Once again, we've done a little legwork for you.  We share our tips as well as valuable links so that you can spend more time writing and less time on Google.  

Combine the following inspiration with a little perspiration, and you will make some serious progress on your Common Application essays and UCAS personal statement. 

Here are helpful resources and hints if you are applying to colleges in the United States.

• Take a look at "essays that worked," published online by the colleges who admitted the authors of each: Carleton College, Tufts University, Connecticut College, Johns Hopkins University, Hamilton College (plus more Hamilton essays here and here). Smith College also posts favorite responses to their supplemental essay question. Remember that plagiarism would spell the end of your application...but you knew that already.
• Our Top Ten Do's and Don'ts for College Application Essays
  1.  Be authentic, and use your own voice in your writing.  Admissions officers want to get to know you beyond a list of grades, test scores and extracurriculars.  Let your personality shine through.  Read your essay out loud – does it sound like you or your parent? Hint: it should sound like you.
  2.  Focus narrowly.  Avoid the urge to recite a laundry list of activities that are found elsewhere in your application. Pick one experience, one interest or passion, one moment in time. Write about what is important to you, not what you think others want to hear.
  3.  Take time to plan your essay.  Start by listing the qualities and personality traits of which you are most proud, and then brainstorm examples of times that you exhibited these qualities.  There’s an essay lurking in one of those moments.
  4.   Show, don’t tell.  Draw in the reader with a story that shows who you are, rather than with a list of your qualities.  Convince them with your actions and thoughts, rather than telling them.
  5.   Write the first sentence last. Make sure it hooks or grabs the reader.  Read samples of well-crafted essays either on the college’s own website or in books devoted to essay writing for college applications.  See the links above.
  6.   Avoid clichés.  Admissions officers have read too many “Coming to America” and “Third Culture Kid” essays.
  7.   Highlight something that distinguishes you from other students, which you haven’t been able to show or explain in the rest of your application.  Read your application first, and note any important parts of your story that are missing.
  8.  Essays don’t need to be funny.  Is humor natural for you? 
  9.   Write simply and clearly.  Think Hemingway when you are writing.  Short sentences with impact are great; flowery descriptions and words found only in a Thesaurus will distract the reader from the focus of the essay, which is you.
  10. Proofread and edit.  Ask a teacher, counselor or friend who is a great writer to help you find mistakes.  Reduce the essay to its most essential parts. 
  
  

Useful resources regarding the UCAS personal statement abound.  

• Which? University, a website also useful for course and university search, has a page dedicated to Ten Things to Put in Your Personal Statement as well as a follow up article with Ten More Things to include.
• This Times article, written by Cathy Gilbert of UCAS, highlights (surprise!) her top ten tips for writing a personal statement.  It was written in 2012 but remains relevant, so read on.
• Not to be outdone by The Times, The Guardian also published a useful article in 2012, highlighting eight "dos" and eight "don'ts" when writing a personal statement.  Follow this link to learn more.
• And don't forget about the UCAS site!  Not only is there a video and set of tips and advice for writing your personal statement, but they even provide a personal statement worksheet.  Who could ask for more?