Step One: Own Your “Thing”—Even If It’s Not Traditional

Not every student has a lifelong passion or a single calling. That’s okay. Maybe you’ve tried a bunch of things. Maybe your interests are a little offbeat. Maybe you’ve changed directions more than once.

That’s human. And it’s also the beginning of a great essay.

Instead of worrying about how “impressive” your interests are, ask yourself:

• What’s something I get excited to talk about?
• What do I spend time doing when no one’s assigning it?
• What part of my personality comes out in the things I enjoy?

Your love of rock tumbling, your weekend bike repair business, your fascination with maps of old subway systems—those are you. And that’s what matters.

Step Two: Tell the Story Behind the Interest

What sets a real essay apart from an AI-generated one is story. A chatbot can tell you that an activity builds character. Only you can show us what that looked like in your life.

Let’s say you taught yourself to bake bread during quarantine. That fact alone won’t make your essay stand out. But the way you describe waking up early to check your dough, watching YouTube tutorials until midnight, and learning to embrace failure after three loaves collapsed—that’s the good stuff. That’s what makes your voice come alive.

Step Three: Be Specific—Always

Generic statements are a dead giveaway that the essay might be fake or forgettable. Specific details are what ground your story and make it real.

Instead of writing:

“This experience taught me about perseverance.”

Write:

“I spent four hours fixing one line of broken code. It was supposed to be a calculator. It spit out emojis. But the moment it finally worked, I felt like I could build anything.”

Details build trust. They show that your story is true. They show you were there. And they make it easier for the reader to connect with you.

Step Four: Let Your Voice Lead the Way

You don’t have to sound formal. You don’t need fancy vocabulary. You need to sound like yourself.

Try this:

• Talk through your story out loud. Record it.
• Write down what you said, just the way you said it.
• Keep the parts that feel real and clear. Cut anything that feels forced.

When your voice comes through—your humor, your rhythm, your way of noticing the world—the essay becomes something a bot can’t copy.

Step Five: Reflect On Why It Matters

Your interest is just the starting point. The real power of the essay comes from what it says about you.

Ask:

• What has this taught me about how I approach challenges?
• How does this connect to the kind of person I want to be?
• What values or traits show up in this part of my life?

That reflection is where your essay goes from good to unforgettable.