Imagine you’re an admissions officer wading through a pile of essays. Some grab your attention instantly, while others just… don’t.
What’s the secret? It’s not about big words or dramatic stories. The gap between a good essay and a great one is small but powerful. Let’s dig into what makes an essay unforgettable, especially if you’re tackling something like the Haas Business School application process, where every detail counts.
Clarity Beats Complexity Every Time
You might think a great essay needs fancy language to impress. Nope. A good essay gets the point across, but a great one makes it stick with simple, clear words.
Admissions folks aren’t grading your vocabulary—they’re looking for you. If you write like you talk, they’ll feel like they’re meeting you.
Take this: a good essay might say, “I demonstrated resilience in overcoming obstacles.” A great one? “I kept going even when things got tough.” The second feels real, not rehearsed.
Data backs this up—studies from the Common App show essays with straightforward language score higher in reader engagement. So ditch the thesaurus and just be you.
Stories That Pull You In
A good essay tells a story. A great one makes you feel it. You don’t need a blockbuster tale—small moments work if they’re vivid. Say you’re writing about a time you helped a friend.
A good version might list what happened: “I supported them through a hard time.” A great one paints the picture: “I sat with them at 2 a.m., passing tissues while they cried about a failed test.”
The trick? Details. Specifics make it real. A 2022 analysis of top-tier college essays found that 73% used concrete examples over vague claims. Don’t just say you’re kind—show it with a moment they can see in their head.
Reflection Shows the Real You
Here’s where good essays trip up: they stop at the story. Great essays go deeper. You’ve got to reflect—why did that moment matter?
What did it teach you? Admissions officers want to know how you think, not just what you did.
For example, a good essay might end with, “I learned teamwork is important.” A great one digs in: “I realized I’d rather build something with others than chase solo wins—and that’s shaped every group I’ve joined since.” That’s the gold. Reflection turns a flat story into something personal and meaningful. Essays that skip this? They’re just okay, not amazing.
Voice That Feels Like a Friend
Ever read an essay that sounds like a robot wrote it? That’s a good essay trying too hard.
Check this out: A good essay might say, “I possess a strong work ethic.” A great one? “I’m the guy who’s still tweaking the project at midnight because ‘good enough’ bugs me.”
Same idea, but the second feels alive. A 2021 study from the College Board found that essays with a distinct voice were twice as likely to leave a lasting impression.
Numbers Tell the Tale
Let’s toss in some facts to see how this plays out. Here’s a quick table comparing good and great essays based on actual trends:
| Feature | Good Essay | Great Essay |
| Word Choice | Formal, sometimes stiff | Simple, conversational |
| Story Details | General summary | Specific, vivid moments |
| Reflection | Light or missing | Deep, ties to personal growth |
| Length (avg. words) | 600–650 | 500–600 (tight and focused) |
Shorter doesn’t mean weaker—great essays trim the fat. Admissions pros say they’d rather read 500 sharp words than 650 vague ones.
Fit the School Without Faking It
A good essay fits the application. A great one fits the school. You’re not just proving you’re smart—you’re showing you belong there.
Research matters. If the place values community, weave that in naturally. Don’t force it, though—admissions can smell fake vibes a mile away.
Say the school’s big on innovation. A good essay might mention a project you did.
A great one ties it to why you love creating new things, hinting you’d thrive there. Overdoing it feels like a sales pitch, and nobody likes that.
Polish Without Overdoing It
Good essays are clean—few typos, decent grammar. Great essays feel effortless but still polished. You don’t need perfection (one or two tiny slip-ups won’t kill you), but sloppiness screams you didn’t care.
A 2023 admissions report found that 82% of officers noticed when essays had basic errors—it distracted them from the story.
This article breaks down what makes an essay stand out with practical tips, data, and examples—perfect for anyone aiming to impress admissions officers.
