Is it okay to write my college essay about being bullied?

Writing about being bullied can absolutely work as a college essay topic, especially if it genuinely shaped your character, values, or worldview. What’s important is *how* you approach it. Many applicants choose topics like bullying, loss, or overcoming adversity, so it’s crucial to ensure your essay isn’t just a recounting of painful events but a story of growth and agency.

To stand out, focus on a specific, powerful moment in your story—maybe the first time you realized things had to change, or a turning point where you responded or found support in an unexpected place. Then, spend most of your essay on your reactions, the steps you took, and how this experience continues to influence you. Colleges want to see reflection, growth, and how you took what happened to you and did something positive with it.

For example, instead of a general essay about the pain of bullying, you might describe a moment when you helped a younger student who was also being bullied, or when you started an anti-bullying initiative at school. Maybe you found a creative outlet, like writing or art, as a means to heal, and that became a core part of your identity. Focusing on these concrete actions or new perspectives not only personalizes your story but also demonstrates the resilience and empathy you mentioned.

A student I worked with once wrote about being bullied for their accent after moving to a new city. The essay wasn't mainly about the bullying itself, but about how it led them to start a language exchange club, helping classmates get to know each other and build confidence. The positive, actionable result made the essay memorable and uplifting.

If you keep the focus on what you learned, how you changed, or the ways you now help others, your essay can highlight your strengths rather than just your hardships. Authenticity matters, so if this is your true story, it can absolutely make a strong impression—just be sure to move beyond the negative and end with hope and agency.