Does anyone have examples of college essays that worked?

It’s really common to feel stuck when you’re starting out, especially because so much advice about college essays feels vague. While I can’t post full-length essays from other students for privacy, I can definitely share some general outlines of essays that worked, plus the topics and approaches that made them stand out for top schools like Yale, Stanford, and Northwestern.

A really memorable essay I read about (admitted to Princeton) was focused not on a big, dramatic event, but on the student's love of crossword puzzles. Instead of listing achievements, the student detailed a single Sunday morning wrestling with a particularly tough crossword with their grandmother—describing the small moments, the inside jokes, and what it revealed about their approach to problem-solving and intergenerational connection. The specificity and personal voice is what made the story stand out.

Another example, someone admitted to Brown wrote about watching food videos with their grandfather as a way to process grief after he passed. The essay wasn’t really about grief itself, but focused on a singular experience: recreating a complicated recipe for Lunar New Year, burning it the first time, and how that moment of frustration led them to call an old family friend. The details made it feel intimate and unique.

My biggest tip: start by mapping out moments in your life—not whole stories, but little conflicts, surprises, or realizations. For example, maybe it’s the moment you received unexpected feedback from a friend, or the time you accidentally got on the wrong bus and ended up having a memorable conversation with a stranger. Ask yourself: what did I think or feel in that situation, and how did it change me, even just a little?

Remember, you don’t need to write about huge triumphs or tragedies. It’s okay to zoom in on something small as long as you show your personality and voice. If you want more essay breakdowns, several college admissions offices (like Johns Hopkins, Hamilton, and Tufts) actually post a handful of essays that worked each year with commentary from admissions staff. These are great to read for inspiration!

When you look at examples, pay attention to structure, the use of dialogue, and how the writer reveals deeper values through small details. That’s usually the real magic behind essays that work.

If you want specific feedback or want to brainstorm ideas, feel free to share your draft or concept! Sometimes just getting that first idea out—even if it feels bland—can get you closer to the real story only you can tell.