Key Takeaway: Your college essay is what helps you stand out among other candidates during the application process, and using the keywords below in your essays can help give you an edge over other candidates—just make sure you don’t overdo it! Keywords matter—but that’s not all. Don’t forget to use emotion, be sincere, get creative, tell personal stories, and follow the rules when writing your college essay.
Flickr user Marco Verch
You’ve done all the hard work to get the grades you want, and you’ve checked off the extracurriculars box. But when it comes to your applications for college admissions, those things are only the starting point. To stand out on your college applications, you’ll need to use every trick in the playbook to catch the attention of the admissions committee. You need to show them that you are more than just an ace student—you also have the transferable skills that make you an asset to any institution.
Enter: the college essay. This is your chance to give admissions officers a reason to remember your name. One way to do this is by using certain words—specifically the ones that highlight who you are and show them your strengths. So, before you click submit, let’s talk about what words to use in your college apps.
What Is a College Essay?
Think of your college essay as a highlight reel about, well, you—you’re not listing achievements like a resume—you’re telling a story. Some schools will give you a specific prompt (like “Tell us about a moment that changed your perspective”), while others leave it wide open. Some students may find that kind of creative freedom exciting, while others find it overwhelming. Either way, this is your chance to stand out.
You could write about a time you took a risk, how a family tradition has shaped you, or how volunteering has changed how you see the world. The most important thing is that you be yourself. You may have the exact same grades, GPA, and extracurriculars as another student, but it might be your essay that pulls you to the front of the leaderboard.
Keywords To Use in Your College Application Essays
So, what are the most important keywords to use in your college apps? While you certainly don’t need to use all of these, here are some winning keywords that can give you an edge over other applicants:
1. Committed
Definition: To be wholeheartedly dedicated to something
Example Sentence: I remained committed in my dedication to showing up to swim practice, even on the days that it felt difficult.
2. Improve
Definition: To make something better; to become better
Example Sentence: I have always wanted to be a writer, so I started a personal blog to practice and improve my writing skills.
3. Passionate
Definition: To show strong feelings toward something
Example Sentence: Working through mental health problems of my own is what made me passionate about helping others.
4. Reliable
Definition: Able to be trusted or consistently dependable
Example Sentence: My coach made me captain of the soccer team because I proved I was reliable by showing up on time, making every practice, and supporting my teammates.
5. Enthusiastic
Definition: Showing intense excitement or interest in something
Example Sentence: I’ve always been enthusiastic about sports and some of my favorite childhood memories are going to football games with my dad.
6. Opportunity
Definition: A chance or situation that makes something possible
Example Sentence: I was given the opportunity to visit the local art museum, which became the place where I discovered my passion for my future.
7. Supportive
Definition: To provide help or encouragement
Example Sentence: When my friend’s dog passed away, I learned how to be truly supportive—not by fixing anything, but simply by showing up and being with her.
8. Knowledge
Definition: Having facts, information, or skills in a particular subject
Example Sentence: I was scared to take AP Language at first, but my knowledge has grown tenfold over the past year.
9. Future
Definition: A time that comes after the present
Example Sentence: From my very first visit to NASA, I knew my future would be devoted to the exploration and study of space.
10. Teamwork
Definition: Working with others to accomplish a goal
Example Sentence: It’s not every day that you learn the true meaning of teamwork—but that’s exactly what happened when my group science project fell apart two days before the deadline.
11. Grounded
Definition: Someone who is sensible and mentally stable
Example Sentence: Being grounded in my beliefs from a young age has helped guide me in making decisions I’m proud of—one of those being the choice to apply to XYZ school.
12. Challenge
Definition: A difficult circumstance or situation that requires you to overcome it
Example Sentence: Breaking my foot before the most important track meet of my high school career was a challenge that forced me to rethink not just my season—but my entire identity as an athlete.
13. Imaginative
Definition: Having or showing creativity
Example Sentence: Growing up, I was always imaginative—constantly coming up with stories and ideas—but I never knew what to do with them until I started writing.
14. Success
Definition: To accomplish something
Example Sentence: They say success doesn’t happen overnight, but in my case, the night my video went viral changed everything for me.
15. Research
Definition: To investigate or test something in order to learn more
Example Sentence: When my teacher first assigned our project, I never imagined it would lead me to research that would uncover the major I intend to study.
16. Community
Definition: A group of people with common interests
Example Sentence: I’ve worked hard, but I’ve never done it alone—the support and encouragement of my community have played a pivotal role in the person I am today.
17. Skill
Definition: Something you can do extremely well
Example Sentence: Baking began as a weekend hobby for me, but over time, it became a skill that has allowed me to apply to culinary school.
18. Optimistic
Definition: Having a positive or hopeful outlook about the future
Example Sentence: Being optimistic doesn’t mean I ignore the challenges of life; it means I believe that good will come from them.
19. Balanced
Definition: Being able to remain calm; not letting one thing overpower another thing
Example Sentence: It has sometimes been difficult to stay balanced in my senior year with school, a part-time job, and my friendships, but it’s taught me one important life lesson—how to make space for what matters most.
20. Strong-Willed
Definition: Not easily influenced and determined to make something happen
Example Sentence: There’s nothing that makes me more strong-willed than when someone says I can’t do something. So, when I was challenged to run a marathon as someone who had never run a mile in their life, it didn’t discourage me—it helped me focus.
21. Genuine
Definition: Honest and sincere
Example Sentence: I was taught to be my genuine self while striving tirelessly for everything I believe in.
22. Innovative
Definition: Being able to come up with new ideas or methods
Example Sentence: Finding solutions has always intrigued me, so when I realized how hectic our evenings had become at home, I developed an innovative way to streamline chores and give us more time to spend together as a family.
Common Mistakes Students Make When Choosing Keywords and Phrases
While using the right keywords or adjectives is important for your college essays, they shouldn’t be entirely made up of the words listed above. Make sure to use them sparingly and appropriately—don’t shoehorn them in. They should come across naturally and fit what you’re talking about. Here are three mistakes to avoid when choosing your keywords and phrases:
- Overusing Words: If you repeat the same word over and over again, it’s not going to be impressive; in fact, it will lose its meaning. If you find yourself needing the same word, try looking up the synonym to help you out.
- Sounding Overly Impressive: Big words do not always equal a great essay. If it is not the typical language you would use in your real life, don’t force it into your essay; college admission officers are looking to get to know the real you.
- Cliches: Try not to lean on phrases that are too generic. You know the ones: “I’ve always wanted to help others…” or “Ever since I was a child…”. These cliches are overused and often lack originality.
College Essays Need To Go Beyond Keywords
So, since it’s not likely you can cram all the above keywords into a single essay, what else should you include? There are a few other factors you should display in your college essay that come from you, not just your word choices:
1. Use Emotion
Your college essay has to showcase emotion: write from the heart to display what you’re truly passionate about, what matters to you the most, and what has impacted you over your lifetime. This is why it’s so important to write your essays yourself, too. While someone else (or even an AI program) can certainly write a college essay for you, is it really going to show the impacts you experienced personally? Most likely not.
2. Be Sincere
Sincerity is also a must-have in college essays—you should mean what you say and say what you mean throughout the entire piece. Going through the motions as if it’s an essay for your history course won’t work for a college application essay! Your writing needs to display sincerity in what you’re trying to say. This means showing your passion for the subject, building on your emotions, and making the reader feel your emotions and the sincerity behind those emotions.
3. Get Creative
College admissions departments receive a lot of essays every year, and a lot of the time, they are reading similar essays over and over and over. It’s important to make your writing stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s writing about a passion of yours (not sports related!), something you overcame that most people don’t face, or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you experienced, make sure it’s unique. To come out on top of the application stack, you want every edge you can get, and a unique, creative essay is a crucial part of that.
However, in most cases, it is recommended you stay away from “flashy” writing styles or inappropriate topics, such as drugs or illegal activities. You don’t want to stand out for all the wrong reasons. There are several ways to invoke creativity in a college essay without going so far into left field that it is no longer recognizable as a good part of your application.
4. Use Personal Stories
The best stories to use are the ones that you have lived! Everyone has a story to tell, whether you think you do or not. You don’t need to have started a non-profit or competed in a state championship; sometimes, it’s the small, everyday moments that create the most compelling stories. For example, maybe you taught your brother how to swim one summer. You can talk about the patience you learned along the way and how to support someone through something when they’re scared. Keep it real, and it will mean something.
5. Follow the Rules
Of course, students should always follow the rules and requirements for their college essays. While you may want to talk about a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, the school may be asking for a very specific topic, such as, “What is something you overcame that most students don’t face?” Always write within the confines of the topic if one is given.
Most colleges will also have word minimums and limits on applications—do not ignore these. Your application could be thrown out if you write a 2,000-word essay when they asked for no more than 200 words. If you’re having trouble getting to the minimum required amount or staying within the word limits, make sure to have a trusted teacher, parent, or another adult in your life read over your piece to give you suggestions on what you could add or subtract.
Colleges look for certain qualities in the students they accept. Using the right words throughout your college application essays will show the admissions department that you have the skills and experience they’re looking for in future students. Keep in mind that your essay is so much more than just the “right” words. Sincerity, creativity, and emotion should all shine through in your piece—keywords or not.
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