II. Writing Your First Draft

So now you’ve got a third list: ideas that combine elements of lists one and two. Look over this list and pick the topic you feel most excited about. Don’t worry, this isn’t your final essay, so if you ended up not liking it later on, that’s A-OK.

Sometimes I like to create an outline before I write, and sometimes I end up being more productive when I just start writing in any random place. Since your essay will have to be pretty short, an outline can be useful to keep you on track. Now, you’re definitely old enough to know this already since you’re old enough to be applying to college, so feel free to roll your eyes here, but the basic shape of your outline should go like this:

Intro: Sets up what are you talking about.
Body: Exemplify that thing.
Conclusion: Don’t just summarize what you’ve already said—come to a new thought about it.

Your essay doesn’t have to be super serious if you don’t want it to be. Even though lots of people warn against using humor in college essays (because, they say, humor is subjective—but so is everything else!), I think being funny and good-natured in your essay is great, because even the most terrifyingly faceless admissions officers are actually human beings who want the students at their school to be capable of joy. Think about your favorite essays, whether they’re by an author you admire or published on a website you like. What do you like about them? Try to channel those qualities without trying to parrot anyone else’s writing. At this point, just write honestly and don’t try to mold yourself into what you feel is the ideal candidate.
III. Editing

Over a period of a few weeks, try to write about three or four different first drafts. If sitting down to write feels overwhelming, force yourself to set a timer for 20 minutes every day and write for at least that long. Once you’ve got a few drafts done, wait another day to read them. If you can spare it, spend that day not writing at all—just print out your essays and carefully read each one. Which one do you like best? Which do you feel best shows off what you like about yourself? This is the one you’re going to edit. But first, since you’ve already come a long way, take a moment to celebrate! Do whatever that means to you: Teaching yourself all the words to Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”? Perfecting your Pretty Little Liars conspiracy theories? Wasting an entire bottle of glue just peeling it off your hands over and over? Eating a roll of Tollhouse cookie dough? (I don’t know what you kids get up to, these are just my own ideas of a good time.)

Now’s the time to edit. Don’t skip this step! Editing what you’ve written is just as important as writing it in the first place. Since college applications essays have to be pretty short, every sentence really has to count. As you read over your draft, examine each sentence and ask yourself:

1. Is this sentence really necessary?
2. Does it add to the point I’m trying to make about myself?
3. Can it be said in fewer words?

Go through the paper like this, sentence by sentence, at least twice. Then proofread the whole thing for spelling and grammatical errors. This is the least fun part, but a school could be torn between two people and pick the one who didn’t have a spelling error in her essay (ugh, jerks, I know!).
IV. Proofreading

By now, you’re feeling pretty good about your essay. So good, in fact, that you might be like, “But Gabby, can’t I just mail this fricking thing already? I’m sick of looking at it!” The bad news is, no, you can’t send it off just yet. The good news is, you don’t have to look at it again—now’s the time to get someone else to look at it.

Find someone to proofread—someone with a good grasp on writing, spelling, and grammar. I recommend an English teacher, current or former. Most teachers are happy to do this, especially because it earns them the right to brag about you when you’re a world-renowned whatever-it-is-that-you-want-to-become. Be sure to ask them way in advance so they’ll have enough time to do you this favor—and it is a favor, something they’re doing in their probably rare free time, so you should probably get them some sort of thank-you gift when all is said and done.

You can also ask someone a friend, parent, or guardian to read what you’ve written, but I’d hold off on that until you’ve gotten help from a teacher. Otherwise, you might take what the people you love have to say a little too much to heart. My dad edits technical magazines for a living, but I didn’t ask for his opinion on my essays until I felt confident with the state they were in, because I didn’t want to end up arguing with him over stuff like my use of the word literally.
V. Sending It In

That’s it, babe. You’re done! But wait—before you pat yourself on the back or have another little Minaj-fest, or god’s sake, GET THAT THING UPLOADED. You wouldn’t want to throw away all the hard work you’ve done by blowing your deadline.

All right, NOW, toss back that cookie dough and sing your heart out. You’ve earned it. ♦