How to Write Stand-Out Essays: Advice from a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

April 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET

Essays can set you apart if you know what admissions officers are actually looking for. Join former Stanford Admissions Officer and CollegeAdvisor's Director of Admissions, Amber Bisnauth, to learn how to write essays that gets noticed.

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What you'll learn:

Your college essay is the one part of your application that is entirely yours, and it's your best opportunity to make an admissions officer stop, take notice, and advocate for you.

But what actually makes an essay stand out? In this exclusive NSHSS webinar, former Stanford Admissions Officer Amber Bisnauth pulls back the curtain on what admissions officers are really looking for when they read your essay and how to write one that leaves a lasting impression.

Whether you're staring at a blank page or sitting on a draft you're not sure about, this session will give you the clarity, direction, and insider perspective you need to write an essay admissions officers remember.

Click to register

Meet the speaker:

Amber Bisnauth

Former Admission Officer at Stanford University

Hi, everyone! My name is Amber, and I previously worked as an Undergraduate Admission Counselor at Stanford University. I have both a student-athlete and admission perspective of Stanford University, and graduated from Stanford with a major in International Relations and a minor in Spanish and Portuguese. While at Stanford, I was a Track & Field athlete. In the admission office, I reviewed applications from different parts of the country and the world, and I look forward to using my experience to encourage you along your own path to college admission soon!