Writing an essay about yourself can be a unique opportunity to share your story and highlight what makes you you. Whether for college applications, scholarships, or a class assignment, this essay ...

1. At least once in any essay, make fun of yourself. It's called self-deprecation. It should be (but is not) taught in every essay-writing and speechmaking class.

If your essay is too carefully managed, you often leave out some of the best parts of yourself. The advice to sound like a well-rounded person is not all hype. Be genuine.