If they made a movie about nailing the perfect admissions essay, the title might be: “The Good, The Bad and The Risky.”

Lee Bierer, an independent college adviser based in North Carolina, offers some tips on what higher ed higher-ups want to read.

¢ Common admissions wisdom has advocated that students should avoid the three D’s – Death, Divorce and Drugs. The Death Essay is unfortunately more common than we all would like. It’s very difficult for high school students to say much more than this special person had a tremendous influence and now that they’re gone they will miss them. These essays can be powerful, but they need to share the “whys” of the loss.

¢ If there is a “typical” divorce essay that colleges receive, it starts with “I was happy until my parents split – now I am unhappy.” Students can take this topic and make it work for them if they talk about how they feel, how it has changed their lives and hopefully what they may have gained through this difficult experience.

¢ Drugs: Some students want to share inappropriate details of their lives, but even if it’s in the past, drug use sends up a red flag.

The good

¢ Don’t try to write what you think colleges want to read. They’ve already read that in the first 50 essays they read today. Find and preserve your own voice.

¢ Focus on the details when you tell a story. One rule of great writing: “Show, Don’t Tell.”

¢ Read your essay out loud to several people and ask them if they believe it sounds like you. It will also help you find and fix the clunky parts that need help.