into the essay prompt.

Ask yourself these 3 questions to make sure you have a strong essay on your hands
1. Is this essay about me? If you write about an important person in your life, make sure to frame it in a way to that helps the reader learn about you and not just the person you're writing about.
2. Does my essay show growth or change for me as a person? Make sure you tell the reader how the topic of your essay changed you, helped you grow, or what you learned from it.
3. Does this essay share anything new about me? Your essay is an opportunity to supplement the other documents you've submitted and let the reader know about the parts of you they aren't already seeing. Share something not included in transcripts, recommendation letters, or resume activities.

Get another set of eyes on your work
Once you've written something that answers the questions above and you feel comfortable sharing, ask up to 3 other people to review your work. We suggest you look for a mix of mentors, peers, and family members to help with this. Be sure to choose people you trust to give you honest feedback.
Resources

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Tips for Writing a College Application Essay

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Dean Einstein, Honors Professor Dr. Wendi Sierra and Senior Admission Counselor, Dalton Goodier, answered questions about application essays in a live chat. Watch the entire video or check out tips on writing a great essay and links below for answers to your questions.

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Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand -- Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

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Essay should not be more than 500-650 words and should follow the rubric

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1. Answer the question

2. Be authentic

3. Provide only useful information

4. Proofread your essay

1. Read it Aloud

5. Emphasize how your story highlights the university's value

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1. Be generic or tell a boring story

2. Be too graphic

3. Lie or exaggerate

4. Stray off-topic or ramble

5. Make spelling, grammar or punctuation errors

6. Turn your essay LATE

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Here are a few DO'S and DON'TS that will help when you begin writing your college essay