Can anyone share an example of a 'Introduce Yourself' college essay?

The 'Introduce Yourself' essay is a great opportunity to showcase your personality, interests, and voice to the admissions committee. You want to come across as genuine, memorable, and confident. The key is to avoid just listing activities or writing a chronological autobiography. Instead, pick specific details, moments, or quirks that reveal who you are.

Since you mentioned theater and environmental science, those could actually work really well, especially if you find a unique angle. For example, you could open with a scene from backstage, or describe a favorite line from a play that connects to your view of the world. Or maybe you can intertwine your passion for the environment and performing—you might talk about the 'roles' you play both on stage and in your community, using playful theater metaphors to introduce different sides of yourself.

Here’s a sample intro and structure to spark ideas:

"The first thing most people notice about me is the paint smudge on my jeans—green for stage grass, blue for climate graphs. I’m the kid who spends Saturday mornings learning my lines at the recycling center, and afternoons directing skits to convince my neighborhood to compost. Theater lets me step into other lives; environmental science is where I try to shape the future of our own. Whether I’m playing Lady Macbeth or leading a community cleanup, I find myself balancing scripts and soil, applause and action. If we ever meet in person, expect a handshake with glitter under the nails and a compost fact on the tip of my tongue."

This kind of approach is genuine, playful, and highlights your interests in a lively way. Notice how it uses vivid images and shows the reader your personality, rather than telling them.

Essays like this can definitely be a little quirky or lighthearted if that matches your authentic voice. Some students use humor, specific childhood stories, or surprising facts about themselves. Others get creative with structure—maybe writing their essay as a series of mini-scenes, a letter to their future roommate, or short paragraphs titled "Act One," "Act Two," etc.

Just remember: the goal is for a stranger to be able to read it and feel like they’ve met you. Try reading your draft out loud—if it sounds like you, you’re on the right track! Good luck, and don’t be afraid to lean into your unique combination of interests.