Can anyone share their 'Why I Want to Go to College' essay examples?

It’s totally normal to feel stuck on this prompt—so many students end up with essays that just list practical reasons or end up sounding like facts from the college’s website. The best 'Why I Want to Go to College' essays usually balance your academic interests and personal motivations, but they share something personal, specific, or even surprising about you.

Here’s a snippet from an example essay that avoids the usual clichés:

"When quarantine hit, I started recording interviews with my grandmother about her childhood in southern China. Documenting her stories sparked more questions than answers, and I realized how much I craved a space where curiosity is encouraged, not dismissed. College, for me, is that space—a place where I can wrestle with complicated family histories in Asian American Studies courses and learn to document stories, not just collect them. I want to enter conversations that change my perspectives, not just fill my head with facts."

Notice how this example gets personal right away, connects the writer’s interests and family experience to specific things they want from college, and avoids any vague language about 'bettering oneself' or 'preparing for the real world.' The best essays usually:

- Dig deep into a unique experience or passion (even a weird hobby or a challenge—just make it yours!).
- Mention specific ways college will help you grow, whether that’s joining research projects, sharing cultures, or even learning what you don’t want to do.
- Show both your academic and personal side. For example, maybe you want to study psychology because you noticed your little brother struggling to adjust to a new school, and it made you want to understand how people adapt to change.

If you’re stuck, brainstorm by finishing sentences like: 'I'm most curious about...', 'I keep coming back to...', or 'I want to go to college because no one else in my family has...' The key is to write something only you could write.

Ultimately, balance matters, but don’t overthink it—college is about learning, but also about growing as a person. If you want your essay to stand out, make sure it’s both specific to you and rooted in a real story or motivation. If you’d like feedback on a draft or a brainstormed idea, feel free to share!