How Personal Should a College Essay Get?
Read the transcript
How personal should your college essay be? If you think you’ve shared too much, you have. A college admissions essay is a tool. Its job is to help an admissions officer make an informed decision about whether to admit you.
That means showing the strongest, most interesting version of what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. It’s not a diary entry; it’s not a therapy session. What goes in the essay is what you would want a smart stranger to know about you to decide whether you’ll thrive at their school. In fact, a smart stranger is a more useful test audience than your family and your friends.
Short answer: If you’re asking whether you’ve shared too much, you have.
Longer answer: A college admissions essay is a tool. Its job is to help an admissions officer make an informed decision about whether to admit you. That means showing the strongest, most interesting version of what you do, how you do it, and why you do it.
It is not a diary entry. It is not a therapy session.
Save the deeply personal for those. What goes in the essay is what you’d want a smart stranger to know about you before deciding whether you’ll thrive at their school.
Reference: the Common App essay prompts.
Read the complete guide
The full system for writing essays admissions officers can’t ignore — EssaySecrets™.
Get EssaySecrets™ →One payment. Every kid in your family.
Not ready? Be the admissions officer — three essays, one seat, who gets in?
Also asking: looking for the best college essay tutor?