What are the best college essays ever written and what makes them stand out?
Just starting my college applications and I keep reading about how important essays are. I know there are some famous examples out there of really outstanding college essays, but I’m curious about what actually sets them apart from the thousands of others.
Does anyone have links or titles to essays that are widely considered the best, or at least super memorable? If you’ve read examples (either published or from your friends), what made you remember them? Was it humor, vulnerability, a unique story, or something else entirely?
I’d love to analyze a few of the best ones for inspiration, so if you have any specific recommendations, I’d really appreciate it. Any personal tips on what makes an essay go from good to great would also be great to hear!
Does anyone have links or titles to essays that are widely considered the best, or at least super memorable? If you’ve read examples (either published or from your friends), what made you remember them? Was it humor, vulnerability, a unique story, or something else entirely?
I’d love to analyze a few of the best ones for inspiration, so if you have any specific recommendations, I’d really appreciate it. Any personal tips on what makes an essay go from good to great would also be great to hear!
4 months ago
•
29 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Some of the most memorable college essays aren’t necessarily written by famous people but have stuck with admissions officers because of how personal, surprising, or authentic they felt. You’ll occasionally see a few examples highlighted in media outlets or by admissions blogs—one that regularly gets mentioned is the essay from a student applying to Stanford who wrote ‘#BlackLivesMatter’ 100 times (though unorthodox, the bold repetition made a statement about his values and willingness to take risks).
Another widely shared example is the ‘Laundry’ essay, where a student describes doing laundry as a metaphor for independence and personal growth. There’s also the essay where the writer talks about loving Trader Joe’s, weaving in their personality and cultural observations, or the classic ‘How to make a PB&J sandwich’ essay, using humor and step-by-step storytelling to reveal the writer’s mind.
What makes these essays stand out isn’t just cleverness or humor. The best ones often:
1. Reveal something unexpected that’s still authentic. For instance, someone wrote about their love of Costco, not just describing the store but using it as a lens to explore their broader worldview and family relationships.
2. Show vulnerability or a unique voice—readers feel as if they’re truly meeting the person, not just the applicant.
3. Focus on a moment or a specific detail (like folding fitted sheets or dancing in the kitchen with family) and zoom out to show why it matters in their life.
If you’re analyzing essays, look for:
- A clear sense of the applicant’s personality
- A memorable opening (sometimes surprising, often engaging)
- Specific stories or moments, not just lists of achievements
- Reflections that tie small experiences to bigger ideas or values
When writing your own, start with something real, even mundane—then dig into why it matters to you. Humor helps, but sincerity is more important. An essay doesn’t need to be life-altering or dramatic; sometimes everyday moments, told honestly and insightfully, are the most powerful.
One tip for going from good to great: always ask yourself, ‘Could someone else have written this?’ If the answer is yes, dive deeper and add more of your personal perspective or details. For more essay inspiration, you can check out examples on university websites like Johns Hopkins’ "Essays That Worked" page, which features real essays and commentary from admissions officers.
Another widely shared example is the ‘Laundry’ essay, where a student describes doing laundry as a metaphor for independence and personal growth. There’s also the essay where the writer talks about loving Trader Joe’s, weaving in their personality and cultural observations, or the classic ‘How to make a PB&J sandwich’ essay, using humor and step-by-step storytelling to reveal the writer’s mind.
What makes these essays stand out isn’t just cleverness or humor. The best ones often:
1. Reveal something unexpected that’s still authentic. For instance, someone wrote about their love of Costco, not just describing the store but using it as a lens to explore their broader worldview and family relationships.
2. Show vulnerability or a unique voice—readers feel as if they’re truly meeting the person, not just the applicant.
3. Focus on a moment or a specific detail (like folding fitted sheets or dancing in the kitchen with family) and zoom out to show why it matters in their life.
If you’re analyzing essays, look for:
- A clear sense of the applicant’s personality
- A memorable opening (sometimes surprising, often engaging)
- Specific stories or moments, not just lists of achievements
- Reflections that tie small experiences to bigger ideas or values
When writing your own, start with something real, even mundane—then dig into why it matters to you. Humor helps, but sincerity is more important. An essay doesn’t need to be life-altering or dramatic; sometimes everyday moments, told honestly and insightfully, are the most powerful.
One tip for going from good to great: always ask yourself, ‘Could someone else have written this?’ If the answer is yes, dive deeper and add more of your personal perspective or details. For more essay inspiration, you can check out examples on university websites like Johns Hopkins’ "Essays That Worked" page, which features real essays and commentary from admissions officers.
Related Questions
Students also ask…
Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)