How to Pick a College Essay Topic That Will Impress Table 1: How to Brainstorm Ideas for Your College Essay Table 2: Types of College Essay Topics Table 3: Pros and Cons of Different College Essay Topics Table 4: Tips for Writing a Strong College Essay
Introduction
The college essay is your chance to showcase your writing skills, intellect, and personality. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in a particular school or program. That’s why it’s important to choose a topic that is both compelling and relevant to your aspirations.
Step 1: Brainstorm Ideas
The first step is to brainstorm ideas for your essay. What are you passionate about? What experiences have shaped you? What do you want to learn more about?
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. The best essay topics are often those that are unique and personal. For example, instead of writing about your favorite book, you could write about how your love of reading has inspired you to become a writer.
Step 2: Research Your Ideas
Once you have a few ideas in mind, it’s important to research them thoroughly. This will help you to develop a strong argument and support your claims with evidence.
The library is a good place to start your research. You can also find credible sources online. Make sure to cite your sources correctly to avoid plagiarism.
Step 3: Choose a Topic that Interests You
The most important thing is to choose a topic that you are interested in. You’re more likely to write a strong essay if you’re passionate about the subject.
If you’re not sure what you’re interested in, take some time to explore different topics. Read articles, watch documentaries, and talk to people who work in different fields.
Step 4: Make Sure Your Topic is Relevant
Your essay topic should be relevant to your college application. It should demonstrate your skills and interests and show how you would be a good fit for the school or program you’re applying to.
For example, if you’re applying to a engineering program, you might want to write an essay about your experience building a robot.
Step 5: Get Feedback
Once you’ve chosen a topic, get feedback from a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend. They can help you to refine your ideas and make sure that your essay is well-written.
Tips for Choosing a College Essay Topic
- Start brainstorming early. The sooner you start thinking about your essay topic, the more time you’ll have to develop a strong argument.
- Be unique and personal. Don’t be afraid to write about something that is unique to you.
- Do your research. Make sure you have a solid understanding of your topic before you start writing.
- Choose a topic that interests you. You’re more likely to write a strong essay if you’re passionate about the subject.
- Make sure your topic is relevant. Your essay topic should demonstrate your skills and interests and show how you would be a good fit for the school or program you’re applying to.
- Get feedback. Ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to review your essay and give you feedback.
Conclusion
Choosing a college essay topic can be a daunting task, but it’s important to take your time and choose a topic that you are passionate about and that is relevant to your college application. By following the steps and tips outlined above, you can choose a topic that will help you to write a strong essay and impress the admissions committee.
Key Takeaway
- The college essay is an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, intellect, and personality.
- It’s important to choose a topic that is both compelling and relevant to your aspirations.
- There are many different ways to generate essay ideas.
- It’s important to research your ideas thoroughly before you start writing.
- Your essay topic should be something that you are interested in and that you can write about passionately.
- Getting feedback from a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend can help you to refine your ideas and make sure that your essay is well-written.
Additional Resources
- The College Board’s Guide to Writing the College Essay
- The Princeton Review’s Guide to Writing the College Essay
- The Kaplan Guide to Writing the College Essay
| Brainstorming Method | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Freewriting | Write down everything that comes to mind about a particular topic. Don’t worry about organization or grammar. | I love to read. I want to be a writer. I’ve always been interested in history. I love to learn about different cultures. |
| Clustering | Draw a circle in the center of a piece of paper and write your main topic in the middle. Then, draw lines out from the circle and write down any related ideas that come to mind. | College Essay – Reading – Writing – History – Culture – Travel – Education |
| Mind mapping | Similar to clustering, but more visual. Start with a central topic and then draw branches out from it with related ideas. |
College Essay * Reading * Writing * History * Culture * Travel * Education |
| Keyword research | Use a keyword research tool to find popular search terms related to your topic. This can help you to identify topics that are interesting to other people. | Keyword: College essay Related terms: How to write a college essay, what to write about in a college essay, college essay examples, college essay tips |
| Essay Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | A personal narrative that tells a story about your life and how it has shaped you. | I grew up in a small town in rural America. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I’m passionate about education and I want to make a difference in the world. |
| Argumentative essay | An essay that presents an argument and supports it with evidence. | The college essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking skills. You should choose a topic that you have strong feelings about and that you can argue persuasively. |
| Analytical essay | An essay that analyzes a particular topic, issue, or work of literature. | I’m interested in the history of the American Civil War. I want to write an essay about the Battle of Gettysburg and its impact on the war. |
| Creative essay | An essay that uses creative writing techniques to tell a story or convey a message. | I love to write short stories. I want to write a creative essay about a young girl who is coming to terms with her sexuality. |
| Topic Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | * Allows you to share your unique story and experiences * Can be very effective if written well * Can be difficult to write if you don’t have a strong personal narrative | |
| Argumentative essay | * Demonstrates your critical thinking skills * Can be persuasive if argued well * Can be difficult to find a topic that you have strong feelings about | |
| Analytical essay | * Shows your ability to analyze a topic in depth * Can be very informative if written well * Can be difficult to find a topic that is interesting to you | |
| Creative essay | * Allows you to express your creativity * Can be very engaging if written well * Can be difficult to write if you don’t have strong creative writing skills |
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Choose a topic that you are passionate about. | You’re more likely to write a strong essay if you’re interested in the subject. |
| Do your research. | Make sure you have a solid understanding of your topic before you start writing. |
| Organize your thoughts. | Create an outline before you start writing to make sure that your essay is well-organized and flows logically. |
| Write a strong introduction. | Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more. |
| Use strong evidence. | Support your claims with evidence from credible sources. |
| Write a clear and concise conclusion. | Your conclusion should summarize your main points and leave the reader with a lasting impression. |
| Get feedback. | Ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to review your essay and give you feedback. |
