Is it okay to include quotes in your college essay?
I’ve seen some advice online saying you shouldn’t use quotes in your personal statement, and others say it can be powerful if you do it right. I’ve got a quote from my favorite book that really shaped how I think, and I wanted to use it in the intro of my Common App essay. But now I’m worried that’ll sound cliché or take up space I could use for my own words.
Do admissions officers look down on using quotes? Is there a right and wrong way to do this? I don’t want to start my college essay with something that might hurt my application. Has anyone done this and felt like it worked, or should I just leave it out completely? I’d really appreciate any advice!
Do admissions officers look down on using quotes? Is there a right and wrong way to do this? I don’t want to start my college essay with something that might hurt my application. Has anyone done this and felt like it worked, or should I just leave it out completely? I’d really appreciate any advice!
5 months ago
•
59 views
Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
The main reason people warn against starting with a quote is because the admissions team wants to hear your voice, not someone else’s. Plus, opening your essay with a generic or overused quote (like something from Shakespeare or Dr. Seuss) can feel impersonal and sometimes even cliché.
That said, there’s no strict rule against using a quote if you handle it thoughtfully. The key is relevance and originality. If a quote from your favorite book truly shaped your perspective and ties directly into the story you want to tell, it can be effective. For example, a student once started her essay with a brief line from a poem that her grandmother would recite to her. The quote was unique, personal, and directly connected to a family tradition—she then used it as a jumping-off point for her own narrative.
Here are some tips to help you decide:
- Make sure the quote is meaningful to you personally, not just something that sounds impressive.
- Don’t let the quote overshadow your own voice. If you include one, tie it directly to your story within the first few lines.
- Avoid starting with quotes that are considered clichés (like Michelle Obama’s “When they go low, we go high,” or Albus Dumbledore’s advice), unless you can offer a very unusual perspective on them.
- Be concise—don’t spend more than a sentence or two on the quote itself, and quickly transition into your own thoughts and experiences.
If you’re worried that the quote might take up valuable space, you might consider referencing it later in the essay, or paraphrasing instead. The ultimate goal is to keep the focus on you and your growth.
If you’re still unsure, try writing a draft with the quote as your opener and another version without it. Compare which one feels more authentic to your story. Often, ninety percent of your essay should be in your voice, with a quote working best as a thread that ties your narrative together—not the centerpiece.
So yes, quotes can work, but only when they’re personal, specific, and tightly connected to your unique journey.
That said, there’s no strict rule against using a quote if you handle it thoughtfully. The key is relevance and originality. If a quote from your favorite book truly shaped your perspective and ties directly into the story you want to tell, it can be effective. For example, a student once started her essay with a brief line from a poem that her grandmother would recite to her. The quote was unique, personal, and directly connected to a family tradition—she then used it as a jumping-off point for her own narrative.
Here are some tips to help you decide:
- Make sure the quote is meaningful to you personally, not just something that sounds impressive.
- Don’t let the quote overshadow your own voice. If you include one, tie it directly to your story within the first few lines.
- Avoid starting with quotes that are considered clichés (like Michelle Obama’s “When they go low, we go high,” or Albus Dumbledore’s advice), unless you can offer a very unusual perspective on them.
- Be concise—don’t spend more than a sentence or two on the quote itself, and quickly transition into your own thoughts and experiences.
If you’re worried that the quote might take up valuable space, you might consider referencing it later in the essay, or paraphrasing instead. The ultimate goal is to keep the focus on you and your growth.
If you’re still unsure, try writing a draft with the quote as your opener and another version without it. Compare which one feels more authentic to your story. Often, ninety percent of your essay should be in your voice, with a quote working best as a thread that ties your narrative together—not the centerpiece.
So yes, quotes can work, but only when they’re personal, specific, and tightly connected to your unique journey.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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