Admissions essays play a crucial role in the college application process. Selecting an appropriate essay topic and crafting a compelling response can significantly influence an applicant’s chances of acceptance.
Successful candidates should emphasize their unique qualities and demonstrate the attributes that admissions committees value. However, the foundation of an outstanding college essay lies in choosing the right topic.
What Do Admissions Teams Look for in Essays?
The majority of your college application consists of general information like demographics, extracurricular activities, GPA, and standardized test scores. With so many qualified candidates submitting GPAs in a similar range and competitive scores, admissions teams need another piece of data that can highlight what makes each applicant unique.
That’s where application essays come into play. Universities require admission essays primarily to gain insight into the person behind the application. They want to hear about a memorable experience that helped shape you into who you are now. They seek a compelling, authentic, and original essay that can paint a vivid picture of the person behind the test scores and accomplishments.
A college admissions essay offers a unique opportunity to present your story and demonstrate why you’re an ideal fit for their institution. It’s a great way to showcase your interests, resilience, and personality, which can help distinguish you from other applicants. Selecting the right essay topic is crucial to effectively share your narrative with the admissions team.
What is the Most Common College Essay Prompt?
Among the most common supplemental essay prompts are the “Why This School” and “Why This Major” questions. These typically ask applicants to explain their reasons for choosing a particular institution or field of study. These prompts pose a particular challenge because it can be difficult to craft a truly original response. It’s important to do a great deal of research into the particular school in order to identify how your goals, values, and aspirations align with the school’s mission and values.
Most students will also respond to one of the Common App essay prompts. The most popular Common App essay prompts are:
- Prompt seven: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
- Prompt five: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Prompt two: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Regardless of which Common App prompt you choose, your writing sample should reveal new information the admissions team could only learn from you. Avoid falling into the trap of writing what you think the admissions team wants to hear. Write about your experiences authentically and allow them to get to know you as a person. When done correctly, that can be the final push your application needs to be accepted.
How Do You Choose the Best Topic for Your College Application Essay?
Regardless of which essay topic you ultimately choose, you will need to spend plenty of time brainstorming potential topics. It is often easier to identify ideal essay topics first, and then identify the right topic for your story, rather than narrowing the scope of your brainstorming by focusing only on a particular topic.
Begin by listing your most significant personal achievements, considering your core values, and reflecting on the most impactful challenges you’ve faced. If you’re struggling to identify the right story, seek input from friends, family members, or college counselors to help generate ideas for your college essay.
Stories that encourage introspection on transformative experiences often yield the most compelling essays. Remember, your writing sample should exemplify personal growth, so choose a topic that allows you to reveal your inner evolution.
Evaluate Your Strengths
Admissions officers already have access to your academic and extracurricular accomplishments through your application. With that in mind, your essay should focus on achievements that aren’t reflected in test scores or extracurricular activities. Consider the adversities you’ve overcome, and how they have helped shape your character.
Reflect on instances where you’ve triumphed against odds to achieve something significant or contribute to your community. When have you demonstrated leadership, resilience, creativity, or other attributes that set you apart from other applicants?
Think about the impression you want to make, the character traits you wish to highlight, and the skills you’ve developed. Then, select a topic that allows you to effectively showcase these elements.
Consider Your Audience
Remember that admissions officers read thousands of essays each year. Your goal is to craft an essay that captures their attention and leaves a lasting impression. Choose a topic that lets you exhibit your unique perspective, experiences, or insights.
Avoid clichés and overly common essay topics unless you have a truly distinctive angle. Instead, focus on experiences or ideas that are specific to you and that underscore your potential to contribute to the campus community.
Your college essay is your chance to tell your individual story. Admissions officers want to hear about your experiences and perspectives. To create a compelling narrative, choose a topic that genuinely excites you. Use vivid details to paint a picture for the reader, but stay focused on your main point.
It’s typically best to avoid highly controversial or sensitive topics unless they are integral to your identity. However, if you do address such subjects, do so respectfully. Remember, you’re not writing for a friend but for a stranger in a formal capacity.
What Should You Say in a Common App Essay?
Whether you’re using the Common App, Coalition App, or applying directly to a school, your essay should contain the same key elements.
- A Great Topic: Spend plenty of time brainstorming possible topics. A great topic is typically a story about one or more of your experiences that illustrates something meaningful about who you are and how you’ve grown as a person.
- A Compelling Structure: Use outlining or storyboarding tools to explore different narrative structures. Don’t feel trapped by a linear narrative—there are lots of different ways to structure a story!
- An Authentic Voice: Incorporate plenty of imagery and sensory details, highlight your sense of humor, and allow your personality to shine through your use of language.
Be honest about your experiences and their impact on you. Admissions officers can spot exaggeration or unnecessary theatrics. Avoid using flowery words you wouldn’t normally use. Instead, focus on the real, profound experiences that have shaped your life.
C2 Education Can Help You Find the Perfect Essay Topic!
The best topic for your college essay is one that resonates with you and allows you to share your story in a meaningful and compelling way. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you, so authenticity is key.
Your essay is a chance to showcase who you are beyond grades and test scores. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your character, values, and potential contributions to a college community. By selecting a topic that truly matters to you and approaching it thoughtfully, you can create an essay that captures the attention of admissions officers and helps you stand out in the competitive college admissions process.
At C2 Education, we’re dedicated to helping students navigate college admissions and craft outstanding essays. Have a parent or guardian contact us today to start your journey to success!
Contact your local C2 center today and learn how to write a college essay that stands out. 
