Does anyone have a good essay outline template for college applications?
I'm struggling to get started on my personal statement for the Common App and I've realized that having an actual outline might help a lot. I usually just write essays for school by brainstorming and then diving right in, but this feels a lot more important and daunting.
Does anyone have a tried and true essay outline template they swear by? For example, do you use a certain format for the introduction, story, reflection, and conclusion? If you have any tips on how to organize thoughts or make the essay flow, I’d really appreciate the advice. I’m trying to avoid getting stuck halfway through and worried about word limits so any templates or structure ideas would be super helpful.
Would love to know what works best for you or if you have links to any resources!
Does anyone have a tried and true essay outline template they swear by? For example, do you use a certain format for the introduction, story, reflection, and conclusion? If you have any tips on how to organize thoughts or make the essay flow, I’d really appreciate the advice. I’m trying to avoid getting stuck halfway through and worried about word limits so any templates or structure ideas would be super helpful.
Would love to know what works best for you or if you have links to any resources!
5 months ago
•
17 views
Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
Organizing your personal statement can definitely help you beat writer’s block and ensure your ideas are coherent and engaging. A popular and effective outline for the Common App essay is sometimes called the "narrative arc," which gives your essay strong storytelling and reflection.
Here’s a template you could try:
1. **Hook/Introduction (1 paragraph, ~40-70 words)**
Start with a vivid scene, an action, a surprising statement, or a moment of conflict. This draws your reader in quickly. For example, "My palms were sweaty as I pressed 'record,' unsure if anyone would listen to my new podcast."
2. **Context/Background (1 paragraph, ~60-100 words)**
Set up the situation. Briefly provide context—what’s happening, why it matters, and how it connects to you. Avoid over-explaining; just enough so the reader isn’t lost.
3. **Rising Action/Deeper Story (1-2 paragraphs, ~120-200 words)**
Go into more detail about what happened. Show—don’t just tell—your feelings, actions, choices, or turning points. Use anecdotes and dialogue if possible. If your topic spans time, use a "before and after" or "problem and resolution" structure.
4. **Pivot/Reflection (1 paragraph, ~60-100 words)**
Transition from telling the story to reflecting on its significance. What did you learn? How did this moment, challenge, or realization affect you or shift your perspective?
5. **Conclusion (1 paragraph, ~40-70 words)**
Tie it all together with forward-looking or full-circle language. Leave the reader with a sense of your growth and ongoing curiosity—or even an open-ended thought. For instance, after discussing a failed club event, you might end with: "Now, every time I see a blank posterboard, I see the start of something new, not the memory of what didn’t work out."
**A quick tip for organization:** Use bullet points or even short summaries for each section before filling in full sentences. This will help manage the word count and make sure there’s a clear arc.
**Example of abbreviated outline using this structure:**
- Hook: Sitting in my high school car park, dreading my first club meeting.
- Context: Starting a club as a shy sophomore.
- Rising action: Early failures, awkward meetings, one person shows up, rethinking approach.
- Reflection: Learned importance of adaptability and listening.
- Conclusion: Success wasn’t in numbers, but in the impact on one member who stayed—and on myself.
This approach helps you start writing with confidence and avoid meandering or running out of words before you’ve said what you want. If you’re a visual thinker, try mapping your outline with arrows or timelines. Don’t be afraid to tweak the structure if something else feels more natural for your story—just make sure you have both story and reflection.
If you want a fill-in-the-blank version or additional support, there are plenty of worksheets online from reputable education organizations and college counseling websites. But this template should help you get started!
Here’s a template you could try:
1. **Hook/Introduction (1 paragraph, ~40-70 words)**
Start with a vivid scene, an action, a surprising statement, or a moment of conflict. This draws your reader in quickly. For example, "My palms were sweaty as I pressed 'record,' unsure if anyone would listen to my new podcast."
2. **Context/Background (1 paragraph, ~60-100 words)**
Set up the situation. Briefly provide context—what’s happening, why it matters, and how it connects to you. Avoid over-explaining; just enough so the reader isn’t lost.
3. **Rising Action/Deeper Story (1-2 paragraphs, ~120-200 words)**
Go into more detail about what happened. Show—don’t just tell—your feelings, actions, choices, or turning points. Use anecdotes and dialogue if possible. If your topic spans time, use a "before and after" or "problem and resolution" structure.
4. **Pivot/Reflection (1 paragraph, ~60-100 words)**
Transition from telling the story to reflecting on its significance. What did you learn? How did this moment, challenge, or realization affect you or shift your perspective?
5. **Conclusion (1 paragraph, ~40-70 words)**
Tie it all together with forward-looking or full-circle language. Leave the reader with a sense of your growth and ongoing curiosity—or even an open-ended thought. For instance, after discussing a failed club event, you might end with: "Now, every time I see a blank posterboard, I see the start of something new, not the memory of what didn’t work out."
**A quick tip for organization:** Use bullet points or even short summaries for each section before filling in full sentences. This will help manage the word count and make sure there’s a clear arc.
**Example of abbreviated outline using this structure:**
- Hook: Sitting in my high school car park, dreading my first club meeting.
- Context: Starting a club as a shy sophomore.
- Rising action: Early failures, awkward meetings, one person shows up, rethinking approach.
- Reflection: Learned importance of adaptability and listening.
- Conclusion: Success wasn’t in numbers, but in the impact on one member who stayed—and on myself.
This approach helps you start writing with confidence and avoid meandering or running out of words before you’ve said what you want. If you’re a visual thinker, try mapping your outline with arrows or timelines. Don’t be afraid to tweak the structure if something else feels more natural for your story—just make sure you have both story and reflection.
If you want a fill-in-the-blank version or additional support, there are plenty of worksheets online from reputable education organizations and college counseling websites. But this template should help you get started!
Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)