The aspect of college admissions that really puts shudders down students’ spines is writing application essays. Aside from taking admissions tests, there is nothing about which students fear or fret more. Pleadingly, they ask: “What should I write about? What are admissions people looking for?” The answer is quite simple.

Way before application essays are due, you can do something quite wonderful to lay the groundwork for coming up with essay themes, topics and content. The adMISSION POSSIBLE secret weapon for writing one-of-a-kind, compelling essays is coming up with personal stories and anecdotes about yourself.

1. Personal stories offer insight into who you are, something that admissions officers look for in applications. Since no one has stories exactly like you have about yourself, they help distinguish you from other applicants.
   • Personal stories are easy to write, because obviously you are completely familiar with the details and content.
2. The content of your stories can be anything: favorite toys, activities and games, memorable or funny incidents, interesting trips or holidays, special people you have met, the best or worst day of your life, or a moment that changed your life, etc.
3. You and your parents can be involved together in remembering and brainstorming ideas for student stories, even going back to when you were very young.
   • Dinnertime and family driving vacations are often good times to reminisce about stories and anecdotes. As you’re doing that don’t forget to have someone write them down.
4. Personal stories can be used by students for parts or the whole of application essays. They can also be given to people writing letters of recommendation for their use as examples of your interests, talents or personal characteristics.
5. It is the message of the story–what you learned, gained, understood–not necessarily the story itself that is important in an application essay.

An example of a personal story:
A student wrote about how passionate he was about the game of basketball, but also how he was the worst basketball player on the best team in the league. He freely admitted that he couldn’t dribble, pass, shoot or run; nevertheless, he adored the game, and was always at practices and games long before he needed to be. On the bench, he was a cheerleader and strategist for other players. Because of who he was (and certainly not because of his basketball talents), the team voted him Most Valuable Player his senior year.

How the story was used:
This was the student’s personal statement essay. In addition, the coach of his basketball team wrote a letter to admissions offices about what a pleasure it had been to have this “worst” player on his best team and what the student’s special contributions were.

Message of the story:
A good story about your attitude is a worthy essay topic. Even if you’re not very good at something–let alone a champion–you can offer something and do your best. As a result, you can gain the respect of others and yourself.

Just so you know, this student ended up being admitted at a highly competitive West Coast university.

	Freshman, Sophomore & Junior Years Anytime during high school is a good time to jot down ideas, stories, write about memories, and recall favorite childhood sayings. Keep your thoughts in a folder, a journal, on your computer, or PDA/iPhone/Blackberry.
	Summer Before Senior Year And Senior Year By this time you will know some of the essay questions you will need to answer. If you haven’t done it already, gather all of your stories or begin brainstorming ideas for these questions on your own and with family.
	Parents Many people think that anecdotes that students use in their essays must have taken place during their high school years. Not true! Stories that go way back to when your children were very young are often the most original and telling. Therefore, you may be the best source of ideas for brainstorming childhood tales, family legends, and humorous accounts. Not only is this useful for the student, but it’s also great fun.

If you want more information about any of the above and:

• A list of topics you can use to brainstorm ideas for stories and anecdotes
• Twenty examples of personal stories that very successful applicants have used
• Resources that will help you with your brainstorming and creative thinking
• Recommended websites and books

If you want to gain access to Guide 9, Personal Stories, click here for an online, bare bones version.

You can also purchase an illustrated, formatted, printable, PDF color version of this guide for $2.50. We offer this and 14 other printable color guides in order to support the upkeep of this website and to develop a future Spanish language version.

How the color PDF version differs from the free online one can best be demonstrated by your viewing a free guide by clicking here.