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Common App Essay: Need topic inspiration!

Hey guys! I'm a junior planning ahead for my college applications and I need help brainstorming for my Common App essay. What are some good topics to choose from? Maybe some popular ones that others have had success with?

a year ago

Hi! It's great that you're starting to think about your college application essays early. While it's good to consider popular topics that have worked for others, it's crucial to focus on finding a topic that is personal and meaningful to you. Remember, the purpose of the essay is for colleges to learn more about you, your experiences, and your personality.

Here are some broad themes that might inspire you:

1. Personal growth: Reflect on an experience that challenged you and how you grew from it. This could be a project you took on, a leadership role, or a personal challenge you overcame.

2. Relationships: Write about a significant person in your life, the relationship you have, and how that person has influenced you. This could be a family member, friend, or even a mentor/coach.

3. Passions/interests: Share a passion or interest that defines you or has shaped your life. Write about how you became interested in the subject, and explain why it's important to you.

4. A unique perspective: Describe a situation that you approached differently from others due to your background or experiences, and how that perspective contributed to a positive outcome.

5. A meaningful experience: Share a moment that had a significant impact on your life, beliefs, or values. This could be a moment of failure, adversity, or success.

When brainstorming, focus on experiences or topics that are unique and personal to you. Write about something that genuinely interests you and conveys your personality, values, and aspirations.

While there may be some cliché topics (for example, sports victories, adjusting to a new school, an immigrant's story), you can still write about these if you're able to offer a fresh, unique approach. Dive deeper into the topic, focus on your individual contribution, and perhaps emphasize a single moment or action that encapsulates your experience.

To learn more about the Common App essays, read this blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/

Ultimately, the key is to choose a topic that reflects who you are, what's important to you, and helps colleges understand the unique qualities you would bring to their campus community. Good luck, and happy writing!

a year ago

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