By Kim Lifton

Kim Bryant, a veteran University of Michigan admissions officer, reads a lot of essays each year from applicants who worked as camp counselors, suffered sports injuries or traveled to third-world countries on mission trips. 

Admissions officers like Bryant read thousands of applications each year, and they look to the essays to find out more about who you are. Will you do well at their school? Will you fit in on campus?  

In this video clip  from a college essay presentation last spring, Bryant shares tips to make your essay stand out among the huge pile of applications she and her colleagues receive each year. As she says in the video, "I really want to hear about you."