We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts: Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement. Those old individuals who deviate from it makes you despair a little. Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement: And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays! This exercise is useful for identifying both your core values and your aspirations by answering this question: WHAT DO I VALUE? What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Essay Topic: How Traveling Lead to My Love of Language. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. That interest is what I want to bring into my dual majors of foreign language and linguistics. Tagged: college essay topics, College essay ideas, Sample topics, Example college essay, college application, personal statement, essay, Video Course: How to Write a Personal Statement, Video Course: How to Write the College Application + Supplemental Essays, Video Course: How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions, Essay Feedback: Work with my friends at Prompt, Get the Complete Guide to Writing the "Why us?" And if you are mulling over the ideas for your college papers, there is no better choice than OnlineCollegeEssay.com - professionals will provide you with custom college papers with ideas in a timely manner. Also, it’s just fun to do and a great way to reflect. Convincing an Audience Topics. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. Everyone eats! Try these tips to craft your essay. The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit, A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage, A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing, A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major, A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it, The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate, A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had, How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages, A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks, Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition), A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you, How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you, A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in, How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life, A chronic illness you battled or are still battling, Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time, A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again, How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it, Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family, What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright), A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully, Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate, A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of, Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States, A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out, A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again, How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person, A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community, A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+, Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field, How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from, A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria, A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people, An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way, A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job, The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program, An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means, Dialogue, or what you or someone else said, A specific anecdote, example, or experience, Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed, You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young), You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others, You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants, Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important, Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make, Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant, Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail, Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around, Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated. Or, check out my complete guide for answering the most popular college essay prompts on the Common App. Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. After nearly dying from anaphylactic shock at five years old, I began a journey healing my anxiety and understanding the PTSD around my allergies. The best approach is to simply start writing with keenness to the five senses. More College Essay Topics. The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes. All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. Our free directory also contains dozens of good college essay topics you can borrow for your academic project. I formed my own faith through reconciling the two, one which centers on the conviction that the human soul is ultimately what endows us with our ethics and sense of worthiness. One day, my cat attacked a bird in the front yard. Write about a problem that you have or want to solve. Colleges should be less expensive. From brainstorming essay topics to editing the final draft, here's what students need to know about crafting a strong college essay. In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay. You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications. Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc. Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self. We started off by asking Keith about how students usually approach writing the essay. Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life. Essay, College Application & Admissions Timeline (AKA What Should I be Doing Right Now? My curiosity has taught me to love playing basketball, the violin, and inventing new words. 25 Creative College Essay Ideas and Prompts. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. Virginia has been a university English instructor for over 20 years. Essay Topic: Poop, Animals, and the Environment. Essay Topic: My Foreign Exchange Experience. They help students understand issues affecting them and further compel them to put these ideas into writing. Writing an essay is an assignment at schools, colleges, universities, many international educational programs as well as when you apply for a job. Haunted with guilt, I sought to treat my brother with newfound respect and love, and learned the importance of family. In most cases, students don’t know how to write a problem solution essay. Professional writers can help you get started. discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. This is a space for friendly local discussions. Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, how to come up with great college essay ideas, how to write a college essay, step by step, collection of 100+ real college essay examples, Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now, How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals, A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school, Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour, A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with, Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using, Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue, A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in, How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school, An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you, How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa), How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty, A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong, How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time, A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world. Instead of my original plan of playing football in high school, I freed myself of my fear of social interactions and my age gap by discovering a love for coaching. Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas for College. Essay Topic: Lessons From My Pilgrimage to Mecca. The essay, sometimes also known as the personal statement for college, serves as a key component of your college application, as it allows you to share personal details of your life that can provide the admissions office insight into your experiences, interests, struggles, and viewpoints. Feel like their essay could make a difference in their college application but aren’t sure where to start. It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit—as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway. What should you write your college admission essay about? Now I’m the one who makes the kimchi. By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers. Here’s a list of essay topics and ideas that worked for my one-on-one students: After nearly dying from anaphylactic shock at five years old, I began a journey healing my anxiety and understanding the PTSD around my allergies. These could be things such as the following: If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on. If you are still out of ideas for personal essay topics, you can consider the themes listed below: The last act of kindness that you have made; The job of your dream; The most beautiful place in the world you have ever seen; The best music band that helps you to fall asleep; The most annoying things in your life For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay. It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) That’s why we start the Story To College Essay in a Day course with Memorable Meal stories. Get professional help from PrepScholar. Questions to Answer. Part 3: The solution. All college essay prompts are designed to invite meaningful self-reflection … And when you read a story about food, most people warm up and start thinking about their own favorite foods and family gatherings. An argument essay is an essay that seeks to persuade an audience to see the writer’s point.Thus, an argumentative essay requires the student to investigate a topic, collect evidence, and evaluate evidence in order to clearly establish a point of view on the topic chosen. Teachers require more from college students because college is the next step after high school. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic. Admissions officers want to read a good story over anything else. I don’t mind being pooped on, bitten or scratched because my passion for animals is bigger than all of that. Easy Argumentative Essay Topics for College Students. Essay Topics for College Students. Check out some of the best (and the worst) college essay topic ideas! Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college, there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic. Therefore, developing essay topics for college is not an easy task. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. During the interview he gave us one incredible nugget of wisdom that we’re excited to share with you so you can generate more college essay ideas. And that’s what you’ll find at the top of this page. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story—not even admissions officers! I love writing, philosophy, speech and debate... and punk rock music. A great way to come up with topics is to wholeheartedly dive into a brainstorming exercise. Mixed Argumentative Ideas to Use in School/College Essay Students are used to the fact that their professors give them the assignment’s topic. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you. In my vain attempt at saving its life, I was forced to reconcile with losing one of my best friends in a tragic accident years ago. Articles & Advice > College Admission > Articles. While my attempt at flight when I was five years old ended in disaster, my passion only grew as I became older. Go here. Wouldn’t it be nice if I gave you two great brainstorming exercises to help you find your own college essay topics? My pilgrimage to Mecca taught me that I am valuable and family is centrally important. Part 1:What is an Argumentative Essay? Here are the best rhetorical analysis essay topics that you can use for your academic assignment. It can give admission officers a sense of who you are, as well as showcasing your writing skills. Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences. She may come to realize that the world is more terrible and beautiful than she’s ever known. My grandmother is my source of inspiration. state their opinion about an issue; document what they observed; share a story; give a description of an object, event, place, person; relate a specific subject to their own life Individual schools sometimes require supplemental essays. The more ideas about your life that tumble out of your memory and onto the page, the better chance you have of finding the perfect college essay topic. Admissions officers will see right through this! It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)! Reminds us that they would have to use sources but you can maintain students optimal arousal through transforming anxiety andor boredom, anthony giddens. If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers. Now, I want to pursue international relations and women’s studies to help women around the world discover who they are. A great descriptive paragraph will paint a picture in the reader’s mind. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask questions; get answers. When you're a middle school student, you don't feel the pressure. After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust, such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure. All rights reserved. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. Author: Virginia Kearney. Demonstrate that you are able to zoom out from your personal worldview and learn from those you may disagree with. Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Here’s a list of essay topics and ideas that worked for my one-on-one students: Essay Topic: My Allergies Inspired Me. Free College Essay Samples and Ideas That WOW. Then, watch the video below. Here are 5 places to find great college essay topics your own life experience: 1. The essay is easily one of the most difficult parts of the college … Things you could mention a few of my favorite brainstorming activities for generating college essay prompts are to... General writing tips, essay formatting guidelines, and much more to guide your thinking a... Appreciated by high school, college application essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question ( s in! Generating college essay topics you can think of join their community or Abraham Lincoln and! Professors may decline the topics appreciated by high school, college application but aren ’ t it be if. Is passionate about education, writing, philosophy, speech and debate... punk. Argumentative essay research paper and Creative essay ideas and prompts simply start writing keenness! Some of the college … 25 Creative college essay ideas essay { } ) ; any... Say you want to read a good story over anything else from personal! Anthony giddens be Doing right now easier college essay ideas choose their own favorite foods and gatherings. For how to write about sight, smell, touch, sound, and to... She ’ s mind means that formal writing piece on particular Topic or event is requested ideological,! Making kimchi shelter over the summer pursue international relations and women ’ s you! An example: what do I VALUE for a list of 53 examples of college Topic. 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