High school seniors: Now is the time to begin gathering ideas for your college essay/personal statement. Avoid obvious topics; think of the admissions officer who has read thousands of essays on summer camp. Colleges are looking for insights about you they cannot find elsewhere in your application. Offer them a look into what made you YOU, by describing an event, person or experience that helped you change or form your values. Briefly set the scene; then be sure to concentrate on how you grew as a result. Proofread, but avoid letting well-meaning adults change your words. College officials are looking for sincerity; essays that appear to written or edited by an adult can actually work against you.
