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What Should I Write About?
So you know which schools you’re interested in, and you’ve
looked over the applications and read all the essay questions. Chances
are you’re wondering, “What in the world should I write about?” You’re
not alone. In fact, it is safe to assume that everybody who has
ever had to write an essay for a college application has asked that
very question. Unfortunately, the applications don’t give you much
guidance. Most of the essay questions are so open-ended that you
can write about virtually anything. Since this essay might be the
most significant writing you’ve ever done, the freedom to choose
a topic can be paralyzing.
Although picking a topic will seem daunting at first,
it’s not impossible. The key is to narrow your focus and write about
something close to your heart. If you follow this plan, you’ll create
a lively essay that shows the admissions committee your intelligence
and personality. But finding a great topic is not something you
can do in five minutes. It will take a little work.
Essay Questions from the 2005 Common Application
- Evaluate a significant experience, achievement,
risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact
on you.
- Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international
concern and its importance to you.
- Indicate a person who has had a significant influence
on you, and describe that influence.
- Describe a character in fiction, an historical figure,
or creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had
an influence on you and explain that influence.
- A range of academic interests, personal perspectives,
and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your
personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what
you would bring to the diversity in the college community, or an
encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
- Topic of your choice.
Not-So-Common Essay Questions
- According to astronomer Carl Sagan, “Somewhere,
something incredible is waiting to be known.” What unknown would
you like to see revealed in your lifetime? Why is this of personal
importance? (Northwestern University)
- In The Moviegoer, a novel by Carolina
alumnus Walker Percy, the narrator observes: “The search is what
anyone would undertake if he were not stuck in the everydayness
of his own life. . . . To become aware of the possibility of the
search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be
in despair.” Are you “onto something” now? If so, what is that something,
and why is it important to you? (University of North Carolina)
- On Mars, the latest TV fad among the native lifeforms
is Trading Bodies. You're picked to play. Whose body would you inhabit
and why? (University of Virginia)
- Have you witnessed a person who is close to you doing
something that you considered seriously wrong? Describe the circumstances,
your thoughts, and how you chose to respond. If you discussed it
with the person, was his/her justification valid? In retrospect,
what, if anything, would you have done differently and why? (Duke
University)
- Do you believe there’s a generation gap? Describe the
differences between your generation and others. (Denison University)
- What is your academic passion? (Wake Forest University)
Prewriting: Think, Think, Think
Early on—say, four or five months before applications
are due—start thinking about possible topics. Go about your normal
routine, but tuck the topic question in the back of your mind. Note what
you’re interested in and appreciate in this world. Carry a notebook
to jot down thoughts. Give it time, and chances are you’ll come
up with some good stuff.
If, on the other hand, you wait until the night before
the application deadline to choose your topic, you’ll find yourself
staring at your computer screen in a cold sweat, frantically wondering whether
you should write about your love of the rainforest, that time you
stole second base in junior high, or maybe, um, what your bedroom
décor says about you. If you wait until the last minute, it’s highly
unlikely that your essay will be a thing of beauty and interest.
Choosing an essay topic takes time. Brainstorming
Brainstorming is the process of getting your ideas and
thoughts down on paper. Brainstorming doesn’t have to be logical
or tidy—you can scribble down (or type) ideas in any way that makes sense
to you. And don’t worry about editing as you brainstorm. No one
is going to see this part of the process except you, so let the
good ideas and the not-so-good ideas flow freely.
When you’re brainstorming ideas for your college application
essay, let your mind wander. Think about issues that matter to you;
important moments in your life; high school experiences that stand
out in your mind; and places and people that left an impression
on you. Jot down emotions you often experience, verbs that mean
something to you, and smells that bring back strong memories. Don’t
limit yourself to happy experiences: Not all good stories are happy
stories. Maybe one of your keenest memories is sitting and crying
on the steps outside the school auditorium after you found out you
didn’t make the varsity team. If a moment was meaningful and you
can write with your emotions, your reader will feel connected to
your story. The goal is to mine your life for a subject that will
pour out instead of trickle.
People brainstorm using different methods. Below, you’ll
find explanations of several different methods. Maybe one method
will do the trick for you, or maybe you’ll find a combination of methods
works best.
Make a List
Many people prefer to use the straightforward list-making
approach as a starting point. To use this method, simply jot down
possible essay topics. After you have a long list, go back and pick
out the most promising ideas.
To get the ball rolling on your topic
search, write down responses to the following:
- The 10 coolest places you’ve visited
- Your 10 most memorable high school experiences
- The 5 most difficult moments in your life
- The 5 most exciting moments
- The 3 most awkward moments
- Your 5 best accomplishments
- The top 5 words your parents, friends, or teachers would
use to describe you
- The 5 most important influences on your life
- Your 5 favorite books
- Your 10 favorite activities
Connect the Words
If you think visually, you might want to brainstorm by
writing a word or phrase in the middle of a blank piece of paper.
Spend ten minutes looking at this word or phrase and writing down
everything that comes to mind all over the page. Stop when your
ideas stop flowing. Then circle or draw lines between ideas that
are connected. Do this again with a new sheet of paper with a new
word or with a word from your first list. Repeat as necessary. Draw a Timeline
Here’s another visual brainstorming method: write a timeline
of your life. Then go back and underline or highlight the high and
low points. Also, note any other epiphanies or pivotal moments.
Don’t worry if no single experience changed your life; that’s not
usually how it works anyway. You can write a thoughtful essay about
a change that happened over time, focusing on a particular incident
to illustrate your point. Tell a Story from Your Life
Pick a word that describes you and write it or type it
at the top of a piece of paper. Then write down the title of five
stories about yourself that you could tell to illustrate that word.
Pick the title you like the most and write that at the top of a
new piece of paper. List all the details you might include in that
story. Imagine the smells, sights, and sounds that set the scene.
Push yourself to come up with all possible details (you can always
eliminate some later). Don’t stop until you have exhausted all possibilities. Free-Write
Some writers call free-writing “the mind dump,” because
it means dumping everything that comes into your head onto a piece
of paper. To free-write, start with a vague idea, like why your favorite
subject is French. For a period of ten or fifteen minutes, write
down everything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about grammar, style,
or making sense. Just keep writing. If you have nothing to say,
just write I have nothing to say over and over again until something
else pops in your head. When the ten or fifteen minutes are up,
take a break and then go back and reread your words. Underline or
highlight everything that is interesting or promising. Free-write
as much as you can until you have a good crop of ideas. |
