Tips for Personality-Driven College Admissions Essays

& Supplementary Writing Prompts

  Dr. B Helps You Get There!

In the age of AI-generated content, admissions readers can discern in the essay's introduction if it’s written by a young adult, a computer, or your well-intentioned helicopter mom. While it’s beneficial to have trusted readers review your essay, and it’s acceptable to use tools like Spellcheck or Grammarly to enhance your verbs and grammar, it’s crucial to craft the essay on your own first, letting your own core values lead you, my dear college hopefuls.

Based on your Common App writing prompt and/or any additional personal insight essays, be sure to highlight how a transformation occurred in your academic, personal, or social life. Clean, simple phrasing is often a sign of writerly confidence; do yourself a favor and limit your adjectives. (Did you check if any of your desired programs want extra information?) You can always polish a paragraph with AI after it’s written, but be selective—your personality should be clear, not hindered by overly scholarly diction. For example, let’s say your top pick college wants you to answer the following supplementary question: In 200 words, please identify and detail three things about yourself that a new roommate should know. The keywords here are identify and detail. Do only what is asked. Think three paragraphs— each with a topic heading. I Snore should not be one, but maybe kindly gift your new roomie some earplugs. The point is to display a clear mindset, belief system, or set of values that clarify how you engage with others.

Perhaps you like to sing 80s love songs in the shower, or you make a mean grilled cheese sandwich on your grandma's panini press. Once three unique topics are listed and described separately, try to weave a confident narrative of self-awareness that implies you own and quite like your quirks. The goal is to provide admissions readers with a few snippets of your genuine personality. AI can't possibly extract the fully functioning human you hope to be one day from a writing prompt. And while mom may know best, she can’t declare your authentic way in the world, either. Only you can do that, silly.

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