College Application Essay: What Topic Should I Choose?
Writing your college essay can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. But fear not! If you focus on what really matters—telling your story in a way that’s compelling and personal—you’ll come out victorious. Let’s break it down.
Focus on the Essay Prompt
Colleges aren’t just throwing out random questions to make your life harder (well, mostly). Each essay prompt is designed to get you thinking about your unique experiences, values, and perspective. Before you start typing away, take a deep breath and read the prompt carefully. Then, ask yourself:
Does my topic actually answer the question?
Does it reflect who I am beyond my GPA and extracurriculars?
Would my best friend read this and say, “Yeah, this totally sounds like you”?
If your answer to any of these is “eh, not really,” then it’s time to refocus.
Topic Selection and Implementation
Okay, so you’ve got some ideas. Great! But can you turn those ideas into an engaging story? The best essays aren’t just a list of achievements—they’re narratives that reveal something deeper about you. Here’s how:
Find a personal story or experience that means something to you.
Use vivid details to make your essay feel real and immersive.
Show personal growth, challenges, or an unexpected perspective.
For example, instead of saying, “I love science,” tell a story about how you spent an entire summer creating a makeshift chemistry lab in your garage (and nearly setting your eyebrows on fire). That’s what makes it memorable.
Be Specific and Avoid Generic Topics
The biggest trap students fall into? Writing about huge, vague, and overdone topics. Sure, immigration, sports, and leadership are important—but unless you bring in your unique spin, they’ll blend in with the other 5,000 essays the admissions officer reads that day.
If you’re writing about moving to a new country, don’t just say, “It was hard.” Instead, describe the smell of your hometown, the sound of the new language, or the moment you realized you belonged.
Avoid clichés like comparing your life to a “tapestry” or a “puzzle” (trust me, they’ve seen it before).
Instead, pick a fresh metaphor—maybe your life is like a constantly buffering YouTube video, always loading but never quite finished (until you hit that aha! moment).
The key is making your story feel personal, not like a template.
Use Broad Topics the Smart Way
This might sound like the opposite of the last point, but hear me out. A topic can be broad if you use it as a jumping-off point for something deeper.
Let’s say you love theater—awesome! But instead of writing only about playing the lead in Les Misérables, connect it to something bigger. Maybe your role taught you how to embrace vulnerability, or how stepping into different characters helped you understand different perspectives in life.
Tie your passion to a bigger theme—personal growth, cultural background, or even how you see the world differently now.
That way, your essay has depth and insight, rather than just being a recap of your after-school activities.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your college essay is about you. Not the version you think admissions officers want, but the real you—the one who geeks out over historical conspiracy theories, has an oddly specific passion for making the perfect grilled cheese, or found meaning in a completely unexpected place.
So take a deep breath, grab some snacks, and start writing. You’ve got this!
Sarah Sanchez
USA College Coach, President/Founder
To view more college essay tips and insights, visit our free online College Essay Writing Guide here.
About the author: Sarah is the President & Founder of USA College Coach, specializing in admissions guidance, coaching for applications, essays, and short-answer questions.
With experience reviewing thousands of applications and essays for a Tier 1 university (ranked nationally and globally), Sarah has a keen eye for the qualities that top U.S. universities seek in students. She is passionate about helping students and their families create a strategic plan for success.
