How do you figure out what to write your college essay about?

Feeling stuck at the brainstorming stage is extremely common—you're definitely not alone! Everyone says to write about something 'unique,' but most students' lives are filled with experiences that seem ordinary on the surface. What really matters is how you tell your story and what insights you share about yourself.

Here's a helpful place to start: instead of searching for a wildly unusual event, try listing moments that made you think or feel something deeply. These could be small, specific memories. Ask yourself questions like:
- When have I changed my mind about something important?
- What’s a challenge I quietly deal with, even if it doesn’t seem dramatic?
- Where do my interests—like STEM and music—overlap in interesting or unexpected ways, even just in my daily life?

To give you an example, one student wrote about repairing an old piano with their parent while talking about circuitry. The essay wasn’t really about being a musician or an engineer; it was about family connection and how learning happens in unexpected places. The topic was simple but the details were personal and vivid.

Try a focused brainstorm for 10-15 minutes. Write down every topic, memory, or quirk that feels personal to you—no filter, just see what comes out. Afterward, notice if any of these stories are moments of change, decision, or emotion. Simple topics like teaching your sibling how to do a math problem or playing one song on loop during tough times can become compelling essays if you explain what these experiences meant to you.

If you’re torn between writing about activities vs. family, ask: where have I learned or grown the most? Or, can I combine these themes? For example, you might explore how playing music with your family taught you the same problem-solving mindset you use in STEM.

Ultimately, choose a topic that gets you thinking and feeling. If you can’t stop coming back to a certain moment or relationship, it’s probably rich territory. And remember: authenticity stands out way more than a one-of-a-kind story. Admissions officers want to see *your* unique perspective—not just an unusual event you happened to experience.