Can anyone share some examples of effective college essay titles?
I’m starting to brainstorm for my Common App essay, but honestly, coming up with a title is a lot harder than I thought!
Should it be super creative, or is it better to keep it straightforward and simple? Like, if my essay is about growing up in a multilingual household, should I use something poetic, or would "Finding My Voice" be enough?
If anyone has written or seen some memorable or successful college essay titles, could you share a few? Would love to get inspired and maybe get a sense for what works (and what doesn't)!
Should it be super creative, or is it better to keep it straightforward and simple? Like, if my essay is about growing up in a multilingual household, should I use something poetic, or would "Finding My Voice" be enough?
If anyone has written or seen some memorable or successful college essay titles, could you share a few? Would love to get inspired and maybe get a sense for what works (and what doesn't)!
4 months ago
•
18 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Coming up with a great essay title can definitely be tricky! The good news is that college essays don’t require a title, but a strong one can absolutely help set the tone or catch the reader’s interest. It’s less about being super fancy or poetically complex, and more about giving a small window into your story while encouraging the reader to keep going.
Both creative and straightforward titles can work, but the title should connect to your main theme or emotion. For example, instead of a generic title like "Finding My Voice," try to capture a specific moment or feeling from your essay. If your essay discusses growing up in a multilingual household, you might use a phrase in one of those languages (with a short translation), or focus on a unique sensory detail or experience. Here are some examples of effective essay titles:
- "Three Languages at the Dinner Table"
- "How Sopa de Pollo Became My Secret Superpower"
- "Translating Myself: From Kitchen Conversations to Classroom Debates"
- "Speaking in Parentheses (and Exclamation Points)"
- "Lost in Translation, Found at Home"
If the essay is reflective or introspective, some students use titles that hint at themes, like:
- "Patchwork Identity: Sewing Together My Story"
- "Sounds of Home"
- "In the Spaces Between Words"
On the other hand, keeping it straightforward works too if it’s honest and meaningful to you. For instance, a title like "Lessons from the Bus Ride Home" can be just as effective if it clearly connects to your story.
One example of what doesn’t work is being overly vague, e.g. just calling it "My Journey” or "Overcoming Challenges"—these don’t help your essay stand out or tell the admissions officer much about what’s unique.
Ultimately, pick a title that gives a hint of your personality or invites curiosity. After you finish your essay, try jotting down a few titles and asking friends or teachers which ones pique their interest. Sometimes the best title comes after you've finished your draft!
Both creative and straightforward titles can work, but the title should connect to your main theme or emotion. For example, instead of a generic title like "Finding My Voice," try to capture a specific moment or feeling from your essay. If your essay discusses growing up in a multilingual household, you might use a phrase in one of those languages (with a short translation), or focus on a unique sensory detail or experience. Here are some examples of effective essay titles:
- "Three Languages at the Dinner Table"
- "How Sopa de Pollo Became My Secret Superpower"
- "Translating Myself: From Kitchen Conversations to Classroom Debates"
- "Speaking in Parentheses (and Exclamation Points)"
- "Lost in Translation, Found at Home"
If the essay is reflective or introspective, some students use titles that hint at themes, like:
- "Patchwork Identity: Sewing Together My Story"
- "Sounds of Home"
- "In the Spaces Between Words"
On the other hand, keeping it straightforward works too if it’s honest and meaningful to you. For instance, a title like "Lessons from the Bus Ride Home" can be just as effective if it clearly connects to your story.
One example of what doesn’t work is being overly vague, e.g. just calling it "My Journey” or "Overcoming Challenges"—these don’t help your essay stand out or tell the admissions officer much about what’s unique.
Ultimately, pick a title that gives a hint of your personality or invites curiosity. After you finish your essay, try jotting down a few titles and asking friends or teachers which ones pique their interest. Sometimes the best title comes after you've finished your draft!
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)