How do you actually start a college application essay?

Feeling stuck at the start is completely normal—most students feel a lot of pressure to write a perfect opening for their college essay. The truth is, your first sentence doesn’t have to be shocking or poetic; its main job is to invite the reader into your world. Often, what works best is starting with something specific and real from your life, rather than a generic quote or a summary statement.

One classic technique is to begin the essay by dropping the reader straight into an experience. For example, instead of opening with: “Soccer has taught me many life lessons,” you could try a more vivid opening like: “My heart pounded as I clutched the crutches tighter, watching my team warm up on the field without me.” That’s a moment in time—and it gives your reader a reason to want to keep going to find out what happens next.

Another useful tip: Don’t stress if your introduction isn’t perfect at first. Many writers come back and rewrite their opening after finishing the whole essay, since the main message often becomes clearer later on. Try brainstorming by listing quirky, memorable, or important moments in your life—then write a few sentences about one of them. Choose the one that feels most like ‘you.’

I started my essay with a description of the inside of my grandfather's garage, tools scattered everywhere, and from there, built out how fixing things together shaped how I approached challenges. It was both specific and personal, and made the reader want to know why that scene mattered.

Here are a couple more practical ways to start:
- A sensory detail (“What I remember first is the sound: the whoosh of water spiraling around my wrists as I scrubbed dishes at my first job.”)
- A statement that asks a question or challenges expectations (“Most people see spreadsheets as boring. To me, they’re treasure maps.”)

Pick a small, authentic moment or idea, and don’t be afraid to revise it later. The most important thing is that your voice comes through, right from the first line. If you’re still feeling stuck, write a placeholder introduction and move on to the body of your essay—sometimes the beginning comes more easily once you’ve got the rest down!