What are some good essay topics for college applications?

The most memorable college essays usually come from genuinely personal moments, even if they seem ordinary at first. Admissions readers see lots of common themes, so the way you approach your story matters as much as the topic itself.

Some overused topics include: generic sports victories or injuries, "moving to a new school" stories, immigrant journeys without a specific moment or angle, and overcoming a tough class just by working harder. These can still work, but usually only if you focus on a unique, detailed experience or surprising outcome. For example, rather than discussing how you overcame an injury to return stronger to your team, maybe you talk about how the recovery period introduced you to a new hobby that reshaped your goals, like teaching yourself guitar or organizing a community event.

Good essay topics often revolve around specific, illustrative moments rather than broad life stories. Here are some examples that have worked well:
- A defining conversation with a family member that shifted your perspective.
- An unexpected hobby or small passion (like calligraphy or fixing old radios) and why it matters to you.
- An overlooked failure or mistake, and what you learned from handling the aftermath.
- A meaningful responsibility at home, such as interpreting for a parent, and how that shaped your relationships or ambitions.
- A single moment where you had to make a difficult choice, even if it seemed small at the time, and what you realized about yourself from it.

One student I worked with wrote about learning to cook her grandmother’s recipes, and how each dish connected her to her roots. Another focused on the frustrations of losing repeatedly in chess tournaments, discovering what it felt like to redefine success for himself.

As you brainstorm, try free-writing about moments you keep coming back to, even ones that seem insignificant. Often, something personal and reflective will surface. The essay doesn’t have to be about an award or a tragedy; it should just reveal something real about you that won’t be obvious from the rest of your application.

Finally, avoid generic morals ("hard work pays off") in favor of nuanced takeaways. Specific details and personal insights are what make your story memorable.