‘Valedictorians at the Gate:’ How to Write a Winning Personal Essay

After the recommendations have been requested, after the testing has been completed, after one has purchased a blue and orange Go Hornets mug at the Kalamazoo bookstore, it’s time to sit down with one’s thoughts. It’s time to consider one’s biggest “challenge, setback, or failure.” (Alas, the ol’ personal failure question is usually one of the many Common Application prompts.) It’s time to remember the correct usage of “its” and “it’s.” And then it’s time to start writing the personal statement....