What essay topics show up most often on college applications?

A lot of colleges use essay prompts that fall into a few main themes. The most well-known is the Common App’s personal statement, which almost every applicant has to write. Those prompts usually ask you to reflect on your identity, a challenge you've faced, a moment of growth, or something deeply meaningful to you. For example, topics like “Describe a time you overcame adversity,” “Discuss an accomplishment or failure,” or “Tell us about a background, interest, or talent that is meaningful to you” come up year after year.

Other common types include:
- A time you changed your perspective
- A moment when you made a difference in your community
- How you want to contribute to a college campus
- A person or experience that shaped your values
- Times you showed leadership or teamwork

It’s not so much about picking a rare theme, but about making your essay authentic and specific to you. Admissions officers see hundreds of essays about sports victories, moving to a new country, or scoring high on an exam. These are fine if they’re truly central to your story, but you need a fresh angle or personal insight. Even a familiar theme stands out if you focus on a small, vivid instance—like the moment you realized your opinion had changed, or the impact you made volunteering on one person, not just the whole organization.

An example of a less common—but still effective—angle might be writing about teaching your younger sibling to cycle or the story behind a family recipe you cherish. What matters is your voice and what you learned. If you’re worried about cliché topics, ask yourself: could anyone but me write this story in the same way? If not, you’re on the right track!

Try not to stress too much about finding a totally unique topic. Instead, focus on how you tell your story and what your reflections reveal about you. Sometimes, the day-to-day moments or little personal quirks make the most memorable essays.