Writing Your College Essay

My seniors, and probably all seniors everywhere, are busy working on their college essays.  They have the new Common Application prompts (although not all of them are using them), and their English teachers are critiquing, suggesting, smiling, frowning - perhaps all of the above.  Many counselors and teachers do suggest student shy away from topics such as "the big game," or "my trip to Spain," but in reality, you can write about those topics as long as they are genuine and true to who you are.  You just have to be careful that they don't sound cliché. But as this author says, "The first-person pronoun is a mighty tool. Use it."  Keep reading for more essay advice.