EssaysThatWorked.com

Write Your Best
College Application Essays

Read successful essay examples. Learn how to write essays you're proud of and that stand out for top-20 college admissions.

Students

Join 5,000+ students & parents earning acceptances with Essays That Worked

Brown University
Claremont McKenna College
Duke University
UNC Chapel Hill
Massachussetts Institute of Technology
EssaysThatWorked.com

"I believe this: for students without a hook, there's no better hook than having outstanding essays.

Ryan Chiang
Founder of EssaysThatWorked.com

What is Essays That Worked?

Essays That Worked is a community of students and parents to share their successful college application essays, inspire others, and learn how to write your own outstanding college essays.

With over 230+ essay examples from real students who got into the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, UCLA, and more, you'll learn what it takes to write essays that stand out and get you admitted.

At Essays That Worked, you'll find:

✨ Get Inspired

Essay Examples

Be inspired and learn from hundreds of real, successful essays from students who got into top colleges.

Read Essay Examples →
✍️ Craft Your Story

College Essay Workshop

Write outstanding essays step-by-step with our self-paced online course. Learn all my secrets, tips and tricks, and mistakes to avoid.

Write Winning Essays →
🪄 1-on-1 Coaching

College Essay Coaching

Learn how to write your best college application essays with strategies based on the lessons of hundreds of successful applicants.

Work With Me →

Every Student Has a Story.
We'll Help You Tell It.

No matter where you are in your college application journey, our goal is simple: to help you write essays you're proud of, so that you can maximize your college opportunities.

23 College Essay Tips to Stand Out
Free Guide:
23 Tips To Make Your College Essays Stand Out

What do outstanding essays have in common?
Here are our 23 most effective strategies based on lessons from admitted students.

I am a...
Role
Your Name:
Email:
Graduation Year:

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

By signing up you agree to Terms and Privacy Policy

Real Essays.
Real Acceptances.

Discover over 230 real college essays that worked for over 40 top colleges, written by real students who were accepted to the most selective schools.

Ivy League Essays That Worked

See how real students got accepted into Ivy League schools. Write outstanding admissions essays for top Ivy League schools like...

6 Brown Essays That Worked + Why Brown Examples
Ivy League

6 Brown Essays That Worked + Why Brown Examples

5 Columbia University Supplemental Example Essays (2023)
Ivy League

5 Columbia University Supplemental Example Essays (2023)

5 Princeton Supplemental Essays That Worked
Ivy League

5 Princeton Supplemental Essays That Worked

7 University of Pennsylvania Essays That Worked
Ivy League

7 University of Pennsylvania Essays That Worked

6 Dartmouth College Essays That Worked
Ivy League

6 Dartmouth College Essays That Worked

4 Cornell University Essays That Worked
Ivy League

4 Cornell University Essays That Worked

University of Pennsylvania

I feel so much more reassured to press the submit button now. I wish I knew about your site sooner!

Judy Z.
Student, University of Pennsylvania

Private Colleges Essays That Worked

Read amazing essay examples for top private universities like Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and more.

4 Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)
Private College

4 Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)

6 Duke Supplemental EssaysThatWorked for 2023
Private College

6 Duke Supplemental EssaysThatWorked for 2023

6 Outstanding Johns Hopkins EssaysThatWorked for 2023
Private College

6 Outstanding Johns Hopkins EssaysThatWorked for 2023

How to Write Outstanding MIT Supplemental Essays (With 5 Real Examples)
Private College

5 How to Write Outstanding MIT Supplemental Essays (With Real Examples)

6 Northwestern Essay Examples & Why Northwestern (2023)
Private College

6 Northwestern Essay Examples & Why Northwestern (2023)

12 Best Stanford Supplemental Essays That Worked 2023
Private College

12 Best Stanford Supplemental Essays That Worked 2023

4 University of Southern California (USC) EssaysThatWorked
Private College

4 University of Southern California (USC) EssaysThatWorked

9 Tufts University Essays That Worked
Private College

9 Tufts University Essays That Worked

8 Notre Dame Essays That Worked
Private College

8 Notre Dame Essays That Worked

7 Emory University Essays That Worked
Private College

7 Emory University Essays That Worked

6 Rice University Essays That Worked
Private College

6 Rice University Essays That Worked

4 Tulane University Essays That Worked
Private College

4 Tulane University Essays That Worked

3 Georgetown University Essays That Worked
Private College

3 Georgetown University Essays That Worked

Duke University

...Invaluable to me during the college admissions process! It gave me a different perspective to look at my essays.

Anna M.
Student, Duke University

Public Colleges Essays That Worked

Read our best essay examples for public universities like the University of California, University of Michigan, and more. Public colleges receive the most applicants out of all types of schools, so your application essays are increasingly important each year.

18 UC Berkeley Essay Examples that Worked (2023)
Public College

18 UC Berkeley Essay Examples that Worked (2023)

18 UCLA Essays That Worked (and Why) for 2023
Public College

18 UCLA Essays That Worked (and Why) for 2023

12 UNC Chapel Hill Essay Examples (2023)
Public College

12 UNC Chapel Hill Essay Examples (2023)

26 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)
Public College

26 University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Examples (2023)

18 UC Santa Barbara Essays That Worked
University of California

18 UC Santa Barbara Essays That Worked

18 UC San Diego Essays That Worked
University of California

18 UC San Diego Essays That Worked

7 University of Virginia Essays That Worked
Public College

7 University of Virginia Essays That Worked

3 University of Wisconsin-Madison Essays That Worked
Public College

3 University of Wisconsin-Madison Essays That Worked

3 University of Pittsburgh Essays That Worked
Public College

3 University of Pittsburgh Essays That Worked

Yale University

Thank you for your help with my essays back in November, including my Yale supplements. Just wanted to let you know I ended up getting into and committing to Yale!

Hannah M.
Student, Yale University
23 College Essay Tips to Stand Out
Free Guide:
23 Tips To Make Your College Essays Stand Out

What do outstanding essays have in common?
Here are our 23 most effective strategies based on lessons from admitted students.

I am a...
Role
Your Name:
Email:
Graduation Year:

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

By signing up you agree to Terms and Privacy Policy

© 2018-2023 Essays That Worked. All rights reserved.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

We have no affiliation with any university or colleges on this site. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners.