Does anyone have tips for writing the 'Costco essay' for college applications?

The 'Costco essay' refers to a now-famous college application essay where the writer reflected on her love for Costco and used it as a creative lens to highlight her intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, and love for discovery. What set that essay apart was not just the quirky topic, but how the author used an everyday experience as a launching pad to reveal deep aspects of her personality and perspective.

What made the essay memorable was its specificity and voice. Instead of listing accomplishments, the author described vivid scenes—sampling food in Costco aisles, being fascinated by the variety of products, and connecting those experiences to her growth as a learner and observer of the world. This showed admissions officers her uniqueness without feeling forced.

Colleges actually appreciate essays with unique perspectives, as long as they reflect who you are and avoid gimmicks. The best 'quirky' essays make the ordinary extraordinary by finding meaning and insight in everyday moments. If you’re drawn to writing about a store, routine, or habit, focus on the personal connection and how it shaped your thinking or values. For example, if you love the local library, show how getting lost in different book aisles influenced your curiosity, patience, or community engagement. Use sensory details, humor, or unexpected connections to keep your reader interested, but ground the essay in self-reflection.

However, common pitfalls with this kind of topic include being too superficial (just listing observations without showing growth), forcing a metaphor, or coming across as trying too hard to be clever. Make sure your writing is authentic—that is, it sounds like you, not just someone trying to mimic a viral style.

If you choose an everyday topic, ask yourself: What does this say about me? Can I show a clear change, insight, or a new way of seeing the world? And can I capture something others might overlook? Ultimately, whether your topic is Costco, chess, or cooking dinner for your family, the most important thing is how you tell your story—and how it reveals you, not just what you do.