This personal statement helps admissions officers become acquainted with you in ways different from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will demonstrate your ability to organize thoughts and express yourself. The are looking for an essay that will help them know you better as a person and as a student.

While hiking to Triund (Himachal Pradesh) in 2010 I stopped and took this picture. A fallen and chipped tree trunk was blocking our path, almost begging to be restored to its glorious past, before it let us pass. At that moment I did not know that I’d end up posting this picture on my blog while writing about writer’s block- but what the heck, here I go.

Sending out thoughtful writing samples for college admissions are important and helps differentiate you in the admissions process. Use this blog and learn how to develop your writing voice and write essays that make that difference.

If you were to have an accidental meeting with an admissions officer in the elevator what would you add to your conversation in those few seconds to make it memorable?

I did consider rankings while applying to colleges because if you look across the broad spectrum of college rankings you can get an idea of which colleges excel at what. Obviously they should not be the sole criteria of selection, but without visiting and living in the country, they are a good starting point.