Do college essays have to stick to just one topic, or can they cover multiple ideas?
I'm working on my Common App essay and I keep hearing advice that says to focus on a "single topic" and go deep, not broad. But my experiences kind of connect in weird ways, and it's hard to just pick one thing. For example, the story I want to tell kind of ties together my love of painting and also volunteering at the animal shelter.
Is it okay if my essay sort of moves between these things as long as they're connected by a theme (like learning to be patient)? Or would that look scattered to admissions officers? I'm stressed about doing it "right" because I really want my essay to stand out, but it feels limiting to only talk about one moment or activity. Anyone else in the same boat, or have advice for making a multi-part essay work?
Is it okay if my essay sort of moves between these things as long as they're connected by a theme (like learning to be patient)? Or would that look scattered to admissions officers? I'm stressed about doing it "right" because I really want my essay to stand out, but it feels limiting to only talk about one moment or activity. Anyone else in the same boat, or have advice for making a multi-part essay work?
5 months ago
•
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Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
It's completely normal to feel boxed in by the advice to "pick one topic"—plenty of students wrestle with this. The intention behind that advice is to help you avoid a surface-level essay that's just a summary of activities, rather than a story that reveals who you are. But it doesn't mean you can't weave together different experiences, especially if they connect to one strong central theme, like the patience you mentioned.
The key is coherence. If your love for painting and volunteering at the animal shelter both taught you how to be patient, you can absolutely craft an essay that explores both. What matters is showing readers how these experiences intersect or influence each other in your life. For example, maybe waiting hours for the perfect brushstroke taught you to appreciate quiet moments, which made you more attentive and effective when caring for timid rescue animals.
One common and effective structure for a "multi-part" essay is the montage. In a montage, you organize the essay around a theme or quality, using a few different moments or anecdotes to illustrate it. Think of each moment as another way you learned or practiced patience. This approach can feel dynamic and personal—if each part serves your main idea and the transitions are clear.
Where multi-topic essays go wrong is when they just list unrelated events, which makes it harder for admissions officers to see growth, depth, or a memorable through-line. So, as you write, keep asking yourself: are these experiences truly connected by my theme? Does each paragraph build on or contrast with the others in an interesting way? Am I reflecting clearly on what I learned from each?
For example, a student once wrote an essay connecting baking bread, running cross-country, and learning a new language—all tied together by her growing appreciation for the process of slow improvement. The essay worked because it circled back to her theme, and each story deepened our understanding of that trait.
Ending on a note that ties everything neatly together helps avoid a scattered feel. If you do that, you'll not only stand out—you'll have written an essay that's personal and meaningful to you.
The key is coherence. If your love for painting and volunteering at the animal shelter both taught you how to be patient, you can absolutely craft an essay that explores both. What matters is showing readers how these experiences intersect or influence each other in your life. For example, maybe waiting hours for the perfect brushstroke taught you to appreciate quiet moments, which made you more attentive and effective when caring for timid rescue animals.
One common and effective structure for a "multi-part" essay is the montage. In a montage, you organize the essay around a theme or quality, using a few different moments or anecdotes to illustrate it. Think of each moment as another way you learned or practiced patience. This approach can feel dynamic and personal—if each part serves your main idea and the transitions are clear.
Where multi-topic essays go wrong is when they just list unrelated events, which makes it harder for admissions officers to see growth, depth, or a memorable through-line. So, as you write, keep asking yourself: are these experiences truly connected by my theme? Does each paragraph build on or contrast with the others in an interesting way? Am I reflecting clearly on what I learned from each?
For example, a student once wrote an essay connecting baking bread, running cross-country, and learning a new language—all tied together by her growing appreciation for the process of slow improvement. The essay worked because it circled back to her theme, and each story deepened our understanding of that trait.
Ending on a note that ties everything neatly together helps avoid a scattered feel. If you do that, you'll not only stand out—you'll have written an essay that's personal and meaningful to you.
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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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