Even with the hectic pace of the college application process, it’s still possible to write an impactful admissions essay – even if you’re short on time. Whether you have a week, a few days, or just a handful of hours until the deadline, following these steps can help you get it done.
Organize: Set yourself deadlines with breaks
When writing a college admissions essay, it’s important to allocate your time strategically, whether you have hours, days, or weeks until the deadline. Setting specific deadlines for each stage of the process, with built-in breaks, can help you stay on track and produce your best work.
In general, the time breakdown should look something like this:
- 10% for brainstorming
- 10% for outlining
- 40% for the initial writing
- 30% for revising and editing
- 10% for taking breaks between stages
Here is a table outlining the time management strategy for writing a college admissions essay with different timelines:
| Task | If You Have a Few Hours | If You Have a Few Days | If You Have a Week |
| Brainstorming | 15-30 minutes | Day 1 | Days 1 and 2 |
| Outlining | 15-30 minutes | Day 1 | Days 1 and 2 |
| Writing | 2-3 hours | Days 1, 2, and 3 | Days 2-5 |
| Revising | 1-2 hours | Days 2 and 3 | Days 6-7 |
| Breaks | Scattered throughout | Scattered throughout | Scattered throughout |
Brainstorm: Your values and related stories
To brainstorm for your college admissions essay, reflect on your core personal values and identify specific stories or experiences from your life that demonstrate those values in action. Focus on choosing authentic, formative examples that can provide a vivid window into who you are as a person.
If you’re short on time, try these exercises to rapidly generate ideas for your college admissions essay:
| Question | Examples |
| Top 5 things I want colleges to know about me | I am a passionate advocate for the environment I overcome challenges with resilience and determination I have a quirky, sarcastic sense of humor |
| My top 5 core identities | Musician Older sibling Volunteer at the animal shelter Future computer scientist World traveler |
| Adjectives related to my personality and character | Curious Empathetic Organized Adaptable Confident |
| 3 things that make me different from other applicants | I was the first person in my family to learn English I founded a club to promote STEM education for girls I spent a summer backpacking through Southeast Asia |
| 5 meaningful life moments from the past 3–4 years | Earning my black belt in karate Losing my grandfather and learning the importance of cherishing time with loved ones Traveling to Costa Rica and studying the local ecosystem Joining the school musical and discovering my passion for performing Volunteering at the children’s hospital and being inspired by the patients’ resilience |
| If you already have a prompt, brainstorm 3–5 stories that relate to your prompt. | Prompt: Describe a challenge you’ve overcome. Studying for and passing my driver’s license test despite severe test anxiety Training for and completing my first marathon after a major knee injury Auditioning for the school play and getting the lead role, even though I had terrible stage fright |
When brainstorming ideas for your college essay, focus on choosing stories that are truly meaningful to you and showcase your unique experiences and perspectives. Avoid broad generalizations or summaries – instead, identify specific, vivid anecdotes that reveal something significant about your character, values, or personal growth. The most compelling narratives will be those that are distinctive to your life, not something another student could easily replicate. As you review your potential topics, ask yourself:
- Does this story hold deep personal significance for me?
- Can I paint a clear, sensory-rich picture of this experience?
- Is there something about this that makes it distinctly my own?
Outline: Choose a montage or narrative essay structure
There are two main structural approaches to consider for your college admissions essay:
Montage Essay Structure
- This essay format features a series of shorter anecdotes or vignettes that, when woven together, reveal a deeper meaning or insight about the applicant.
- The montage allows you to highlight multiple formative experiences, values, or facets of your personality in a compact way.
- The transitions between the different stories should feel natural and purposeful, building toward a cohesive theme.
Narrative Essay Structure
- This more traditional format tells a single, compelling story from start to finish.
- By focusing on a specific event, challenge, or transformative moment, you can dive deep into the details and emotions of that experience.
- The narrative arc should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, guiding the reader through your personal journey.
The narrative format may be effective if you have one particularly powerful, meaningful story to share, while the montage can work well if you want to showcase a range of your qualities, experiences, and personal growth. Regardless of which structure you choose, ensure the overall framework feels cohesive and intentional, not disjointed. The right organizational approach will depend on the specific details of your experiences and the impression you want to leave on the admissions committee, so carefully consider which format will allow you to most effectively highlight your unique attributes and perspectives.
Write: Be specific, personal, and unique
Here are some tips for writing a specific, personal, and unique college admissions essay:
Be Specific
- Avoid broad generalizations or clichés. Instead, use vivid details, sensory descriptions, and concrete examples.
- Dive deep into specific moments, challenges, or achievements rather than providing surface-level summaries.
- Use specific names, dates, locations, and other details to anchor your stories in reality.
Be Personal
- Share your genuine thoughts, feelings, and reflections throughout the essay.
- Reveal your authentic voice, personality, and values – don’t try to be someone you’re not.
- Make yourself the central focus, rather than writing primarily about others.
Be Unique
- Choose stories and anecdotes that are distinctly your own, not something any other applicant could write.
- Highlight experiences, perspectives, or talents that set you apart from the crowd.
- Find creative ways to present information, like using an unconventional structure or incorporating multimedia.
Revise: Content, clarity, and grammar
When revising your college admissions essay, focus on improving the content, clarity, and grammar.
Content:
- Ensure your essay has a clear, consistent theme or message that is woven throughout.
- Make sure each paragraph and detail directly supports your main point.
- Cut any tangents or unnecessary information that doesn’t add value.
- Inject more personal anecdotes, vivid descriptions, and reflective insights to make your narrative more engaging.
Clarity:
- Review your essay for any confusing or unclear language.
- Check that your ideas flow logically from one to the next with smooth transitions.
- Evaluate the overall structure – does it guide the reader effectively?
- Read your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing or areas that lack coherence.
Grammar:
- Thoroughly proofread for any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.
- Verify that you are using correct verb tenses and sentence structures.
- Maintain consistency in things like contractions, capitalization, and formatting.
- Consider having a teacher, counselor, or editor review your essay for feedback on technical errors.
Meeting the word count
If your college essay exceeds the specified word count limit, focus on tightening up your writing by identifying and cutting any sentences that veer off into tangents or include irrelevant details. Eliminate any unnecessary words that are simply cluttering your essay without adding value.
Alternatively, if you’re finding it difficult to reach the minimum word count, you can strengthen your essay by incorporating more vivid personal anecdotes, sensory details, and reflective insights. Sharing your genuine thoughts, feelings, and the key lessons you’ve learned can help give your narrative more depth and authenticity.