One of the most daunting parts of the college application process for many students is writing the college application essay. If you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or just unsure about which direction to take, you’re not alone, but writing your college essay doesn’t have to be intimidating.

We’re here with three tips to help conquer your writer’s block:

First, follow the SUNY Empire Application Essay Prompts.

Keep in mind that the quality of your essay will determine your admission to the college. Therefore, be sure to follow the prompts that are given to you, organize and develop your ideas, and lastly, maintain proper grammar and punctuation. Another important aspect of this essay is to speak your truth and be true to yourself. View the essay prompts and start now!

Talk about your experience.

Set the scene, outline your thoughts, and cover the basics: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Then provide the reader with key takeaways. What do you want the reader to learn or feel? What did you learn? How are you (or others) better because of your experience?

Check yourself.

Your first draft shouldn’t be perfect (rewrite and refine as you go along), but the final product should be polished and professional. Be sure to proofread (or have someone else proofread) your essay. Run spellcheck. And be sure you didn’t use someone else’s words without attribution. You can find free plagiarism checkers online.

At SUNY Empire, we’ll be here for you every step of the way to coach you to success throughout your academic journey.

Once your essay is completed, follow these steps to submit.