What are some unique and interesting topics for college application essays?

Finding a unique topic for your college essay can feel daunting, but there are so many creative directions if you dig into the specifics of your own experiences and personality. The best essays often come from moments or interests that seem small or random, but reveal something meaningful about who you are.

One approach is to focus on a single, unexpected moment or passion rather than trying to capture your entire personality or resume. For example, a student once wrote about their fascination with the design of cereal boxes at breakfast, which led to a discussion of their interest in marketing and subtle messaging in everyday life. Another person wrote about how their ritual of fixing old watches with their grandparent taught them patience and attention to detail, connecting it to their future aspirations in engineering.

To find your own topic, try listing quirky habits, minor obsessions, or times you've responded to an unusual situation. Maybe you have a tradition with a family member, like building elaborate gingerbread houses each winter, and what that ritual has come to mean for you. Or perhaps you've had a moment of growth in an unexpected place, like learning empathy while volunteering at an animal shelter and handling scared or injured animals. The key is to choose a moment that only you could tell in the way you experienced it.

Another strategy is to take a common activity but focus on an extremely specific and personal angle. For example, instead of a general essay about the challenges of being on a debate team, write about a single round you lost and the unlikely friendship that came from it. Or if you have a passion that seems odd—like competitive yo-yoing, collecting old coins, or urban birdwatching—lean into that uniqueness and show what it reveals about your curiosity or determination.

Try this exercise: for a week, jot down small moments that made you think, laugh, or react unexpectedly. Reflect on what they say about you or your values. Sometimes the best ideas emerge from the everyday parts of life that others might overlook.

In the end, the most successful college essays are deeply personal. They showcase your voice and perspective, rather than striving to sound impressive. As an example, one student wrote about their love for cartography and maps, but the essay was really about their desire to find their place in the world. Think about what only you can share, and how your story can offer a window into your thinking and character. That’s what makes an essay memorable.