10 dos and don’ts for writing your college essay (without losing your mind)

Summer = beach days, late nights, and sleeping in… or at least that’s the fantasy. These days, most high schoolers are booked solid—working, volunteering, researching, studying for tests, or visiting colleges. Days of aimless summer lounging and hanging out with friends? Not so much.

But if you’re a rising senior, there’s one thing you really don’t want to leave off your summer to-do list: your college essay.

It might sound intimidating, but trust me—it’s just a story about you. And you’ve got plenty of those, even if you think you’re just a “regular” teen living an “ordinary life.” (We hear that all the time from students who worry they have no “story” to share.)

The Common App prompts are already available (you can find them here), which means you can get started before school takes over your life again. Writing your essay over the summer can make the fall way less stressful. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world if you begin senior year with your Common App essay completed.

Where do I start?

Start by brainstorming: What don’t the admission officers already know about you? What’s something that matters to you? What’s shaped the way you see the world? It doesn’t have to be deep or dramatic—some of the best essays I’ve read were about ponytails, stick-shift driving lessons, failed businesses, unique first names, solo beach walks, family competitions, and even dream analysis.

Once you’ve got an idea, just start writing. It’s fine if your first draft is messy. You’ll edit and polish it later.

But to help you start strong (and avoid common traps), here are a few quick dos and don'ts I’ve picked up from reading hundreds of our students’ essays.

DO:

• Tell a story that’s only yours—not something generic that could be about anyone.
• Reflect on how you’ve grown, changed, or learned something meaningful.
• “Show, don’t tell.” Use moments, details, or dialogue to bring your story to life.
• Write it yourself. Don’t use AI to compose your story. Admission officers can tell when it’s not your voice.
• Read it out loud. It’s a writer’s trick that truly helps you enhance your essay.

DON’T:

• Don’t use fancy words from a thesaurus just to sound “smart.” Keep it real.
• Don’t exaggerate or humble brag. Be honest and grounded.
• Don’t compare yourself to others or put them down. (No, “While my friends were at the beach, I was….”)
• Don’t turn it into a résumé in paragraph form—they’ve already reviewed your activity list. This isn’t about impressing admission officers.
• Don’t write something boring. If it bores you, it’ll bore them. Hook your reader early. Tip: writing in present tense can sometimes help your story come alive.

  Happy writing!