By Patti Thorn

It's the season when high school seniors frantically sweat over the essays for their college applications. Many are spending more time second guessing themselves than getting words on paper. Should they stick strictly to the word limit -- or will admissions officers overlook an extra sentence or two? Should they write about their recent trip abroad -- or is that topic overused?

The process doesn't have to be so nerve-wracking. For those in the midst of readying their essays, here are a few simple tips:

-- Let your honest voice shine through. Don't write to impress. Don't try to sound intelligent by using big words. Write to express an idea as clearly as you possibly can. If you can throw in some humor along the way, all the better. Above all, strive to be real.

-- Think small. Go ahead and write about your trip abroad, if it's a compelling moment in your life. But don't tell the college admissions people that you "enriched" your life by that trip. Tell them a story about something you saw on the trip that intrigued you, changed you, made you think a little more deeply about yourself and the world. No matter what topic you choose, try to begin by focusing on the small moment, rather than the large. Small moments illustrate larger points - and everyone loves a good story.

-- Don't hesitate to admit that you don't have all the answers. Maybe you're grappling with your parents' divorce. Or perhaps you're focusing on a friendship that went sour. Maybe you still can't figure out exactly what those incidences mean in your life. That's OK. Explain what you learned from these events, but admit that you still don't have all the answers. It will show that you are a thinking, growing human being.

-- Make sure every sentence serves your point. College essays are generally short; you don't have time for detours. If you're wondering if you need a particular word or sentence, you probably don't. Delete it. If the piece reads fine without it, you made the right decision.

-- And yes, stick to the word limit. If a college requires 250 words, don't send 350. Admissions people want to know you will honor their needs - and let's face it, if you were reading hundreds of essays in a season, you wouldn't appreciate someone who thinks you will be so intrigued by their work that you won't notice how long it is.

-- Take a deep breath and relax. If you write an essay that sincerely represents who you are, it will be well-received at the college that's right for you. And isn't that where you want to be anyway?

Patti Thorn is the former book review editor of the Rocky Mountain News, now offering essay consulting to college-bound students and editing services to authors working on full-length manuscripts. She can be reached at patti.thorn@gmail.com or 303-290-0811.