50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Recycle and Choose Wisely
“Start early! I started writing my essays in the summer, and all the essays 
I wrote during that time, I ended up throwing away. Also, recycle your es-
says for different schools and scholarships—it’s usually easy to modify your 
essays a little bit to fit various prompts. Also, choose your essays wisely. The 
combination of your long and short essays should give different perspectives 
of who you are.”
—Anonymous, Princeton University
Presenting Your Unique Qualities
“Write an essay that demonstrates your true self. I think that it is important 
to reiterate and to clearly show a school the positive and unique qualities that 
you can bring to their institution. I would also suggest staying away from sto-
ries that seem ‘cliché’ and trying to focus on a topic that is idiosyncratic such 
as a trip oversees or a unique volunteering experience.”
—Nnenna Ene, Duke University