What are some ways I can make my college essay stand out as unique?

It's totally normal to worry about making your essay stand out—almost everyone feels that way at some point! The truth is, you don't necessarily need a never-before-seen topic to write a unique essay. What matters most is the angle, your perspective, and the way you connect your experiences to who you are now.

Admissions officers read plenty of essays about common experiences like growing up bilingual, but what grabs their attention are the small, specific details and moments that only you can tell. For example, instead of making the essay about the fact that you speak two languages or navigate two cultures (which is common), find a single, vivid moment that captures how that experience shaped you in a personal way.

Let’s say you tie your story to a funny miscommunication at home that prompted you to invent a new family joke, or maybe you taught your younger sibling to read in both languages using a creative game you made up. By zeroing in on one scene, you avoid broad clichés and show, not just tell, how your background influences your daily life and values.

Another approach is to consider what 'secondary effects' your bilingualism has had. For instance, did having to translate for relatives make you skilled at improvising or resolving conflicts? Did it spark an interest in linguistics, theater, or even coding because you loved decoding and constructing meaning? Those concrete connections are more memorable than just stating, 'I grew up bilingual.'

Here’s an example: One student wrote their essay about keeping three different types of dictionaries under their pillow as a kid and how the 'dictionary pillow fort' became their safe haven for exploring big ideas, eventually leading them to fall in love with poetry.

So, even a familiar topic can stand out if you tell it through your unique lens—with specificity, sensory details, and a clear sense of reflection. If you’re struggling to start, try brainstorming 'mini-moments' instead of big themes: awkward family dinners, a translation gone wrong, or a holiday tradition that only makes sense in your household. Focus on how these moments shaped your perspective, values, or ambitions.

Ultimately, your honest voice and the little things only you notice will make the essay memorable. Don’t worry too much about finding the most unusual topic. Authenticity paired with detail is what stands out.