Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Important Topics to Discuss in College Essays

What's up, guys? I've been brainstorming my college essay and can't seem to decide on an important topic to discuss. What are some common themes or personal experiences that you guys think would make a compelling college essay and help me stand out?

6 months ago

Hey there! When it comes to selecting a topic for your college essay, it's essential to showcase your personality, values, and experiences that have shaped you. While I can't give a specific topic that would suit you, I can give you some pointers to help you brainstorm a unique and engaging essay topic.

1. Personal growth: Write about an experience or moment that prompted personal growth, self-awareness, or taught you a valuable life lesson. This could be anything from overcoming a personal challenge, learning from a failure, or developing a new skill.

2. Passion or interest: Focus on something that genuinely excites you, either a hobby, an academic field, or a community involvement. Discuss how this interest has influenced your life and how you plan to incorporate it into your college experience.

3. Unique background or perspective: If you have a diverse or underrepresented background, share your story, and emphasize the impact it's had on your life. Colleges appreciate diverse perspectives, so using your essay to demonstrate how you'll bring a unique viewpoint to their campus can be compelling.

4. A specific moment or experience: Choose a particular event or experience that had a significant impact on you. By concentrating on one moment, you can dive deep into your emotions, thoughts, and reactions, making it a compelling read.

Remember, the key to a great essay is authenticity, so choose a topic that genuinely resonates with you. AVOID cliché topics such as sports victories, moving schools, or trite accounts of personal struggles. Focus on showing your genuine self and how your experiences have shaped you as a person. Use your personal voice and go into detail to make your essay captivating and unique.

Good luck brainstorming! You'll find a topic that will showcase your personality and make you stand out.

6 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.