do you have to write different essays for each college

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

March 13, 2023

Can You Use the Same Personal Statement for Different Schools?

One of the questions we are asked most often by college and graduate school applicants is this: “I’m applying to six different schools, and each one requires two to seven essays/personal statements . That’s so much writing! Can I reuse the same essay for different schools? How can I keep up the quality and not burn out while writing so many personal statements?”

We understand. We even sympathize. Best of all, we have practical solutions for determining whether you can reuse some of your essays for multiple schools. 

First, if multiple schools are asking nearly identical questions, it’s logical to use some or perhaps even most of your essay response. However, the essay lengths might be different, and the wording will vary to some extent. Read each question out loud, so you can actually hear exactly what the schools are asking. Many times, an essay prompt has more than one question within it. You don’t want to overlook any of the questions in the prompt. 

Additionally, we have this advice: 

•  Make sure each essay has a distinctive theme. You can do this by developing different aspects of a single experience. For example, if you plan to write about your first summer as a camp counselor at a sleepaway camp, in one essay, you could describe how you worked to build a relationship with a lonely camper and help them develop their self-confidence and participate in more activities. During the same summer, you might also have been in charge of the drama group. This could offer the substance for a very different essay about teaching and organizing a group of highly energized, sometimes rowdy young teens. Don’t waste an opportunity to write about multiple aspects of the same experience that opened different doors to personal growth. You’ll be stretching your available material to cover more bases.
• Chart your list of essays and the qualities you associate with them. With multiple essays/personal statements to manage, consider using a spreadsheet to list each question, the school asking it, and which experiences, accomplishments, and skills you can associate with those questions. This will help you avoid using the same experience, accomplishment, or skill for more than one question at a given school.
• Portray your multidimensional self. Make a list of what you feel are your ten most positive qualities . Your list might include such traits as intellectually curious, eager for new experiences, sense of humor, strong DIY skills, and leadership. That was fun! Now, make a much shorter list (two or three items at most) of what you would consider your weakest traits. These might include procrastination, too much binge watching, and impatience. As you draft your essays, keep these different layers and textures of your personality in mind. (Sometimes, schools will ask you to identify a weakness and explain how you have worked to overcome it, so awareness of weaknesses isn’t necessarily detrimental to your application!) Having this list front and center will spark additional insights and angles for your essays. As a result, you will reward the adcoms with a rich, multidimensional portrait of you as a human being.
• Name dropping? Better double check the names! Check CAREFULLY (and then check again ) to make sure you don’t forget to change, for example, “Michigan” to “Chicago” when you adapt or reuse your application essay. Sending a “Why I want to go to UPenn” essay to the Yale adcom, or sending a “Why I want to go to Columbia” to NYU wouldn’t bode well for you!
• No matter how similar the essay questions are, never simply cut and paste an entire essay. As we noted earlier, no two questions will ever be exactly alike. As you write or edit from a different essay, keep the image of the school you are writing for in mind. Try to individualize each essay as much as possible. And by all means, reread the essay prompts when you feel you are nearly done, to ensure you really did answer every one of the adcom’s questions within the prompt.

Do you need help writing (or recycling) your application essays? Could you benefit from an expert’s assistance in identifying the strongest elements of your experience and profile? We can help! , and work one-on-one with an expert advisor who will help you get ACCEPTED!

Sadie Polen has  more than ten years of experience in higher education . She reviewed statements of purpose, personal statements, and resumes for political and public service opportunities and made candidate selections for elite programs at Harvard University. She also has experience advising individuals on their career and post-graduation plans. Sadie holds a BS from UC Davis, an EdM from Harvard, and a DEI certificate from Cornell. Learn more about Sadie Polen.

Related Resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Statement of Purpose , a free guide
• 9 Secrets to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story
• How to Project Professionalism, Positivity, and Confidence in Your Statement of Purpose

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Apply to vetted scholarship programs in one click

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations.

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

Can You Use the Same Essay for Multiple College Apps?

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

You might be asking yourself, “can you use the same essay for multiple colleges?” The short answer is yes, but that it sometimes depends on a few factors. It is important to ensure that the essay you are reusing is general enough to be used for multiple college apps. Read more in our guide about instances where it makes sense to use the same essay for multiple college applications. 

Before we start, we should recognize that the college admission process often involves writing multiple responses, including personal statements,  Common App essays, college specific essays, supplemental essays, and more. 

Can you submit the same personal statement to different schools? 

The good news is that you can submit the same personal statement to different schools. 

The personal statement is usually attached to the Common Application and the Coalition Application . The personal statement aims to get to know the applicant as a unique person. Students can do this by writing about a unique aspect of their lives, an accomplishment they are most proud of, or ultimately anything that shows who they are. It would be unnecessary to write a different personal statement for every college since the personal statement is all about you. 

Also see: How to write a successful college essay by showing, not telling

Can you submit the same college-specific supplemental essays for multiple college applications? 

“why us” question.

The “Why us” essay questions typically will not be able to be reused. This is because they are specifically designed to elicit a response regarding the uniqueness of their college. “Why us?” questions are supposed to be answered by sharing specific aspects of the school the applicant enjoys such as the campus, a specific course, the alumni connection, etc. Therefore, since every college is unique in its own way, it is nearly impossible to write a “Why us?” response that would work for multiple college applications. 

Supplemental essays

There is a chance you can reuse a supplemental essay for multiple college applications. Colleges ask supplemental questions on a variety of topics, and some questions are broader than others. This is a time to be very careful, as you don’t want any kind of a mix-up like praising the perpetually warm and sunny weather at the University of Minnesota!

Related: How to write about yourself

Tips for using the same essay for multiple college applications

Read the essay question carefully.

To begin, you must read the question carefully to ensure that any previous essay you have written will answer all parts of the question. It is critical that you are not ignoring parts of the question just because you have an essay that answers the other part of the question. 

Make sure that your response is college specific

If the question asks specifically about the college it is important to put specific details into your essay. You should be as detailed as possible when responding to a college specific question to show that you care about attending that college!

Don’t miss : How to ask for letters of recommendation for college and scholarships

Proofread!! 

It is so important to read over your essay to ensure that there is no mention of a different college in it. Proofreading your essay will also avoid any grammatical errors and typos. 

Write a new essay if necessary

When in doubt, the best thing to do is completely write a new essay. This will result in the most specific and detail oriented essay possible that does not seem to be general or non-question specific. Reusing essays is an efficient way to fill out college applications, but it may not always be the one that results in the best essays. So, when in doubt, write a new essay! 

Key Takeaways

• Reusing your personal statement essay for multiple colleges is not only allowed, but sometimes encouraged
• When in doubt, write a new essay and do not reuse!
• Always proofread before submitting a supplemental essay to ensure you did not leave any “College A” specific details when submitting something to “College B” 

Also see: How many colleges should I apply to? and   10 tips for successful college applications

Additional resources

Congratulations on starting your applications to college! Remember, Scholarships360 has resources that can help you pay for college too! High school seniors  can take advantage of specific scholarship opportunities. Some scholarships require essays and applications, but others are no-essay or easy to apply for scholarships . Scholarships360 is here to provide valuable resources and access to scholarships for students. Try our handy dandy search platform and apply for all the scholarship you qualify for! 

Start your scholarship search

• Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Frequently asked questions about using the same essay for multiple college apps

Do colleges know if you use the same essay, can you use the same essay for the common application and the coalition application, scholarships360 recommended.

10 Tips for Successful College Applications

Coalition vs. Common App: What is the difference?

College Application Deadlines 2023-2024: What You Need to Know

Trending now.

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score

What Are Public Ivy League Schools?

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, can i use the same essay for multiple college applications.

Hey everyone, I'm starting to work on my college essays and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Is it generally okay to use the same essay for multiple college applications, or should I write a unique essay for each school? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hey there! I totally understand how overwhelming the college application process can be. When it comes to using the same essay for multiple college applications, it's generally okay to do so, as long as the essay prompt is similar or the same. Keep in mind, though, that some colleges may have specific and unique essay prompts that you'll need to cater your response to. In those cases, it's important to write a unique essay that directly addresses the prompt. One helpful tip is to create a strong, well-written 'base essay' that you can modify slightly to fit the requirements of each individual college. This can save you a lot of time and effort while still allowing you to craft a tailored response for each school. Ultimately, the most important thing is to make sure your essay effectively communicates who you are and why you'd be a great fit at the college you're applying to. Best of luck with your applications!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• Success Stories
• AI Scholar Program
• Startup Internship Program
• Research Scholar Program
• GOALS Academic Support Program
• Test Prep Program
• Passion Project Program
• For Families
• For Schools
• For Employers
• Partnerships
• Content Guides
• News And Awards
• College Admissions
• Events and Webinars
• Applications

Writing College Essays for Different Applications

Madeleine Karydes

Lead admissions expert, table of contents, why do colleges request a personal essay.

• What Should You Write About in a College Application Essay?

Can You Submit the Same Essay to Multiple Colleges?

Tips for writing your college application essay.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

One of the key components of any college application is the personal essay. It’s also the requirement that tends to create the most anxiety for applicants. 

You might be wondering what you should talk about in your college application essay, how to structure your essay, or how to stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of the admissions committee. 

The good news is, that by following a few tips and basic principles of writing essays, you can quickly get the hang of personal essays. Instead of being anxious about the essay, you can use it to round out a successful college application package. 

Here’s what you need to know before starting your college application essay:

The personal essay has long been a requirement for college application packages. Why have so many colleges and universities insisted for so long that applicants include an essay? In short, it’s the best way to get to know the person behind the numbers.

Colleges and universities receive thousands of applications. Elite schools receive ten of thousands of them. And a large number of these applicants will look equally qualified to attend. They all have impressive GPAs, high SAT or ACT scores, and a long list of extracurriculars. 

In these situations, admissions officers use the college application essay to distinguish between competing applicants. It’s a way to get past the numbers and see the character and creativity of the applicant – important skills for college that aren’t visible in test scores alone. 

What Should You Write About in a College Application Essay ?

There are two principles you should follow when sitting down to write your college application essay: be yourself, and be honest.

Be yourself

College application essay prompts vary from school to school, but most of these prompts are ultimately asking the applicant to talk about themselves. They want to get to know the you behind the high GPA and long list of activities. 

What are your goals or your values? What motivates you? Where do you come from and how did you get here? And, ultimately, what will you bring to the campus community?

Here’s an opportunity to let your personality and your unique life experiences shine – the opportunity to be yourself. Use it! 

And while writing your personal essay, don’t forget the second principle for this task: be honest. Unfortunately, fearing their personal story might not be what the college admissions officers are looking for, or thinking they have to exaggerate to stand out, some applicants are not truthful in their college application essays. This behavior puts you and your entire future at risk if it’s discovered. Just don’t do it. 

Remember, schools want to know the real you. And the real you is more than enough to find the right college match. To truly catch the eyes of the admissions officers, focus on writing the essay in a compelling and well-structured manner while being truthful about the content. 

The Best College Application Essay Ideas

So, you’ve seen the essay prompt, but aren’t quite sure how to answer it? Here are some topics you might consider when preparing to write your essay:

• A challenge you overcame
• A successful project you led
• Your family’s experience living abroad
• A meaningful life lesson you learned from someone close to you
• Your work as an activist
• Your experience leading a successful group
• How you overcome adversity
• The person in your life who has influenced you the most
• Your plans for what you will do with your college degree

These are just some of the best college application essay ideas. Ultimately, what you write will need to be tailored to the school’s prompt, so be sure to read those carefully before sitting down to write. 

How to Structure an Essay

Now that you know what you’re going to write about, it’s time to think about how to structure your story. Admissions essays are usually short (250-500 words), so getting the structure right is key for making the story flow and be sure it includes the key information up front. 

That’s why you should focus on the go-to formula for essay writing: the 3-part structure. 

If you’ve ever taken a writing class, you’ve likely come across the concept of the 3-part essay. This rule says that all essays should have an introduction, thesis, and conclusion to make them readable, interesting, and impactful. Let’s take a closer look at each section:

• The Introduction (the “Hook”)

Use the introduction (the first 2-3 sentences) to catch the reader’s attention. Here’s where you tee up the rest of the story you’re going to tell in your college application essay.  Hook the reader here and they’re more likely to remain focused on what you have to say later. 

• The Thesis (the “Main Idea”)

A thesis statement outlines the main argument, point of view, or insight that the essay intends to deliver. It is the entire reason we write essays in the first place: to declare something to the world. Based on the prompt you’ve been given, this is the section where you answer the question or deliver the central message of your personal essay.  

• The Conclusion (the part that makes them remember you!)

Now that you’ve caught the reader’s attention and presented them with your main argument, it’s time to wrap it all up with a memorable ending. A strong essay never ends abruptly. Instead, it often takes the reader back to the beginning, to remind them how they got to this point in the first place. The conclusion ties it all together, and ensures the reader won’t soon forget what they just read. 

College admissions officers read hundreds of personal essays. It’s only human to start to go quickly through ones that don’t catch your attention, or forget ones that don’t end strongly. Using three 3-part structures gives you room to make impactful statements that will excite the reader and help your essay stand out. 

You have what you think is the best college application essay idea, but can you use it for multiple submissions? The short answer is yes, you can. The longer answer includes a few caveats. 

First, you can send the same essay to multiple colleges. Your story is yours, and it is true to you no matter which school is on your application to-do list. However, if there is anything in your essay that is specific to the school itself, you’ll want to be sure to edit it before sending it to the next school. 

For example, did you mention the name of the school in your essay? Forgetting to remove the name of College X before sending your essay to College Y is an easy way to have your application swiftly denied by College Y. 

Yes, you can submit the same essay to multiple colleges. Just be sure to make any necessary edits before you do. 

In summary, here is a list of tips to help you when you start writing your college application essay:

• Be yourself in your essay – let your personality shine  
• Be honest – stick to your truth
• Find the best college application essay idea that highlights the story of you
• Use the 3-part essay structure for clarity and impact
• Edit before sending your essay to multiple colleges

Don’t let anxiety about completing the personal essay section of your college application package stop you from acing this task. By following a few tips and basic principles of writing essays, you’ll be able to use this requirement to your advantage, and ultimately snag acceptance letters from your top schools. 

Share this article:

College apps can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. empowerly college counseling is in it with you., related articles.

Ways to Stay Calm and Focused During the SAT

What Are the Best Universities in New York?

What Are My Chances of Getting into a California University?

• Campus Culture
• High School
• Top Schools

Can You Use the Same Essay for Different Colleges? 3 Steps to Tailoring an Essay for Early Decision

• application strategy
• college application essays
• supplemental essays
• early decision

Every year, around this time, I get messages like these:

“Help me! Vanderbilt came to my school and said they like social entrepreneurship. Myessay’s about my family dinner. Should I change my essay?”

“The Yale admissions rep said they want ethical leaders, but my essay is about teaching dance to kids…”

“UC Berkeley talked about global citizens, but my essay is about my home town rowing club…”

Sound familiar?

You’ve dug deep, written draft after draft, massaged every line and hit “save as.” You have researched and visited several schools, fell in love with one and committed to an early decision or early action. Now, rightfully, you are thinking of all the ways you could make your application stronger with your top-choice school, including tweaking your essay. Should you?

Don’t sweat it.

The answer to this question for most of you is a categorical NO you should not tweak your essay for your ED school. If your essay centers on a personal narrative in which you pursue and reflect on one of your interests, even a seemingly small and mundane one, then you are on the right track. (Stories about family dinners and teaching dance classes can work very well!) Your supplements are where you should share your specific interests in your ED school (see below) and your essay should stand alone as a portrait of your strengths of character and drive to learn. 

So no need to borrow trouble and tweak your college essay so you sound like a “social entrepreneur” or “ethical leader” or whatever else you learned your dream school says it’s looking for. (Admissions officers can tell when you’re putting on airs.) These are buzzy terms for what all schools want: curious, self-motivated, smart, engaged HUMAN BEINGS: people who will use their school like a giant personal research facility, take their education into their own hands, pursue what piques their mind, and join and lead groups outside of the classroom.

But what about the exceptions?

For a slim group of you, the answer to the above question is a qualified “maybe.” To help you decide whether a strategic tweak to your essay is right for your ED application, please go through the below questions and suggestions.

1) Does your ED school have a “why this school?” supplement?

Yes? Then don’t tweak your essay. Your supplement will be all the space you need to share your desire for that specific school. 

No? Then move to the next question.

2) Does your ED school have a “favorite activity” supplement?

Yes? Tell a story in which you pursue a passion (other than the passion in you main essay) and how you would pursue it or keep it alive at the ED school. 

3) Does your ED school have any supplements at all?

Yes? Whatever the topic is, tell a story in which you pursue what you already love to study, create, lead, nerd out about and at the end, how you would pursue it at this ED school. 

No? This is where you might consider adding a tweak to your main essay. As you may be guessing by now, you could imagine how you would pursue your passion at this ED school at the end of your essay, but keep it brief. They don’t want a sales pitch. They want to learn what makes you tick. Literally, one line near the end is all you need.

“I see myself recreating family dinners with other students at Vanderbilt and, like at home, facilitate a circle sharing where needs and leads are matched.” 

“At Yale, I will keep a pair of Maria’s ballet shoes in my dorm room to remind me that empowering others starts with walking in their shoes for a while.”

What else can I do to improve my application with my ED school?

Contact your ED school’s admissions officer for your region and straight up ask them how you can do what you love at their school. A specific club you don’t see in their student club list? A dance or music group that doesn’t exist? Ask about how to start it. Meet them in person when you tour the campus or if they come to your school for a college fair. These admissions officers do remember the students who personally reach out, and it can make the difference between you and someone else. You can get their contact from the school’s website or from your high school college counselor.

About The Author

Justin Taylor is a college essay expert and Yale grad who’s helped hundreds of students raise their admissions prospects through his WOW essay process. As a writing professor, he has taught at Yale, Wesleyan, and the Sorbonne. His own essays have been featured in newspapers, magazines, and in university commencement speeches, including one at Radio City Music Hall! He’s also a professional meditation teacher and love helping students bring more peace of mind to their lives and the college admissions process. Learn about Justin’s WOW essay services .

Browse Successful Application Files

Last week, Prompt's CEO shared what mistakes to avoid in your college essay. In Part 2 of this two-part blog series, learn how to pick an essay topic. The key: focus on an admissions officer’s...

With an otherwise great college application, how important can college essays really be? When only 1 in 5 students applying to selective colleges have compelling essays, make sure you avoid this essay mistake....

In this second part of his two-part series, college admissions coach Justin Taylor explains key admissions lessons from 2020, an unprecedented year of firsts, that can help you strategize as we enter into this next application...

In Part one of this two-part series, college admissions coach Justin Taylor explains key lessons about 2020, “a year like no other,” that could seriously boost your chances in 2021, including smarter list building and transcript GPA...

We are so excited to announce that for this year’s scholarship, we selected five scholarship winners to maximize the impact of our $5,000 college scholarship prize money....

• 1. Webinar Series: College Application Prep for High School Juniors
• 2. College Application Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 2)
• 3. College Admissions Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 1)

• 5. COVID-19 and Your College Essay: Should You Write About It?
• 6. College Search: How to Find Your Best College Fit
• 7. College Tours 101: Everything You Need to Know
• 8. Waitlisted? 5 Ways to Move from the College Waitlist to Acceptance
• 9. When (and why) should you send additional materials to colleges you’re interested in?
• 10. How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out
• 1. How to Write College Essays to Boost your Chances Part 2: Focusing the Priority
• 2. How to Write College Essays to Boost your Chances Part 1: Biggest Essay Mistakes
• 3. College Application Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 2)
• 5. Winners of the AdmitSee 2020 College Scholarship
• 6. COVID-19 and Your College Essay: Should You Write About It?
• 7. Education, Access and Systemic Racism
• 8. Applying to BS/MD Direct Medical Programs: Why Early Med School Admission Might be Right for You
• 9. How to Get Off the College Waitlist (5 Go-To Strategies)
• 10. College admissions prep during the Coronavirus

How to Write College Application Essays

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

College Application Essay Fundamentals 

How to prepare to write your essay , how to approach different essay types, how to structure your essay , how to revise your essay, how to find essay writing help , resources for teaching students how to write a college essay, additional resources (further reading).

Of all the materials in a college application, the essay provides the greatest opportunity for you to set yourself apart. Unlike the transcript or resume, the essay is creative and expressive; in it, you can show the admissions counselors who you are and what you can do (that is, how well you can write!). A good application essay should have a memorable main idea, a cohesive structure, and a strong introduction and conclusion. Although essay topics can vary by college, the most common prompts deal with personal experiences and aspirations for the future. This guide   contains a diverse set of resources to help you orient yourself to the college application essay and, ultimately, to write the most competitive essay possible. 

The college application essay is a requirement for admission to almost all institutions of higher learning. Though in some ways it resembles essays you've written in class or on standardized tests, in other ways it's a unique writing exercises with its own particular requirements. Use the resources below to help you understand how the essay should be structured and what kind of content to include. 

"How Long Should College Application Essays Be?" (Learn.org)

This webpage guides you through some basic tips on writing the college essay—including essay length, sticking to the prompt, and maintaining an original tone. 

"College Application Essay" (College Board)

This webpage from the College Board discusses the different types of application essays, what length you should aim for, and most importantly, why colleges value this aspect of the application so much. 

"College Essays, College Applications" (College Board) 

The College Board's website is a great resource for any student looking to apply to college. This webpage contains several links to helpful resources, including sample essays and genuine student interviews. 

"Timeline for College Applications" (College Essay Guy)

This colorful, one-page guide from a college application specialist offers an illustrated timeline for high school students looking to apply for college. 

Before putting your ideas down on paper, it's important to conceptualize your essay, to craft strategically your tone and style, and,  crucially, to choose a topic that suits you and the school to which you're applying. The resources in this section include writing tips, lists of common mistakes you should avoid, and guides dedicated to the college application essay.

How to Plan Your Essay

"3 Common College Essay Mistakes to Avoid" (CNBC)  

This article from CNBC broadly outlines the most common mistakes students make when writing their college application essays. Although these mistakes may seem obvious, even the most experienced writers can fall into these common traps.

"7 Effective Application Tips" (Peterson's)

This article from Peterson's (a company providing academic materials for test prep, application help, and more) lists seven pieces of advice designed to make your writing pop. 

"The Secret to Show, Don't Tell" ( The Write Practice Blog)  

You've heard it before: show, don't tell. This is a great writing tip, but how do you pull it off? Here, the writing blog  The Write Practice  outlines how you can make your writing more descriptive and effective. 

"Passive Voice" (University of North Carolina)  

Avoiding passive construction is a subtle yet effective way to upgrade any piece of writing. Check out this webpage from a university writing center for some tips on recognizing and avoiding passive voice. 

"Using Appropriate Words in an Academic Essay" (National University of Singapore)

There are many ways to upgrade your vocabulary. Often, words can be replaced with more impressive substitutes, phrases can be shortened or lengthened depending on context, and transitions can be used for a smoother flow. The link above expands on these strategies and offers several others. 

How to Brainstorm Topic Ideas

"Bad College Essays: 10 Mistakes to Avoid" (PrepScholar)

This article from a well-known tutoring service and test prep program describes what to avoid when writing your essay. Essays that are too graphic, too personal, or too overconfident are all problematic, and this article explains why. 

"5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic" (CollegeXpress)

Lost on how to choose a topic? This webpage from CollegeXpress outlines five sources of inspiration you can mine for ideas as you're getting started.

"The College Admission Essay: Finding a Topic" (The Choice Blog)

This article from New York Times  blog The Choice  breaks down three essential questions to ask yourself when choosing a topic for your college essay. 

"COLLEGE ESSAY GUIDE: Choosing a Prompt for the Common Application" (YouTube)

In this five-minute video, a Yale student discusses how to choose a college essay prompt and how to approach the essay writing process. His channel is filled with original videos on the college application process. 

"Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises" ( CollegeVine Blog)

Approaching the Common App essay prompts can be difficult. This blog post explains several tactics you can use to narrow down your options, such as writing down a list of your greatest convictions.

"Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When Is It Okay?" (WritingCommons.org)

Most high school students are told to avoid using the first person point of view; this can be confusing when writing college essays, which typically ask what  you  think. This article breaks down when (and why) it's acceptable to write in the first person. 

Although all college essays serve the same purpose - articulating why you should get into a college - they come in different kinds. While topics on the Common Application are relatively consistent from year to year, personal statements and so-called "supplemental essays" vary by institution. Each of these essays requires a slightly different approach. The resources in this section will prepare you to answer the various types of essay prompts you're likely to encounter. 

Common Application Essays

CommonApp.org

The Common Application's official website is the best place to start getting acquainted with the service to which the majority of US colleges and universities now subscribe - a service which allows you to streamline your application process and minimize duplication of materials.

"What's App-enning" Blog (Common App)  

The Common App runs a blog with a wealth of information on common application-related news, including periodic updates on common application essay prompts for each application cycle. You can practice brainstorming with old prompts, or even start preparing your application by looking at this year's prompts.

125 College Essay Examples (PrepScholar Blog)

Here, PrepScholar provides a variety of Common App essays that got their respective applicants into their desired schools. Along with the body text of the essays, the website provides analysis on  what  makes the essays so great. 

A Few Essays That Worked (And a Few That Didn't) (NYTimes Blog)

This article analyzes unsuccessful essays, illuminating the ways in which they fell short. Although you should exercise caution and adjust your approach to your specific school, it's always good to pick up on general things to avoid. 

Personal Statements

What Is a Personal Statement? (PrepScholar Blog)

Although personal statements and Common App essays are similar, not all personal statement essays are administered through the Common App. This article from PrepScholar's blog will provide you with everything you need to know about writing a personal statement.

Examples of Successful Statements (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue OWL online writing lab collate links on this page to several successful personal statement. It can be useful to read successful statements and to consider how and why the statements made an impact on their readers. 

Past Threads on Advice for Writing Your College Essay (Reddit Post)

Although not about the personal statement  per se , this Reddit post has links to several past threads that may be of use to any prospective college applicant. 

What 10 Things Should Your Personal Statement Include? (Which University UK)  

This site outlines ten things to consider when writing a personal statement, including outlining what you will bring to the course, not what the course will bring to you. 

Supplemental Essays

How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays (IvyWise Newsletter)

Supplemental essays can often be challenging, asking a range of questions from the mundane to the oddly specific. This article from college application site IvyWise will break down example prompts to make them more approachable. 

Write Your Supplemental Essays (College Essay Guy)

Looking for a comprehensive guide to supplemental essays? Look no further than this page provided by the "College Essay Guy," who breaks down how to write supplemental essays that ask different kinds of questions. 

An Awesome Guide to the UChicago Supplement (Dyad)

Dyad, a college mentoring service, walks you through how to approach UChicago's supplemental essay question. Although the article is specific to UChicago, it contains general tips that are helpful to any college applicant. 

Reading My Yale Supplement Essay (YouTube)

Josh Beasley is back in this short YouTube video, where he reads the supplemental essay that got him into Yale and extrapolates advice for current and prospective applicants. 

A college application essay (like any academic essay) should have an introduction, a conclusion, and body paragraphs. Additionally, it should have overall coherence (that is, it should make a point) and cohesion (that is, it should flow well from paragraph to paragraph). We've collected the most relevant resources here to help you structure your college essay correctly and efficiently. 

How to Make Your Essay Stand Out 

College Essays That Stand Out From the Crowd (NYTimes)

This NYTimes article includes links to several recent essays that caught the eyes of the admissions readers by taking risks. You can even listen to an essay being read aloud by a current Princeton student.

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays (Gen / Kelly Tanabe)  

If you have some time on your hands, this hefty PDF document contains 50 essays from successful Ivy League applicants. After reading these essays, consider what they have in common and how they might be a model for your own essay.

Make Your Application Essay Stand Out (CampusExplorer.com)

In this article from CampusExplorer, you'll find general tips on how to make your essay more appealing to the admissions readers. The writers include general writing tips as well as more targeted advice for the tone and audience of the application essay.

How to Write a College Application Essay that Stands Out (Boston University)

This short video from BU's own admissions department touches briefly on what impresses their admissions readers, including risk-taking, memorable stories, and honesty. 

Essay Structure (Monash University)

This chart from Monash University visually demonstrates how your content should be organized in order to keep your argument or story on track. 

How to Write an Introduction

How to Start a Personal Statement: The Killer Opening (Which University UK)  

Any good introduction both forecasts what your essay will be about and catches the reader's attention. This page will give you some helpful advice on starting your essay with a bang. 

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly (PrepScholar Blog)

This article from PrepScholar shows you how to "hook" your reader at the start of your application essay with colorful language, a vivid story, and an "insightful pivot" to your main point.

Let Me Introduce Myself (Stanford University)

This article from Stanford U's alumni page details the first-line openings of the essays for some current Stanford undergrads. 

Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays (PowerScore)

In this article, you'll learn five techniques to avoid, as they typically land a college application essay in the "reject" pile; these include beginning with dictionary definitions or famous quotations. 

How to Write a Conclusion 

Ending the Essay: Conclusions (Harvard University)

Harvard's writing center suggests bringing closure to your essay (that is, wrapping up your argument) while still expanding outward to broader applications or insights in your final paragraph.

Concluding Paragraph (Easybib)  

Although you may have used Easybib to make a bibliography before, did you know they have many resources on how to write a good essay? Check out this page for succinct advice on what your conclusion should entail. 

5 Ways to Powerfully End Your College Essay (College Greenlight)

This blog post instructs you to end with action (that is, a story or anecdote) rather than summary, giving you five ways to do this effectively, including addressing the college directly.

How to Write the Best Conclusion for a College Application Essay and Supplement (Koppelman Group)

The Koppelman Group, a college application consulting firm, warns you, above all, not to end "in conclusion" or "to conclude." They also provide targeted advice for the Common App and Supplement essays, respectively. 

No essay is perfect in its first-draft form; college application essays in particular are limited by word counts that can be difficult to meet. Once you've communicated your ideas, you'll want to edit your essay in order to make sure it's the best it can be. You'll also need to cut or add words to make sure it's within the specifications set by the institution. The resources in this section include tips and tricks for revising your college application essay. 

3 Ways to Increase Word Count (WikiHow)

Complete with illustrations, this WikiHow page outlines several ways you might go about substantively expanding your essay. These tips include clarifying points, reworking your introduction and conclusion, adding new viewpoints and examples, and connecting loose threads. 

Admissions 101: What an Essay Word Limit Really Means (Veritas Prep) 

In this blog post, Veritas Prep's college preparation tutors assure you that being a little over or under the limit is acceptable, recommending ways you can think about the word limit's purpose.

College Essay Word Limit - Going Under? (College Confidential) 

In this College Confidential discussion forum, students discuss the possible ramifications of writing under the word limit for a college essay. 

How to Increase Your Essay Word Count (WordCounter)

This article from WordCounter outlines different ways you might go about meeting word count, including addressing different viewpoints, adding examples, and clarifying statements. 

Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admissions Essay (Dummies.com)

This article details how to hit the target word count. Scroll down to the middle of the article for advice on where you should cut words from to meet word count. 

Some Tricks to Reduce Word Count (EastAsiaStudent.net)

This article recommends simplifying your style, deleting adverbs, deleting prepositions, and revisiting connectives and adjectives to reduce word count. 

Advice on Whittling Your Admissions Essay (NYTimes) 

In this New York Times article, Andrew Gelb discusses how to go about cutting down your admissions essay in order to meet the requisite word limit.

How to Shorten an Essay Without Ruining the Content (Quora) 

This Quora post from a concerned student yielded useful community responses on how to effectively shorten an essay without losing the original message. 

Feel like you've hit a wall revising your essay on your own? You're not alone, and there are plentiful resources on the web through which you can connect with fellow college applicants and/or professional tutors. The links in this section will take you to free services for improving your college application essay, as well as two of the top paid writing tutor services.

College Confidential Forums 

College Confidential is a free, public forum in which you can post your essay and receive feedback from current college students, current college applicants, and even teachers or other experienced users. 

/r/CollegeEssays (Reddit)

This subreddit is a great place to look for crowdsourced help on your essay, ask questions about college essays, or even find a private tutor. 

Essayforum.com

Essayforum.com provides another platform for students to share their application essays. Although this link takes you to the site's forum for applicants to undergraduate degree programs, you can submit and review essays in other categories as well.  Varsity Tutors

Varisty Tutors offers tutoring services from freelance tutors based on location. Prices and services vary, but their site is easy to use and there are many tutors available to choose from.

Princeton Review

Princeton Review, one of the largest providers of college preparation tutoring (ranging from standardized test preparation to essay help) offers online essay tutoring services with a free trial period. 

Using in-class time to prepare your students to write college application essays is, of course, rewarding, but can also be challenging. If you're a teacher looking to incorporate the college essay into your curriculum but you're not sure where to start, take a look at the useful resources below.

TeachersPayTeachers

College Essay Writing

This product includes material for more than one full lesson plan, including powerpoint presentations, assessments, and homework on the topic of college essays. 

Narrative Writing Ideas and Prompts

Appealing to students 9th grade and up, this product includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework for developing narrative writing for the college essay process. 

College Essay: Comprehensive 7-Session Workshop Series

This PDF includes entire courses, manuals, and handouts designed to teach students the ins and outs of the college essay process, either in an individual or group setting. 

College Essay Revision Forms & Rubrics

These PDFs provide students with visual organizers and rubrics to assess their own writing and learn how to become better college essay writers. 

Free Resources

Teaching the College Essay (Edutopia) 

Teaching your students about writing the college essay can be incredibly intimidating -- as a teacher, how should you approach the process? This article from Edutopia outlines how to go about introducing the college essay to your students. 

Essay Lesson Plan Ideas for College Applications (EssayHell)

If you're a teacher looking for a concrete lesson plan on college essays, this guide recommends using the first day to discuss the importance of the essay, the second day for brainstorming, and so on. Click on the link above to examine their full guide. 

Help Your Students Write a Killer College Essay (EdWeek Blog)

This blog post goes over various techniques designed to help your students choose an appropriate topic and write their essay with passion. 

The Biggest College Essay Mistakes & How to Fix Them (Talks With Teachers)

Looking to help your students avoid the minefield of mistakes in the college essay field? Check out this post from Talks With Teachers, a journal that shares "inspiring ideas for English teachers." 

Curious to read more about college application essays, or to see fun and unusual examples of what students have written? The articles, blog posts, and books in this section are a good place to start surveying the field.

One Over-the-Top Admissions Essay (Huffington Post)

This piece from the Huffington Post talks about a humorous response to a Stanford supplemental essay topic, the so-called "letter to my future roommate."

College & University - Statistics and Facts (Statista.com) 

In the process of writing your college essay, you may find yourself wondering who exactly goes to college, how many colleges there are in the United States, etc. This site gives the up-to-date statistics for various US demographics, both in aggregate and by university, as well as other information.

Who Made That College Application? (NYTimes)

This piece from the NYTimes outlines the history of the college essay from its origins in the 1800s, to the first "modern" college application, produced by Columbia University in 1919, to the present.  

How They Got Into Harvard (Staff of the Harvard Crimson)

This highly-rated collection of successful Harvard application essays, available on Amazon, is both an entertaining read and an instructive resource for anyone looking for exemplary essays to use as models. 

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1889 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 39,768 quotes across 1889 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play

Need something? Request a new guide .

How can we improve? Share feedback .

LitCharts is hiring!

Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

Related Articles

Can You Use the Same Essay for Different College Applications?

Personal statement or the primary essay, supplemental essays, additional information essay. I’m so confused! Can I use the same essay for all my college applications? You can use the same personal statement and additional information essays for all of your college applications. The supplemental essay is a bit different as it tends to be more specific school focused. Here is a breakdown of the types of application assays and whether or not using the same essay for different college applications is appropriate.

Personal Statement or Primary Essay Can Be Used for All College Applications

Your personal statement will probably be the longest essay you will write. Although there are general prompts you can follow to write this essay, in reality, this can be any topic you choose, as long as it is about you. Many times Signature College Counseling doesn’t begin with the prompts, but rather delves into who the student is, uncovering their unique story. But, we digress here. Can you use this essay for different applications? Yes, that is the point of this essay! When you write it and copy the personal statement essay into the Common App or Coalition Application (or the like), it will be sent to ALL of the schools that you apply to using that application, if that school requires and allows you to do so (which really are 99% of the colleges you apply to). So, this is good news – one, single essay getting sent to many schools!

Supplemental Essays Should Be Unique for Each School’s Application

Supplemental essays are responses to prompts asked by a specific school. They are typically shorter in length and more focused. Questions typically include “Why do you want to attend this school?” or “Why have you selected this major?”. Sometimes, the prompts can be more esoteric, like, “Select a person in history or who is currently living who you would like to have dinner with and tell us what you would like to discuss with them” or “Please tell us five interesting facts about you.” Here’s the thing, you may think that you can copy and paste “why this school” essay or “why this major” essay to another school that asks the identical question, but I will tell you that the exact opposite is the case. You want to be absolutely sure and do your research to express to that school why you have chosen them. Be specific and make sure you do your homework so the reader doesn’t feel that you have just copied this essay from one that you had written for another school. Trust me, they know when you do so. Do not speak in generalities, be specific and heartfelt.

That being said, when we have students that have to write a series of essays, inevitably there is a series of themes that transcend throughout. So, you may not be able to copy an essay word for word, but you absolutely will be able to take portions of an essay, or essays, that you have written and apply it to another college’s supplemental essay. This doesn’t happen all of the time, but it definitely does occur.

The Same Additional Information Essay Can Be Used for Different Schools

An additional essay is not required and is not used by every student. It should be used when you need to clarify or explain something in your high school career or personal life, or expand on an activity that is necessary to do so since the 150 characters in the activity section or your resume doesn’t do justice to. This just names a few reasons to use this section. And yes, this essay gets sent to ALL of your schools through the Common App or Coalition Application.

What Does This All Mean for You?

There are essays you will write that will go to all of your schools and there are essays you will write that you can take all or part of and apply them to another college’s supplemental essay prompts. The most important thing is that you put forth effort and give your all to writing your essays since this is a way for your application to come to life, for the readers to get to know you and who you are. Be thoughtful, make sure your essays are written to best reflect who you are, be sincere and genuine, and make sure they are grammatically correct. Everything speaks.

Looking for help with the college admissions process? We help students and families through the entire college planning journey from search, and essays to interview prep, financial aid consultation and final school selection.

Contact us at info@signaturecollegecounseling.com or by phone, 845.551.6946. We work with students through Zoom, over the phone and by email.

Via Zoom Across the USA!

We work via Zoom with students and families throughout the USA. CONTACT US

How Can We Help?

Recent posts, peeling back the layers of the signature college counseling team, how to plan a college visit, how do i know what college is right for me, new fafsa changes 2024, signature college counseling by the numbers, a peek into our future, high school courses required for college, can colleges rescind admissions, does visiting colleges help admission, does a 504 plan hurt college admissions.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• College essay

How to Write a College Essay | A Complete Guide & Examples

The college essay can make or break your application. It’s your chance to provide personal context, communicate your values and qualities, and set yourself apart from other students.

A standout essay has a few key ingredients:

• A unique, personal topic
• A compelling, well-structured narrative
• A clear, creative writing style
• Evidence of self-reflection and insight

To achieve this, it’s crucial to give yourself enough time for brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through every step in the process of writing a college admissions essay.

Table of contents

Why do you need a standout essay, start organizing early, choose a unique topic, outline your essay, start with a memorable introduction, write like an artist, craft a strong conclusion, revise and receive feedback, frequently asked questions.

While most of your application lists your academic achievements, your college admissions essay is your opportunity to share who you are and why you’d be a good addition to the university.

Your college admissions essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s total weight一and may account for even more with some colleges making the SAT and ACT tests optional. The college admissions essay may be the deciding factor in your application, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

What do colleges look for in an essay?

Admissions officers want to understand your background, personality, and values to get a fuller picture of you beyond your test scores and grades. Here’s what colleges look for in an essay :

• Demonstrated values and qualities
• Vulnerability and authenticity
• Self-reflection and insight
• Creative, clear, and concise writing skills

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

It’s a good idea to start organizing your college application timeline in the summer of your junior year to make your application process easier. This will give you ample time for essay brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

While timelines will vary for each student, aim to spend at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing your first draft and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Remember to leave enough time for breaks in between each writing and editing stage.

Create an essay tracker sheet

If you’re applying to multiple schools, you will have to juggle writing several essays for each one. We recommend using an essay tracker spreadsheet to help you visualize and organize the following:

• Deadlines and number of essays needed
• Prompt overlap, allowing you to write one essay for similar prompts

You can build your own essay tracker using our free Google Sheets template.

College essay tracker template

Ideally, you should start brainstorming college essay topics the summer before your senior year. Keep in mind that it’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic.

If you want to write about a common essay topic, such as a sports injury or volunteer work overseas, think carefully about how you can make it unique and personal. You’ll need to demonstrate deep insight and write your story in an original way to differentiate it from similar essays.

What makes a good topic?

• Meaningful and personal to you
• Uncommon or has an unusual angle
• Reveals something different from the rest of your application

Brainstorming questions

You should do a comprehensive brainstorm before choosing your topic. Here are a few questions to get started:

• What are your top five values? What lived experiences demonstrate these values?
• What adjectives would your friends and family use to describe you?
• What challenges or failures have you faced and overcome? What lessons did you learn from them?
• What makes you different from your classmates?
• What are some objects that represent your identity, your community, your relationships, your passions, or your goals?
• Whom do you admire most? Why?
• What three people have significantly impacted your life? How did they influence you?

How to identify your topic

Here are two strategies for identifying a topic that demonstrates your values:

• Start with your qualities : First, identify positive qualities about yourself; then, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.
• Start with a story : Brainstorm a list of memorable life moments; then, identify a value shown in each story.

After choosing your topic, organize your ideas in an essay outline , which will help keep you focused while writing. Unlike a five-paragraph academic essay, there’s no set structure for a college admissions essay. You can take a more creative approach, using storytelling techniques to shape your essay.

Two common approaches are to structure your essay as a series of vignettes or as a single narrative.

Vignettes structure

The vignette, or montage, structure weaves together several stories united by a common theme. Each story should demonstrate one of your values or qualities and conclude with an insight or future outlook.

This structure gives the admissions officer glimpses into your personality, background, and identity, and shows how your qualities appear in different areas of your life.

Topic: Museum with a “five senses” exhibit of my experiences

• Introduction: Tour guide introduces my museum and my “Making Sense of My Heritage” exhibit
• Story: Racial discrimination with my eyes
• Lesson: Using my writing to document truth
• Story: Broadway musical interests
• Lesson: Finding my voice
• Story: Smells from family dinner table
• Lesson: Appreciating home and family
• Story: Washing dishes
• Lesson: Finding moments of peace in busy schedule
• Story: Biking with Ava
• Lesson: Finding pleasure in job well done
• Conclusion: Tour guide concludes tour, invites guest to come back for “fall College Collection,” featuring my search for identity and learning.

Single story structure

The single story, or narrative, structure uses a chronological narrative to show a student’s character development over time. Some narrative essays detail moments in a relatively brief event, while others narrate a longer journey spanning months or years.

Single story essays are effective if you have overcome a significant challenge or want to demonstrate personal development.

Topic: Sports injury helps me learn to be a better student and person

• Situation: Football injury
• Challenge: Friends distant, teachers don’t know how to help, football is gone for me
• Turning point: Starting to like learning in Ms. Brady’s history class; meeting Christina and her friends
• My reactions: Reading poetry; finding shared interest in poetry with Christina; spending more time studying and with people different from me
• Insight: They taught me compassion and opened my eyes to a different lifestyle; even though I still can’t play football, I’m starting a new game

Brainstorm creative insights or story arcs

Regardless of your essay’s structure, try to craft a surprising story arc or original insights, especially if you’re writing about a common topic.

Never exaggerate or fabricate facts about yourself to seem interesting. However, try finding connections in your life that deviate from cliché storylines and lessons.

Admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and they typically spend only a few minutes reading each one. To get your message across, your introduction , or hook, needs to grab the reader’s attention and compel them to read more..

Avoid starting your introduction with a famous quote, cliché, or reference to the essay itself (“While I sat down to write this essay…”).

While you can sometimes use dialogue or a meaningful quotation from a close family member or friend, make sure it encapsulates your essay’s overall theme.

Find an original, creative way of starting your essay using the following two methods.

Option 1: Start with an intriguing hook

Begin your essay with an unexpected statement to pique the reader’s curiosity and compel them to carefully read your essay. A mysterious introduction disarms the reader’s expectations and introduces questions that can only be answered by reading more.

Option 2: Start with vivid imagery

Illustrate a clear, detailed image to immediately transport your reader into your memory. You can start in the middle of an important scene or describe an object that conveys your essay’s theme.

A college application essay allows you to be creative in your style and tone. As you draft your essay, try to use interesting language to enliven your story and stand out .

Show, don’t tell

“Tell” in writing means to simply state a fact: “I am a basketball player.” “ Show ” in writing means to use details, examples, and vivid imagery to help the reader easily visualize your memory: “My heart races as I set up to shoot一two seconds, one second一and score a three-pointer!”

First, reflect on every detail of a specific image or scene to recall the most memorable aspects.

• What are the most prominent images?
• Are there any particular sounds, smells, or tastes associated with this memory?
• What emotion or physical feeling did you have at that time?

Be vulnerable to create an emotional response

You don’t have to share a huge secret or traumatic story, but you should dig deep to express your honest feelings, thoughts, and experiences to evoke an emotional response. Showing vulnerability demonstrates humility and maturity. However, don’t exaggerate to gain sympathy.

Use appropriate style and tone

Make sure your essay has the right style and tone by following these guidelines:

• Use a conversational yet respectful tone: less formal than academic writing, but more formal than texting your friends.
• Prioritize using “I” statements to highlight your perspective.
• Write within your vocabulary range to maintain an authentic voice.
• Write concisely, and use the active voice to keep a fast pace.
• Follow grammar rules (unless you have valid stylistic reasons for breaking them).

You should end your college essay with a deep insight or creative ending to leave the reader with a strong final impression. Your college admissions essay should avoid the following:

• Summarizing what you already wrote
• Stating your hope of being accepted to the school
• Mentioning character traits that should have been illustrated in the essay, such as “I’m a hard worker”

Here are two strategies to craft a strong conclusion.

Option 1: Full circle, sandwich structure

The full circle, or sandwich, structure concludes the essay with an image, idea, or story mentioned in the introduction. This strategy gives the reader a strong sense of closure.

In the example below, the essay concludes by returning to the “museum” metaphor that the writer opened with.

Option 2: Revealing your insight

You can use the conclusion to show the insight you gained as a result of the experiences you’ve described. Revealing your main message at the end creates suspense and keeps the takeaway at the forefront of your reader’s mind.

Revise your essay before submitting it to check its content, style, and grammar. Get feedback from no more than two or three people.

It’s normal to go through several rounds of revision, but take breaks between each editing stage.

Also check out our college essay examples to see what does and doesn’t work in an essay and the kinds of changes you can make to improve yours.

Respect the word count

Most schools specify a word count for each essay , and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit.

Remain under the specified word count limit to show you can write concisely and follow directions. However, don’t write too little, which may imply that you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.

Check your content, style, and grammar

• First, check big-picture issues of message, flow, and clarity.
• Then, check for style and tone issues.
• Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Get feedback

Get feedback from 2–3 people who know you well, have good writing skills, and are familiar with college essays.

• Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your content, language, and tone.
• Friends and family can check for authenticity.
• An essay coach or editor has specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and can give objective expert feedback.

The checklist below helps you make sure your essay ticks all the boxes.

College admissions essay checklist

I’ve organized my essay prompts and created an essay writing schedule.

I’ve done a comprehensive brainstorm for essay topics.

I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me and reveals something different from the rest of my application.

I’ve created an outline to guide my structure.

I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of telling.

I’ve shown positive traits and values in my essay.

I’ve demonstrated self-reflection and insight in my essay.

I’ve used appropriate style and tone .

I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

I’ve revised my essay , checking my overall message, flow, clarity, and grammar.

I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

Congratulations!

It looks like your essay ticks all the boxes. A second pair of eyes can help you take it to the next level – Scribbr's essay coaches can help.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• What Do Colleges Look For in an Essay? | Examples & Tips
• College Essay Format & Structure | Example Outlines
• How to Revise Your College Admissions Essay | Examples

More interesting articles

• Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples
• College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't
• Common App Essays | 7 Strong Examples with Commentary
• How Long Should a College Essay Be? | Word Count Tips
• How to Apply for College | Timeline, Templates & Checklist
• How to End a College Admissions Essay | 4 Winning Strategies
• How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out | Tips & Examples
• How to Research and Write a "Why This College?" Essay
• How to Write a College Essay Fast | Tips & Examples
• How to Write a Diversity Essay | Tips & Examples
• How to Write a Great College Essay Introduction | Examples
• How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example
• How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples
• Style and Tone Tips for Your College Essay | Examples
• US College Essay Tips for International Students

Unlimited Academic AI-Proofreading

✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 3 popular essay formats: which should you use.

General Education

Not sure which path your essay should follow? Formatting an essay may not be as interesting as choosing a topic to write about or carefully crafting elegant sentences, but it’s an extremely important part of creating a high-quality paper. In this article, we’ll explain essay formatting rules for three of the most popular essay styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

For each, we’ll do a high-level overview of what your essay’s structure and references should look like, then we include a comparison chart with nitty-gritty details for each style, such as which font you should use for each and whether they’re a proponent of the Oxford comma. We also include information on why essay formatting is important and what you should do if you’re not sure which style to use.

Why Is Your Essay Format Important?

Does it really matter which font size you use or exactly how you cite a source in your paper? It can! Style formats were developed as a way to standardize how pieces of writing and their works cited lists should look. 

Why is this necessary? Imagine you’re a teacher, researcher, or publisher who reviews dozens of papers a week. If the papers didn’t follow the same formatting rules, you could waste a lot of time trying to figure out which sources were used, if certain information is a direct quote or paraphrased, even who the paper’s author is. Having essay formatting rules to follow makes things easier for everyone involved. Writers can follow a set of guidelines without trying to decide for themselves which formatting choices are best, and readers don’t need to go hunting for the information they’re trying to find.

Next, we’ll discuss the three most common style formats for essays.

MLA Essay Format

MLA style was designed by the Modern Language Association, and it has become the most popular college essay format for students writing papers for class. It was originally developed for students and researchers in the literature and language fields to have a standardized way of formatting their papers, but it is now used by people in all disciplines, particularly humanities. MLA is often the style teachers prefer their students to use because it has simple, clear rules to follow without extraneous inclusions often not needed for school papers. For example, unlike APA or Chicago styles, MLA doesn’t require a title page for a paper, only a header in the upper left-hand corner of the page.

MLA style doesn’t have any specific requirements for how to write your essay, but an MLA format essay will typically follow the standard essay format of an introduction (ending with a thesis statement), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

One of the nice things about creating your works cited for MLA is that all references are structured the same way, regardless of whether they’re a book, newspaper, etc. It’s the only essay format style that makes citing references this easy! Here is a guide on how to cite any source in MLA format. When typing up your works cited, here are a few MLA format essay rules to keep in mind:

• The works cited page should be the last paper of your paper.
• This page should still be double-spaced and include the running header of your last name and page number.
• It should begin with “Works Cited” at the top of the page, centered.
• Your works cited should be organized in alphabetical order, based on the first word of the citation.

APA Essay Format

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. This format type is most often used for research papers, specifically those in behavioral sciences (such as psychology and neuroscience) and social sciences (ranging from archeology to economics). Because APA is often used for more research-focused papers, they have a more specific format to follow compared to, say, MLA style.

All APA style papers begin with a title page, which contains the title of the paper (in capital letters), your name, and your institutional affiliation (if you’re a student, then this is simply the name of the school you attend). The APA recommends the title of your paper not be longer than 12 words.

After your title page, your paper begins with an abstract. The abstract is a single paragraph, typically between 150 to 250 words, that sums up your research. It should include the topic you’re researching, research questions, methods, results, analysis, and a conclusion that touches on the significance of the research. Many people find it easier to write the abstract last, after completing the paper.

After the abstract comes the paper itself. APA essay format recommends papers be short, direct, and make their point clearly and concisely. This isn’t the time to use flowery language or extraneous descriptions. Your paper should include all the sections mentioned in the abstract, each expanded upon.

Following the paper is the list of references used. Unlike MLA style, in APA essay format, every source type is referenced differently. So the rules for referencing a book are different from those for referencing a journal article are different from those referencing an interview. Here’s a guide for how to reference different source types in APA format . Your references should begin on a new page that says “REFERENCES” at the top, centered. The references should be listed in alphabetical order.

Chicago Essay Format

Chicago style (sometimes referred to as “Turabian style”) was developed by the University of Chicago Press and is typically the least-used by students of the three major essay style formats. The Chicago Manual of Style (currently on its 17th edition) contains within its 1000+ pages every rule you need to know for this style. This is a very comprehensive style, with a rule for everything. It’s most often used in history-related fields, although many people refer to The Chicago Manual of Style for help with a tricky citation or essay format question. Many book authors use this style as well.

Like APA, Chicago style begins with a title page, and it has very specific format rules for doing this which are laid out in the chart below. After the title page may come an abstract, depending on whether you’re writing a research paper or not. Then comes the essay itself. The essay can either follow the introduction → body → conclusion format of MLA or the different sections included in the APA section. Again, this depends on whether you’re writing a paper on research you conducted or not.

Unlike MLA or APA, Chicago style typically uses footnotes or endnotes instead of in-text or parenthetical citations. You’ll place the superscript number at the end of the sentence (for a footnote) or end of the page (for an endnote), then have an abbreviated source reference at the bottom of the page. The sources will then be fully referenced at the end of the paper, in the order of their footnote/endnote numbers. The reference page should be titled “Bibliography” if you used footnotes/endnotes or “References” if you used parenthetical author/date in-text citations.

Comparison Chart

Below is a chart comparing different formatting rules for APA, Chicago, and MLA styles.

How Should You Format Your Essay If Your Teacher Hasn’t Specified a Format?

What if your teacher hasn’t specified which essay format they want you to use? The easiest way to solve this problem is simply to ask your teacher which essay format they prefer. However, if you can’t get ahold of them or they don’t have a preference, we recommend following MLA format. It’s the most commonly-used essay style for students writing papers that aren’t based on their own research, and its formatting rules are general enough that a teacher of any subject shouldn’t have a problem with an MLA format essay. The fact that this style has one of the simplest sets of rules for citing sources is an added bonus!

What's Next?

Thinking about taking an AP English class? Read our guide on AP English classes to learn whether you should take AP English Language or AP English Literature (or both!)

Compound sentences are an importance sentence type to know. Read our guide on compound sentences for everything you need to know about compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

Need ideas for a research paper topic? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of Notre Dame Essays 2023-2024

The University of Notre Dame has two sets of supplemental essay prompts, with each set having multiple options to choose from. The prompts themselves are short, but you’re required to answer two out of three options for Prompt 1, and three out of five options for Prompt 2. As such, it’s important to carefully consider which prompts you choose to respond to, and to be wary of answering prompts that may have too much overlap.

Read these University of Notre Dame essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Notre Dame Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1 : Please choose two questions from the options below. Your brief essay response to each question should be no more than 150 words.

Option A : Notre Dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?

Option B : What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

Option C : Describe a time when you advocated for something you believed in and influenced others through thoughtful discourse to promote a deeper understanding of a difficult situation.

Prompt 2 : Please choose three questions from the options below. Your response to each short-answer question should be no more than 50 words.

Option A : Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home.

Option B : What brings you joy?

Option C : What is worth fighting for?

Option D : What is something that genuinely interests you, and how does this tie to the academic area you hope to study at Notre Dame?

Option E : How does faith influence the decisions you make?

Prompt 1, Option A

Notre dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. how do you foster service to others in your community.

This is a pretty straightforward community service essay . You’re being asked to showcase the ways in which you’ll contribute to the overall campus community at Notre Dame. It’s important to note that this isn’t an essay about what communities you’ve been a part of in the past—instead, you should discuss how you’ve been an active service member in your community in the past or present.

Brainstorming your topic:

The best route to follow when answering this prompt is to reflect on past experiences you’ve had with community service, and relate them to what the prompt says about Notre Dame as a whole. The answer for the prompt is practically laid out in the phrasing—right off the bat, the prompt tells us that Notre Dame is a school where the individual is characterized by the community. 

The school is portrayed as a place where no one is left behind, and everyone looks out for one another. So in order to respond successfully to this prompt, try to dissect how your past experiences may prove to be an example of this philosophy.

As with other similar community service essay prompts, it’s always better to write about a long-term commitment than something you’ve only done once or twice. While volunteering at a soup kitchen with classmates for a night is undoubtedly a good act of service to the community, it doesn’t reveal anything extraordinary about you or your passion for community service.

There’s a general rule of thumb for supplemental essays—the more specific you can be, the more unique you’ll sound. Really highlight the experiences you’ve had that say the most about who you are; the essay is less about what you did, and more about why you did it.

Your chosen experience should also be something that changed your perspectives or preconceived notions. Perhaps you realized the importance of rescuing animals from your time spent volunteering at the animal shelter, or maybe you developed more patience and empathy when working with children with special needs or disabilities. Whatever you choose to write about, it should highlight a passion or perspective of yours that you feel is important to your identity.

Tips for writing your essay:

With only 150 words to work with, it’s essential that you make your point strong so that it sticks with your reader. A great way to do this is to weave your actions, motivations, and perspectives into a vivid, relevant anecdote. This strategy gives you the chance to hook the reader right away and put them in your shoes. Write about what you saw, heard, or felt while volunteering or doing your act of community service. You might do this using the present tense for effect.

For example, writing “Last Christmas, I drove around town to collect gifts for underprivileged families who otherwise couldn’t afford to give presents.” doesn’t say anything about you, your perspective, or the impact the act had on you.

Instead, try “As the hours ticked by and snow began piling on the street, I pushed my foot harder on the gas. Today was the last day I had to pick up donations for kids who would otherwise not be receiving Christmas gifts, and I was going to get to as many as I could.” Not only does this paint a far more vivid picture of what the experience meant to you, but it shows your genuine passion and care for the act itself.

Once you’ve written about what you did, it’s time to connect your response to the ways in which you’ll take your experience and passion to Notre Dame. In the final few sentences of your response, write about what community service means to you overall, and why you’ll continue your efforts, both on and off campus at Notre Dame.

Community service can be as simple as lending a helping hand when needed, whether that be to a classmate, a friend, or someone in the broader community. You can write about forming or joining study groups, your desire to find community service opportunities at Notre Dame, or even how you hope to gain and listen to new perspectives both inside and outside of the classroom. Keep it short and sweet, and most importantly, keep it genuine!

Mistakes to avoid:

Besides keeping your response short, the biggest pitfall to avoid is having a pretentious or privileged tone. If your response makes it seem like you’re painting yourself as some kind of savior, embellishing your efforts, or looking down on those you helped, it will leave a sour taste.

It’s important to truly reflect on what community service means, not only to you, but to others. Even if you did a truly good thing for someone who needed it, make sure you maintain a balanced tone in your essay that doesn’t sound like excessive self-praise.

Prompt 1, Option B

What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc) why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the notre dame community.

This is a standard diversity essay in which you’re being asked to elaborate on some aspect of your identity. However, the main purpose of this prompt is not just for Notre Dame to understand the communities that have been essential in shaping your identity, but also to get some idea of how your experiences in your chosen community will translate to your future as a Notre Dame student.

Remember that diversity encompasses several disparate aspects. It can include an ethnicity/race, country of origin, language, gender or sexual identity, geographical location, income class, disability or illness, personality trait, extracurricular interest, or something else entirely!

An aspect of diversity might also be something that taught you or inspired your passions, something that you were born into, or something you’re just now learning that you’re a part of. Basically, the chosen aspect of your diversity just needs to represent a part of yourself that is infallibly true.


We recommend focusing on just one aspect of identity to write about. While there may be several communities or groups you feel are a core part of your identity, 150 words will not be enough space to write about them all equally. However, if you do feel that one community is not enough to represent who you are, see if there’s a common thread between the communities you want to mention before diving in.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

Tips for writing your essay :

Once you’ve chosen the aspect of your identity you want to write about, reflect on the impact that it’s had on your life and begin weaving that into your response. Think about the lessons you’ve learned along the way, the people you’ve met, and the experiences you’ve shared with them, or even perhaps the experiences they’ve shared with you. Also consider how being a part of this chosen community has impacted your goals and hopes for the future.

The part of your identity you’ve chosen to write about will have hopefully left all these impressions on you and more—and it will hopefully just be a matter of condensing your response to 150 words. It’s important to showcase your passion for and genuine investment in the part of your identity you write about, but make sure to keep it short and sweet.

Don’t feel like you have to embellish your diversity either. Remember that diversity can be defined as practically anything that makes up your identity—it doesn’t necessarily have to be something that has changed the course of your life. Take this example:

“Ever since I was a little kid, stories have run rampant in my mind. I would make up stories in the car, in the shower, when I would close my eyes to go to sleep. They’d play out like movies in my head, and I got overwhelmed by not knowing what to do with them, so I turned against myself and wished that I would stop. That’s when I found the Creative Writing Club at my school.

Finding other people who shared the same inherent reflex I did not only made me feel normal again but made me feel accepted. I found that my habits were not unhealthy, but inspired. I suddenly found an outlet for 16 years’ worth of pent-up ideas and creativity. I had people to share my stories with, but more importantly, I was a person with whom they could share theirs. Swapping stories became a way for us to learn about different perspectives, cultures, and identities, and in doing so, it has made us all more worldly and empathetic.”

Prompt 1, Option C

Describe a time when you advocated for something you believed in and influenced others through thoughtful discourse to promote a deeper understanding of a difficult situation..

This is a more unconventional prompt (similar to the political/global issues prompt ) that will require you to reflect on the issues and topics you truly believe in and on the things you’ve done to advocate for them.

This can be a particularly challenging response, made no easier by the small word count you’re allotted to elaborate on your chosen cause. However, there are many routes you can take to condense your response and deliver it in a neat and engaging way.

It’s natural for your first instinct to be to think of a hot-button political issue, and while this can be a great framing device for a response, it’s important to note a distinction in this prompt—it’s not asking for what you believe in, but rather what you did to advocate for what you believe in. As such, it’s imperative that you avoid spending too many of your 150 words trying to convince the admissions officer to back your chosen cause.

As with any kind of political discussion, you may need to dial it back a little and understand that you won’t know who is reading your application—the admissions officer may very well not agree with your political beliefs or standpoints. While the admissions officer will most likely have been trained to approach all applications with minimized bias, he or she is still only human.

If you choose to respond to this prompt and discuss a political topic, you must demonstrate that you advocated for your belief respectfully, including the ways in which you engaged with someone who disagreed with you.

Of course, political or social activism is a great starting point to answer this prompt. If you’ve engaged in a protest, debate, or some other event surrounding a cause you believe in, reflect on why you chose to engage with it in your free time. What about the cause is important to you? How did it make you feel to engage civically with your cause? How do you hope to change perspectives and minds in the future?

Asking yourself these questions is a great exercise in an activity that Notre Dame (and any other college you might attend) will challenge you to do anyway—exposing yourself to new perspectives and ideas and using them to develop your own. Showcasing your understanding of that practice in this response can be a great way to distinguish yourself.

Your chosen cause can extend beyond just politics or social justice as well. Perhaps your school canceled its men’s volleyball program, and you and your teammates lost an extracurricular. You could write about how you petitioned the school to bring it back and promised to rally fans for the games. Or maybe you had to fundraise for the theater program in order to put on the best show possible, even showing up at a school board meeting to ask for more funding.

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you can move on to framing your essay. Remember that this prompt wants you to talk about your thought process, the discourse you shared with others surrounding your chosen issue, and the ways in which that discourse promoted deeper understanding on both sides. The primary thread throughout this prompt is diplomacy, and understanding how diplomacy can lead to success and progress is a great start to writing your essay.

Rather than sounding like you’re regurgitating talking points, reflect on why your advocacy was either successful or unsuccessful. Let’s look at this scenario—perhaps you rallied classmates to walk out in support of gun control, and the school administration responded harshly. Here are two different approaches you could take in writing about the issue:

“I feel that guns do not belong in schools. In my junior year, I unfortunately found that the school administration clearly felt otherwise. As part of a committee to organize a class walkout in support of gun control, we were met with animosity and a lack of empathy from our principal and school board. We were called in for a discourse but soon found ourselves in a full-on trial. While I wasn’t personally deterred by what we faced, it was a reminder that there is much work to be done in support of this cause.”

In this response, the student writes about facing an insurmountable challenge and being forced to accept the circumstances and hardships that come with supporting a cause. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with what the student is trying to say, they are approaching it from the wrong angle. Let’s try another response, written about the same situation:

“There is no question that the issue of gun control, specifically in schools, is one of the most contentious debates in our country right now. As a student, I, along with a few of my classmates, felt that it was necessary to let the school board hear our thoughts. While we hoped to stage a walkout in support of gun control, our principal and other faculty members shut the idea down.

We scheduled a meeting and debated our points, advocating for awareness and a media presence to further our cause so we could make a change. While we were not successful in our endeavors, we left feeling more united than ever, and even more committed to making change than we had been before. Learning that we can’t change everyone’s mind is part of the process, as is accepting that and focusing on what we can control.”

This response takes a much more methodical and contained approach. Its effectiveness lies in its levelheadedness. Ending the response with a reminder, both to yourself and the reader, that the power of discourse is not to be abandoned even in the face of unsuccessful endeavors, is an important way to show maturity and understanding.

This was stated above, but it’s worth repeating—admissions officers are only human. Though they are trained to minimize bias when reading applications, they still have personal beliefs and perspectives.

If you must write about a politicized issue, which is reasonable with a prompt like this since you don’t want to write a trivial response, tread carefully. Express your belief in a respectful way without coming off as condescending or trying to force that view on your reader.

A Quick Note About Prompt 2:

The main thing to note about Prompt 2 is its very small word limit. Rather than having 150 words like you do for Prompt 1, you’re only allotted 50 words for each of your responses to Prompt 2. However, these prompts are generally personality questions, so have fun with the few sentences you do have!

Prompt 2, Option A

Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home..

This is a sneaky “Why This College?” prompt —Notre Dame admissions officers want to see that your college priorities align with their offerings. Don’t worry too much about researching the exact resources you hope to engage with at Notre Dame though, as this is a hypothetical question and should be treated as such.

Besides directly answering the “Why this college?” question, the best way to respond to this prompt is to demonstrate what attending college (particularly Notre Dame) means to you. College is unlike any other learning environment you’ve encountered before. Whether you’ve taken summer classes at local colleges or are entering a college academic setting for the first time, college will be full of new experiences—both good and bad, but mostly challenging and extremely rewarding.

Reflect on what you hope to gain from attending college. Are you excited to embark on a new chapter of your life? Do you know what you want to study? Are you excited to dive headfirst into your passion? Do you want to expand your horizons and introduce yourself to new perspectives? Some of the above? Something else entirely? There are so many ways to answer this prompt, but the best one will be the one that is most truthful.

Perhaps you’re a first-generation college student and going to college means more than just another step in your education. You could write about the impact it’ll have on you and your family, the pressure that comes with it, and also the excitement and importance of pursuing higher education. Whatever angle you choose, tie that angle into what you hope college will offer you.

Continuing the first-generation college student example, something you might want to highlight is your hope of finding a community that values each and every student, regardless of family or economic background, and a community that has resources for first-generation students to transition into the college experience.

Again, you only have 50 words, so while specificity is important, it may be a tough rope to walk! Keep your response short and close to what matters to you most.

Prompt 2, Option B

What brings you joy.

If this feels like a broad question, that’s because it absolutely is. It’s also one of the best questions to show the admissions officer what matters to you most, display a new aspect of your personality, and write about something unconventional. Obviously, there’s a nearly endless number of answers to this question, but that doesn’t mean that all the possible answers are strong.

While most mistakes to avoid with this prompt may feel like common sense, don’t immediately rule out answers that feel arbitrary or even immaterial. Obviously, writing that video games are what gives you joy probably won’t give the admissions officer any valuable information about yourself; however, that fact is not because of your subject matter, but rather due to your execution.

For example, if you write “My favorite thing to do in my free time is play video games. I love playing online and feeling competitive, but I also find joy in just playing alone and getting lost in new and exciting worlds,” the admissions officer won’t have a whole lot to work with.

Instead, brainstorm for this prompt and reflect on the reasons for which the thing that brings you joy really makes you happy. Using the same example, consider this version:

“Working alongside attending school can be nightmarish, but coming home and hosting my video game server keeps me grounded. Being directly responsible for fostering a positive community of dozens of people who don’t know each other in real life is a special feeling that gives me a sense of purpose.”

This answer succeeds not only in telling an engaging story in just two sentences, but also in expanding on the answer to the prompt by showcasing a particular activity in which the student has a positive, meaningful role. By making the response about a greater sense of purpose or belonging—more than just a singular idea or thing—the student showcases something special about himself that makes him stand out.

Prompt 2, Option C

What is worth fighting for.

This is another relatively profound question that you’re tasked with answering within 50 words, but your answer can be very revealing and insightful—you can discuss your hopes, goals, beliefs, values, and more. This is a great opportunity to showcase your priorities and how the first 18 or so years of your life have shaped your current perspectives.

Profound questions often elicit profound answers, and while this would be the place to share if you have a powerful and moving insight about life, by no means does your answer need to be some extreme revelation. It just has to be you.

Writing something authentic and personal will have a far greater impact than trying to overextend yourself and claim something bold like “humanity is worth fighting for.” That’s not to say that you can’t go that route, but it will take a lot more elaboration than you have space for in this response.

The nature of this prompt and the limited word count you have to work with means you’re going to have to think outside the box. Most of the answers you might think of quickly are likely too clichéd to make for a strong response—this includes things like fighting for love, family, the truth, change, etc. These statements are all arguably true, but they’re somewhat played out and won’t contribute to an impressive response that resonates with your reader.

Instead of using one of those, try to explore more specific niche things you truly value and think about why they’re important to you personally. For instance, perhaps your family comes from a culture with a language that doesn’t have too many native speakers remaining. You might therefore argue that the preservation of linguistic history is worth fighting for. You could write a response like the following:

“My Spanish grandparents speak Basque, which they’ve been trying to teach me. I love how Basque looks, sounds, and feels so different from other languages. Sadly, Basque has fewer than a million speakers. Considering all the languages that have been lost to time, preserving linguistic history is worth fighting for.”

No matter what your actual answer is, it’s essential that you weave a personal voice and connection to the topic into your response. With only a few sentences to work with, you might consider leading with a personal anecdote, then transitioning to the ways in which the topic is meaningful to you, as in the example above.

Prompt 2, Option D

What is something that genuinely interests you, and how does this tie to the academic area you hope to study at notre dame.

This is a pretty straightforward prompt and should be an easier one to decide on an answer for, regardless of whether or not you know exactly what you want to major in. Notre Dame simply wants to get a better sense of an interest of yours, and how it ties to your interest in studying a topic at Notre Dame. Something important to note is that the interest you discuss doesn’t have to be directly related to your potential major, but more on that later.

Whether you feel like you have a unique interest or not, it’s easy to make your answer interesting if you’re able to make it personal. This is an especially good idea if your interest isn’t directly related to your desired major. If the connection between your interest and your area of study can’t be readily seen, you’ll want to explain how the two are connected.

For example, say you’re really interested in foraging and are planning to study math at whichever college you attend. While at first blush these two things may seem totally unrelated, you might explain the link between your interests like this:

“For years I have enjoyed foraging in the forest a few miles from my home. I love seeing beautiful geometric patterns in nature. Admiring the golden ratio in flowers and fractals in fern leaves is something I’ve long appreciated so much that I now want to major in math!”

This example response is vivid, passionate, and personal, and it’s about two seemingly completely unrelated topics. Try to think about ways you might link a niche interest you have to an academic subject you might want to pursue (even if you don’t know what you want to major in yet).

For instance, you might connect your songwriting interest to the Neuroscience and Behavior major because you’re interested in seeing how certain melodies can elicit such specific feelings. Or, maybe you paint as a hobby and you think that your intended biology major might help inform the ways in which you can depict human and animal bodies. Try to be creative when thinking about how a hobby/interest of yours might relate to the academic field you’re into!

Only having to write 50 words for your response will give you the chance to experiment with different styles and formats, so don’t be afraid to write and examine some drafts to find the right balance.

Prompt 2, Option E

How does faith influence the decisions you make.

This question asks you to reflect on your faith and its impact on your behavior and decision-making. It’s important to recognize that Notre Dame is a Catholic university, and was founded on Catholic beliefs and principles. However, it’s by no means just a Catholic school—it is open to students of all spiritual and religious backgrounds. So while about 80% of students at Notre Dame practice some form of Catholicism, there is plenty of space for students of other faiths to feel comfortable at Notre Dame.

Therefore, don’t feel like you can’t answer this prompt if you’re applying to Notre Dame as a member of another faith. “Faith” simply just refers to your religious background—and can even be extended to a more secular trust in something—so if your background has shaped or influenced your decisions, this is still a great prompt to answer.

However, if you’re not religious and you are applying to Notre Dame, consider answering another prompt instead. Not choosing to answer this prompt has no impact on your admission decision, Notre Dame is just giving students who have a special relationship with their faith a space to elaborate on what it means to them.

With all that being said, if you’re a Catholic student choosing to answer this prompt, it’s important to reflect not only on what your faith means to you now, but also on what that faith might mean to you at Notre Dame.

At Notre Dame, faith is directly tied to service learning and helping others in need, with more than 80% of students participating in service or service learning before they graduate . Perhaps you were part of a Catholic youth group over the course of your life—consider writing about the volunteer opportunities that you embarked on and how those experiences shaped your perspectives.

The prompt is specifically asking you to elaborate on how faith has shaped the decisions you make, so be sure to tie those experiences and perspectives to how you approach each day and each new obstacle.

If you are a member of a different faith, this is a great opportunity to shed some light on how your background has shaped you. Are there any cultural traditions or principles that you follow? Were there any obstacles or challenges to your faith you’ve faced along the way? Ask yourself these questions and more, and treat your faith as another aspect of your identity that has shaped who you are. In doing so, you should be able to see how you may fit in at Notre Dame and contribute to the principles of community service, generosity, and kindness.

Where to Get Your Notre Dame Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Notre Dame essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it might become difficult to see where your writing can be improved. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Men’s March Madness bracket recap: Full NCAA bracket, schedule, more

Men’s college basketball launches fully into March Madness 2024 as the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament was announced on the Selection Sunday .

UConn, which won the national championship last year, will enter the tournament with an even bigger target as the No. 1 overall seed. The Huskies will play in the East Regional, and they are joined as a top seed by Houston in the South, Purdue in the Midwest and North Carolina in the West.

MORE: Everything you need to know about the women's March Madness bracket

PRINTABLE BRACKETS: Men's | Women's

NCAA bracket West Region: Predictions

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo leads the Spartans to a 25th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament; Arizona's Caleb Love potentially is on a collision course with his former team, North Carolina.

IT'S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY's NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

But the real miracle in the West Region involves Grand Canyon’s Tyon Grant-Foster, who almost two years ago collapsed at halftime of a DePaul game after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Read Josh Peter's storylines for the West Region.

5 simple tips and predictions: 38 years of history can help you set up your NCAA tournament bracket

NCAA bracket Midwest Region: Predictions

If the seeds were to hold form, the Midwest Region final would match Purdue, which hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1980, against Tennessee, which hasn’t been to the Final Four ever.

Now, the question is whether either of those teams will actually get to the region final.

Read Steve Berkowitz's predictions for the Midwest Region.

NCAA bracket East Region: Predictions

UConn will try to defend its national championship coming out of the East Region, where the stiffest competition should come from  No. 2 Iowa State , the Big 12 tournament champion; No. 3 Illinois, the second-place team from the Big Ten; and  No. 4 Auburn , winners of the SEC tournament.

Read Paul Myerberg's predictions for the East Region.

NCAA bracket South Region: Predictions

There’s a whole lot of history in the  South Region of the NCAA men's tournament , which features six teams with NCAA championship banners hanging in their home arenas and a couple more with recent Final Four visits.

Read Eddie Timanus' predictions for the South Region .

NIT tournament 2024

There are only 68 sports for the NCAA tournament, so that means some programs will inevitably be snubbed.

For those that miss the Big Dance, there is always the National Invitation Tournament, better known as the NIT.

The tournament will begin Tuesday with the first round and conclude with the championship game on April 4.

See who made it, who declined invites and when the games will be played .

Teams declining NIT invitation

Now that the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament has been announced, some teams on the outside looking in have already decided not to play in the NIT:

UConn back at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports poll

For the Connecticut Huskies, this has already been a history-making season in a number of respects. But while some history is with them, some is going against them as they embark on their bid for a rare repeat as men’s college basketball champions.

For what it’s worth, they’ll enter the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. UConn was the unanimous first choice by the 32 voters after being the lone projected top regional seed to claim its conference tournament title.

Click to see the entire poll .

Greg Gumbel health

As the 2024  men's NCAA Tournament kicks off,  a familiar face in  March Madness  coverage will be missing.

CBS studio host Greg Gumbel will not be part of this year's coverage because of "family health issues," the network announced Sunday, just before the bracket reveal. Taking over his duties will be Adam Zucker. The rest of the crew – Clark Kellogg, Jay Wright and Seth Davis – all wished Gumbel and his family well before the bracket was announced. — Jordan Mendoza

March Madness bracket winners and losers

• North Carolina — Despite being the weakest of the four top seeds, the Tar Heels are in what looks on paper to be the easiest region.
• Kansas — The Jayhawks lost eight games in conference play and their 22 wins are the program's fewest in the regular season under Bill Self since his debut year in 2003-04. But they're still a No. 4 seed.
• Virginia — The facts didn't seem to support a bid for the Cavaliers, but here we are anyway: Virginia is a No. 10 seed in one of the play-in games opposite Colorado State.
• Iowa State — The Cyclones were in late contention for a No. 1 seed, but instead they are a No. 2 in a region with UConn, Illinois and Auburn.
• Big East — The Big East sent just three teams into tournament play in the Huskies, South Region No. 2 Marquette and Midwest Region No. 3 Creighton, leaving bubble teams such as St. John's, Providence and Seton Hall on the outside of the field.

Read Paul Myerberg's winners and losers and his reasons why .

March Madness teams most likely to end Final Four droughts

Here’s a fun fact about the  NCAA men’s basketball tournament:  South Carolina has been to the  Final Four  more recently than Kentucky.

There are more. There’s never been a time in the history of college basketball where being a blue blood has meant less in terms of  March Madness  success.

This year, it seems likely that at least one or more of those historically prominent programs will quench their thirst and find a way to Phoenix. Here are the eight schools most likely to break their Final Four-less streaks, ranked by the amount of heartbreak they’ve endured in pursuit of it.

Dan Wolken's list of teams most likely to end their droughts is ranked by heartbreak .

Which teams are in the men's First Four?

All games are on truTV .

• Tuesday, March 19, 6:40 p.m. ET: Wagner (16-15) vs. Howard (18-16) for the No. 16 seed in the West. The winner will face No. 1 North Carolina on Thursday, March 21.
• Tuesday, March 19, 9:10 p.m. ET: Colorado State (24-10) vs. Virginia (23-10) for the No. 10 seed in the Midwest. The winner will face No. 7 Texas on Thursday, March 21.
• Wednesday, March 20, 6:40 p.m. ET: Grambling State (20-14) vs. Montana State (17-17) for the No. 16 seed in the Midwest. The winner will face No. 1 Purdue on Friday, March 22.
• Wednesday, March 20, 9:10 p.m. ET: Colorado (24-10) vs. Boise State (22-10) for the No. 10 seed in the South. The winner will face No. 7 Florida on Friday, March 22.

West Region bracket: North Carolina earns last No. 1 seed

All three contenders for the final No. 1 seed all lost in their conference tournament but the Tar Heels benefit from reaching the ACC tournament title game while Tennessee and Arizona flamed out before the final. Arizona still stays in the west and has a nice path to the Final Four. Baylor also could be primed for a run along with Alabama. Both score but lack defense. This is a very balanced group of top seeds but not the toughest grouping. Potential for some upsets along the way.

Thursday in Charlotte

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Howard/Wagner, 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Michigan State, 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS

Friday in Spokane

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 College of Charleston, 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV

No. 5 Saint Mary's vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon, 10:05 p.m. ET on truTV

Friday in Memphis

No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 Colgate, 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV

No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 11 New Mexico, 3:10 p.m. ET on truTV

Thursday in Salt Lake City

No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Long Beach State, 2 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada, 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS

Midwest Region bracket: Purdue at No. 1

It's now or never for Purdue after so many tournament disappointments and the Boilermakers could face Tennessee – another team that has flamed out early – in the regional final. Before that game, Vols coach Rick Barnes could be matched with former school Texas in the second round. Gonzaga surprisingly gets a No. 5 seed. Big boost for the Bulldogs, which could be matched with a struggling Kansas team in the second round. Virginia is a big surprise addition in the play-in game. Cavaliers seemingly were outside the bubble. Colorado State joins Boise State as Mountain West teams in the play-in games. Committee clearly didn't value a league that had six teams in top 40 of NET.

Friday in Indianapolis

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Montana State/Grambling, 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 8 Utah State vs. No. 9 TCU, 9:55 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 McNeese State, 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford, 9:55 p.m. ET on TBS

Thursday in Pittsburgh

No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 Akron, 1:30 p.m. ET on TNT

No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Oregon, 4 p.m. ET on TNT

No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Virginia/Colorado State, 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Saint Peter's, 9:20 p.m. ET on TNT

South Regional bracket: Houston leads pairings

Houston was the No. 1 team in the country before its blowout loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game, but the Cougars still look to be the favorites. However, there will be some challengers with Marquette, Duke and Kentucky in this regional. The Golden Eagles need standout guard Tyler Kolek to be healthy. It'll be worth watching if North Carolina State keeps its unlikely run going after five wins in the ACC tournament and a tough opener against Texas Tech. Boise State and Colorado at No. 10 seed play-in game shows the strength of the bubble and how some teams expected in might be left out.

No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Texas A&M, 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Longwood, 9:20 p.m. ET on TNT

Friday in Brooklyn

No. 4 Duke vs. No. 13 Vermont, 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 James Madison, 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Oakland, 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 North Carolina State, 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Western Kentucky, 2 p.m. ET on TBS

No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Boise State/Colorado, 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS

East Regional bracket: It's Connecticut at the top of the pairings

Connecticut gets the No. 1 overall seed as expected and gets to stay near home in Brooklyn. The Huskies could face Florida Atlantic – a Final Four team last year that won its way to Houston with two victories in New York last year. Illinois and Iowa State are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds and both could be major threats. Two contrasting teams there with the Illini one of the top scoring offenses and the Cyclones having an outstanding defense. Auburn is another threat after rolling through the SEC tournament and San Diego State reached the title game last year. Whichever team makes it out the regional will have earned it.

No. 8 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 9 Northwestern, 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 16 Stetson, 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS

No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 Alabama-Birmingham, 1:45 p.m. ET on TNT

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 13 Yale, 4:15 p.m. ET on TNT

Thursday in Omaha

No. 6 Brigham Young vs. No. 11 Duquesne, 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State, 3:10 p.m. ET on truTV

No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 South Dakota State, 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV

No. 7 Washington State vs. No. 10 Drake, 10:05 p.m. ET on truTV

Tennessee vs. St. Peter's features half brothers facing off

When No. 2 Tennessee takes on No. 15 St. Peter’s on Thursday, the Zeigler family will have a decision to make. Root for Zakai Zeigler and the Volunteers, or root for his half-brother Armoni, who plays for the Peacocks.

Zakai wasted no time in reaching out to Armoni when the bracket lit up.

Zakai lived with Armoni, Armoni’s mother and stepfather for a time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"He was ecstatic," Volunteers forward Tobe Awaka said of Zakai’s reaction . "Those two have an incredible bond."

Zakai, 5-9 and the SEC defensive player of the year this season, will not have to worry about guarding Armoni, who stands 6-4.

"I told him I was like ‘You are going to have to guard your brother," Santiago Vescovi said. "He was like, 'No, you’ve got him.'"

Printable March Madness bracket

Here is a printable PDF of the men's bracket . May your bracket remain free from being busted!

Men's NCAA Tournament seedings, 1-68

• 1  UConn (31-3)
• 2  Houston (30-4)
• 3  Purdue (29-4)
• 4  North Carolina (27-7)
• 5  Tennessee (24-8)
• 6  Arizona (25-8)
• 7  Marquette (25-9)
• 8  Iowa St. (27-7)
• 9  Baylor (23-10)
• 10  Creighton (23-9)
• 11  Kentucky (23-9)
• 12  Illinois (26-8)
• 13  Duke (24-8)
• 14  Kansas (22-10)
• 15  Auburn (27-7)
• 16  Alabama (21-11)
• 17  BYU (23-10)
• 18  San Diego St. (24-10)
• 19  Wisconsin (22-13)
• 20  Saint Mary's (CA) (26-7)
• 21  Gonzaga (25-7)
• 22  Clemson (21-11)
• 23  Texas Tech (23-10)
• 24  South Carolina (26-7)
• 25  Florida (24-11)
• 26  Washington St. (24-9)
• 27  Texas (20-12)
• 28  Dayton (24-7)
• 29  Nebraska (23-10)
• 30  Utah St. (27-6)
• 31  Fla. Atlantic (25-8)
• 32  Mississippi St. (21-13)
• 33  Michigan St. (19-14)
• 34  Texas A&M (20-14)
• 35  TCU (21-12)
• 36  Northwestern (21-11)
• 37  Nevada (26-7)
• 38  Boise St. (22-10)
• 39  Colorado (24-10)
• 40  Drake (28-6)
• 41  Virginia (23-10)
• 42  New Mexico (26-9)
• 43  Oregon (23-11)
• 44  Colorado St. (24-10)
• 45  NC State (22-14)
• 46  Duquesne (24-11)
• 47  Grand Canyon (29-4)
• 48  James Madison (31-3)
• 49  McNeese (30-3)
• 50  UAB (22-11)
• 51  Vermont (28-6)
• 52  Yale (22-9)
• 53  Samford (29-5)
• 54  Col. of Charleston (27-7)
• 55  Oakland (23-11)
• 56  Akron (24-10)
• 57  Morehead St. (26-8)
• 58  Colgate (25-9)
• 59  Long Beach St. (21-14)
• 60  Western Ky. (22-11)
• 61  South Dakota St. (22-12)
• 62  Saint Peter's (19-13)
• 63  Longwood (21-13)
• 64  Stetson (22-12)
• 65  Montana St. (17-17)
• 66  Grambling (20-14)
• 67  Howard (18-16)
• 68  Wagner (16-15)

March Madness snubs

While there are 68 teams celebrating their appearance in the  NCAA men's tournament , there are several others sulking, thinking about what could have been.

Here are the biggest snubs from the 2024 NCAA men's tournament:

• Indiana State

Read all about the teams that thought they were going to be in but ultimately missed the cut . — Jordan Mendoza

When are game times announced for NCAA Tournament?

While there is no hard time for this announcement, the expectation is that the announcement will come sometime around 8:30 p.m. ET.

Final Four picks for CBS experts

Two of CBS' March Madness experts have the same picks for the Final Four. UConn is the unanimous choice for national champion among Clark Kellogg, Seth Davis and Jay Wright.

Here's a look at their Final Four picks from the Selection Show:

Clark Kellogg

Final Four picks : UConn, North Carolina, Purdue, Kentucky

Title game : Purdue vs. UConn

Pick to win title: UConn

"I like UConn and Purdue in the final and the Huskies to repeat."

Final Four picks : UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

Title game: UConn vs. Houston

"These have been the best two teams all season long, UConn and Houston."

Final Four : UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

Title game : UConn vs. Houston

"I just can’t see anybody beating UConn in this tournament."

The NIT selection show is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET, and will announce a field of 32 teams that missed out on the Big Dance.

When is Selection Sunday 2024?

The men’s bracket reveal is Sunday, March 17, 2024. 

What channel is Selection Sunday on?

CBS will broadcast the men’s Selection Sunday show. 

What time does March Madness bracket come out?  

The men's Selection Sunday show starts at 6 p.m. ET. 

How many teams make March Madness?  

There will be 68 teams that make the tournament, including the eight teams that will have to play in the First Four games. Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

Who plays in March Madness?

The winners of the 32 conference tournaments are automatically given a spot in the tournament, regardless of record. The remaining 36 spots are at-large bids determined by the committee. Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

How are March Madness bids determined?  

There are several different resources for the committee to choose the best 36 at-large teams, such as record and strength of schedule. But perhaps the most important one is the NET ranking. The NET ranking looks at a team's record and résumé, which then ranks all teams in Division I. Games are divided into four quadrants, and a team's quadrant record depends on who they are playing and where. This is how quadrant games are broken down: 

• Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75 
• Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135 
• Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240 
• Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353 

The more Quad 1 wins, the better chance for a team to be selected in the tournament. Considering the NET ranking and other factors, the committee will then come up with the 36 best at-large teams to be selected. There are no limits to how many teams from a certain conference gets selected. Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

2024 March Madness automatic bids

There are 32 conference tournaments that produce 32 automatic bids. The other 36 at-large teams selected to the field will be announced on Selection Sunday. Here is who has secured automatic bids so far (entering Sunday) : 

• Ohio Valley Conference:  Morehead State Eagles
• Big South Conference:  Longwood Lancers
• Missouri Valley Conference:  Drake Bulldogs
• Atlantic Sun Conference:  Stetson Hatters
• Southern Conference:  Samford Bulldogs
• Sun Belt Conference:  James Madison Dukes
• Coastal Athletic Association:  College of Charleston Cougars
• Horizon League:  Oakland Golden Grizzlies
• Northeast Conference:  Wagner Seahawks
• Summit League:  South Dakota State Jackrabbits
• West Coast Conference:  Saint Mary’s Gaels
• Southland Conference:  McNeese Cowboys
• Patriot League:  Colgate Raiders
• Big Sky Conference:  Montana State Bobcats
• America East Conference:  Vermont Catamounts
• Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference:  Howard Bison
• Big 12 Conference:  Iowa State Cyclones
• Mountain West Conference:  New Mexico Lobos
• Big East Conference:  UConn Huskies
• Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:  Saint Peter’s Peacocks
• Mid-American Conference:  Akron Zips
• Atlantic Coast Conference:  North Carolina State Wolfpack
• Conference USA:  Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
• Pac-12 Conference : Oregon Ducks
• Big West Conference:  Long Beach State Beach
• Southwestern Athletic Conference:  Grambling Tigers
• Western Athletic Conference:  Grand Canyon Lopes
• Atlantic 10 Conference: Duquesne Dukes
• Big Ten Conference: Illinois Fighting Illini

Bracket challenge 2024: How to enter and win USA TODAY Sports' March Madness Survivor Pool

Check out the USA TODAY Survivor Pool game hub , where we're committed to bringing a little extra excitement to your sports fan experience. Showcase your knowledge of the best teams across college basketball by picking winners. Survive the longest to win cash and other prizes. Best of all - it's completely free to play. Register today for your chance to participate in the best survivor pool experience around ! 

How are March Madness seeds determined?  

After the committee selects the 68 teams to be in the tournament, it ranks all of them 1 through 68. Once all the teams are ranked, every four teams are evaluated in the same seed line. Example: Nos. 1-4 will be the No. 1 seeds, Nos. 5-8 will be the No. 2 seeds and so on. The four lowest-ranked automatic qualifying teams will play in the First Four games as 16 seeds, while the four lowest at-large teams will compete in the other First Four games, typically as a No. 11 or No. 12 seed. Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

How does Selection Sunday work?  

On Selection Sunday, the full brackets will be revealed on CBS for the men and ESPN for the women, with matchups for every first-round game, as well as location, unveiled. A 12-person selection committee decides who will be in the tournament, as well as where each team is seeded and will play. Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

When is the first March Madness game?

Games for the men's First Four are March 19-20. First-round games for the men are March 21-22. 

March Madness 2024 game locations  

Here are all the venues hosting tournament games over the next several weeks. 

How is it determined where teams play in March Madness?  

Once the seeds for each team are determined, the committee must then place them in the regional location that makes sense and preferred, as well as the first- and second-round sites. All tournament locations are predetermined, so the higher the seed, the better the site location for the team. 

Example, if the No. 1 seed is Houston, it will get to play in the South region, which takes place in Dallas. It likely would get to pick the location for the first two games, which would be in Memphis since it's the closest spot to the school. The No. 1 seeds typically get the best possible location for them, and it could be a prime location for seeds Nos. 2-4 as well. The committee attempts to put the bracket in snake order, like the No. 5 overall seed will be in the same region as the No. 4 overall seed, but there are restrictions such as: 

• First four teams from the same conference must be in different regions if they are a Nos. 1-4 seed. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before a regional final if they played each other three times during the regular season and conference tournament. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before a regional semifinal if they played each other two times during the regular season and conference tournament. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before the second round if they played each other once during the regular season and conference tournament. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how Selection Sunday works . 

March Madness 2024 schedule  

Here is the men's schedule : 

• Selection Sunday : Sunday, March 17 
• First Four : March 19-20 
• First round : March 21-22 
• Second round : March 23-24  
• Sweet 16 : March 28-29  
• Elite Eight : March 30-31  
• Final Four : Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. 
• NCAA championship game : Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. 

How to watch March Madness 2024  

CBS will air the Selection Sunday show, as well as the Final Four and the national championship game. TruTV will carry the First Four. CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV will air first- and second-round games.

CBS and TBS will air Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games. CBS will air the men's Final Four and championship game. 

Bracket Challenge 2024: How to enter USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge with a chance to win $1 million  

The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back. There’s a $1 million grand prize for a perfect bracke. The Challenge is free to enter for those age 21 and over. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See official rules and get in the game . 

Who won the men's ACC tournament?

North Carolina State Wolfpack

North Carolina State capped a miraculous conference tournament run with an 84-76 win over North Carolina on Saturday night, stealing a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the eve of Selection Sunday.

The Wolfpack, which lost seven of its last nine regular-season games, arrived in Washington as the No. 10 seed in the ACC tournament, needing to win five games in five days to prolong its season. And with an upset of Duke, an overtime victory over Virginia and its smothering of the Tar Heels on Saturday night, it managed to pull it off.

"Why not us? We carried that mantra into the tournament," fifth-year guard Casey Morsell said. "We knew we were the underdog, but we love that feeling. We love being the underdogs. We were like 10-point underdogs today. We love that. We love it all.” – Tom Schad

Five most overpaid men's college basketball coaches: John Calipari, Mike Woodson make list  

Whether you believe Kentucky coach John Calipari is overpaid could depend on the year, the month, even the week. Calipari earned his mega-millions salary when the Wildcats were among the most dominant teams in Division I, capturing one national championship in 2012 and playing for others in 2011, 2014 and 2015. But Kentucky hasn't been back to the Final Four since even as Calipari's annual salary continues to rise ―  now at $8.5 million in total compensation for 2023-24 , second-most in the country. 

USA TODAY Sports compiled pay information  from each school in the Power Five conferences and from each school outside those conferences whose team has appeared in at least three of the past five NCAA tournaments. 

While Kentucky has had moments this season, including a late run that has lifted the Wildcats toward the top of the SEC, the results and payoff given the school's mammoth investment into Calipari and the program makes him yet again one of the most overpaid coaches in the country. Read Paul Myerberg’s full story here . 

How much does John Calipari make?  

Kentucky’s John Calipari is now at $8.5 million in total compensation for 2023-24 , second-most in the country. 

Michigan State's basketball maverick: How Tom Izzo has prospered on his terms for 30 years  

Nearly three decades ago, Michigan State University offered Tom Izzo a five-year, $540,000 contract to be its next men's basketball coach. He didn't bother countering or negotiating. In fact, he didn't even have an agent. In the years since, Izzo has led the Spartans to eight Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2000 – emerging as one of the sport’s iconic coaches and, in many ways, the face of the university. His contracts have gotten more lucrative and complex as a result, but he said his approach at Michigan State hasn't changed. 

"I've never negotiated a contract," Izzo told USA TODAY Sports. "Ever." 

Nor does he have an agent. 

"I heard I'm one of the only dumb ones," he added, with a laugh.  

It’s no surprise that Izzo, who spent 12 seasons as a Michigan State assistant before being promoted to head coach in 1995, is once again among the highest-paid men’s basketball coaches in the country in 2024. According to USA TODAY Sports’ annual review of coaching compensation, the 69-year-old is making roughly $6.2 million this season, which puts him third behind only Bill Self of Kansas and John Calipari of Kentucky. 

What’s unusual, however, is the way that Izzo and Michigan State have gotten to this point – piecing together big-money contracts for almost 30 years with little public acrimony, even as Izzo’s stature has grown, administrators have come and gone, and the landscape of college sports has shifted. Read Tom Schad and Steve Berkowitz’s full story here .

Who won the men's SEC tournament?

Auburn Tigers  Auburn beat Florida 86-67 in the SEC championship game Sunday, the Tigers’ first SEC tournament title since 2019. Florida sophomore center Micah Handlogten was taken off the court on a stretcher Sunday during the game after he suffered a broken bone on his lower left leg.

Who won the men's Atlantic-10 tournament?

Duquesne Dukes

Duquesne ended up beating Virginia Commonwealth 57-51 to punch its first ticket to the NCAA tournament since 1977. There was plenty of red and blue confetti left for the official celebration.

The Dukes played a team game and their leading scorer was senior guard Dae Dae Grant, who had 10 points and four steals. Their lead was as large as 18 points, and they withstood their own scoring drought and a strong second half from the Rams, who came within one point with 1:36 left in the game. — Victoria Hernandez

Kevin Harlan loses his mind over confetti mishap

A little more than two minutes into the second half of the Atlantic-10 championship game between Duquesne and Virginia Commonwealth , streams of red and blue confetti began raining down from the Barclays Center rafters.

Commentator Kevin Harlan summarized the shock of the moment on the CBS broadcast .

"Confetti falling right now! Confetti is falling on the floor," he said. "They're gonna have to stop playing. We can't see our notes. The players can't work on this court. Confetti is everywhere. Somebody hit the wrong button!"

The red and blue paper – Duquesne's team colors – mostly fell in the stands and Harlan's co-commentator Don Bonner started picking it up.

"You're collecting it like you're going to bring it home to your grandkids or something," Harlan said. " … It's confetti."

"My grandkids would probably like this," Bonner responded, "but you're the one who's complaining you can't see anything, so we gotta clean the table off for ya." — Victoria Hernandez

Who won the men's Pac-12 tournament?

Oregon Ducks

In what is likely the final year of the Pac-12, Oregon claimed the conference championship by beating Colorado, 75-68. It was the Ducks' sixth Pac-12 tournament title and their first since 2019.

Senior center N'Faly Dante went 12 for 12 from the field for 25 points and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Dante injured his tailbone during Oregon's semifinal win against Arizona.

Who won the men's Big East tournament?

UConn Huskies

The defending national champions won the Big East tournament for the first time since rejoining the conference four years ago.

The Huskies, who won their fifth national championship last year, are the likely No. 1 overall seed when the tournament bracket is unveiled.

Tristen Newton was named tournament MVP, scoring 13 points to go with 10 assists against Marquette, whom UConn defeated 73-57.

Who won the men's Big Ten tournament?

Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season after it won the Big Ten tournament title against Wisconsin. It is the first conference tournament title for Illinois since 2021 and it will be its 33rd appearance in the big dance.

The Fighting Illini outscored the Badgers 12-5 over the final 3:55 to preserve the victory. — Jordan Mendoza

Who won the men's Big 12 tournament?

Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones won their sixth Big 12 title by routing the nation's No. 1 team, Houston, 69-41.

The margin of victory was the largest over a No. 1 team since 1968 when UCLA beat Houston in the 1968 Final Four.

Keshon Gilbert was named the tournament's most outstanding player after scoring 16 points to lead Iowa State.