Here are some tips to help you navigate the writing process of your common application essay:

• If you don’t feel it from inside, don’t write it. This is supposed to be a personal story; and if you don’t feel the story from your heart, it isn’t the story you should be writing.
• Make an outline before you start writing. Even if it’s just some bullet points. It will give you a structure in the difficult process of translating thought to text. Most importantly, this helps you NOT stray away from the message you want to convey.
• Starting trouble? Don’t worry! Record yourself on a text to your parents, best friend, or yourself, and use an AI audio transcriber. That’s your first draft for you!
• The first draft is meant for you: use it as the foundation to try out all your crazy ideas. It’s meant to exist, not be perfect.
• Your essay WILL NOT come together in one draft.
• End with what you started out with—it brings closure and shows growth, an essential part of the essay.
• Don’t define yourself as victims, but don’t erase an important part of our story, a part that may have played more of a role in your personal growth and development than anything else. Victimize the act, not the person.
• Provide enough context. Remember your audience.
• Explore everyday experience or object as a metaphor to explore your life and personality.
• Play around with a creative frame: let your essay not be an everyday straightforward narrative (though, don’t force yourself too much; if that’s what resonates with you, it works!)
• EDIT. EDIT. EDIT. At the essay level. At the paragraph level. At the sentence level. At the word level. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and logic gaps. Take feedback from your teachers. Work with a college counselor. But a shoddy essay WILL work against you.

You’re always welcome to get in touch with us for some guidance! As part of Yashi Shukla’s team, we provide comprehensive support through every step of your application process. Whether you need help with your personal essay or career counseling for abroad studies, our experienced study abroad consultants are here to assist you. From study abroad counseling to choosing the right university, our overseas education consultants ensure you are well-prepared for your journey. Visit our study abroad agency for personalized advice and find the best consultancy for abroad studies near you. Contact us today for the best counseling for foreign education and make your application stand out!