50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Focus on One Aspect
“The essay is your chance to give them a taste of who you are. Select 
something that will embody you. But don’t try to describe all of yourself. That 
would be hard to do in 500 words. Instead focus on one experience and go in 
depth, describe it in detail. You are an interesting person just for wanting to 
apply to these colleges. Your story is worth reading, so tell it!”
—Selina Cardoza, Stanford University
Write about What You Want to Write about
“Write candidly, freely, and truly. Don’t worry about impressing admissions 
counselors with the ‘perfect’ essay. The more you write about the things you 
want to write about, as opposed to the things you think you should be writing 
about, the more natural and eloquently it comes out.
—Jessica S. Yu, Stanford University

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Chapter 22: Advice on Writing from Ivy League Students