Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Roy Peter Clark’s excellent new book Writing Tools for the College Admissions Essay: Write Your Way Into the School of Your Dreams. This was a book I wish I had when I was teaching seniors. We ended up making the college admissions essay a part of our fall semester writing assignments, and provided multiple prompts for students to examine their experiences and explore how these experiences shaped their understanding and intellectual curiosity, and why those characteristics would enable them to contribute to the college community. Roy Peter Clark provides a comprehensive overview of the different parts and purposes of the admissions essay but also provides some amazing sample essays from the students he has coached. While I appreciated his analysis of the essay and examining writing as a process, the sample essays and Clark’s (and his colleague Michelle Hiskey’s) analysis of the essays. Their review and suggestions help readers, teachers, and applicants understand the process of writing this important essay, as well as the key components that make these samples stand out as important.
I also appreciated the variety of the samples that Clark and Hiskey provide. The variety helps to show how this essay is so challenging because it is highly personal and individualized, but also relies on developing one’s own voice, something that more academic and formulaic writing in many schools may not value or promote. Furthermore, Clark and Hiskey’s analysis of the samples help to explain how the students developed reflection in their writing by showing rather than telling, often sharing subtle details or using a brief closing sentence or phrase to highlight the lesson learned. I was amazed at how these students delved deep for their reflections, yet also kept their narratives brief, often between 500-800 words. It was great to see.
Michelle Hiskey has a chapter towards the end of the book where she presents initial and later drafts from the same students. This was also a great process to show the differences and editorial decisions that students (and coaches as well) make to emphasize their voice and ideas. In my experience teaching writing, this also seems to be one of the more challenging parts of the process for students. While students may be able to develop reflective practices, they may not always know which parts to select and emphasize and which to possibly omit to improve their drafts. Although it was helpful to see the differences between the two drafts and read about the process from Hiskey’s point of view, I found the kinds of guiding questions she offered in between drafts to be helpful in prompting students to become more self-sufficient in the revision process.
I really appreciated the practical application of the tools, tips and strategies that Clark presents as well. I found that while specifically aimed at the college admissions essay, these could also be applied to other writing projects, and that teachers (or parents and coaches) could adapt some of the practices for other writing assignments. In particular, Chapter II focuses on starting the essay with a lead or an attention grabber. Clark also presents some drafts of these hooks to show how students can move from something declarative to something more engaging, personal, and captivating. Chapter III looks at choosing the right prompt or topic to focus on, while Chapter IV examines the writing process. I felt like this was such an important chapter as well, since it emphasized not only the steps of writing process, but also how to manage the feeling of being stuck, whether it is due to procrastination or writer’s block. As Clark notes, it is just important to start with ideas and collecting them, so even if there are many different ideas, just sitting down to write about them can be an important first step. By providing samples of drafts and writing in different stages in the process, students (and parents and coaches) can see that good writing takes time and never comes out as a finished product. There is a process of focus and selection that help to further refine ideas and points in the essay. In addition, Clark emphasizes the importance of “honest writing”, noting how there are many shortcuts available (like paper mills, AI, and plagiarism), but also noting the consequences and ethics of these practices. As he notes, good writers often borrow, but in an honest way. Clark mentions that making references, allusions, and other points of reference for readers is a great way to engage readers, but it is also important to acknowledge these sources. Relying on outside sources like AI or ghost writers will not allow readers to know who the writer really is, and may set the writer up for future failures. The other chapters present important details about finding voice, the important difference between revision (seeing the draft differently) and editing (making technical corrections), and providing over 100 writing tools and tips for the process.
Chapter VIII, the 100 Writing Tools chapter, was helpful and will be a great resource for students (and parents, teachers, and coaches). I appreciated how it was organized into different sections and that Clark provides examples throughout. I could imagine using this as a reference when working with students and pulling some of these tips and tools when they are struggling or facing some challenges to their writing process. The book ends with a useful rubric and some additional tips and tools to support writers once they have finished. I appreciated how Clark created this book to support students to become more self-sufficient in their writing, but also to support others working with students. This is a useful and practical guide with some great example essays to prompt students’ thinking and provide some useful ideas for where their college essay could go.
This is a great book that can be used by many different people—not only students, but also coaches, teachers, and parents. There are many useful strategies and practices to follow in the book, and Clark presents writing as a process, emphasizing how these great essays require considerable time, thought, and effort. Highly recommended.

A Must-Read for Teachers and Students Tackling the College Essay

Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools for the College Essay is a game-changer for anyone guiding high school students through the daunting task of writing their college essays. As a long-time fan of Clark’s work, I’ve enjoyed many of his previous books on writing, so his foray into the world of college essay writing is a most welcome addition. For high school teachers like me, this book is an invaluable resource—not just for helping students but also for refining my own teaching methods.

Clark’s expertise as a writer and teacher shines through on every page. He breaks the writing process down into manageable steps, offering practical tools that empower students to find their voice and tell their story in a way that feels authentic and compelling. The emphasis on clarity, specificity, and emotional resonance is spot-on for what admissions officers are looking for in a standout essay.

One of the book’s strengths is its accessibility. Clark writes in a conversational tone that students can easily relate to, but he doesn’t shy away from the nuances of good writing. His examples—both from successful essays and his own experience—illustrate his points beautifully and provide inspiration for students struggling to start.

What I particularly appreciate as a teacher is the focus on process over perfection. Clark encourages students to embrace the messy, iterative nature of writing, which takes the pressure off producing a perfect draft on the first try. His exercises and prompts are practical and adaptable, making them great tools for classroom lessons or one-on-one coaching sessions.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the book could include more advice for students with unconventional stories or those from underrepresented backgrounds. While the principles Clark outlines are universal, a few more tailored examples could help students feel even more seen and supported.

Overall, Writing Tools for the College Essay is a must-have for high school teachers, guidance counselors, and students aiming for college. It’s not just about crafting an essay that gets you into your dream school—it’s about discovering your voice and learning how to use it. As a fan of Clark’s previous works, I highly recommend this book as yet another masterpiece in his writing toolbox.

This book has some good examples of essays and good tips on how to write a good essay that is specific to you.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC