Staring at a blank computer screen? Trashed several versions of your essay? Finally getting to the end but not sure if it’s good enough? Don’t let the stress about your admissions essay get you down.

We’ve gathered some insider information from Jon Reider, a former senior associate director of admission for Stanford University. Reider, now curriculum developer for iAdmissions, an essay counseling service, shared the top traits that admissions offers look for in essays.

1. Vulnerability

You might think colleges want you to prove that you are great at everything, but Reider says it’s better to show that you are human, not a superhero, by discussing the challenges you have faced. Remember that the admissions officer is an adult with life experiences that could be similar to yours.

2. Reflectiveness/Insight

Don’t just give a report about your extracurricular activities and things that have happened to you. Write about those experiences in a way that looks inward and shows how you have matured in both successes and failures, Reider says.

3. Brevity

Be succinct and clear, Reider says. Why? Because admissions officers are plowing through thousands of essays, sometimes late at night or early in the morning. (How do YOU feel at those times of day?) Even look at your word choice – are you just trying to show off your vocabulary?

4. Likeability

Reider says the person reading your essay should want to be your friend–and not just on Facebook. To ensure that, he suggests working in an example of a time when you brought people together. It could be humorous–think Cher Horowitz’s matchmaking success with two teachers in the now-classic high school film Clueless–or a more serious gesture of goodwill through your involvement in a school activity or a charitable organization.

5. Intellect

Don’t just rely on your test scores to show how smart you are to admissions officers. Reider suggests incorporating an example that shows that you love to learn, such as by illustrating a time when you were motivated by learning and not just by making a good grade.

Maybe you’ve never thought about some or all of these aspects when approaching the admissions essay. Consider it our gift to you during the holidays – allowing you to finish the essay in time to enjoy your winter break.

–Lori Johnston