Can anyone share examples of strong 650-word college essays?

The 650-word Common App essay is definitely an intimidating format at first, but many students actually find it freeing once they see how much room they have to tell a nuanced, personal story. To help you visualize what a strong essay looks like at this length, it’s helpful to read both published essay examples and breakdowns of what makes them work.

Here are a few ideas and real-world examples:

1. "The Barbershop": A student wrote about learning to cut hair at home after the pandemic closed local barbershops. He connected cutting his little brother’s hair to stories from his family’s culture, lessons about patience and growth, and how these moments helped him build closer bonds at home and in his community. The essay used vivid scene-setting to hook the reader in, then zoomed out to reflect on personal growth — strong essays usually find a balance between narrative and reflection.

2. "The Grocery List": Another student chose a lighter (but deep) theme, chronicling what her family’s grocery list revealed about their values, traditions, and transition after immigrating. Each section of her essay used a particular grocery item as a launching point for mini-stories—like learning to cook her grandmother’s recipes, or the adventure of trying a new snack with friends.

3. "Lost in Translation": A student focused on a moment translating at the doctor’s office for her parents as the start of her journey feeling both empowered and isolated. She wove in anecdotes about language barriers and concluded by showing how these moments led her to start a mentorship program for multilingual students at school.

Some tips:
- Start with a "snapshot moment" or scene that pulls the reader in.
- Use 2-3 well-chosen examples or mini-stories instead of a full-life summary.
- Leave space for reflection, so the reader sees what changed in you.

For resources, Johns Hopkins and Tufts both publish real, successful essays online (check their admissions sites for sample essays). College essay books like "Essay Hell" or "On Writing the College Application Essay" also break down strong examples. Online forums sometimes have students sharing their full essays, but make sure to use them as inspiration, not templates.

Ultimately, choose a topic that can be explored in depth within a few anecdotes or a tight timeline. Singular experiences or moments of personal conflict/realization tend to be the most compelling, especially when you avoid big, overused topics like "the big game" or "my immigrant journey" unless your take is unique and specific. Remember: depth over breadth is key in a strong 650-word essay.