How To Write A Personal Statement For College Applications
Applying to college can be overwhelming, but your personal statement is your golden ticket — it’s the one part of your application where you control the narrative and reveal who you truly are. As experts in college admissions, we’re here to give you actionable steps to write your most compelling personal statement. With our guidance and proven strategies, you’ll stand out to admissions officers — and you’ll understand why working with an essay coach from North Shore College Consulting can help elevate your draft from good to outstanding.
Why the Personal Statement Matters
Your personal statement is the “heart” of your application. It’s where you move beyond grades and test scores to share your story, values, and personal growth. Admissions readers may forget your GPA or ACT score, but they’ll remember “the crossword puzzle whiz,” “the girl who loved to read in the shower,” or “the kid who compared himself to parsley.” That’s the power of a great essay topic and a well-told story.
Step 1: Start with Powerful Brainstorming
Most students struggle with where to start. Effective brainstorming is the first step to discovering your most compelling story.
Your Most Meaningful Objects: List 5-10 objects meaningful to you and unpack the stories behind them.
Your Core Values: Identify your core values through experiences, then consider how you’ve demonstrated them.
List of Facts: Assemble specific, quirky facts that reveal your personality.
What Colleges Should Know About You: Brain dump all the info you wish colleges could see in one place.
Your Challenges and Life Lessons: Reflect on challenges, what you felt/needed, what you did, and what you learned.
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we recommend treating the brainstorming phase as an ongoing, evolving process instead of a one-time activity. Start by recording your essay ideas in a dedicated notebook or digital document over the course of a week or two. Each day, jot down memories, meaningful objects, moments of growth, or quirky details about yourself as they come to mind. Once you have your initial list, take it a step further by sitting down with an adult you trust—such as a parent, family member, or teacher—who knows you well. Invite them to share their perspective on stories or qualities that make you unique. Often, others will recall meaningful experiences or see strengths in you that you might overlook. This dual approach not only helps you dig below the surface for fresh essay topics, but also ensures your personal statement reflects your most authentic self.
Step 2: Choose Your Best Topic
The right topic is the single most important decision you’ll make. Here’s a 5-question filter to test your ideas:
Will this show me in my best light?
Does it include some natural adversity or challenge?
Could anyone else write this essay?
Will this still reflect who I am 10–20 years from now?
Is this content already obvious from the rest of my application?
Your topic should not repeat what’s on your résumé. Admissions officers want something new—what makes you tick, your worldview, or experiences not reflected elsewhere. Avoid cliché topics (generic success stories, family trips, overly negative experiences, or pre-high school achievements).
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we’ve found that some of the best essay topics are the ones hidden just beneath the surface—stories or qualities that students may overlook because they’re part of everyday life. To uncover a topic that’s both original and deeply personal, try this insider approach: set aside your most obvious stories and instead focus on the “small moments” that have shaped your character or perspective. Ask yourself: What’s a belief, tradition, or quirk that your closest friends know about you, but that doesn’t show up anywhere else in your application? Sometimes, the seemingly minor details—a family saying, a favorite childhood object, or an unexpected passion—lead to the best essays.
If you’re stuck between a couple of topics, take a quick “personal inventory.” For each potential topic, jot down what unique insight or value it reveals about you, and how it connects to your goals for the future. If you find yourself getting excited to tell the story, that’s a sign you’re on the right track! And if you want an expert eye to help you spot those hidden gems, our essay coaches at North Shore College Consulting are ready to guide you.
Step 3: Pick Your Essay Structure: Narrative vs. Montage
There are two proven approaches to structuring your college personal statement:
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we encourage our students to go beyond simply picking a structure that “fits the story”—we help you test drive both the narrative and montage formats with your topic before committing. Start by outlining your core idea as a brief narrative (focusing on a challenge or pivotal moment, your actions, and what you learned), and then reimagine the same idea as a montage, connecting several smaller experiences, interests, or symbols that illuminate your central theme.
After trying both, reflect on these questions:
Which structure allows you to reveal more layers of your personality, values, or growth?
In which draft do you feel your authentic voice and excitement come through most naturally?
Does one format make it easier to showcase different sides of who you are—or keep your reader more engaged?
Sometimes, your best structure isn’t the one you expected—and the process of experimenting can reveal unique connections or insights you might have missed. If you’re unsure, our essay coaches at North Shore College Consulting are experts at helping you evaluate each version and fine-tune the approach that will have the greatest impact. This hands-on exploration not only leads to a more dynamic essay but also ensures your personal statement truly feels like you.
Step 4: Outline and Draft (Don’t Skip This Step!)
For a Narrative Structure:
List the challenge(s) faced
Effects of the challenge
Actions you took (and obstacles you overcame)
What you learned/gained/changed
For a Montage Structure:
Identify a unifying theme (e.g., “patience,” “exchange,” “curiosity”)
List 4–7 experiences/objects that connect to this theme
For each, specify which value it demonstrates and the lesson learned
Don’t stress about the word count in your first draft. Get all your ideas down, then refine.
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we encourage our students to treat their outline as a creative “blueprint”— not a rigid script. Before you start writing, instead of only outlining what should happen in your essay, quickly write a no-pressure draft—even if it’s messy or only partial—capturing every idea, detail, or anecdote you think might fit. Once you have this raw material on the page, step back and ask: Which sections feel the most alive? Where do my authentic voice and unique perspective shine through? Use these revelations to revise your outline, emphasizing the strongest parts and trimming the rest.
This approach not only makes drafting far less intimidating, but it often uncovers connections, themes, and storytelling angles you might never have planned. At NSCC, we believe your best essay often emerges when you combine structured outlining with a willingness to explore unexpected ideas. If you’d like guided support turning your brainstorm into a powerful draft, our expert coaches are here to help you every step of the way.
Step 5: Write with Heart—and Craft
Your essay should be packed with vivid details, authentic voice, and clear insight. The best essays are:
Authentic: Don’t try to write what you think colleges want to hear. Own your real story and voice.
Vulnerable: Show self-reflection and honesty about your challenges, fears, or mistakes.
Insightful: Highlight personal growth—answer the “so what?” question for each story or detail.
Well-crafted: Revise for clarity, conciseness, and flow; read it aloud for awkward phrasing and make sure transitions are smooth.
Hook the reader from the first sentence—start with an engaging anecdote, a confession, or a philosophical question. End with a sense of closure and reflection—connect back to your opening, state your values, and show forward-looking optimism.
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we believe that writing with heart is about more than just vulnerability—it’s about creating an immersive experience for your reader. One of our favorite strategies is to write your first draft as if you’re telling your story to a close friend in person. Use your natural voice, include your genuine emotions, and don’t shy away from the messy, imperfect parts of your journey. This conversational tone helps your authentic self shine through.
Once you’ve captured that honest voice, shift gears for the revision phase—focus on crafting. Here, your goal is to refine your essay’s flow and clarity without losing the warmth and passion of your original draft. Pay special attention to pacing: vary sentence length, sprinkle in vivid sensory details, and use deliberate repetition or rhythm to emphasize key ideas.
Balancing raw emotion with thoughtful craftsmanship turns your essay from a simple story into a memorable narrative that resonates deeply with admissions officers. If you want expert help finding this balance and ensuring every word reflects your unique voice and growth, the essay coaches at North Shore College Consulting are ready to guide you at every step.
Step 6: Revise, Proofread, and Get Feedback
Revision is where most average essays become exceptional. Here’s how to make your statement shine:
Read your essay out loud.
Check that every sentence adds value—trim the fluff!
Ensure you clearly demonstrate your core values.
Make sure your essay stands alone (no unexplained references).
Get feedback from someone who knows college essay expectations (this is where expert coaching is invaluable).
NSCC Expert Tip: At North Shore College Consulting, we believe that the revision process is more than just editing language—it's an opportunity to see your own essay through fresh eyes. One of our favorite techniques is to step back for a “pause and perspective.” After several drafts, set your essay aside for a few days. Then, when you revisit it, read it aloud—not just silently in your head. When doing so, imagine you are the reader encountering your story for the first time. Ask yourself:
Does this story make me feel something?
Are the moments that reveal my values clear and compelling?
Is my authentic voice coming through?
To deepen this perspective, record yourself reading the essay or have a trusted adult or coach listen. This process often highlights emotional beats that need more development or language that could be more vivid. Remember, the best personal statements not only read smoothly—they evoke a genuine emotional response. Using this feedback loop ensures your story resonates long after the reader has finished.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Repeating your résumé or activities list
Writing about topics already fully covered elsewhere in your application
Ignoring the essay prompt or word count
Using clichés or generic language
Focusing only on negative experiences without showing growth or insight
Skipping the revision and feedback process
Why Professional Coaching Makes All the Difference
Great personal statements are rarely written alone. The expert essay coaches at North Shore College Consulting help students:
Discover unique, high-impact topics
Structure and refine essays using proven techniques and feedback
Ensure the essay is powerful, polished, and ready to impress admissions officers
Our coaches have a track record of helping students earn admissions to their dream schools by taking their essays from “good” to “unforgettable.”
Ready to Write Your Best Personal Statement? Here’s Your Next Step!
Partner with the experienced essay coaches at North Shore College Consulting to write a personal statement that reflects your personality, values, and ambition— and stands out in a crowded applicant pool.
Contact North Shore College Consulting today to schedule your essay coaching session. Together, we’ll help you tell your story—and get into your dream college.
For more tips and to get started on your college application essay journey, reach out to North Shore College Consulting today!