How do you come up with a unique angle for a college prompt essay?
I'm struggling to find a way to make my college essay stand out, especially for those pretty broad prompts that lots of schools use. When they ask about overcoming obstacles or what motivates you, it feels like everyone's kind of writing the same story.
Has anyone figured out a good method for brainstorming ideas that are actually original, or at least presented in a unique voice? I keep circling through the same topics over and over—things like test stress or dealing with Covid disruptions—and I can’t tell if that’s just because that’s what’s on my mind, or if I’m not thinking outside the box enough. Any advice on how to approach the prompt to make the essay feel more personal?
If anyone has tips on how they started drafting or choosing an angle that really reflects who they are, I’d appreciate it. I just want to avoid sounding like everyone else but it’s pretty hard with such general prompts.
Has anyone figured out a good method for brainstorming ideas that are actually original, or at least presented in a unique voice? I keep circling through the same topics over and over—things like test stress or dealing with Covid disruptions—and I can’t tell if that’s just because that’s what’s on my mind, or if I’m not thinking outside the box enough. Any advice on how to approach the prompt to make the essay feel more personal?
If anyone has tips on how they started drafting or choosing an angle that really reflects who they are, I’d appreciate it. I just want to avoid sounding like everyone else but it’s pretty hard with such general prompts.
7 months ago
•
64 views
Lydia Schooler
• 7 months ago
Advisor
Finding a unique angle for those broad college essay prompts is definitely a challenge, but there are ways to dig deeper into your experiences so your story feels distinctly yours. First off, remember: the actual event doesn’t have to be totally unheard of, but your perspective, thought process, and what you did with the experience are what make it original.
Start with lists, not paragraphs. For example, write down 10 moments (big or small) from your life that triggered a specific emotion—frustration, surprise, awe, embarrassment, joy, etc. Don't filter yourself to only the biggest or "most impressive" events. Sometimes the tiny, weird, or funny moments reveal more personality. For instance, someone once wrote about a malfunctioning alarm clock, which led to a reflection on controlling the uncontrollable. It doesn’t matter that waking up late is a familiar scenario; how it was used for insight and self-discovery made it stand out.
Another technique is the "why ladder": pick a memory or activity, and ask yourself "why does this matter to me?" Then keep asking why about your previous answer several times. This avoids generic responses and gets to your core motivations. If you keep hitting walls with topics like Covid stress, zoom in on an ultra-specific moment—maybe the exact time your internet crashed during an important class and how it pushed you to advocate for yourself with teachers. That singular story says much more about you than a general reflection on pandemic challenges.
To develop your unique voice, record yourself telling a friend about the experience and notice what details or jokes naturally come up in your speech. (Sometimes the most personal voice comes when you stop trying to sound "college essay appropriate.") You may also want to experiment by writing a draft as a letter to someone important in your life, then revise it back for the formal application.
Above all, trust that your quirks and specifics are what make your writing memorable, not the subject itself. Even if you write about something tons of people have faced, the essay can stand out as long as you show your personality through vivid detail, honest reflection, and the way it shaped you. For example, someone might write about losing a toy as a kid and what they learned about attachment, turning an ordinary moment into something deep and meaningful.
Let yourself brainstorm strange topics or moments that tend to stick in your memory. These usually say the most about who you are beneath the surface. Good luck—you’ve already taken a great step by wanting to stand out!
Start with lists, not paragraphs. For example, write down 10 moments (big or small) from your life that triggered a specific emotion—frustration, surprise, awe, embarrassment, joy, etc. Don't filter yourself to only the biggest or "most impressive" events. Sometimes the tiny, weird, or funny moments reveal more personality. For instance, someone once wrote about a malfunctioning alarm clock, which led to a reflection on controlling the uncontrollable. It doesn’t matter that waking up late is a familiar scenario; how it was used for insight and self-discovery made it stand out.
Another technique is the "why ladder": pick a memory or activity, and ask yourself "why does this matter to me?" Then keep asking why about your previous answer several times. This avoids generic responses and gets to your core motivations. If you keep hitting walls with topics like Covid stress, zoom in on an ultra-specific moment—maybe the exact time your internet crashed during an important class and how it pushed you to advocate for yourself with teachers. That singular story says much more about you than a general reflection on pandemic challenges.
To develop your unique voice, record yourself telling a friend about the experience and notice what details or jokes naturally come up in your speech. (Sometimes the most personal voice comes when you stop trying to sound "college essay appropriate.") You may also want to experiment by writing a draft as a letter to someone important in your life, then revise it back for the formal application.
Above all, trust that your quirks and specifics are what make your writing memorable, not the subject itself. Even if you write about something tons of people have faced, the essay can stand out as long as you show your personality through vivid detail, honest reflection, and the way it shaped you. For example, someone might write about losing a toy as a kid and what they learned about attachment, turning an ordinary moment into something deep and meaningful.
Let yourself brainstorm strange topics or moments that tend to stick in your memory. These usually say the most about who you are beneath the surface. Good luck—you’ve already taken a great step by wanting to stand out!
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