Is it helpful to take a 'What to Write My College Essay About?' quiz?

It's totally normal to feel stuck when trying to come up with a college essay topic—so you're not alone in exploring tools like quizzes. Those 'What to Write My College Essay About?' quizzes can sometimes be a light way to get your brainstorming started, but on their own, they often provide pretty generic suggestions that lots of other students might also receive.

For example, a quiz might tell you to ‘write about a time you overcame a challenge’ or ‘describe your greatest achievement’. While these can be starting points, they don’t really help you dig into moments that are unique to you, which is what most admissions officers are looking for.

Instead of only relying on a quiz, try some other approaches to uncover authentic material. One trick is to make a list of memorable moments from the last few years, big or small, and see which stories have strong emotions or changed your thinking. Sometimes, the best essays come from small details, like a Saturday morning routine with your family or an unexpected conversation with a stranger. For example, maybe you started a tradition of baking bread during quarantine, and it became a symbol of resilience and connection for your household. That could end up being a unique essay topic.

You might find it helpful to talk things over with a trusted teacher, counselor, or friend, or even to freewrite about a few personal ‘firsts’ or ‘lasts’ you experienced recently. Another technique is to reflect on the moments when you felt most confused, uncertain, or out of your comfort zone, and then think about what you learned or how you changed because of those experiences. These reflections often seem less cliché in essays.

Overthinking does sometimes hold students back, so don't feel pressured to take every quiz out there. Let them be a small part of your brainstorming toolkit, but spend more time actually exploring your genuine interests, values, and quirks. Authenticity is what usually sets an essay apart.

If you need a more structured method, many people find that answering unconventional prompts—like ‘What frustrates you most?’ or ‘What’s a weird habit you have?’—can spark original stories. Hopefully, with a mix of creative reflection and some (select) outside prompts, you'll land on an essay idea that feels true to who you are, not just what you think admissions tutors want.

Keep the pressure manageable and give yourself space to explore! The right idea will usually stand out once you notice which stories get you excited (or emotional) when you talk about them.