Since most online colleges do not conduct on-location interviews, the admissions essay is the main way that admissions officers get to know applicants. My latest About.com article, How to Write an Online College Admissions Essay, shows how you can create an essay to impress. Here's a blurb:

"The application essay is the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your strengths and explain any blemishes on your record. Many colleges ask students to write a separate essay that explains what sets them apart from the crowd. If you have an assignment like that, don't be shy. Describe your many talents in a confident, non-boastful manner. If you have blemishes on your academic record such as poor grades or an expulsion, now is the time to own up to these issues. Explain any extenuating circumstances (such as dropping out due to a family tragedy). If there is no good excuse, explain what you've learned from your mistakes and why you'll never make them again. Even if you are not assigned an essay about your strengths, you can demonstrate your talents in just about any assignment. "Show" the reader what your strengths are by setting up a scene."

Check out the full article for more online college essay writing tips.