Hey guys, I'm starting to brainstorm ideas for my college essays and I'm looking for some inspiration. Have you come across any examples of really good personal essays that helped students get into their dream schools? I'm hoping to find some guidance to come up with my own unique essay that'll make me stand out. Thanks in advance!
Hey there! It's fantastic that you're working on your essays. Luckily for you, CollegeVine has a blog post with several examples of strong personal statements written by real students: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/. This post also has analysis of what each essay does well, and how to brainstorm for your own essay.
If you also want inspiration for a school-specific supplemental essay, there's a good chance CollegeVine also has a blog post with some examples for that particular prompt. You can see if the school you're interested in is listed here: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/essays/essay-examples.
While looking at strong examples can definitely be helpful, remember that there's no one right way to write a good college essay. You want to tell your story, rather than trying to replicate what someone else did. To ensure your response is entirely your own, here are some general pointers and themes that you might consider using to kickstart your own brainstorming process:
1. Combining passions: Write about how you uniquely and creatively combine two interests or passions. For example, maybe you fused your passion for baking with computer programming by creating a baking blog where your shared not only your recipes, but also how you built your website.
2. A memorable moment or significant experience: Choose a specific moment that had a profound impact on your life, personal growth, or way of thinking. Instead of detailing a sports injury as a setback, for instance, a student might write about how they channeled their love for soccer into coaching younger kids and discovered a new love for mentorship.
3. Problem-solving: Write about a time when you encountered a problem and the creative or unexpected steps you took to overcome it. The situation could be anything from resolving a conflict among friends to coming up with a unique way to fundraise for a cause you believe in.
4. Developing your voice: Discuss a topic about which you've formulated a strong opinion or perspective and how you've expressed that voice, using specific actions and examples. For example, a student might write about becoming involved in environmental activism, regularly attending city council meetings, and using social media to raise awareness of local environmental issues.
5. Offbeat humor and quirkiness: Show your individuality by delving into your quirks or employing humor in your essay. You could write about your distinctive sense of style, a quirky talent, or a unique perspective on everyday things.
Remember that admissions officers read thousands of essays, so the key is to stand out by telling a story that's personal, unique to you, and engages the reader. Focus on moments that demonstrate growth or highlight your strengths, values, and passion. It might be helpful to start by jotting down a list of significant events, interests, or experiences in your life and then reflect on which ones best represent you and your aspirations.
Good luck with your essay writing!
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