Use a strong, sincere voice. A big mistake that many applicants make is trying to write what they think the admission officers want to hear. The problem with that is that won't make you seem unique, and that is what is necessary to stand out with selective colleges. Write purposeful, guided essays, but feel free to be creative and write about topics that give them good insight into who you are as a person.

Start early! Don't procrastinate like I did (but...

Do something productive, and something you are passionate about. This could...

Find someone who saw you work hard in their class. Don't just find...

Although no one can be entirely sure what set them apart, I believe what worked in...