Picking the right topic for your college essay is crucial for success. A well-chosen topic will inspire you to write a strong and engaging essay, while a poorly chosen topic will make the writing process a chore.
To help you avoid the latter, here are 10 bad college essay topics that you should steer clear of:
- Autobiography of My Life
Unless you’re a world-renowned celebrity or have lived an exceptionally extraordinary life, your autobiography is not going to be interesting to anyone else. Professors want to read essays that are thought-provoking and original, not just a rehash of your personal history.
- The History of the World
This topic is way too broad for a college essay. You could write a whole book on the history of the world, but you’re not going to be able to do it justice in a few hundred words. Instead, focus on a specific period of time or event in history.
- The Meaning of Life
This is another one of those topics that is too broad and philosophical for a college essay. There is no one right answer to the question of what the meaning of life is, and you’re not going to be able to come up with a definitive answer in a few hundred words.
- The Future of the World
This is another topic that is too broad and speculative for a college essay. You can’t predict the future, and even if you could, you’re not going to be able to write an essay about it that is both accurate and interesting.
- The Importance of Education
This is a topic that has been written about to death. Unless you have a unique perspective on the importance of education, you’re not going to be able to write an essay that is fresh and original.
- The Dangers of Social Media
This is another topic that has been written about a lot. Unless you have a new and unique take on the dangers of social media, you’re not going to be able to write an essay that is interesting or engaging.
- The Importance of Family
This is another one of those topics that has been written about a lot. Unless you have a unique perspective on the importance of family, you’re not going to be able to write an essay that is fresh and original.
- The Importance of Friends
This is another one of those topics that has been written about a lot. Unless you have a unique perspective on the importance of friends, you’re not going to be able to write an essay that is fresh and original.
- The Importance of Sleep
This is a topic that is too narrow for a college essay. There’s not much you can say about the importance of sleep that hasn’t already been said.
- The Importance of Exercise
This is another topic that is too narrow for a college essay. There’s not much you can say about the importance of exercise that hasn’t already been said.
If you’re looking for a good college essay topic, avoid the ones on this list. Instead, choose a topic that you’re passionate about and that you have something unique to say about. With a good topic, you’ll be able to write an essay that is both interesting and engaging.
- Choose a topic that you’re interested in. You’re going to be spending a lot of time working on your essay, so it’s important to choose a topic that you’re actually interested in. If you’re not interested in your topic, it’s going to be difficult to write a good essay.
- Choose a topic that you have something to say about. Don’t choose a topic just because it sounds interesting. Make sure that you have something to say about the topic that you’re writing about. If you don’t have anything to say, your essay is going to be boring and unoriginal.
- Choose a topic that is appropriate for the assignment. Make sure that the topic you choose is appropriate for the assignment you’re working on. If you’re not sure whether or not your topic is appropriate, ask your professor.
- Choose a topic that is manageable. Don’t choose a topic that is too broad or too narrow. If your topic is too broad, you won’t be able to do it justice in a few hundred words. If your topic is too narrow, you won’t have enough to say about it.
By following these tips, you can choose a good college essay topic that will help you write a strong and engaging essay.
| Topic | Reason |
|---|---|
| Autobiography of My Life | Too narrow and personal |
| The History of the World | Too broad and unoriginal |
| The Meaning of Life | Too philosophical and speculative |
| The Future of the World | Too speculative and unoriginal |
| The Importance of Education | Too overused and generic |
| The Dangers of Social Media | Too overused and generic |
| The Importance of Family | Too overused and generic |
| The Importance of Friends | Too overused and generic |
| The Importance of Sleep | Too narrow and unoriginal |
| The Importance of Exercise | Too narrow and unoriginal |
| Topic | Reason |
|---|---|
| The impact of social media on mental health | Original and timely |
| The role of technology in education | Relevant and important |
| The challenges of climate change | Global and pressing |
| The history of women’s suffrage | Inspiring and important |
| The importance of diversity and inclusion | Timely and relevant |
| Tip | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Choose a topic that you’re interested in | You’ll be spending a lot of time working on your essay, so it’s important to choose a topic that you’re actually interested in. |
| Choose a topic that you have something to say about | Don’t choose a topic just because it sounds interesting. Make sure that you have something to say about the topic that you’re writing about. |
| Choose a topic that is appropriate for the assignment | Make sure that the topic you choose is appropriate for the assignment you’re working on. If you’re not sure whether or not your topic is appropriate, ask your professor. |
| Choose a topic that is manageable | Don’t choose a topic that is too broad or too narrow. If your topic is too broad, you won’t be able to do it justice in a few hundred words |