How important is the introduction in a college essay?

The introduction can definitely feel like the most pressure-packed part of writing your college essay, but it doesn’t have to be perfect on your first try. Admissions officers do notice how an essay starts—after all, it’s their first impression of you—but the most critical part is still the overall story, your voice, and what they take away from your essay as a whole.

A strong introduction can help your essay stand out, especially if it’s memorable, surprising, or intriguing. For example, opening with a specific image, a question, or a snippet of dialogue can pull readers in. But there’s no single formula. Some great essays start with something simple or reflective rather than flashy—a quick memory, an internal thought, or even a direct statement about what matters to you.

A lot of students get stuck on the introduction because they feel it needs to be flawless before moving on. It’s usually better to write the main body of your essay first, then return to your introduction once you know the full story you’re telling. Sometimes your best opening idea comes after you’ve finished the rest! For example, one student wrote the entire essay about baking with their grandmother, then went back and started with a sensory detail: the smell of cardamom, which immediately set the scene.

Don’t get discouraged if your first draft of the intro doesn’t feel exciting. What matters much more is whether your essay as a whole conveys who you are and what you care about. If you need inspiration, try free-writing a few different openings and ask a friend which one makes them want to keep reading. In the end, admissions officers are looking for authenticity and insight far more than a gimmicky hook.

So don’t feel pressure to nail the intro right away. Give yourself permission to move forward and circle back—many successful essays evolved this way. You’re not alone in feeling stuck at this stage, and it doesn’t mean you won’t end up with a great essay!