Has anyone used Susan Sommers Thurman's 'Ticket to Write' for college essays?

Susan Sommers Thurman's 'Ticket to Write' is a pretty popular resource in high school and AP English classes, and there's a reason teachers like it: it lays out the fundamentals clearly and helps get you past the blank page stage. The structure and sample prompts it provides are excellent for getting you started with brainstorming. If you're someone who tends to freeze up or procrastinate because you don't know where to begin, this book can give you a solid launch point and help you block out a rough draft quickly.

However, one thing to consider is that the book's step-by-step format might nudge your essay toward more generic territory if you follow the templates too rigidly. A personal statement really comes alive with storytelling, vulnerability, and reflection—qualities that may become muted if you're only plugging your life experiences into sample structures. For brainstorming, try using Thurman’s guided prompts, but consider going beyond them. For example, if the book suggests writing about “a time you overcame adversity,” get as specific as possible: focus on a single afternoon, not a whole season. Instead of telling the outcome, dig into your emotions, thoughts, and personal quirks during that moment.

I've seen students use the book as a springboard. One wrote about a family tradition inspired by a prompt from the book, but elevated the essay by sharing a funny mishap one year and what it revealed about his relationship with his grandmother. His essay stood out because he captured a real moment that was unmistakably his, rather than broadly summarizing his family in the way many samples do.

To avoid sounding generic, after you write a draft, try reading it out loud to a friend or family member who knows you well. Ask them if it sounds like you. Does it reflect your sense of humor or your way of seeing the world? If not, try rewriting a paragraph or two in your own words, even if it breaks the structure a bit. That’s usually where your authentic voice comes through.

In summary: use 'Ticket to Write' for brainstorming and organization, but don’t let it be your only guide. After you get your thoughts down, infuse the essay with anecdotes, dialogue, and detail only you could provide. That’s what will make admissions readers remember you.