How to Write Personal Essays That Get You Accepted to Ivy League Schools

Jashan Gill
Sep 17
4 min read

Updated: Nov 14

If you're applying to Ivy League universities, your personal essay plays a crucial role in setting you apart. It’s more than just a writing sample—it’s a reflection of who you are. With the help of AI, I analyzed several top resources and real essay examples from trusted education platforms and admissions blogs.

The insights below are based on content shared by platforms like Shemmassian Consulting, Harvard Summer School, Johns Hopkins Admissions, College Essay Guy, and Harvard Business Review. I reviewed their strategies, tips, and student essay examples to extract what actually works across the board—and what to avoid.

Here are the most valuable techniques and takeaways that were commonly emphasized across these resources:

Start With a Strong Story

One thing that stood out in almost every successful essay was the use of a vivid story. Starting your essay with a personal anecdote pulls the reader in right away. Admissions officers read thousands of essays—those that begin with a powerful moment or specific memory tend to stand out. The best essays don’t tell the reader what you’re like—they show it through a real experience.

👉 Try starting with a small, impactful moment that changed you, challenged you, or revealed something important about your personality or values.

Be Deeply Authentic

All the websites I analyzed emphasized this: you don't have to sound impressive—you have to sound like yourself. Ivy League schools are looking for honest, introspective students who reflect on their experiences in a meaningful way. The more you try to sound like someone else or use overly fancy words, the more robotic and disconnected your essay will feel.

👉 Write the way you speak (while staying professional), and don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. Talk about your uncertainties, what confused you, or what scared you—these often lead to great essays.

Focus on Growth and Reflection

Strong essays often center around personal growth. Whether it's a failure, a challenge, or a success story, what really matters is what you learned from the experience. It’s not the event itself—it’s how you responded and grew.

👉 After sharing your story, spend a good amount of time reflecting on what it taught you. How did it change the way you think? What insight did it give you about your goals, values, or the world?

Stay Focused on One Core Theme

A common issue seen in weaker essays is trying to cram too many topics into one piece. Successful essays tend to focus on one theme, idea, or lesson. Even if multiple stories are used, they are usually connected by a single thread.

👉 Choose one main message you want the reader to remember—like resilience, creativity, curiosity—and build everything else around it.

Avoid Clichés and Generic Language

Across all the resources, there was a strong warning against using overused phrases like "stepping out of my comfort zone" or "made me the person I am today." These don’t say anything specific about you. Similarly, essays filled with generic statements like “I want to make a difference” feel empty.

👉 Use specific details. Instead of saying you “value education,” talk about the day you stayed up building a robot or how your library visits inspired your interest in politics. The more specific, the more authentic.

Don’t Just List Achievements

A personal essay is not a resume. Many students make the mistake of turning their essay into a list of what they’ve done. But admissions officers already have your activity list. What they want here is context and meaning behind the things you care about.

👉 Instead of saying “I volunteered at five places,” talk about one moment that changed how you view service or community. Why does it matter to you? What are you hoping to do next?

Use Natural But Thoughtful Language

Another common tip was to avoid sounding like a thesaurus. You don’t have to use “plethora” or “ameliorate” to sound intelligent. What matters more is clarity and flow. The best essays are clear, easy to follow, and thoughtfully written.

👉 Imagine reading it out loud to a friend or teacher. If it sounds stiff or forced, it probably needs to be simplified.

Read Other Essays—but Don’t Copy the Style

Reading example essays can help you get a sense of what works, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to mimic someone else’s tone or topic. What works for one person might not work for you.

👉 Use example essays for inspiration, not imitation. Ask yourself: “Why did this essay move me?” Then use those emotional beats to shape your own story.

Final Thought

An Ivy League–level personal essay doesn’t require a dramatic life story or some world-changing invention. The best essays are simply honest, well-written, and reflective. They paint a picture of who you are and how you think—not just what you’ve done.

The good news is: if you’re thoughtful, self-aware, and willing to revise, you can absolutely write an essay that makes admissions officers pause and remember you.