The Power of Free-Writing

While the essays required as part of a SIPA application can feel overwhelming, they are in fact your joker cards.

Unlike transcripts, test scores, or recommendation letters, the power of your admissions essays remains fully in your grasp right up to the moment you submit your application. They are your chance to show not just what you’ve done, but why it matters and where it’s taking you.

Now, you are no doubt a complex person with many interests, experiences, and ambitions. So where should you even begin?

Don’t worry — I’ve been there.

When I was preparing my own application, I found myself staring at a blank document, unsure which story to tell or how to tell it. That’s when I fell back on a simple technique I now frequently use in letters, essays… and for this very blog post. It’s called free-writing, and it can make all the difference.

Here’s how it works.

1. Select a recent memory be it professional, personal, or academic, that felt important to you. It doesn’t have to be dramatic or extraordinary. Often, the most powerful moments are the quiet ones.
2. Next, take a minute to think about what made that moment memorable. Why did it matter? What impact did it have on you? Did it change the way you think, work, or lead? How did you grow from it?
3. Spend 10 to 15 minutes simply writing about that memory. Just write and never look back. No edits, no spelling checks, no overthinking. Don’t worry about structure, style, or how it sounds…
   
   Let. The. Ink. Flow.

The goal here is to capture something real. Free-writing helps you bypass the inner critic that censors ideas before they reach the page.

There is, of course, some order to the madness… With your time up, now is the moment to slow down and read what you wrote. Look for the themes that emerge. What values, motivations, or goals appear between the lines? What is the common thread that brings you to SIPA? How does this personal moment connect to your academic interests and professional ambitions?

This is where the real essay begins. You take that raw material and shape it into a narrative that links your past experiences to your future at Columbia and beyond.

It’s always harder to write on a blank page. Start with free-writing, and you’ll have done the hardest part.

As you make progress, be sure to check out our other writing tips to keep strengthening your application!