What does a strong college essay look like?

Feeling a bit lost with college essays is totally normal! Most people are surprised to learn that there isn’t one perfect format. What makes a college essay strong isn't a super formal structure or a wild, dramatic story—it's personal voice, honest reflection, and showing who you are in a way that’s hard to convey through the rest of your application.

Narrative essays (storytelling style) are popular because they naturally draw the reader in and help admissions get to know you. Even if the essay structure is traditional, admissions readers are going to look for a sense of genuine personality and self-awareness. It’s totally okay if your topic is about something small, as long as it’s meaningful to you. For example, a perfectly structured essay about volunteering at a hospital isn’t automatically impressive, but an essay on how teaching your younger sibling to ride a bike taught you about patience and leadership could be memorable—if you dig into the specific emotions and growth you experienced.

For format, most strong essays have an engaging hook in the beginning, some sort of conflict or tension (either internal or external), and a moment or two where you reflect on what you learned or how you changed. It isn’t about using fancy words or being overly formal, but about giving the reader some insight into what matters to you and how you think.

If you want to see some real examples, many schools (including Johns Hopkins) publish essays from accepted students each year. If you decide to work with a Sundial college admissions advisor, you may also be able to ask for anonymized essays from past students who have agreed to share their writing. Always keep in mind that the most authentic essays feel like a conversation and reveal something unmistakably personal—something only you could have written.

Try brainstorming by thinking of a moment when you learned something unexpected about yourself. Maybe it’s a quick story about overcoming a fear, or the time you found inspiration in a family tradition. Focusing on a specific story or moment helps keep your essay grounded and unique.

Bottom line: your personality and self-reflection matter way more than a grand topic or a flawless writing style. Readers want to see who you really are, not who you think they want you to be.