The personal essay helps the admission office understand the candidate better, whether the campus is a good fit and can the applicant contribute to making the campus a more interesting, challenging, and inclusive place. During the application season, admission reps may read through as many as thirty essays a day. Fatigue is a hazard.

To break through the tedium, your essay needs to be memorable. It should have originality, an authentic story or theme, and a strong voice that shows the depth/passion of the writer’s commitment to their story. The essay must grab the reader from the first sentence. Like any good book, each sentence in your essay should make the reader want to read more.