Mike's Quick Tips
Give us what we're looking for. If we ask you to describe an event or your favorite book, and its importance to you, we're looking for something that tells us about your personality. If you want to show your research abilities, you can include a graded paper in addition to your essay.

Show who you are. The essay and interview are the only places where you can tell us stuff about you that's different from everyone else. Always keep in mind: We're looking for what it means to you. I'd rather read about a conversation you had and what it meant to you, rather than read the details of a trip you took.

Don't dash it off quickly. Some of my friends' kids labor over their AP English assignments and whip off the college essay as if it's not going to be graded. We read your essays with a pen in hand; it's our job to point out the good, the bad, and the ugly for the next reader. And don't try to figure out what the counselor wants and write that. We can see through it.

Avoid being trite and unoriginal. Give your essay to a peer or your English teacher and ask, "Could anyone else have written this?" If he or she says yes, you haven't taught the admissions folks anything about you.

Getting started. Be yourself. If you want to be humorous or controversial, get an opinion from a counselor who knows something about that school. Be careful about swearing or quoting something verbatim; if it's off-color, you'll seem juvenile. Avoid regional terminology, too.

Yes, spelling counts. Spelling, grammar, syntax, logic of the argument, economical use of words, creativity, and originality--we look for all of them.

Intrigue us. Make the reader want to see what's going on! If the opening sentence is compelling, that's a great indicator that the essay will be good. Make it enjoyable for the reader.

Ask for help. If you have questions, ask them. We have email addresses and phone numbers, so use them. Never assume! If you want to know something, go ahead and ask us.

I Still Remember...
"One of the best essays I ever read answered this question: 'What is your favorite book character, and why.' Instead of starting with 'my fave character is ....,' this essay began with the character's qualities and statements. It was very conversational, and I didn't discover the character's identity until midway through the first page. It piqued my interest and held it."