Where can I find good college essay examples to help me get started?

It makes sense to want to see real examples before you start writing—seeing what works is one of the best ways to get inspired and understand what colleges are looking for.

For published sources, there are a couple of well-known books that compile real, successful college essays along with admissions commentary. Collections like '50 Successful Harvard Application Essays' and 'College Essays That Made a Difference' (by The Princeton Review) both include essays from students who got into top schools, sometimes with notes on why the essay was effective.

Online, several university admissions sites post strong essays (sometimes anonymized), and you can find additional examples through college counseling organizations and professional admissions advisors who blog about essays. Johns Hopkins, for example, has a dedicated page called 'Essays That Worked' with real examples and brief notes on what admissions officers appreciated about them. Tufts University does this too. These sites will give you a direct look at essays that caught the eyes of actual admissions committees.

Reddit’s ApplyingToCollege community sometimes shares essays in their 'Sample Essays' section, though the quality can vary, and you should be careful not to copy ideas directly. Essays posted by organizations (not anonymous forums) are more likely to be of consistently high quality and confirm that the writer was actually accepted.

When reviewing examples, pay special attention to essays that focus on very specific moments or surprising experiences, especially those that reveal personality or growth. For instance, instead of a general essay about 'overcoming challenges' in high school, a memorable sample essay might describe building a Rube Goldberg machine with a sibling and reflect on what that taught the writer about collaboration and resilience (rather than just the mechanics of the project).

Try to read a variety of styles—some essays are quiet and introspective, others are funny or quirky. Seeing diverse voices can help you find your own approach. Once you've reviewed a handful, you’ll start to see that the best essays usually hone in on a small, personal topic or moment and use it to reveal something deeper about the writer.

Finally, remember that examples are guides, not templates. Use them to get inspired, but make your story and your style come through. Good luck as you get started!