What’s the best way to outline a college essay?
I’m starting to brainstorm for my main Common App essay and I want to make sure I have a strong outline before I start writing drafts. I’ve never really outlined essays for English class in a detailed way—usually I just write a thesis and kind of wing it from there, but I know this essay is really important and the stakes are higher.
For people who’ve already started or have been through this process, do you have any tips or specific strategies for outlining a college essay? Should I be breaking it down into paragraphs or focusing more on the overall story arc? I feel kind of lost and I don’t want to just rant in a way that goes nowhere. Any advice appreciated!
For people who’ve already started or have been through this process, do you have any tips or specific strategies for outlining a college essay? Should I be breaking it down into paragraphs or focusing more on the overall story arc? I feel kind of lost and I don’t want to just rant in a way that goes nowhere. Any advice appreciated!
4 months ago
•
22 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Great question—outlining your college essay before jumping in is a really smart move. Unlike academic essays, college app essays are much more narrative and personal, so you want an outline that helps you tell a story and highlight how you've grown or what matters most to you.
Start by thinking about the story arc: what is the moment, theme, or experience you want to focus on, and how did you change because of it? Consider using the classic 'anecdote-reflection' structure, where you open with a vivid scene or experience, then dive into what it meant to you, and close by showing how you’ve changed or what you hope to do in the future.
Here's a simple outline that works for most Common App essays:
1. Hook/Opening Scene: Start with a strong image, a surprising statement, or jump right into an action or dialogue. (Example: "The smell of fried onions filled the kitchen as I nervously glanced at my mom, hoping the samosas would turn out better this time.")
2. Background/Context: Briefly give the reader any information they need to understand what’s going on. (Why does this moment matter? Why were you making those samosas?)
3. Rising Action/Challenge: What conflict, question, or challenge did you face after this opening? Build curiosity and tension.
4. Turning Point/Reflection: How did you respond or change your perspective because of this moment? What did you learn, realize, or overcome?
5. Resolution/Conclusion: Tie things up by showing how this experience has shaped your identity or future goals. (Maybe now you host a monthly cooking night at your local library, or you learned to embrace your heritage more fully.)
Some people find it useful to actually bullet out these sections, writing 1-2 sentences per section for what will happen there. You don’t have to rigidly stick to paragraph-by-paragraph planning—what matters more is making sure there’s a clear narrative thread and arc, and that each part has a purpose.
Try to focus on the 'so what': why does the story you chose matter to you, and how does it show colleges something unique? If you can articulate the change or insight at the core of your story, your outline is on the right track. Good luck—outlining now will make the drafting process much smoother!
Start by thinking about the story arc: what is the moment, theme, or experience you want to focus on, and how did you change because of it? Consider using the classic 'anecdote-reflection' structure, where you open with a vivid scene or experience, then dive into what it meant to you, and close by showing how you’ve changed or what you hope to do in the future.
Here's a simple outline that works for most Common App essays:
1. Hook/Opening Scene: Start with a strong image, a surprising statement, or jump right into an action or dialogue. (Example: "The smell of fried onions filled the kitchen as I nervously glanced at my mom, hoping the samosas would turn out better this time.")
2. Background/Context: Briefly give the reader any information they need to understand what’s going on. (Why does this moment matter? Why were you making those samosas?)
3. Rising Action/Challenge: What conflict, question, or challenge did you face after this opening? Build curiosity and tension.
4. Turning Point/Reflection: How did you respond or change your perspective because of this moment? What did you learn, realize, or overcome?
5. Resolution/Conclusion: Tie things up by showing how this experience has shaped your identity or future goals. (Maybe now you host a monthly cooking night at your local library, or you learned to embrace your heritage more fully.)
Some people find it useful to actually bullet out these sections, writing 1-2 sentences per section for what will happen there. You don’t have to rigidly stick to paragraph-by-paragraph planning—what matters more is making sure there’s a clear narrative thread and arc, and that each part has a purpose.
Try to focus on the 'so what': why does the story you chose matter to you, and how does it show colleges something unique? If you can articulate the change or insight at the core of your story, your outline is on the right track. Good luck—outlining now will make the drafting process much smoother!
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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