A winning college application essay takes admission officers beyond the numbers and shows them what a student really cares about, how he/she thinks and who he/she really is. This easy-to-follow guide shows students how to maximize the opportunity to "tell us about yourself" by using the tools and skills they already have. Includes: Ways to choose a topic Strategies for distinctive answers Remedies for procrastinators Jumpstarts for writer"s block Tips on editing Over 50 real application questions Sample essays by real students Critiques of the sample essays guide students toward the best practices and away from common mistakes.