What should I write about for my college English essay?
I'm a rising senior and I keep hearing that the college essay is super important, especially the main one for the Common App. The thing is, I am struggling to figure out what would make a strong topic. I've started brainstorming, but everything either seems boring or like something colleges have read a million times already.
Last year in my English class, I wrote a personal narrative about learning to cook with my grandmother, and my teacher said it showed a lot of personal growth. But is that too cliché or is it okay if it's meaningful to me? How do I pick something that honestly reflects who I am but still stands out? Would it be better to choose a more "unique" topic even if it's less personal? I'm starting to feel stuck and would really appreciate advice from people who've already gone through this process or have some ideas about how to get started.
Last year in my English class, I wrote a personal narrative about learning to cook with my grandmother, and my teacher said it showed a lot of personal growth. But is that too cliché or is it okay if it's meaningful to me? How do I pick something that honestly reflects who I am but still stands out? Would it be better to choose a more "unique" topic even if it's less personal? I'm starting to feel stuck and would really appreciate advice from people who've already gone through this process or have some ideas about how to get started.
4 months ago
•
9 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Feeling stuck when you’re trying to choose a topic is normal—almost everyone applying to college goes through this stage. The most effective option for your college essay is to write about something that's deeply personal and meaningful to you, even if the broad topic doesn’t sound unique at first. What actually helps you stand out is your specific voice and perspective, not just having an unusual activity or experience.
Your essay about learning to cook with your grandmother could absolutely work, even though "family traditions" or "cooking with a grandparent" might sound common. The key is to dig deeper and find the specific moments, emotions, or lessons that were pivotal for you. For example: Was there a particular recipe you struggled with for weeks until you got it right? Did a misunderstanding in the kitchen lead to a meaningful conversation about your family’s history, your identity, or a challenge you faced outside of cooking? Did your experience inspire you to cook for others or lead to a newfound independence?
What makes your story original is the personal insight you share—how the experience shaped who you are now, your values, and maybe even how you see your future. For instance, maybe after cooking with your grandmother, you started experimenting with your own recipes and signed up to lead a community cooking class or organized a neighborhood potluck to bring together people from different backgrounds. Sharing that next step (especially one that reveals your initiative, compassion, or leadership) really sets a narrative apart.
If you try picking a "unique" topic that doesn't actually carry much weight for you, it can end up falling flat because real passion and reflection are hard to fake. Colleges want to get to know the real you through your writing, so authentic stories—even about seemingly ordinary subjects—tend to resonate much more than trying to force a quirky topic without substance.
A good way to get started is to jot down a few key memories that have stuck with you, even if they seem small. Think about moments where you learned something new about yourself, took a risk, faced a conflict, or even just experienced a strong emotion. Usually, great essays come from these kinds of memories. Revisit the cooking essay you wrote last year: Can you zoom in on a single event or turning point within that experience? Can you include dialogue, setting, or a specific detail to draw the reader in?
Ultimately, choose a topic that matters to you and use vivid storytelling and personal reflection. That combination is what truly makes an essay stand out.
Your essay about learning to cook with your grandmother could absolutely work, even though "family traditions" or "cooking with a grandparent" might sound common. The key is to dig deeper and find the specific moments, emotions, or lessons that were pivotal for you. For example: Was there a particular recipe you struggled with for weeks until you got it right? Did a misunderstanding in the kitchen lead to a meaningful conversation about your family’s history, your identity, or a challenge you faced outside of cooking? Did your experience inspire you to cook for others or lead to a newfound independence?
What makes your story original is the personal insight you share—how the experience shaped who you are now, your values, and maybe even how you see your future. For instance, maybe after cooking with your grandmother, you started experimenting with your own recipes and signed up to lead a community cooking class or organized a neighborhood potluck to bring together people from different backgrounds. Sharing that next step (especially one that reveals your initiative, compassion, or leadership) really sets a narrative apart.
If you try picking a "unique" topic that doesn't actually carry much weight for you, it can end up falling flat because real passion and reflection are hard to fake. Colleges want to get to know the real you through your writing, so authentic stories—even about seemingly ordinary subjects—tend to resonate much more than trying to force a quirky topic without substance.
A good way to get started is to jot down a few key memories that have stuck with you, even if they seem small. Think about moments where you learned something new about yourself, took a risk, faced a conflict, or even just experienced a strong emotion. Usually, great essays come from these kinds of memories. Revisit the cooking essay you wrote last year: Can you zoom in on a single event or turning point within that experience? Can you include dialogue, setting, or a specific detail to draw the reader in?
Ultimately, choose a topic that matters to you and use vivid storytelling and personal reflection. That combination is what truly makes an essay stand out.
Related Questions
Students also ask…
Which colleges still require the SAT essay for admissions?
Who actually reads our college application essays and how are they evaluated?
Can anyone share strong examples of 'Why are you interested in this college?' essays?
Can someone show a sample 'Why are you interested in this college?' essay?
How should I approach the 'Why do I want to go to college?' essay prompt?
Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)