How do you write an effective conclusion for a college essay?

Many students struggle with college essay conclusions, so you’re not alone. A strong conclusion doesn’t have to recap your entire essay—instead, think of it as your last chance to leave the reader with a memorable takeaway. There are a few approaches you can use:

You could loop back to your introduction. If you opened with a specific moment, question, or image, refer to it again at the end, but with a new perspective. For example, if you started your essay with a childhood memory of building a birdhouse but then wrote about learning perseverance through challenges, your conclusion might reflect on how that early curiosity now shapes your approach to new problems as you look ahead to college.

Another option is to look ahead—but focus on how your past experience prepares you for the future, rather than just stating what you hope to achieve. For instance, after describing how you overcame shyness through theater, you might close with a line like, “Stepping onto center stage once terrified me; now, I’m ready to keep claiming new stages, wherever they appear.”

Try to avoid generic statements like, “This has made me who I am today,” or simply rehashing your major points. Instead, aim for a sentence or two that shows growth or readiness. One approach is to end with an image or idea that sticks with the reader—something uniquely you. For example, a student who wrote about their work in a bakery ended their essay: “My hands now know not only how to braid challah but how to weave together community—dough and people, both better with patience.”

It helps to draft a few different endings, then ask someone you trust which feels most authentic and memorable. Ultimately, your conclusion should provide closure, but also a glimpse forward—leave your reader feeling like the story continues, and they want to be part of your next chapter.