College Admissions Essays: Samples, Critiques, and Writing Tips

This list helps you learn the ins and outs of each of the personal essay options the Common Application.

This article presents 9 style problems found in many college essays, and it discusses ways for improving the style of an essay.

These tips will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of the admissions essay.

A bad essay topic can have disastrous results when applying to a selective college. Avoid these ten topics...

Tips and Warnings for Spell-Checking Your College Admissions Essay

How long should your application essay be? Can you go over the limit indicated on the application form?

To make sure your short answer shines, steer clear of these five common problems.

The Common App instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?

Gwen writes about soccer for the short answer section of the Common Application, but her essay has several problems.

This article presents a sample short answer essay (and critique) on running written for the Common Application.

Doug writes about a lawn-mowing business he founded for his response to the short answer question on the Common Application. Doug's response if followed by a critique.

That unimpressive job can actually be a great topic for the short answer.

College admissions officers see the five mistakes describe here all too frequently...

This article addresses formatting questions for your college admissions essay.

Supplemental College Essay - This sample supplemental college essay for admissions was written for Oberlin College. The essay provides a strong example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental college essay and a discussion of its strengths.

Sample Supplemental Essay - This sample supplemental essay for college admissions shows a good example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental essay and a discussion of its strengths.

An essay about an ethical dilemma

This sample college admissions personal essay - Give Goth a Chance - was written for the Common Application essay option 5. Here you'll find the essay and a critique of the essay.

This sample supplemental essay for Duke University's application makes many common mistakes. Read the essay and a discussion of its problems.

This sample college admissions essay tackles personal essay option number three of the common application--writing about an influential person.

This sample application essay talks about Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism. Felicity wrote the essay for the Common Application.

Read Lora's essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of her college search.

Before responding to the first essay option on the common application, be sure to consider these 5 tips.

5 tips for an essay on an issue and its importance to you

6 tips for an essay on an influential person

7 tips for an essay on a fictional character, historical figure or creative work

5 tips for an essay on diversity

4 tips for an essay on a topic of your choice

A sample college admission essay written for the Common Application by a student applying to several highly selective colleges. Here you'll find the essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of the student's college application process.

High school senior Courtney Duffy chose an unusual focus for her admissions essay: milk. Note how her essay carefully navigates the thin line between being serious and ridiculous. The essay is certainly unusual, but we learn enough about Courtney's passions and interests to prevent the essay from seeming flippant or superficial. Courtney got into her first-choice college: Trinity in Connecticut.

Some advice on choosing a topic for your college admissions essay.

Model Essay on a Character in Fiction - this model college admission essay answers question #4 on the Common Application: "Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence." The essay is "Wallflower" by Eileen.

UC Personal Statement - Tips for writing the UC personal statement. This article guides applicants to one of the University of California...

UC Personal Statement - Tips for writing the UC personal statement. This article guides applicants to one of the University of California...

The prompt for the Short Answer on the Common Application states, "Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below or on an attached sheet (150 words or fewer)." Although short, this little essay is important. It's a place where you can explain why one of your activities is...

Model Essay on an Influential Person - this model college admission essay answers question #3 on the Common Application: "Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence." The essay is "Diamond in the Rough" by Catherine.