The college admissions essay – it’s the final boss you must defeat before your dream school rolls out the red carpet.
But what should you even write about?
With so many options and so much pressure, coming up with the perfect topic feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack…blindfolded.
Well, stress no more!
We’ve compiled a list of the 20 best things to write your college essay about.
Whether you’re an aspiring scientist, a budding artist, or just a regular kid with a story to tell, there’s a topic here that will help you craft an essay admissions officers won’t soon forget.
Questions to Consider for Your College Essay Topic
Now, before we dive into the specific topics, let’s talk strategy. As you read through this list, ask yourself:
A Personal Challenge You Overcame
We all face obstacles in life, whether they’re physical, emotional, or something in between. Writing about a challenge you’ve overcome shows colleges that you have grit, resilience, and the ability to learn from tough experiences.
For example, maybe you struggled with a learning disability and had to work twice as hard to keep up with your peers. Explaining how you sought out tutoring, developed better study habits, and ultimately raised your grades would make for a compelling essay.
On the other hand, try to avoid challenges that are too personal or sensitive. Writing about a messy divorce or a serious health issue could make admissions officers uncomfortable. Stick to challenges that, while difficult, have a clear “rising above” narrative.
An Experience That Changed Your Perspective
As we move through life, our views inevitably evolve. Maybe a service trip to a developing country opened your eyes to global inequality. Or perhaps getting to know someone from a different background challenged your preconceived notions.
Writing about a perspective-changing experience demonstrates maturity, open-mindedness, and the ability to critically examine your own beliefs. It shows that you’re not set in your ways and are excited to learn from the diverse perspectives you’ll encounter in college.
That said, be careful not to exaggerate the impact of the experience or present yourself as having all the answers. Acknowledge that you still have room to grow and that college will be another opportunity to expand your worldview.
A Unique Hobby or Interest
What makes you tick? What do you do in your free time that brings you joy, relaxation, or a sense of fulfillment? Colleges want to build diverse communities of students with a wide array of passions. Writing about an uncommon hobby or interest is a great way to stand out.
Maybe you’re really into birdwatching and can identify hundreds of species by their calls alone. Or perhaps you’ve spent years perfecting your beatboxing skills. The key is to go beyond just describing what you do and explain why it matters to you.
However, try not to choose a hobby that’s too obscure or hard to relate to. You don’t want admissions officers scratching their heads trying to figure out what you’re talking about. Make sure you provide enough context for them to understand and appreciate your passion.
A Person Who Inspires You
Behind every successful person is often another person who inspired, mentored, or believed in them. Writing about someone who has had a profound impact on your life can give insight into your values, aspirations, and what kind of community member you’ll be.
This person could be a family member, like a grandparent who taught you the importance of hard work and perseverance. It could be a teacher who encouraged your love of writing. Or it could be a public figure whose words or actions have influenced the way you see the world.
Whomever you choose, make sure to focus on specific interactions or lessons learned, rather than simply singing their praises. And don’t feel like you have to pick someone famous or accomplished. The most inspiring figures are often the everyday heroes in our own lives.
A Place or Experience That Has Shaped Who You Are
Our identities are deeply tied to the places and experiences that have shaped us. Maybe you grew up in a tight-knit immigrant community that instilled in you a strong sense of pride and solidarity. Or perhaps a meaningful travel experience pushed you out of your comfort zone and sparked a new sense of independence.
Writing about somewhere or something that has molded you allows you to explore how your environment has informed your personality, values, and goals. It demonstrates self-reflection and an understanding of the complex forces that shape who we become.
Be careful not to rely too heavily on clichés or broad generalizations. Saying that your trip to Europe made you a more cultured person doesn’t really tell admissions officers anything specific about you. Focus on the details of your particular experience and what concrete lessons you took away from it.
A Meaningful Volunteer or Work Experience
Colleges aren’t just looking for smart students; they’re looking for engaged citizens who want to make a difference. Writing about a time when you gave back to your community or gained valuable real-world experience through work shows them that you have the initiative to enact positive change.
This could be anything from starting a club to address a social issue at your school, to helping build houses for low-income families over the summer, to working a part-time job to help support your family. The key is to highlight the skills and insights you gained through the experience.
Avoid coming across as boastful or insincere. Don’t write about volunteering just because you think it will look good. Admissions officers can tell when a student’s heart isn’t really in it. Choose an experience that genuinely shaped your perspective and goals.
An Academic Subject That Fascinates You
One of the main reasons you go to college is to feed your intellectual curiosity. What subjects light your brain up like a Christmas tree? Writing about an academic passion demonstrates your thirst for knowledge and willingness to dig deep into complex issues.
Maybe you’re fascinated by the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, or maybe you spent a summer doing hands-on ecology research. Lean into the nerdy details of what interests you about the topic, whether it’s the methodologies you learned, the unanswered questions that drive you, or the potential real-world applications.
Just try not to get too technical or jargon-y. Remember that the person reading your essay probably isn’t an expert in the field. Give them enough context to understand why it matters, without getting bogged down in minutiae. Let your genuine zeal shine through.
An Accomplishment You’re Proud Of
You’ve put in the work and have something awesome to show for it. So shout it from the rooftops! Or at least put it in your college essay. Writing about an accomplishment, whether big or small, showcases your talents, drive, and potential to succeed.
This could be winning a prestigious award, spearheading a major school initiative, or reaching a personal goal you’ve been working toward for years. The accomplishment itself matters less than what it says about your character and how you got there.
Instead of just humble bragging, take admissions officers behind the scenes of your achievement. Discuss the obstacles you overcame, the skills you honed, and what the experience taught you about perseverance and collaboration. Show that you have not just the chops, but the character to excel.
A Time You Took a Stand
In a world where going along to get along often feels like the path of least resistance, having the courage to stand up for what you believe in says a lot about a person. Writing about a time when you took an unpopular stance or fought for a cause you care about demonstrates conviction, leadership potential, and a strong moral compass.
Maybe you organized a walkout to protest gun violence, or maybe you defended an ostracized classmate against bullies. Explain what drove you to speak out, how you made your voice heard, and what impact your actions had on yourself and others.
Be careful not to come across as preachy or self-righteous. The point isn’t to prove that you were “right,” but rather to show how you put your values into action. Acknowledge that standing up for something can be messy and that listening to other perspectives is an important part of change-making.
A Creative Outlet That Feeds Your Soul
Do you lose all sense of time when you’re painting? Feel most at peace when you’re playing guitar? Find your truest voice in your poetry? Writing about a creative passion shows colleges that you have a rich inner life and a desire to make meaning beyond the classroom.
The outlet you choose doesn’t have to be something traditionally “artistic” like music or visual art. Maybe you’re really into cosplay, or you invent intricate puzzles, or you’re a master of puns. The key is to write about something that allows you to express yourself in a way nothing else does.
Avoid simply listing your creative accomplishments or technically describing your craft. Instead, focus on how the act of creating makes you feel, what it allows you to explore about yourself and the world, and why you’re driven to do it.
A Relationship That Has Made an Impact
No person is an island. Our connections with others shape who we are and how we move through life. Writing about a meaningful relationship, whether with a family member, friend, mentor, or even a pet, gives insight into your values, emotional intelligence, and capacity for love and empathy.
Maybe your bond with your little sister has taught you the importance of being a role model. Or maybe your childhood dog was a source of comfort during a tough time. The relationship doesn’t have to be with a person you’re close to now. It could even be with someone you’ve lost touch with or who has passed away.
Whatever relationship you choose, make sure to go beyond generic platitudes about love and friendship. Describe specific memories, inside jokes, challenges overcome together. Show admissions officers how this relationship has made you a better, wiser, more caring human.
A Skill You’ve Worked Hard to Master
What are you, really, ridiculously good at? Writing about a talent or skill you’ve dedicated yourself to shows colleges your capacity for self-discipline, growth mindset, and just plain putting in the reps.
This could be anything from becoming fluent in a foreign language to mastering a musical instrument to getting your 5K time down to a record pace. The skill itself matters less than the process of how you developed it over time.
Don’t just focus on the result of your hard work, like winning a competition or reaching a milestone. The real meat of the essay is in describing the behind-the-scenes effort: the early mornings, the blistered fingers, the times you wanted to quit but didn’t. That’s what shows true grit.
An Everyday Act of Kindness You Witnessed or Experienced
In a world that often feels defined by grand gestures and viral moments, there’s something deeply moving about small, everyday acts of kindness. Writing about a time you witnessed or experienced an unexpected moment of human connection and compassion can be a powerful way to reveal your values and restore admissions officers’ faith in humanity.
Maybe a stranger helped dig your car out of a snowbank, or maybe you shared a wordless smile with a homeless person you bought a meal for. The key is to focus on the little details that made the moment resonate with you on a deep level.
Don’t feel like you need some mind-blowing epiphany or life-changing outcome. The beauty is often in the simplicity of the moment itself. Reflect on how that one small act rippled outwards and inspired you to be a kinder, more attentive person moving through the world.
A Fear or Phobia You Faced Head-On
We’ve all got that thing that makes our knees turn to jelly. Writing about a time you stared down one of your biggest fears or phobias shows admissions officers that you dare to do the thing that scares you, even when every bone in your body is telling you not to.
This could be anything from overcoming your fear of public speaking to going skydiving despite your fear of heights to petting a tarantula on a dare. The key is to explain what the fear means to you, how it has held you back, and why you decided to confront it.
Don’t feel like the fear itself has to be something monumental. Sometimes our deepest sources of anxiety are the everyday things that most people take for granted. Focus instead on the bravery it took to overcome the fear and how that experience has made you a more resilient person.
A Time You Failed and What You Learned
In our achievement-obsessed culture, talking about failure can feel taboo. But the truth is, it’s how we respond to failure that truly reveals our character. Writing about a time when things didn’t go as planned shows that you can accept responsibility, learn from your mistakes, and bounce back stronger.
Maybe you bombed a test because you underestimated how much studying you needed to do, or maybe your small business idea went bust due to poor planning. The failure itself doesn’t have to be catastrophic. What matters is that you’re honest about what went wrong and reflective about how you’ve grown as a result.
Avoid dwelling too much on the gory details of the failure itself. Spend more time discussing what you would do differently next time and how the experience has made you a more humble, adaptable, and self-aware person. Show that you can take a licking and keep on ticking.
A Time You Stepped Outside Your Comfort Zone
College is all about broadening your horizons and pushing past the boundaries of your own experience. Writing about a time you took a risk, tried something new, or ventured into unfamiliar territory demonstrates that you’re open to growth and to having your assumptions challenged.
Maybe you screwed up your courage to audition for the school play, or maybe you signed up for a summer wilderness survival camp despite being a total city kid. Explain what drew you to leap, how it pushed you past your comfort levels, and what you discovered about yourself in the process.
Be careful not to exaggerate the risk factor or present yourself as completely transformed by one experience. The point isn’t that you’re now a totally different person, but that you’re the kind of person who seeks out opportunities to learn and grow, even when it’s scary or uncomfortable.
An Issue or Cause You Care Deeply About
Want to show colleges that you’ll be an engaged, principled presence on campus from day one? Write about a social or political issue that gets you fired up. Explain what the issue means to you personally, why you feel it’s so important, and how you envision creating change.
Maybe you’re passionate about climate justice because you’ve seen firsthand how climate change is affecting your coastal hometown. Or maybe you want to fight for more inclusive sex ed because you never felt seen in your school’s health classes. The key is to show not just why you care, but what you’re doing about it.
Be careful not to come across as self-righteous or to paint the issue in overly simplistic terms. The most compelling activism is grounded in nuance, empathy, and a willingness to engage with opposing viewpoints. Show that you’re committed to the hard, complex work of making change, not just the feel-good soundbites.
A Quirk or “Weirdness” That Sets You Apart
Colleges aren’t looking for cookie-cutter students; they’re looking for individuals with unique perspectives and personalities. Writing about something that makes you stand out from the crowd, even if it feels a little weird or silly, can be a great way to showcase your authentic self.
Maybe you have a bizarrely encyclopedic knowledge of Renaissance fairs, or maybe you’re known for wearing mismatched socks every day for good luck. Lean into the specificity of what makes you you, and explain how this quirk has shaped your interactions with others and your overall outlook.
Don’t worry about choosing something that seems impressive or “intellectual.” The point is to give admissions officers a glimpse of your true personality, not to craft a new one to fit what you think they want to hear. Genuine passion and self-awareness are always more compelling than pretension.
A Time You Made Someone’s Day
Sometimes the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact on people’s lives. Writing about a time when your words or actions brightened someone else’s day demonstrates kindness, emotional intelligence, and the desire to make a positive difference, however small.
Maybe you wrote an encouraging note to a classmate who was going through a tough time, or maybe you surprised your mom with breakfast in bed when she was feeling overwhelmed. Describe how you picked up on what the other person needed at that moment and why you felt compelled to act.
Focus on the other person’s reaction and how it made you feel, rather than patting yourself on the back. The point isn’t that you’re some kind of hero, but that you’re the kind of person who tries to be attuned to others’ needs and act with compassion. Show that you understand the profound power of small kindnesses.
Conclusion: Writing a Standout College Essay
A great college essay topic is like a great outfit – it expresses your personality, makes you feel confident, and puts your best foot forward.
Whether you write about a quirky hobby, a meaningful relationship, or a time you took a risk, what matters most is that the topic feels true to who you are and what matters most to you.
Remember that admissions officers read thousands of essays every year.
Your job is to make them pause amid the flood, look up at their admissions committees, and say, “Hey, I want to know more about this kid!”
With an authentic, reflective, and a bit bold essay, you’ll grab their attention and make them want to learn more about you as a person and potential college student.
So don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly – or at least wave it gently in the breeze.
The most compelling essays are the ones where we feel like we’re getting a glimpse of the real, imperfect, utterly human you.
Now get out there and show those admissions officers what you’ve got!