How do you brainstorm ideas for college essays?
I've been trying to start my college application essays but I feel completely stuck on coming up with good topics. I know it's important to pick something meaningful and unique, but every idea I come up with either seems cliché or unoriginal.
Has anyone found strategies or methods that really helped them brainstorm? I would love to hear about any exercises, prompts, or even random tricks that helped get past the blank page. Sharing any own experiences with what sparked your best ideas would be really appreciated too.
I'm hoping to get the brainstorming process moving instead of just staring at my laptop forever!
Has anyone found strategies or methods that really helped them brainstorm? I would love to hear about any exercises, prompts, or even random tricks that helped get past the blank page. Sharing any own experiences with what sparked your best ideas would be really appreciated too.
I'm hoping to get the brainstorming process moving instead of just staring at my laptop forever!
6 months ago
•
23 views
Roger Lopez
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Feeling stuck at the beginning of the essay process is more common than you think. The pressure to be unique can make everything feel overdone, but what really matters is finding a topic that is authentic to you—even a simple story can stand out if it's told in your voice and reveals your personality or growth.
Here are a few effective brainstorming strategies you might try:
1. The "Lists Method": Spend 10-15 minutes making lists for the following prompts:
- Five experiences you'll never forget (good, bad, big, or small)
- Five things only your closest friends or family know about you
- Five challenges or moments of change in your life
- Five things you're oddly passionate about (hobbies, habit, or quirks)
Looking back at your lists, circle anything that stirs up emotion—those are strong starting points.
2. "Snapshots": Pick a random day in your life (could be boring or exciting), and describe what you did from start to finish. Sometimes, your mundane daily routines can reveal what's important to you or interesting traits. For example, one applicant started a standout essay about their relationship with their elderly neighbor just by describing their after-school walk.
3. "Object Exercise": Choose a random object in your room. Ask yourself: What memories do you associate with it? Did it play a role in a pivotal moment of your life? For example, someone wrote a memorable essay about their collection of mismatched socks, using it as a lens to talk about embracing individuality and difference.
4. Freewriting: Set a timer for 10 minutes, pick a prompt (like "a challenge I've faced" or "an accomplishment I’m proud of"), and write without stopping—even if it feels rambling or random. You might find a kernel of an idea in your unfiltered thoughts.
One last tip—if an idea is cliché (like moving schools or winning a big game), focus in on a single moment or a unique angle within that theme. For example, instead of writing about moving, zoom in on the very first meal you ate in your new city, or how you decorated your new room. Details make your story your own.
Try a couple of these exercises and don't worry about making your ideas perfect yet. Just get words on the page and review them later to see what stands out! Sometimes the strongest essays come from moments in your life that felt small at the time.
Here are a few effective brainstorming strategies you might try:
1. The "Lists Method": Spend 10-15 minutes making lists for the following prompts:
- Five experiences you'll never forget (good, bad, big, or small)
- Five things only your closest friends or family know about you
- Five challenges or moments of change in your life
- Five things you're oddly passionate about (hobbies, habit, or quirks)
Looking back at your lists, circle anything that stirs up emotion—those are strong starting points.
2. "Snapshots": Pick a random day in your life (could be boring or exciting), and describe what you did from start to finish. Sometimes, your mundane daily routines can reveal what's important to you or interesting traits. For example, one applicant started a standout essay about their relationship with their elderly neighbor just by describing their after-school walk.
3. "Object Exercise": Choose a random object in your room. Ask yourself: What memories do you associate with it? Did it play a role in a pivotal moment of your life? For example, someone wrote a memorable essay about their collection of mismatched socks, using it as a lens to talk about embracing individuality and difference.
4. Freewriting: Set a timer for 10 minutes, pick a prompt (like "a challenge I've faced" or "an accomplishment I’m proud of"), and write without stopping—even if it feels rambling or random. You might find a kernel of an idea in your unfiltered thoughts.
One last tip—if an idea is cliché (like moving schools or winning a big game), focus in on a single moment or a unique angle within that theme. For example, instead of writing about moving, zoom in on the very first meal you ate in your new city, or how you decorated your new room. Details make your story your own.
Try a couple of these exercises and don't worry about making your ideas perfect yet. Just get words on the page and review them later to see what stands out! Sometimes the strongest essays come from moments in your life that felt small at the time.
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Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years