Essays & Personal Statement

Your personal statement is the single most important piece of writing in your application. In 650 words (the Common App limit), you need to show admissions officers who you are beyond grades and scores. AI can help you find your story and polish your writing — but every word must be yours.

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you built your college list. Now you’ll craft the essay that brings your application to life — the part that makes an admissions officer remember you after reading 40 applications that day.

Finding Your Story

Before writing a single word, brainstorm what to write about.

Brainstorming Prompt

Help me find my college essay topic:

Answer these questions honestly (the best essays come from real experiences):

1. What's a moment that changed how you see the world?
2. What's something you do that most people your age don't?
3. What failure taught you the most?
4. What's the weirdest or most unexpected thing about you?
5. What problem do you care about that isn't obvious from your transcript?
6. What's a small, specific moment that reveals something big about who you are?

Based on my answers, suggest 3 essay angles that:
- Show something not elsewhere in my application
- Have a specific, vivid opening scene
- Allow for genuine reflection (not just "I learned teamwork")
- Would be memorable to someone reading 40 essays in a day

The specificity test: If another applicant could write the same essay about their version of the same experience, it’s too generic. “Volunteering at a soup kitchen taught me empathy” — generic. “The first time a regular at the soup kitchen called me by name, I realized I’d been treating people as ’the homeless’ instead of as David, Maria, and James” — specific.

✅ Quick Check: Which essay topic is stronger: “How debate club taught me to argue both sides” or “The time I had to argue in favor of a policy I personally disagreed with — and won”? (Answer: The second. It’s a specific moment with inherent tension. The first is a category of experience; the second is a story. Stories with built-in conflict and personal stakes make compelling essays.)

Structuring Your Essay

Structure Prompt

Help me structure my college essay:

My topic: [brief description of the experience/moment]
My main point: [what I want the reader to understand about me]
Word limit: 650 words

Suggest a structure:
Option 1: Narrative (start in a moment, zoom out, reflect)
Option 2: Before/after (how an experience changed me)
Option 3: Unexpected connection (link two seemingly unrelated things)

For each option:
- Opening sentence (must be specific and hook the reader)
- How to organize the 650 words (rough paragraph plan)
- Where to put the reflection (the "so what?")
- How to close (circle back to the opening or look forward)

Editing Your Essay

After YOU write the first draft, AI helps you polish.

Editing Prompt

Edit my college essay for impact:

[paste your draft]

Check for:
1. Opening: does it hook the reader in the first sentence?
2. Specificity: are there generic phrases that could apply to anyone?
3. Voice: does it sound like a real person, not a formal paper?
4. Reflection: is there enough "what I learned" vs. "what I did"?
5. Clichés: flag any overused phrases (journey, passionate about, etc.)
6. Word count: am I within the limit?

Rules:
- Do NOT rewrite sentences in a different voice
- Suggest edits, don't impose them
- Flag but don't remove informal language (it might be intentional)
- Preserve any humor or personality

Clichés to avoid (AI can flag these):

• “From a young age…”
• “I’ve always been passionate about…”
• “This experience taught me the importance of…”
• “It was a life-changing experience…”
• “In conclusion, I learned that…”

Writing Supplemental Essays

Most schools require 1-3 additional short essays (150-300 words). These supplement your main essay.

Help me write the "Why This School" supplement:

School: [name]
Word limit: [limit]
My intended major: [major]
What I've researched about this school:
[specific programs, professors, opportunities from Lesson 2 research]

Structure:
1. What specific academic opportunity excites me (name the program/professor)
2. What about the campus community fits me (specific club, tradition, value)
3. How this school + my goals = unique combination
4. Close with what I'll contribute, not just what I'll gain

Practice Exercise

1. Answer the 6 brainstorming questions — which answer surprises you most? That’s probably your strongest essay topic
2. Write a first draft of your opening paragraph — focus on a specific moment, not a general statement
3. Run your draft through the editing prompt — how many generic phrases does AI flag?

Key Takeaways

• The best essays are specific — if another student could write the same essay about their version of the experience, it’s too generic
• Open with a specific moment, not a general statement (“I’ve always been passionate about…” is an instant red flag)
• Reflection matters more than action — admissions officers want to know how you think, not just what you’ve done
• AI edits should improve clarity and catch clichés, NOT change your voice or formalize your language
• Every supplemental essay should show school-specific knowledge — use your research from Lesson 2
• Write your own first draft before involving AI — AI is an editor, not an author

Up Next

In the next lesson, you’ll organize your extracurricular activities into a coherent narrative — showing growth, leadership, and impact rather than just a list of things you’ve done.